Lynbrook / East Rockaway 10-23-2025

Melissa Baptiste/Herald Benches and a new placard mark the memorial site, part of the historical society’s ongoing effort to preserve the memory of the victims.

Annual commemoration honors 1830s immigrant shipwreck victims

By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Nearly two centuries after two tragic shipwrecks off Long Island’s South Shore claimed the lives of scores of Irish immigrants, the Historical Society of East Rockaway and Lynbrook gathered once again to honor their memory.

Last Saturday, more than 30 people stood quietly among the gravestones at Rockville Cemetery, the final resting place of those who died in the wrecks of the Bristol and the Mexico in the winter of 1836 and 1837. The annual ceremony, held by the Historical Society in partnership with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, has taken place for roughly 20 years.

“They were headed here for a new life and new world,” said Madeline Pearson, the historical society’s executive director. “These people were brave, and took a chance for a better life.”

Most of the victims were Irish immigrants, many fleeing famine and poverty in search of opportunity in America. But their journey ended just off the coast of Long Beach.

The Bristol foundered off Far Rockaway Beach on Nov. 21, 1836, and more than 60 people died. Then, according to Lynbrook Village Historian Arthur S. Mattson, whose research brought renewed attention to the tragedies, the Mexico ran aground just 200 yards offshore during a fierce storm in Janu-

Evidence leads to indictment in 1984 death

By JoSEPh D’AlESSANDRo,

JEffREY BESSEN & AINSlEY MARTINEZ jdalessandro@liherald.com jbessen@liherald.com amartinez@liherald.com

A grand jury indicted a 63-year-old man on murder charges on Oct. 15 in the 1984 death of Lynbrook teenager Theresa Fusco, after new DNA evidence was discovered that links him to the cold case, authorities said.

TNassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, joined by members of the FBI and the Nassau County Police Department at a news conference at the D.A.’s office, announced the indictment of Richard Bilodeau, of Center Moriches, in the 16-year-old’s death.

was leaving her job on Nov. 10, 1984, when she vanished, authorities said. Less than a month later, on Dec. 5, her body was found in a wooded area about a mile away from the roller rink.

The investigation concluded that Fusco had been raped and strangled.

“Her death sent shock waves through the community,” Donnelly said. “Theresa’s life was violently stolen from her more than 40 years ago, but the past is never forgotten.”

heresa’s life was violently stolen from her more than 40 years ago, but the past is never forgotten.

ANNE DoNNEllY

Nassau County district attorney

Bilodeau pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree murder at an Oct. 15 arraignment at the Nassau County Court in Mineola.

Fusco, who worked at the Hot Skates roller skating rink on Merrick Road in Lynbrook,

New DNA evidence, and what was described as a rigorous investigation, implicated Bilodeau in the teen’s death, the district attorney said. In February, Bilodeau’s DNA was lifted from a discarded smoothie cup, which was compared with samples from Fusco’s body, leading to a “100 percent match,” Donnelly said.

“Things have changed since 1984. We didn’t have DNA testing then,” Donnelly said. “Sci-

Continued on page 28

things to know about fall foliage on long island

Don’t worry leaf peepers – the fall colors will appear soon

Although it’s mid-October, most trees across Long Island are still holding onto their green leaves, a sign that the region’s fall color is arriving later than usual this year. Unseasonably warm temperatures and above-average rainfall have slowed the transformation, but nature’s annual show is just beginning. Over the next few weeks, the Island’s parks, arboretums, and scenic byways will start to glow with yellows, oranges, and deep reds — and for those who know where and when to look, it’s one of the most rewarding times of year to explore the outdoors.

— Brian Kacharaba

n Peak color hits in mid to late October

While the Hudson Valley and Adirondacks often burst into color weeks earlier, Long Island’s trees tend to turn later thanks to its coastal climate. Typically, the Island’s peak foliage arrives between Oct. 20 and Oct. 30, when cooler nights and bright, dry days combine to ignite the leaves into a fiery mix of red maples, golden oaks, and copper beeches. This year’s delayed transition means that the most striking colors may extend into early November — a rare treat for leaf-peepers. Watching the change unfold gradually across Nassau and Suffolk counties also allows residents to enjoy multiple weekends of fall beauty before the leaves drop for good.

n State parks offer the best views

For those planning a fall outing, Long Island’s state parks provide some of the best opportunities to experience the season up close. Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve in Lloyd Harbor boasts miles of wooded trails, meadows, and saltwater vistas where gold and crimson leaves contrast against the blue of Long Island Sound. Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale offers wide fairways and walking paths that make for easy, colorful strolls. Out east, Caleb Smith State Park in Smithtown and Connetquot River State Park in Oakdale are ideal for spotting wildlife against the backdrop of changing trees. Even small er gems like Sagamore Hill and Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay turn into painterly land scapes, perfect for photography, picnics, or quiet reflection.

n Reports help you plan your trip

If you’re wondering when to grab your camera or plan a weekend drive, the New York State “I LOVE NY” foliage tracker is your best resource. Updated every Wednesday through late October, it compiles on-the-ground reports from parks and tourism agencies statewide. The map highlights which regions are “just starting,” “near peak,” or “past peak,” helping travelers find the perfect timing for fall

KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 TH AT 9:30 A.M.

Discover a Divine Educational Journey at St. Agnes Cathedral School At St. Agnes Cathedral School we believe that every child is a precious gift from God. We cordially invite you to experience the essence of our exceptional academic program at our upcoming Kindergarten open house.

� Nurturing Environment: Our school embraces the fundamental values of love, compassion, and respect, fostering a nurturing environment where children can flourish and develop their unique talents and capabilities.

� Rigorous Academic Program: Enriched with the wisdom of faith, and modern teaching techniques, our curriculum ensures that each child receives a comprehensive education that challenges his/her intellect and encourages a love for learning.

� Spiritual Growth: Alongside a robust academic curriculum, we prioritize spiritual development, guiding children to understand the importance of faith, hope, and charity, laying the foundation for a life rooted in virtues and values.

� Creative Expression: Through various art, music, and creative activities, we encourage fostering a well-rounded education that embraces the arts as an integral part of personal growth.

� Community Engagement: Our school community is a tight-knit family. We believe in the strength of a supportive community to help children thrive and grow

� State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our STEM Center includes a science lab, STEM lab, Maker Space, and Art Room. Our modern facilities and classrooms are designed to create an engaging and stimulating learning environment, fostering curiosity and innovation among our young learners.

PTA hosts blazing scholarship 5K run

Runners of all ages hit the pavement Oct. 12 for the Lynbrook Council of PTAs’ annual Scholarship 5K Run/Walk, held at North Middle School.

Connor Corgard was the top men’s finisher, followed by Jason Rubinstein and Dan Lee. Amanda Healy led the women’s field, with Delia Kirkpatrick and Laura Wasson close behind.

The day began with a Kids Fun Run at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:30. Proceeds from the event will benefit the council’s scholarship fund, supporting graduating seniors in the Lynbrook School District.

The PTA also recognized volunteers and community sponsors who helped make the event possible.

—Ainsley Martinez

Peace of Mind

In the midst of abundance such as we have never known, why are so many people unhappy? It may be that pursuing happiness is too vague a concept. Instead, we recommend pursuing peace of mind. Peace of mind can be found by eliminating those situations or circumstances that are preventing you from achieving it. Impossible, you say? Not if you are determined to fnd a way. Someone once said, “Tell me what it is that you want that you can’t have, and I’ll ask you what it is you aren’t willing to do.”

Recently, a client contacted me for advice on a family matter. She was the executor of an estate where the decedent had been in a second marriage and the two families were bickering over an old motorcycle, some personal effects and a relatively small amount of money. She wanted out as executor but her brothers wanted to fght. I asked her brothers whether they wanted peace of mind or to be right, since they couldn’t have both. They fnally relented.

Too many people want the thing but are un-

willing to pay the price. You want out of the relationship or situation but the other side is asking too much? Pay the price and get on with your life, it’s worth it. It doesn’t have to be fair, it just has to get done. Emerson said “Do the thing and you will have the power.”

Many of the issues we see people grappling with involve fghting something or someone in a way that resembles Don Quixote tilting at the windmill. They are fghting all by themselves. We say “stop fghting”. Let it go.

We also meet a great many worriers. Worried about everything all the time. Perhaps it is no more than a bad habit. Why do we say that? Whenever we solved a client’s worry, they immediately started worrying about something else! Churchill recounted a dying friend telling him, “You know, Winston, I had a lot of troubles in my life. Most of which never happened.”

Finally, from the Canadian thinker, Brian Tracy, “Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it”

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com

Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com 100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offces in Huntington • Melville • Islandia

News brief

Courtesy Metro

Stop by the Old Time Country Bazaar in Westbury on Oct. 25 for an array of treasures. Hosted by the Senior Citizens of Westbury, there will be crafts, home goods, gifts and more.

Old Time Country Bazaar returns Saturday

The Senior Citizens of Westbury will host their annual Old Time Country Bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 360 Post Ave., Westbury.

The community event will feature a variety of attractions, including a flea market, white elephant treasures, used jewelry, handmade knitted and crocheted items, baked goods, and chances to win raffle baskets filled with prizes.

Lunch will also be available for purchase, and admission is free.

Visitors can enjoy shopping for oneof-a-kind crafts, home goods, and gifts while supporting local seniors. Additional parking will be available on Linden Place.

— Jordan Vallone

How to celebrate Halloween, autumn

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ

As Halloween approaches, families in Lynbrook and East Rockaway are invited to enjoy two festive community events that promise fun, creativity, and seasonal spirit.

Children in need of Halloween costumes can pick one out for free during the Lynbrook Public Library’s annual Costume Giveaway, running Oct. 23–31 in the Community Room at 56 Eldert St. Families are welcome to browse during regular library hours. Costumes are available to keep, and donations of new or gently used costumes are encouraged throughout the event.

“We have a number of costumes in our meeting room for anyone whose child may need a costume,” said Robin Gillon, the library director.

More information about the giveaway

is available at LynbrookLibrary.org.

Meanwhile, over in East Rockaway, the community will come together for the annual Fall Festival on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. at 344 Atlantic Avenue. The event features activities for all ages, including games and crafts created in collaboration with the local library.

Live music will be provided by Track 9, a Long Island-based cover band and acoustic duo known for their upbeat, singalong Top 40 hits from multiple decades. Back Alley Eats and Treats, a local food truck, will be on site offering a variety of fall-themed snacks.

“Honestly it’s a great event,” said Cindy Lark, deputy clerk. “We work together with the library to create activities, crafts for all ages. There’s something for everybody.”

More information about the Fall Festival can be found at VillageofEastRockaway.org.

569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext.

E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

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

MDVIP-affiliated

97%

SPOTLIGHT ATHLETE

GIANNA VENTURA EAST MEADOW Senior FIELD HOCKEY

PICKING UP WHERE she left off last fall when she earned All-County honors, Ventura has reached new heights while leading the Jets to a 10-2 start in Nassau Conference II field hockey. Through Oct. 16, the Adelphi University bound standout was leading the county in goals with 20 to go along with 8 assists. She began 2025 with a bang, scoring all three of East Meadow’s goals in a win over New Hyde Park. Ventura has more than 50 career goals.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Oct. 24

Football: Seaford at Island Trees 5 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Port Washington 6 p.m.

Football: Freeport at Oceanside 6 p.m.

Football: Sewanhaka at Division 6 p.m.

Football: Hempstead at Plainview

Football: Hewlett at Manhasset

Football: Long Beach at MacArthur

Football: East Meadow at Glen Cove

Football: Plainedge at Malverne

Saturday, Oct. 25

Football: South Side at V.S. South 11 a.m.

Football: Wantagh at Carey 11 a.m.

Football: Clarke at Floral Park 11 a.m.

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

Football: Garden City at Calhoun 2 p.m.

Football: Baldwin at Mepham 2 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at Kennedy 2 p.m.

Football: Roslyn at V.S. Central 2 p.m.

Football: Lynbrook at C.S. Harbor 2 p.m.

Football: East Rockaway at Locust Valley 2 p.m.

Football: West Hempstead at North Shore 2 p.m.

Football: Lawrence at Oyster Bay 2 p.m.

Football: Syosset at Massapequa 3 p.m.

Football: Herricks at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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

HERALD SPORTS

East Rockaway falls at North Shore

By MARC BERMAN sports@liherald.com

North Shore football has a new head coach but the same ground-and-pound offense of years past.

Bill Madigan, promoted to head coach in the offseason after being North Shore’s offensive coordinator since 2009, still is calling the plays like he used to. And the Vikings offense harkened back to their successful past under former longtime head coach Dan Agovino, who resigned last spring.

The Vikings’ run-dominant offense sparkled in last Saturday’s Homecoming – a 27-8 victory over visiting East Rockaway in Nassau Conference IV.

Sophomore quarterback Joey Cristofari rushed for 98 yards on 15 attempts and tailback Casey Gates amassed 96 yards on 11 attempts and a touchdown.

The clincher, though, came on defense - a 54-yard interception return by cornerback Liam Ricco late in the contest as North Shore moved to 2-4.

East Rockaway, which rallied from a 13-0 deficit to make it 13-8 midway through the fourth quarter, also is 2-4.

North Shore’s previous win came against Lawrence, so this win along the shores of Hempstead Harbor before its loud band meant something extra in the post-Agovino era.

“A good day overall for the boys,’’ Madigan said.

Madigan was left with a young team that has just 11 seniors. The first-year head coach, a former Georgia Tech offensive lineman, starts seven sophomores. “We’re very young,’’ Madigan said.

Cristofari and Gates battled for QB1, but Madigan felt it was best for the program to have Gates at running back.

Against East Rockaway, Gates broke for a 55-yard run that gave North Shore a 13-0 halftime lead.

The North Shore defense did its job against East Rockaway’s longstanding ground attack. Senior linebackers Angelo Anibole and Matt Marinello each had 8 tackles. North Shore forced two turnovers, including junior Ty Fichtl recovering a fumble off a strip by sophomore

Sam Kosmidis.

“The defense was a big part of the win,’’ Cristofari said.

Madigan even credited kicker Christopher Zilinski for an onside kick that started the second half.

With two games left, against West Hempstead and Lynbrook, North Shore still has a shot at the playoffs – one game out of the 8th and final seed.

“It’s been a good experience,’’ Madigan said of his first year. “A great group of guys. On the field, it hasn’t been what we always wanted but they’re working hard. It’s more time management and dealing with other things on the outside.’’

East Rockaway head coach Russ Pajer

didn’t think the score reflected the tight game and was content to rally from 13 points down. Jethro Jacquet scored on an 8-yard, third-quarter run.

With six minutes left, trailing 13-8, East Rockaway had the ball first-and-10 at the North Shore 14 before the Rocks were hit with four straight penalties.

“I think it was a very competitive game but a lot of penalties on both sides,’’ Pajer said.

East Rockaway, which also defeated Lawrence and has a win over Oyster Bay as well, visits Locust Valley this Saturday at 2 p.m. Then comes a rematch at home versus Oyster Bay on Halloween at 6:30 p.m.

Show Off Your Little Fans!

Snap a photo of your “Little Fan“ in their favorite football, hockey or any sports gear or outfit and enter our Little Fans Photo Contest!

Whether it’s your pet in a jersey or child in their favorite team’s colors, we want to see how you get into the sport spirit!

Scan the QR code to submit your photo today for a chance to win a pair of New York Islanders tickets to a game this season and be featured in your Long Island Herald.

Contest Ends 11/20/25

Annual tribute recalls Long Island wrecks

Continued from page 1

ary 1837. In an account included in his book “Water and Ice: The Tragic Wrecks of the Bristol and the Mexico on the South Shore of Long Island,” Mattson wrote:

“The cowardly captain and crew are seen getting into (a rescue) boat and leaving over 100 men, women and children — most of them Irish immigrants — to freeze to death overnight on the deck of the sinking ship.”

Those who perished were laid out in a barn and placed in coffins hurriedly built at the East Rockaway gristmill, and buried in a mass grave at Rockville Cemetery. A marble monument was erected years later.

We’re keeping the history alive and keeping their memory alive.

Madeline

Pearson Executive

Director of the Historical Society

“This is part of our early history in Lynbrook,” Pearson said. “Everyone who came to America came from somewhere else, so it’s our responsibility to honor them now.”

The wreck of the Mexico also led to systemic changes.

“As a result of the second shipwreck, that’s how the Coast Guard got started,” Pearson noted. “It helped to change the rest of our history, in a sense, to put guidelines that we didn’t have before.”

This year’s ceremony included a special presentation: a large reproduction of a long-lost painting depicting the disaster. The piece, “Le Naufrage du Mexique” (“The Wreck of the Mexico”), was completed in 1837 by French maritime artist Louis Garneray. It was recently rediscovered by an art collector in Le Havre, France, who contacted Mattson after learning about the painting’s historical ties to Lynbrook.

“The painting is far and away the most exciting image of the wreck of the Mexico I have ever seen,” Mattson wrote in a Herald column on July 18. “It compares in drama to a poem that Walt Whitman wrote about the wreck in Leaves of Grass.”

An excerpt from Whitman’s poem “The Sleepers” was read aloud during the ceremony:

“In the morning I help pick up the dead and lay them in rows in a barn . . .”

Visitors at the site reflected on the tragedy and viewed the new benches and placard installed as part of the historical society’s ongoing preservation efforts.

“We’re keeping the history alive and keeping their memory alive,” Pearson said.

members of the Historical Society of east rockaway and Lynbrook and the ancient order of Hibernians paid tribute to the victims of two shipwrecks at the mass grave site.

Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach was among those reflecting on the historical significance of the wrecks and the community’s effort to remember them.

“It’s a part of our history in the village,” Beach said. “It’s nice to remember things, and it’s nice to see that people cared back then too,” Beach said.

He acknowledged the bravery of the rescuers and

the desperation of the immigrants who risked everything for a new beginning.

Beach noted the determination of those who made the perilous journey from Ireland, even in the face of near-certain danger.

“People that came to this country really wanted to be here so desperately,” he said.

Ali is an advocate for safety and affordability

By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com

Sheharyar Ali isn’t a career politician — and that’s the point of his campaign.

Ali, 32, is running for a seat in the Nassau County Legislature, in the newly redrawn District 14, which includes Lynbrook, portions of Valley Stream and Malverne. His campaign focuses on quality-of-life issues that he says residents have been frustrated with for years — from public safety to housing costs to zoning.

“I grew up in this community,” Ali said. “I’m raising two boys in this community, and unfortunately I feel like the community just isn’t the same anymore. Instead of complaining about it, I decided to do something.”

Ali, who lives in Elmont with his wife and sons, launched his own law firm, Sheharyar Ali Law Group, in Valley Stream earlier this year. A graduate of Sewanhaka High School, he studied political science and then earned a law degree from St. John’s. He previously served as a prosecutor in the Brooklyn and Nassau County attorneys’ offices.

In 2023, Ali ran for a seat in District 3, challenging, and losing to, incumbent Legislator Carrié Solages. He said he hears the same concerns from residents that he heard during that first campaign.

His platform includes preserving the suburban quality of life in area communities. “I believe local officials should focus on local issues,” Ali said. “You want to make sure that you can pick up your phone, call your legislator, and they’re there to help and guide you to the appropriate resources.”

That’s a skill he said he has developed while serving as a prosecutor. “You’ve got to work with the county executive, your colleagues on the Legislature, the town, the villages,” he said. “There are a lot of moving

Tim Baker/Herald

Sheharyar Ali is an Elmont resident and a former prosecutor who wants to reduce crime rates and make Long Island more affordable for young families.

parts, so building relationships, listening to people, talking with them and getting things done, that’s what it’s about.”

Ali is focused on affordability. “As a young person trying to raise a family, I know how difficult it is,” he said. “I’m a big proponent of community, transit-oriented development.” Referring to the development of housing and community spaces around public transit, he complimented recent developments near the Lyn-

brook LIRR station. But he also strongly believes in preserving neighborhoods’ character, and opposes state control of local zoning laws to protect residential communities from overdevelopment.

Ali supports efforts for the county to be “stronger” on crime. “I want to make sure I work with the Police Department and the D.A.’s office to make sure we have laws that are enforced, and we don’t let criminals get away without consequences,” he said.

After hearing from residents near the Queens border that they don’t feel supported by police, Ali reached out to the 5th Precinct and learned that officers feel understaffed and overworked, with resources focused on Green Acres Mall. If elected, he said, he would address safety issues by providing more funding to the NCPD, and look into how units are assigned to see if resources are being utilized efficiently.

“I would love to expand the Problem-Oriented Police program,” he said. “I firmly believe that community-oriented policing can solve a lot of problems.”

Ali said he would learn as much as he could before tackling community concerns. “I’m new to politics,” he said. “I’ve never been a legislator before; I’ve never held an elected position before. I want to learn as much as I can about how this job is done — how to be a good, effective legislator.

“I actually want to make difference,” Ali said. “I want to make a change.”

Cynthia Nuñez would focus on transparency

By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com

After four years on the Valley Stream District 24 school board, Cynthia Nuñez is ready to represent her community. Nuñez, 47, is running for a seat on the Nassau County Legislature in the newly redrawn District 14, which includes Lynbrook, portions of Valley Stream and Malverne. Her platform highlights communication with constituents and legislative transparency.

Nuñez and her husband have lived in Valley Stream for 16 years, and raised two children. A Suffolk County native, she studied professional legal studies at St. John’s University, and is currently pursuing an MBA at NYU. She is the director of legal operations at Labaton Keller Sucharow, where she focuses on data privacy and consumer rights violations. “I represent the little guy who’s been wronged by the big conglomerate,” she explained.

Nuñez has been a school board trustee since 2022. She ran for the position after realizing that her son didn’t receive the opportunities her daughter had a few years earlier.

“We chose to live in South Valley Stream, particularly District 24, because of the wonderful opportunities the school district had to offer,” she said. “Six years later, we realized those programs weren’t there anymore. That propelled me to run for the school board.”

As a trustee, Nuñez helped restore programs, supported the construction a sensory playground, and secured a $500,000 grant for the district. “I addressed a need for the community,” she said. “I can do that on a large scale, and that’s what I’m prepared to do on the

Tim Baker/Herald

Cynthia Nuñez, a member of the Valley Stream District 24 school board, is running for legislator. If elected, she hopes to create a more transparent Legislature.

Legislature.”

If elected, Nuñez would like to tackle county finances and transparency. “I need to know where the money is going and I need to share that with the community,” she said. “I need the community to understand where our taxes have been allocated so we can figure out if

it’s in the best interests of this district. If not, then let’s create a plan and see where we can implement changes.”

Nuñez is an alternate committee member for Valley Stream’s Board of Zoning & Appeals, appointed by Mayor Edwin Fare. She believes her relationship with Valley Stream officials would help her succeed as legislator.

“I come from a lifetime of service,” she said. “Service is entrenched in me. I’ve dedicated my life to giving a voice to those that don’t have one. My experiences on the school and the BZA boards have demonstrated, with proven results, that I can help my community as a whole.”

Nuñez is also a member of the National Association for Latino Officials, the New York State School Boards Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, the Valley Stream Beautification Club, and the high school Parents Club.

“One of the benefits of this position is that I’m advocating for issues that directly impact myself and my family,” she said. “I think we need to have a voice that will raise the concerns of our constituents.”

Nuñez is a proponent of town halls. “What I’m hearing is that people are being spoken at instead of spoken with,” she said. “We need to create a freeway of communication. Constituents have a right to voice their concerns before decisions are made, not after.”

If elected, she said is committed to working with her colleagues. “I cannot, in good conscience, just collaborate with Democrats and think that will resolve everything,” Nuñez said. “We have to be able to collaborate as a unit.”

Aloise, a prosecutor, hopes to become D.A.

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

Nicole Aloise, a Democrat running for Nassau County district attorney, is focusing her campaigning on public safety, community investment, and experience forged in courtrooms.

“I firmly believe in the job of a prosecutor,” she said. “It’s all I’ve done in my career.”

Aloise, 41, has worked as a prosecutor for 16 years in both Nassau and Queens, most recently as a senior assistant district attorney in the Queens Homicide Bureau. She began her legal career in 2008 after graduating from St. John’s University School of Law. While in Queens, she secured more than 20 violent felony convictions and helped establish case law by making use of NYPD body camera footage for the first time in a trial in New York City.

Aloise moved with her family from Astoria to Garden City in 2019. From 2019 to 2023, she prosecuted homicides and violent felonies as senior litigation counsel in the Nassau D.A.’s office. She returned to Queens for a brief period before stepping down in 2024 to launch her campaign.

Despite its staff of hundreds, one of the largest D.A.’s offices in the country, it has fallen behind, Aloise said. “The office now being run,” she said, “is not appropriate for a 2025 D.A.’s office.”

‘It’s

She criticized what she called a lack of courtroom experience in the office’s current leadership, and said that has led to high staff turnover. The issues that are central to her platform include strengthening the county’s Hate Crimes Bureau, especially when it comes to antisemitic and anti-Asian attacks; sup-

porting a statewide “death by dealer” law to hold drug suppliers accountable in fatal overdoses; and increasing funding for youth, mental health and violence prevention programs.

Aloise has also pledged to pursue tougher prosecutions in drunken-driving cases, and expanding cooperation

DISTRICT ATTORNEY

with local police departments. “I’ve got the best experience to be in this job,” she said, “because I won’t be asking anybody to do something I myself personally haven’t done, and I will know what resources and guidelines to put into place to make sure they’re successful.”

Like the Republican incumbent, Anne Donnelly, Aloise has criticized New York’s 2020 discovery and bail reform laws. “It absolutely makes our job harder,” she said. “I’ve been outspoken about these laws since prior to their inception.”

But, she noted, she successfully worked under the same rules in Queens, and argued that the county badly needs an upgraded functioning discovery system. “They have one in Queens,” she added. “They have one in Suffolk.”

“I won’t run a stagnant office,” Aloise said. “I’ve got the passion, I’ve got the energy and I’ve got the vision to make the Nassau’s district attorney’s office one of the premier offices in the country — because we have the resources, if used correctly.”

been my life’s work,’ Anne Donnelly says

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

For Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, pursuing justice and supporting crime victims isn’t just a job — it’s a passion.

“It’s been my life’s work,” she said. “I have worked in every bureau in the office. I have been a boss, a supervisor, and I’m very passionate about what we do.”

Donnelly, 61, a Republican and a longtime prosecutor, defeated former State Sen. Todd Kaminsky in 2021 to become district attorney — the fourth consecutive woman to hold the office. A Garden City resident who graduated from Fordham Law School in 1989, she is seeking a second term on a platform of public safety, gang enforcement and law enforcement support.

Since taking office in 2022, Donnelly has created three county law enforcement units. The Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit, focuses on illegal gun sales and weapons trafficking. “We’ve had an uptick of guns being taken off the street, and I wanted to know why,” she said. The Pharmaceutical Diversion and Cybercrimes Unit targets opioid diversion by medical professionals and prosecutes cybercrimes, including dark web activity. The Hate

Tim Baker/Herald

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly is seeking a second term as the county’s top prosecutor.

Crimes Unit is tasked with investigating bias-motivated violence and boosting community outreach, training and reporting.

“There’s always going to be crime,” Donnelly said. “The important aspect of maintaining or keeping Nassau safe

is to target the crimes that we see increases in.” She has been an outspoken critic of New York state’s bail reform and Clean Slate laws, which she described “problematic,” and argued they allow repeat offenders back onto the streets.

She also raised concerns about the state’s discovery reform law, passed in 2020, which requires prosecutors to quickly share evidence with defense attorneys. Under the law, prosecutors originally had 20 to 35 days after a defendant’s arraignment, depending on pretrial custody, to provide all evidence — with a possible 30-day extension.

“It’s not like we’re trying to hide anything from them,” Donnelly said. “Getting all the information within the window is the challenge.” A 2025 amendment now allows cases to proceed if prosecutors show “good faith and due diligence” in providing evidence.

On the subject of the 2019 bail reform law, which eliminated cash bail for many non-violent offenses, she pointed to aggravated animal abuse and DWI as examples of “violent and dangerous” offenses that don’t meet the law’s definition of violence.

With nearly 250 attorneys and a staff of more than 450, the Nassau County district attorney’s office is one of the largest in the country. Donnelly said that her management experience stands in contrast to her challenger in next month’s election, Democrat Nicole Aloise. “She’s a very nice person, but has never managed one person,” Donnelly said. “I don’t think she’s the person for it. I think I am.”

News brief

How to vote early, in-person for election

Early voting for the upcoming general election in Nassau County will take place from Saturday, Oct. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 2. All polling sites are accessible to voters with physical disabilities, and any eligible voter residing in the county may vote at any early voting location during the designated days and hours. Voters who cast a ballot during early voting will not be permitted to vote again on Election Day.

Voting hours are scheduled as follows: Oct. 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 27 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the Board of Elections remaining open until 8 p.m. on those two days; and Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Election Day, Nov. 4, voters must go to their assigned polling place to cast a ballot.

Voters who wish to register for the general election must do so by Oct. 25, 2025. Registration applications submitted by mail must be received by the Nassau County Board of Elections by that date, and in-person registration is available at the board’s offices or participating state agencies through Oct. 25. To learn how to apply to vote, visit Elections.NY.gov.

Courtesy Metro Nassau County voters can vote early, by mail and in-person ahead of this year’s general election on Nov. 4.

Early voting sites across the county include Temple Beth Am in Merrick, the Freeport Recreation Center, Massapequa Town Hall South, St. Frances de Chantal Church in Wantagh, the West Hempstead Public Library, and the Yes We Can Community Center in Westbury, among others. A complete list of early voting locations is available at NassauVotes.com or by calling (516) 5718683.

Any registered voter may also apply for an early mail ballot. Applications must be received by the board of elections no later than 10 days before the election, or in person by Nov. 3. Ballots will be mailed beginning 46 days before the election and will continue to be sent immediately after completed applications are processed. Voters may apply for an early mail ballot online through the state’s Early Mail Ballot Request Portal, in person at the Nassau County Board of Elections at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, or by designating another person to deliver and return their application. Visit Elections.NY.gov/request-ballot for more.

If you’re planning to vote in person on Election Day, visit VoterLookUp.Elections.NY.gov.

–Jordan Vallone

Long Island Cares names new regional CEO

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Katherine Fritz became the new regional president and CEO of the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank, a Long Island Cares nonprofit that benefits people dealing with food insecurity, on Oct. 8.

Fritz has over 30 years of experience working for nonprofits. She joined LIC in 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic began, which left many Long Islanders dealing with food insecurity.

“During that really crazy time period, I had to help the organization move forward quickly with fundraising and communicating with our donors about how money was being spent,” she said.

Fritz told the Herald that her leadership will prioritize patience, understanding and stability while pursuing the group’s goal of eliminate hunger on Long Island. “The mission of the organization is always going to be at the forefront of everything I do,” she said.

ICrawford estimated that Fritz, as a fundraiser, managed to bring in $8 million for the organization in five years, which was “a testament to how hard she works, how she builds her team and stewards our donors,” Crawford said.

“After a nationwide search, the Board of Directors of Long Island Cares found its next leader down the hall from the boardroom,” board President David Herold stated in a news release. “She will lead us in meeting the ever-increasing need ahead, which is what the battle against the challenging climate surrounding food insecurity requires.

think we are going to be able to help a lot more people.

KIm

CRAwfORD Marketing director, Long Island Cares

Before Fritz’s appointment, she was the organization’s vice president for development and communications. Her predecessor, Paule Pachter, retired earlier this year after serving for 17 years.

Marketing Director Kim Crawford has known Fritz from her beginnings at LIC. “She has a passion and a kindness that she is able to balance with her leadership, which is why she has such an incredible team now,” Crawford said. “I think we are going to be able to help a lot more people.”

“We believe that with her steady hand on the tiller, our mission will be advanced and the future of the people we serve will be brighter,” Herold added.

Fritz’s major goals include increased collaboration among more than 300 LIC food pantries, schools and community centers, supporting advocacy efforts and addressing the root causes of hunger — all while making LIC’s 2025-30 financial plans into realities.

“We’re in another critical time for food banking with the current government shutdown, in addition to the federal cuts that have already been enacted,” she said. “We need to focus on ensuring that we can provide appropriate food to the people in the community that are really needing assistance right now.”

Heading into the holiday season, LHC plans to provide healthy food for people of all cultural backgrounds and dietary restrictions in Long Island’s

diverse communities.

“There’s so many ways for people to help support their neighbors,” Fritz said.

To volunteer, donate or find food, visit LICares.org.

Candidate profiles, ballot Information and more inside! LOCAL ELECTIONS

CounCil DistriCt 4 ElECtion ‘25

on the issues:

Lynbrook resident Laura Ryder brings deep community roots and decades of civic engagement to her role on the Hempstead Town Board. Appointed in March 2023 after serving as a Lynbrook Village Trustee, Ryder’s approach to governance blends hands-on public service with fiscal responsibility and a focus on neighborhood quality of life.

A paralegal at Ledwith and Atkinson and a real estate agent with Pearsall Partners Realty, Ryder combines professional know-how with a passion for helping others. During her time as village trustee, she helped manage village finances through the pandemic, championed small business growth, and supported efforts to create new housing that complemented Lynbrook’s character. Ryder’s civic leadership extends beyond

local government. She previously served on the South Nassau Water Authority and the American Water Company Community Outreach Committee, where she advocated for fair utility rates. She also represented Lynbrook on the Nassau County Police Commissioner’s Council, strengthening communication between residents and law enforcement.

As founder and chair of Lynbrook Cares, Ryder leads volunteers who assist seniors and residents with disabilities through home and yard maintenance projects. She also supports families in crisis through the Lynbrook Community Chest and has lent her time to numerous community causes, including the 9/11 Memorial Committee, Christopher’s Hemophilia Benefit, and the Lynbrook Beautification Committee.

ElECtion ‘25

town ClErK

Kate Murray is running for re-election as Town Clerk of Hempstead. She was first elected to the position in 2002 and returned to the office in 2019 after serving as Hempstead Town Supervisor from 2003 to 2016, making her the first woman to hold the position.

She has also served in the New York State Assembly representing the 19th District.

on the issues:

As Town Clerk, Murray has focused on improving accessibility and convenience for residents. Her initiatives include the “One-Stop Passport Shop,” online access to permits and licenses and commuter parking permits available directly at LIRR stations. She oversaw the construction of a $6 million multipurpose center for the ANCHOR Program, which offers programs in

athletics, aquatic activities, theater, computer skills, nutrition and social engagement. Murray’s office has also advanced renewable energy initiatives, including a green energy park and a solarpowered government office recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for its zeroemission design. The Town Clerk’s Office handles vital records, marriage licenses, permits, public notices, town board records, official records and historical archives dating back to 1644. The office also performs wedding ceremonies and processes applications for zoning changes, public garages, and other municipal permits.

Democratic candidate Yveline Dalmacy has not responded to requests for an interview for a roundtable.

ElECtion ‘25

town oF HEMPstEAD suPErVisor

Republican John Ferretti, appointed Hempstead Town Supervisor in August following Don Clavin’s resignation, is running to retain the position with a focus on fiscal discipline, public safety, and community values.

on the issues:

A former Nassau County legislator, Ferretti, a lifelong Levittown resident, has emphasized his record of opposing tax increases and supporting responsible budgeting. During his tenure, he led efforts to reduce county taxes by $70 million and block $150 million in proposed hikes. He has said government should operate within its means, similar to the financial discipline of local families.

Ferretti’s platform highlights a commitment to maintaining public safety and supporting law enforcement. As a legislator, he helped expand police presence, reopen a closed precinct, and invest in advanced public safety technology. He also worked with town

officials to increase patrols at houses of worship and co-authored legislation to prevent individuals from concealing their identities during acts of intimidation.

In addition to his focus on safety and fiscal management, Ferretti has positioned himself as a defender of suburban neighborhoods, opposing proposals for high-density housing developments he believes would alter the character of local communities.

Before his election to public office, Ferretti served as Chief Deputy County Clerk, overseeing a staff of more than 100 employees and managing over $240 million in annual revenue.

Ferretti has also prioritized strengthening community infrastructure and ensuring that development and town policies reflect the needs and values of local residents, supporting initiatives that preserve open spaces and enhance the quality of life in Hempstead.

Democrat Joe Scianablo, a Marine combat veteran, former NYPD officer, and prosecutor, is running for Town of Hempstead supervisor with a pledge to restore transparency, lower taxes, and hold local government accountable.

Scianablo, a Garden City resident, says families across the town are feeling the strain of rising costs, from a 12 percent property tax hike to increases in water, power, and fuel bills. He is calling for a full financial audit of all departments, a freeze on nonessential spending, and new measures to root out waste and corruption.

on the issues:

Joseph Scianablo Party: Democrat

If elected, Scianablo said his first 100 days would include converting all town streetlights to LED to save $1 million annually, implementing zero-based budgeting where every dollar is justified, and exploring shared services with nearby towns to eliminate duplicate

costs. His platform emphasizes “commonsense solutions,” including proactive infrastructure maintenance, performance-based funding, and energy efficiency upgrades. He has also vowed to hold monthly town halls and establish resident oversight to keep taxpayers informed. Scianablo said improving public safety and supporting veterans would also be key priorities. Drawing on his law enforcement background, he aims to strengthen trust between communities and public safety departments. As a Marine veteran, he wants to expand access to healthcare, housing, and employment programs for fellow veterans.

He has also criticized the closure of the Safe Center and pledged to expand domestic violence services by working with Nassau County and community partners.

OF THE HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS PULL OUT

ELECTiON ‘25

LEgiSLATivE DiSTRiCT 14

Sheharyar Ali, a Valley Stream-based attorney, is making his second run for a seat in the Nassau County Legislature this time for the newly redrawn District 14, which includes parts of Lynbrook, Valley Stream, and Malverne. Ali, 32, grew up in Elmont and is raising his two young sons in the area. After graduating from Sewanhaka High School and earning his law degree from St. John’s University, he served in the Brooklyn and Nassau attorney’s offices before opening his own law firm earlier this year

On the issues:

Sheharyar Ali Party: Republican

Frustrated by what he sees as declining quality of life, Ali said he’s focused on local issues from public safety to affordability and suburban preservation. “I’m just trying to play my part to help my community,” he said.

Ali lost a bid in 2023 for District 3. After redistricting moved his neighborhood into District 14, he said

he feels better positioned to represent residents.

“The same concerns that residents had when I was campaigning two years ago are the exact same concerns that they still have,” he said.

Ali supports community-based policing, expanded funding for the Fifth Precinct, and hiring more officers. He also wants to ensure local zoning remains in local hands. While backing transitoriented development near train stations, he opposes overdevelopment in residential areas.

Ali is focused on tackling the boring, every day issues of the local communities, from road repaving to a tree falling in the road. “You want to make sure that you can pick up your phone, call your legislator, and they’re there to help and guide your to the appropriate resources that are available,” Ali said.

“I don’t want to be the politician that just talks,” Ali added

Cynthia Nuñez, a longtime Valley Stream resident and school board trustee, is running for the Nassau County Legislature in the newly redrawn District 14, which includes parts of Lynbrook, Valley Stream, and Malverne.

Nuñez, 47, has lived in Valley Stream for 16 years with her husband and two children. She has served on the Valley Stream District 24 Board of Education since 2022 and helped lead the restoration of programs, construction of a sensory playground, and secured a $500,000 grant for the district.

Cynthia Nuñez Party: Democrat

“Service is entrenched in me,” Nuñez said. “I have dedicated my life, my professional career, to helping out the small guy, to giving a voice to those that don’t have one.”

Professionally, she is director of legal operations at Labaton Keller Sucharow, where she focuses on data privacy and consumer protection. She is currently pursuing an MBA at NYU.

On the issues:

Her campaign centers on fiscal accountability and communication. If elected, Nuñez said she would conduct a full review of county finances and push for more transparency in how tax dollars are spent. “I need the community to understand where our taxes have been allocated so we can figure out if it’s in the best interest of this district,” she said. “If not, then let’s come with a plan and see where we can implement these changes.”

She also supports creating forums for residents to weigh in before decisions are made. “What I’m hearing when I’m knocking on doors is that people are being spoken at instead of spoken with,” she said. “We need to create a freeway of communication.”

Nuñez emphasized bipartisan collaboration and said she would work with all 19 legislators, regardless of party. “We have to be able to collaborate as a unit.,” she said.

NASSAU COUNTY COMPTROLLER

Elaine Phillips, the Republican Nassau County Comptroller, is seeking re-election on a platform centered on fiscal responsibility, government efficiency, and taxpayer protection. Since taking office in 2022, she has focused on modernizing Nassau County’s financial systems, strengthening oversight of county spending, and ensuring residents receive measurable value for their tax dollars.

payments owed to Nassau County, identified inefficiencies in procurement and contract management, and implemented updated auditing procedures to prevent waste and fraud. She has also emphasized modernization, leading efforts to digitize accounting systems.

A former New York State senator representing the 7th District, Phillips previously served as mayor of Flower Hill, where she managed local budgets and enacted cost-saving reforms. Before entering public office, she built a successful career in finance with senior roles at J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and MetLife, bringing private-sector expertise to government operations.

As comptroller, Phillips has prioritized accountability and transparency in county finances. Her office has recovered millions in outstanding

On the issues: Phillips has focused on strengthening fiscal stability, monitoring contract performance, and scrutinizing the county’s partnerships with major public entities such as the MTA. She has also overseen audits addressing delayed payments to small businesses and service providers, ensuring timely reimbursements and greater financial clarity. Phillips points to her background in both finance and local government as key to her pragmatic approach to fiscal management. She has emphasized longterm planning, responsible borrowing, and efficiency-driven reforms designed to safeguard public resources.

Wayne Wink, the Democratic candidate for Nassau County Comptroller, is running on a platform centered on transparency, fiscal integrity, and restoring independence to the county’s chief financial office. With more than two decades of public service, he brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to the race.

Wayne Wink Party: Democrat

A resident of Roslyn, Wink began his career in local government on the North Hempstead Town Board, where he served from 2003 to 2007. He was later elected to the Nassau County Legislature, representing the 10th District from 2007 to 2014, which includes parts of Great Neck, East Hills, Roslyn, and Manhasset. During his tenure, he developed a reputation for fiscal diligence and constituent advocacy, focusing on responsible budgeting and government accountability.

In 2014, Wink was elected North Hempstead Town Clerk, a position he held until 2021. In that role, he oversaw

modernization of the town’s recordkeeping and licensing systems, implemented digital accessibility initiatives, and ensured compliance with open government and transparency laws. His administrative experience as clerk further solidified his focus on efficiency

On the issues: Wink has framed his campaign for comptroller around independence and transparency. He emphasizes the need for unbiased financial oversight, ensuring that county contracts, audits, and expenditures are handled with integrity and free from political influence. His platform includes expanding digital access to county financial data, improving internal controls, and strengthening collaboration with local municipalities to enhance fiscal efficiency. Wink holds a bachelor’s degree from Union College and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.

PULL OUT WHO’S ON THE BALLOT FORM COURTESY OF

GENERAL ELECTION Candidates

Amendment to Allow Olympic Sports Complex In Essex County on State Forest Preserve Land. Allows skiing and related trail facilities on state forest preserve land. The site is 1,039 acres. Requires State to add 2,500 acres of new forest land in Adirondack Park. A yes vote authorizes new ski trails and related facilities in the Adirondack forest preserve. A no vote does not authorize this use.

Enmienda para Permitir Complejo Olímpico de Deportes En el Condado de Essex en Tierra de Reserva Forestal Estatal. Permite el esquí e instalaciones relacionadas de pistas en tierra de reserva forestal estatal. El sitio es de 1,039 acres. Requiere que el Estado añade 2,500 acres de nueva tierra forestal en el Parque Adirondack. Un voto afirmativo autoriza nuevas pistas de esquí e instalaciones relacionadas en la reserva forestal Adirondack. Un voto negativo no autoriza este uso.

LYNBROOK / EAST ROCKAWAY

County Executive

Ejecutivo del Condado

DEM,MOD

Seth I. Koslow REP,CON

Bruce A. Blakeman

District Attorney

Fiscal del Distrito

DEM, MOD Nicole Aloise REP, CON

Anne T. Donnelly

Comptroller

Controlador del Condado

DEM, MOD Wayne H. Wink, Jr. REP, CON Elaine R. Phillips

County Clerk

Secretario

DEM, MOD

Joylette E. Williams REP, CON Maureen C. O’Connell

Hempstead Supervisor

Supervisor

(1) DEM, MOD

Joe Scianablo REP, CON

John R. Ferretti

Hempstead Concejal

Hempstead Secretario DEM, MOD Yveline

County

Justice

Surrogate

ELECTIon’25

actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to reflect all the districts within the communities covered edition of the Herald. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the Herald may be found at under the Elections ’25 tab. For election results after the polls close Tuesday night, go to LIHerald.com

Hempstead Council Member

Darien D. Ward REP, CON Laura A. Ryder

Hempstead Town Clerk

Secretario Municipal

for One (1) MOD Yveline L. Dalmacy REP, CON Kate Murray

County Legislator

Legislador del Condado Distrito 14

County Court Judge

Bednar

Family Court Judge

14

for One (1) REP, CON

Cynthia Nunez Sheharyar Ali

Justice of the Supreme Court

la Corte Suprema

for Eight (8) REP, CON

Kenny

Mark A. Cuthbertson

Margaret C. Reilly

Joseph C. Pastoressa

Surrogate Court Judge

Tribunal

Steven A. Pilewski

James W. Malone

Carl J. Copertino

Bronwyn M. Black-Kelly

District Court Judge

PULL OUT WHO’S ON THE BALLOT FORM COURTESY OF

10th Judicial District 2025 JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

Bronwyn Black-Kelly

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties

Age: 65

Legal career: Bronwyn Black-Kelly has served as a Suffolk County District Court judge since 2023, following a long career in both public service and private practice. From 1990 to 2022, she was a partner at the Law Offices of Black & Black, a general practice firm. Earlier in her career, she worked as an assistant district attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office from 1985 to 1989.

Black-Kelly earned her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law in 1985, and her bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University in 1981. She was admitted to the state bar in 1986, and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a member of both the Suffolk County and New York State bar associations.

James Malone

Endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 59

Legal career: Since 2018, James Malone has been a District Court Judge. From 2014-2017, he was a principal law clerk for State Supreme Court Justice William Condon. He received his undergraduate degree from Clarkson University in 1983 and a law degree from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 2005.

Carl Copertino

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties

Age: 69

Legal career: Judge Carl Copertino currently presides over family cases in the Family Court of Suffolk County and has served as a New York judge for 13 years.Previously, he spent five years as an attorney with the New York City Transit Authority. He received his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1981. He was admitted to the New York State bar in 1981.

Mark Cuthbertson

Endorsed by Republican and Democratic parties Age: 59

Legal career: Mark Cuthbertson, a lifelong Huntington resident, focused his legal career on commercial real estate, municipal litigation, and the representation of municipalities and notfor-profit cemeteries.

Admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, Cuthbertson earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University. There, he served as the executive editor of the Symposium for the Albany Law Review. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University.

In addition to his legal practice, Cuthbertson has served on the Huntington Town Board since 1998, where he has worked to reduce and stabilize taxes while advancing environmental protection and smart growth initiatives. He sponsored legislation preserving hillside areas and open space throughout the town.

Matthew McDonough

Endorsed by the Conservative party Age: 36

Legal career: Matthew McDonough, of Massapequa, has been admitted to practice law in New York since 2019. He is also admitted to the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern districts of New York, the U.S. Tax Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. McDonough, a graduate of the City University of New York School of Law at Queens College, he earned his Juris Doctor before serving a clerkship with the State Supreme Court. In 2020, he opened his private practice in Babylon, focusing on municipal and public sector law. He works often with local governments, businesses and residents on municipal policy, taxation and regulatory compliance.

Joseph Pastoressa

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 66

Legal career: Justice Joseph C. Pastoressa has served on the state Supreme Court in Suffolk County since 2012. Before that, he was an acting Supreme Court justice from 2004 to 2011, while also serving as a Court of Claims judge. Earlier in his career, Pastoressa worked in private practice, and later as a principal law clerk for a justice on the state Appellate Division, a Court of Claims judge and a state Supreme Court justice. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, and graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School.

Steven Pilewski

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 69

Paul Kenny

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 64

Legal career: Paul Kenny, a Glen Head resident, began his career in 1986 as a court attorney in the New York City Criminal Court and later joined a general practice firm in Queens. He served as co-counsel to the State Court Officer’s Association. From 1992 to 2007, he worked in the Kings County Supreme Court Law Department, as a court attorney-referee for matrimonial matters, and from 2000 as the deputy chief court attorney. He was appointed chief clerk of the Appellate Term, Second Department in 2007 and edited the Election Law Handbook for more than a decade. He serves on the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, is an instructor at Lehman College, an adjunct professor at the NYC College of Technology and lectures at the Appellate Division, Second Department and State Judicial Institute on election law.

Margaret Reilly

Endorsed by Republican, Conservative, and Democratic parties Age: 61

Legal career: Steven A. Pilewski is a longtime member of the state’s court system, with more than two decades of experience in judicial chambers. From 2000 to 2022, he served as principal law clerk to Justice Guy J. Mangano Jr. in the state Supreme Court in Kings County. Before that, he worked as a principal appellate law clerk for the Appellate Term of the 2nd Department from 1995 to 2000. Pilewski earned his law degree from Touro College in 1994, and received a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University in 1989. He has been a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association since 1999.

Legal career: Margaret Reilly has served as a Nassau County Surrogate’s Court judge since 2016. She was previously a Nassau County Supreme Court Justice from 2012 to 2015, an acting justice from 2007 to 2012, and a twice-elected County District Court judge from 1998 to 2011. Earlier in her career, Reilly practiced law as a deputy Nassau County attorney, the Stewart Manor village prosecutor and a senior associate at Mulholland Minion & Roe and the Law Office of Vincent D. McNamara. She has lectured at Hofstra and Touro law schools, co-chaired the Nassau County Courts’ Women in the Courts Committee, and served as an adjunct professor in trial advocacy at St. John’s.

2025 JUDICIAL CANDIDATES ELECTIoN ‘25

County Court Judge

Nancy Nicotra Bednar

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 54

Legal career: Nancy Nicotra Bednar is a lifelong Nassau County resident raised in Elmont. She lives in Rockville Centre.

A 1993 Notre Dame graduate with a bachelor’s in English, she graduated from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City in 1996 She has over 25 years of legal experience working with the Innocence Project to her leadership roles in the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and state courts.

In 2003, Bednar became a deputy bureau chief-for the General Litigation Bureau in the County Attorney’s office until 2008. Then a senior principal law clerk for Appellate DivisionSecond Department She is now a principal law clerk in the County Supreme Court

Court Judge, 2nd District

Robert G. Bogle

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 68

Legal career: Bogle has served as a New York judge for over 40 years and began his term after election in 2015. He also serves as a supervising judge of the Village Courts in the county. He received his law degree from Hofstra University in 1982 after receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from Niagara University in 1979.

Bogle has received awards such as the Magistrate of the Year Award from the State of New York in 2006 and the Frank J. Santagata Memorial Award from the Nassau County Magistrates Association in 2008. A lifelong resident of Valley Stream, he and his wife, Kathleen, have two children. He is a Knights of Columbus member.

Donald X. Clavin Jr.

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 56

Legal career: Donald X. Clavin Jr. is the former Town of Hempstead Supervisor who served almost 3 terms from 2020-2025. He stepped down in August. Clavin was the Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes from 20012019.

Previously Clavin worked as a trial attorney and as deputy county attorney in Nassau County’s Attorney’s office. Clavin holds a law degree from Hofstra University and a bachelor’s in history from Canisius College.

Clavin lives in Garden City with his wife and two children. He has stated “tax relief” as his top priority. He also helped develop the town’s 2019 and proposed 2020 budgets, including tax cuts. He has also hosted public information forums

Robert E. Pipia

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 61

Legal career: Robert E. Pipia is a judge on the Nassau County District Court in the 10th Judicial District of New York. He was first elected in 2014.

Before that, Pipia was the executive assistant to then Town of Hempstead Supervisor’s Office. This followed his work as deputy town attorney for the town’s Attorney’s Office where he served as the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance coordinator.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Albany in 1987, and earned his law degree from Hofstra University in 1992. He was licensed in New York in 1993.

Born in Queens and raised in Elmont, he attended the Henry Viscardi School.

Court Judge, 3rd District

Maria Boultadakis

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties

Age: 39

Legal career: Maria Boultadakis is a candidate for district court judge in Nassau County’s 2nd District. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2012 and is registered with the New York State Unified Court System. She earned her law degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.

Boultadakis has served as a law clerk for three New York State Supreme Court justices, and she also held the position of deputy county attorney in Nassau County from 2022 to 2023.

Karen L. Moroney

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 55

Legal career: Karen L. Moroney serves as a judge in the Nassau County District Court, first elected in 2007, she was re-elected in 2013 and is currently serving a five-year term that expires at the end of this year.

Since 2017, she has also served as principal law clerk to Justice Sharon M.J. Gianelli of the Nassau County Supreme Court, and previously held similar roles for three other county Supreme Court justices. Her legal experience includes work as an attorney for the state Supreme Court and as an assistant district attorney in Queens County from 1992 to 1999.

Moroney earned her law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 1992. She is also admitted to practice before multiple federal courts.

Diana Hedayati

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 41

Legal career: Diana Hedayati is an attorney based in Plainview and a candidate for district Court judge in Nassau County’s 3rd District. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2010 by the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department and is currently registered with the New York State Unified Court System.

Hedayati graduated from Pace University School of Law. Her professional background includes over a decade of legal experience in the public sector, with a focus on administrative and regulatory law.

Howard E. Sturim

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 66

Legal career: Howard E. Sturim is a New York Judge in the Supreme Court of Nassau County and has served for 10 years. His career began as an assistant district attorney for the Nassau County District Attorney’s office from 1991 to 2004. He prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases then became head of the Arson Unit and Major Offenses Unit. He then became a principal law clerk for the state Court of Claims to Alan L. Honorof before his term as New York Judge began in 2016.

Sturim earned his bachelor’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology in 1987 before receiving his law degree from Hofstra University in 1990 in the Maurice A. Deane School of Law.

Court Judge, 4th District

James A. Saladino

Cross endorsed by Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties Age: 60

Legal career: James A. Saladino is a district court judge in Nassau County, appointed in March of this year. He has over 30 years of legal experience, including service as a judge, law clerk, prosecutor and private practitioner. From 2019 to 2024, he served as a district court judge in Suffolk County, presiding over criminal and civil matters. Before that, he spent eight years as a principal law clerk in the New York State Supreme Court and practiced law as a partner at Saladino & Hartill, LLP. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant district Attorney in Suffolk County from 1991 to 2002.

Saladino earned his law degree from St. John’s University School of Law and a B.A. from Boston University. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1991.

On the issues:

ELECTiON ‘25

NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTiVE

Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is seeking a second term, emphasizing public safety, fiscal stability and preserving suburban character as the foundation of his administration. He said Nassau remains the safest large county in America, citing expanded law enforcement ranks, a stable budget and seven Wall Street bond-rating upgrades as evidence of sound fiscal management. Blakeman has repeatedly highlighted that county taxes have not increased during his tenure and that Nassau’s average home value has risen, which he sees as proof of prosperity and stability.

A central point of pride for Blakeman has been Nassau’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the first of its kind in the country — which dedicates jail space and crosstrained detectives to assist federal agents. He said the agreement improves safety and has strong support among Hispanic residents who want “safe

neighborhoods and strong schools.” On crime prevention, Blakeman defended his creation of a volunteer emergency database, which critics have called a militia, describing it instead as a vetted roster of former police and military members who could be mobilized Blakeman continues to challenge the state’s takeover of Nassau University Medical Center, calling it “illegal” and harmful to residents who rely on it as a safetynet hospital. He contends the move is part of a broader state plan to reduce local control and diminish services. On housing, he opposes state-mandated density requirements, arguing that Nassau is already one of the nation’s most developed suburban counties and that zoning decisions should remain local.

Overall, Blakeman’s campaign message centers on fiscal prudence, public safety and protecting Nassau’s suburban quality of life.

On the issues:

Democratic Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, of Merrick, is running for county executive on a platform centered on transparency, fiscal accountability and restoring public trust in local government.

A former Queens assistant district attorney and small business owner, Koslow said his decision to run was motivated by frustration over what he views as secrecy and mismanagement under the current administration. He cited ongoing problems at Nassau University Medical Center and the county jail as examples of a government unwilling to answer questions or plan for the future.

Koslow criticized County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s creation of a civilian militia, saying it undermines law enforcement and creates liability, and argued that Nassau’s shortage of detectives poses a more urgent safety threat. On fiscal issues, he said the county must better track its spending, cut

waste and redirect resources toward infrastructure, housing and public services. He supports using county-owned properties for new mixed-use housing and simplifying the permit process for small businesses to boost local revenue without raising taxes. Koslow also said he would end Nassau’s cooperation agreement with federal immigration authorities, arguing it strains community relations and overextends county resources.

On social policy, he has rejected measures like the county’s bans on transgender athletes and public masking as divisive distractions from more pressing issues of affordability and public safety. His approach, he said, would emphasize collaboration with state and regional leaders, community input on major development projects such as the Nassau Hub, and long-term planning to keep future generations living and working on Long Island.

NASSAU COUNTY CLERK ELECTiON ‘25

Maureen O’Connell, Nassau County Clerk since 2006, is seeking re-election to continue her work modernizing the office and expanding services for seniors and non-English-speaking residents. With over 30 years in public service, O’Connell brings experience as both a registered nurse and attorney, having previously served in the New York State Assembly and as Deputy Mayor of East Williston

On the issues:

Maureen O’Connell Party: Republican

During her nearly two decades as clerk, O’Connell has overseen a major transformation of the office’s operations. Under her leadership, millions of backlogged documents were processed, and the office transitioned to a fully digitized system for court and land records. This modernization has allowed residents and attorneys to file and access official documents online, reducing the need for in-person visits.

O’Connell implemented one of the

state’s earliest Supreme Court e-filing systems and integrated digital connections with state and local agencies. She has also prioritized digitizing historical documents, making decades-old records more accessible for residents, particularly seniors who often need to retrieve property information.

In an effort to protect homeowners, O’Connell launched a Property Fraud Alert Program, allowing property owners to receive email notifications if deeds or mortgages are filed in their name, helping to prevent fraud.

If re-elected, she plans to continue digitizing older records and expand parking at the Mineola office. She also intends to further adapt services for residents who speak languages other than English, building on the existing language line currently in place.

A lifelong Nassau County resident, O’Connell lives in East Williston and teaches nursing at SUNY Farmingdale.

Joylette E. Williams, a longtime educator and community leader, is running for Nassau County Clerk with a platform focused on modernization, accessibility, and administrative efficiency. A county resident since 1993, Williams has spent over two decades in public service and education, currently serving as a professor of English at Nassau Community College and a two-term member of the Hempstead School Board.

Williams holds a Ph.D. in English and is completing a second doctorate in Higher Education Administration at the University of Connecticut. Her academic and professional background includes extensive experience in document management, recordkeeping, and organizational leadership—skills she says directly translate to the responsibilities of the clerk’s office. Her public service includes prior roles as a Village of Hempstead trustee and current board member of the Town of

Hempstead Industrial Development Agency. Williams is also actively involved in civic organizations, including the NAACP, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, among others

On the issues: If elected, Williams plans to prioritize the digitization of county records, improve online access to public documents, and expand the use of the clerk’s mobile outreach van to underserved communities. She also proposes extending office hours one day a week to better serve working residents and increasing language accessibility for non-English-speaking residents.

Williams advocates for reducing or waiving fees on property transactions for groups such as seniors, veterans, first responders, and first-time homebuyers, citing Nassau’s fees as higher than neighboring counties.

Nassau COuNty DistriCt

Anne Donnelly, a Republican and prosecutor for over 30 years, defeated former State Sen. Todd Kaminsky in 2021 to become Nassau County’s top prosecutor; becoming the fourth consecutive woman to do so.

Donnelly, 61, is campaigning on her record as a career prosecutor who has prioritized public safety, gang enforcement and support for law enforcement. She is a Garden City resident and took office in 2022.

On the issues:

To address gun violence and online drug trafficking, she created a Firearm Suppression Unit and a Cyber Crimes and Pharmaceutical Unit. Her office has also expanded education programs in schools and invested in hate crime prevention efforts.

Nicole Aloise, a Democrat and candidate for Nassau County District Attorney, is mounting a campaign centered on addressing crime in the county, community investment and public safety.

run for district attorney.

On the issues:

Upon taking office she assembled a team of prosecutors and law enforcement officials—including a former police commissioner—to focus on violent crime, narcotics, and unsolved cold cases.

Donnelly also assisted in the Gilgo Beach serial killer investigation and helped close multiple cold cases from the 1960s and 1970s. Donnelly has said her administration prioritizes justice for vulnerable populations, including animals, and has prosecuted abusers under animal cruelty laws.

Donnelly has been an outspoken critic of New York’s “Cashless Bail” and “Clean Slate” laws, which she argues put repeat violent offenders back on the streets. She has called for their repeal while voicing continued support for police.

Before her election, Donnelly served 32 years in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, most recently as deputy bureau chief of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau. Her cases included murder-for-hire schemes, narcotics rings, and a counterfeit electronics bust that led to the largest asset forfeiture in county history.

Donnelly holds degrees from Fordham University and Fordham Law School.

Aloise, 41, brings 16 years of experience as a prosecutor in both Nassau and Queens counties, including recent work as a senior assistant district attorney in the Queens Homicide Bureau. She began her career in 2008 after earning her law degree from St. John’s University. In Queens, she helped secure more than 20 violent felony convictions and made case law by introducing the first NYPD body camera footage used in a New York City trial.

From 2019 to 2023, she served in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office as senior litigation counsel, prosecuting violent felonies and homicide cases. She returned to Queens in 2023 and continued her work until stepping down in 2024 to

Her platform includes strengthening the county’s Hate Crimes Bureau to better address attacks on Jewish and Asian communities, supporting the creation of a “death by dealer” statute to hold drug traffickers accountable in fatal overdose cases, and boosting funding for mental health, youth and violence prevention programs.

Aloise has also pledged to crack down on DWI cases through the county’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau and continue partnering with local police departments to improve public safety.

She lives in Garden City with her family, serves on her school’s PTA, coaches youth soccer and teaches legal ethics as an adjunct professor at Molloy University.

DNA lifted from cup leads to indictment

ence and DNA evidence doesn’t lie.”

Using DNA technology, the D.A.’s office has been able to reopen several cold cases and has identified five previously unknown people, both suspects and victims, over the past five years.

Jeff Greenfield, a managing partner of the NGL Group, vividly remembers those early days. In fact, the building he had purchased in 1984, located near the very tracks where Fusco’s body was found, became part of the chaotic aftermath, he said.

“That was my welcome to 112 Barrett Road in Lynbrook,” Greenfield said. “First night — murder on the railroad track, body dump discovered. The second night — vandalism at my building.”

Greenfield recalled the tense atmosphere on Merrick Road in the 1980s, particularly the stretch between Hot Skates and the nearby McDonald’s.

“It was wild,” he said. “People were roaming the neighborhood and doing damage. There were no cellphones, so kids just hung out and sometimes got into trouble.”

The public sentiment at the time, Greenfield noted, was one of concern, especially as the crime rattled a town already struggling with youth-related disturbances.

“The police did a good job corralling them into shape, but it was a tough time,” he said.

Former Lynbrook Police Chief Brian Paladino echoed those sentiments.

“The murder shocked a lot of people,” he said. “Lynbrook wasn’t crimeridden, but it had a lot of problems. It was definitely a tougher area.”

Paladino added that the Fusco case deeply changed how the community

viewed safety. “It changed a lot of parents’ thinking,” he said. “When I grew up, my parents never knew where I was.”

Thomas Fusco, the father of the teenage victim, attended last week’s news conference carrying a photo of his daughter in the pocket of his blazer.

“I love her and miss her,” he said. “I never gave up hope. I always had faith in the system.”

The indictment of a suspect in the case “will bring closure to me and my family,” he added.

The indictment comes after years of legal turmoil between the county and three men who were previously convicted in Fusco’s murder, and since have been released from prison after serving lengthy terms.

“We’ll see what the future brings,” Thomas Fusco said. “It’s heartbreaking to go through this over and over again.”

“This case has taken many turns over the years,” Donnelly said. “Three men were arrested and convicted in 1986 for this crime, and later, those convictions were overturned with the emergence of DNA and extensive testing.”

In 2017, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld a 2014 jury verdict awarding more than $43 million to John Restivo and Dennis Halstead, two men who each spent nearly 18 years in prison in connection with the killing.

The federal court reaffirmed findings that former Nassau County Homicide Det. Joseph Volpe, who has since died, violated their constitutional rights by planting evidence and withholding other evidence during the original investigation.

Along with Restivo and Halstead, another man, John Kogut, also was convicted in the initial case.

Kogut, then 21, was arrested on March 25, 1985, and all three were charged with second-degree murder and rape.

Kogut confessed to the crime, accord-

a discarded smoothie cup, which authorities said contained the dna used to indict richard Bilodeau, who is now accused of killing fusco, of Lynbrook, more than 40 years ago.

ing to police, and implicated Restivo and Halstead, telling police that the two raped Fusco and he strangled her. Kogut later recanted his confession, saying police forced him to confess.

Kogut was convicted in May 1986 and sentenced to 31 and a half years to life in prison. Restivo and Halstead were convicted in November of that year, and both were sentenced to 33 years and four months to life.

In 2003, DNA technology excluded all three as possible suspects, their verdicts were vacated in June of that year, and they were released after each served 18 years.

In 2005, Kogut was acquitted in a retrial, and prosecutors dismissed the charges against Restivo and Halstead later that year.

The next court date is set for Nov. 21 at the Nassau County Court.

News brief

Lynbrook police receive safety awards

The Village of Lynbrook Police Department received two Community Traffic Safety Awards from AAA Northeast for its traffic safety efforts in 2024.

The department earned the Gold Award, and Officer Kevin Hoffman received the Traffic Safety Leadership Award.

The awards are part of AAA’s 61st annual Community Traffic Safety Awards program, which recognizes communities for initiatives supporting the Safe System Approach. This framework emphasizes safer people, roads, vehicles, speeds and post-crash care.

AAA Northeast recognized Lynbrook and other communities for their commitment to reducing traffic-related fatalities and injuries.

— Ainsley Martinez

STEPPING OUT

Scare up a Halloween soirée

Get your ghoul on with a tricky treat of a bash

By Karen Bloom

The big day of tricks — and treats — is fast approaching. Ir’s the perfect excuse to let your spooky side shine. Whether you’re hosting little ghouls or adults who love a good fright, transform your home into a playful (or slightly spooky) party lair. Think mad scientist candy tables,“frightfully” delicious bites, bubbling mocktails, and enough treats to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Costumes optional, fun required. Not everyone wants to go all out with a full costume — and that’s fne! A Halloween Disguise Table lets guests add just a touch of whimsy. From goofy glasses and wacky hats to plastic fangs and spinning bow ties, everyone can join the fun, one accessory at a time.

Go for some spooky eats and magical drinks. Turn everyday foods into Halloween delights with cookie cutters, clever renaming, or inventive presentation. Sandwiches become tombstones, cookies turn into ghosts, you get the idea. Drinks? Pour them into vintage bottles and jugs and label them “magic potions” for an instant wow factor.

With a little imagination, your Halloween gathering can be a playful mix of tricks, treats and memorable moments — no matter your age. Try these tricked-out goodies for tasty spooking.

Spooky Ghosts

These friendly ghosts are sweetly spooky.

• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature

• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

• 1 cup extra-fne Baker’s Special Sugar

• Chocolate mini chips, for eyes

Preheat the oven to 200°F, with a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare a pastry bag with a 1/2” plain tip. Place the room-temperature egg whites into the bowl of a mixer. Add the cream of tartar. Beat on slow speed until the cream of tartar is dissolved and the egg whites are foamy. Slowly increase the speed of the mixer. When

the volume of the eggs has doubled and they begin to look opaque, sprinkle in about half the sugar. Continue to beat until the whites are glossy and getting stiff. Add the remaining sugar and mix until it’s evenly distributed and the whites hold a stiff peak.

Transfer the meringue to the pastry bag and, holding the bag perpendicular to the baking sheet, pipe, with even pressure, about 2”-high mounds of meringue.

Carefully press two chocolate mini chips into each meringue ghost, to make eyes.

Bake the meringues for approximately 60 to 90 minutes, or until they’re dry and crisp to the touch.

Turn off the oven, open the door a couple of inches, and leave the meringues in the oven to fnish drying several hours, or even overnight.

Remove the ghosts from the completely cold oven, and store them loosely covered. They should keep for several days at cool/dry room temperature. Yield: 20 to 24 ghosts.

Meatball Mummy Bites

Take a bite out of these mummies if you dare.

• 1 can (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent rolls

• 20 meatballs, pre-made

• Ketchup or mustard

• Marinara sauce, as desired

Heat oven to 375°F. Line work surface with cooking parchment paper. On parchment-lined surface, unroll dough and press perforations to seal; cut into 4 rectangles.

With knife or pizza cutter, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough.

Wrap 2 pieces of dough around each meatball to look like “bandages,” stretching dough slightly to cover meatballs.

Separate “bandages” near one end to show meatball “face.” On ungreased large cookie sheet, place wrapped meatballs.

Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until dough is light golden brown and meatballs are hot. With ketchup and mustard, draw “eyes” on mummy

bites. Serve with warm marinara sauce. Monster Mouths

A spooky treat you’ll want to sink your teeth into.

• 1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated peanut butter cookies

• 3/4 cup hazelnut spread with cocoa

• 1 cup miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350°F. Shape dough into 16 balls. On ungreased cookie sheet, place balls 3 inches apart.

Bake 15 to 17 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.

Spread hazelnut spread on bottom of each cookie; cut each cookie crosswise in half. For each “mouth,” press 4 to 5 marshmallows into hazelnut spread along rounded edge of 1 cookie half. Top with second cookie half, bottom side down; gently press together.

Melted Witch Punch

Take a sip and you’ll be feeling “witchy.”

• 6 cups water

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 (6 ounce) package lime-favored gelatin mix

• 1 (46 fuid ounce) can pineapple juice

• 2 quarts orange juice

• 1/2 cup lemon juice

• 2 (2 liter) bottles chilled lemon-lime soda

Mix water, sugar, and gelatin mix in a large saucepan and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and cook at a boil, whisking frequently, until gelatin and sugar have dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir pineapple juice, orange juice, and lemon juice into gelatin mixture and transfer into resealable plastic bags. Place in freezer until slushy, about 4 hours.

Pour mixture into a large punch bowl and stir in lemon-lime soda; foat a black plastic witch hat atop the punch.

Ruthie Foster is eager to share tunes from her new CD, “Mileage.” Renowned for her ability to weave together a tapestry of diverse musical infuences ranging from gospel and blues to folk and soul, Foster’s musical odyssey has taken her from singing in churches in rural Texas to earning multiple Grammy nominations, gracing the stage with the Allman Brothers, and collaborating with Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. With her milestone 10th studio album, Foster continues to tell stories that refect her personal triumphs, losses and the universal human experience. Born into a family steeped in gospel tradition, she initially shied away from the spotlight, preferring to play guitar, piano and write songs for others. Now, many albums later, she stands as a testament to the power of authenticity and resilience in music.

Friday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. $43, $38, $33. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Little Feat

One of America’s most distinctive and longest-running rock bands, Little Feat is back in a big way with a revitalized lineup and a stellar new album — its frst of original material in over a decade. The venerable band is touring in support of ‘Strike Up the Band,” their frst new studio album reliant on new material since 2012’s Rooster Rag. It’s Little Feat’s triumphant return to rock ‘n roll with plenty of swampy Southern soul. The band builds on a deep, over 50-year history of elite musicianship and brilliant, idiosyncratic songwriting that transcends boundaries. California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country and rockabilly mixed with New Orleans swamp boogie has kept audiences grooving for decades.

Saturday, Oct 25, 8 p.m. $141.25, $120.25, $99.75, $77.75, $66.25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

Family

OCT

Halloween Story Craft Kids are invited to listen to a spooky tale and make a haunted craft with Ms. Renee at Lynbrook Public Library. Registration required.

• Where: Storytime room, 56 Eldert St.

• Time: 4-4:45 p.m.

• Contact: LynbrookLibrary.org

Halloween Costume Giveaway

Calling all kids and parents who need a Halloween costume! Come to Lynbrook Public Library and pick one out to keep during library hours. Donations of gently used or new costumes are welcome.

• Where: Community Room, 56 Eldert St.

• Time: Ongoing during library hours, through Oct. 31

• Contact: LynbrookLibrary.org

OCT

23 Spooky Fest Spooky Fest is back at the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, through the month. Celebrate the season with Halloween for all. Be scared if you dare or enjoy not-so-spooky thrills with the younger folks.

Orchestre National de France

– Mystery Max! Join Max on a wild adventure to fnd the ghost’s missing candy. Along the way meet crazy characters, make new friends, sing songs and fnd clues. Whodunit? $18, $15 seniors 65+, $12 ages 3+

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 1-2 p.m.

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

Local women meet weekly to discuss cooking, crafts and more. Previous events have been in conjunction with Lynbrook Restorative. Open to neighboring areas and residents.

• Where: 111 North Oceanside Road

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

• Contact: Karen Alterson at KAltersonk4@gmail.com

Movie matinee

• Where: 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre

• Time: 6-9:30 p.m., also Oct. 25-Oct. 26

• Contact: cstl.org or (516) 7640045

Paint with Joan

Joan guides adults (18+) stepby-step through a painting at Lynbrook Public Library. No experience needed; supplies included. Space is limited and registration required.

• Where: Community Room, 56 Eldert St.

• Time: 2-4 p.m.

• Contact: LynbrookLibrary.org

OCT

25

24 East Rockaway Winter Festival registration open Outdoor vendor event with seasonal merchandise and community activities under a heated tent. Open to merchandise and community organizations selling water, snacks, flowers, and handmade items.

• Where: TBD

• Time: 3-6 p.m.

• Contact: NLanderer@ villageofeastrockaway.org

Double Double Toil and Trouble

Families are invited to celebrate the spooky season at Long Island Children’s Museum by brewing up your own magical potion bottle to take home at the drop-in program. Free with museum admission. For ages 3+.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

Dog Days Weekend

Enjoy the glorious grounds of Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), With fall dog parade and costume contest on Sunday. Prizes awarded to best dog costumes, including Prettiest, Most Handsome, Most Original, Best Duo or Group, Funniest. Costume contest participants must register.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury.

• Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: also Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with costume parade/contest, 3-5 p.m.

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

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes all to its latest theater production. Horrible news! The Mountain Boo Soda Company has their eyes on a piece of property for their new factory — Uncle Vlad’s pumpkin patch! Join Uncle Vlad, his nephew Chad, and their freakish friends as they team up to protect their Halloween home from the bony fingers of big business. The company is run by a skeleton, after all! With puppeteers and actors from LICM’s Theater, this musical adventure will tickle your funny bone as a Halloween treat for the whole family. $5 with museum admission ($4 members). $10 theater only.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., also Oct. 26

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Haunted Halloween

Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for some Halloween fun. Enjoy safe trick or treating, a kids’ costume parade and contest, witch-broom making, pumpkin painting, and other family fun. Meet the Headless Horseman and listen to a reading of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Enjoy the spooky fun while you appreciate the

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

• Time: 7 p.m.

Music Director Cristian Maˇcelaru leads the Orchestre National de France on its frst U.S. tour in nearly 10 years, performing with Grammy-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov. Their brief three-concert tour, with a stop at Tilles Center, culminates in a much-anticipated return to Carnegie Hall. Founded in 1934 and prized as France’s leading orchestra, the Orchestre National frst toured in North America in 1948. Joined by the pianist-extraordinaire (whose career has taken him far and wide, to Paris, throughout France, and to the most prestigious classical music venues in the world), the Orchestre National de France, the orchestra performs repertoires that lie at the core of its identity: Maurice Ravel (to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his birth), Elsa Barraine and Camille Saint-Saëns. Their brilliant repertoire features Saint-Saëns’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, along with Elsa Barraine’s Symphony No. 2 and two works by Ravel — Concerto in G and Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 — with Trifonov as soloist on both of the program’s concerti. Under the baton of Cristian Maˇcelaru, this masterful program stuns in the musical story it provides, bringing the listener on a picturesque journey from start to fnish. The programming of Elsa Barraine’s Symphony No. 2 with its gumptous string lines that compliment the playfulness of the work’s structure sits beautifully in the program with Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloé. The two piano concertos bring different stylistic characters to the stage, with Saint-Saëns offering late romantic era lushness and Ravel offering the lavish fancy. Hearing these two works performed by Trifonov, a performer with a dedication to perfecting concerto repertoire for piano, is iconic.

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

colors and beauty of the fall season in the farms, woods, and felds of the historic site. $15, $12 seniors and children 5-12.

• Where: 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage

• Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Contact: oldbethpagevillag erestoration.org or call (516) 572-8409

East Rockaway Fall Festival

Join in outdoor seasonal fun with vendors, activities and more.

• Where: 344 Atlantic Ave.

• Time: 3-6 p.m.

• Contact: VillageofEastRockaway. org

Not-So-Spooky Ghost’s Missing Candy Halloween Puppet Show

Get into the Halloween Spirit with giggles, not goosebumps at Old Westbury Gardens. After trickor-treating around the gardens, take in The Not-So-Spooky Ghost Puppet Show by Wonderspark Puppets, taking place in The Barn at Orchard Hill! When a timid little ghost’s Halloween candy goes missing, only one detective is clever enough, brave enough, and smart enough to solve the case

Stop by Lynbrook Public Library to see “The Phoenician Scheme,” 2025 espionage black comedy film produced, written and directed by Wes Anderson A wealthy businessman appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As he embarks on a new enterprise, both soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins. Rated PG-13.

• Where: Community Room, 56 Eldert St.

• Time: 2-4:15 p.m.

• Contact: LynbrookLibrary.org

Having an event?

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

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON TRUST, NA, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE F/B/O HOLDERS OF STRUCTURED ASSET

MORTGAGE

INVESTMENTS II INC.,

BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST 2007-3, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-3, Plaintiff AGAINST SONIA F. GARNES AKA SONIA GARNES, ORLANDO FINDLAYTER

INDIVIDUALLY AND AS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF YVETTE FINDLAYTER, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 23, 2019, 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 November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 67 Lawrence Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 54, Lot 219. Approximate amount of judgment $516,776.20 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #003213/2017. George Esernio, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-000730 87259 156102

LEGAL NOTICE Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX #: 607257/2023 PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION

Plaintiff, vs CINDY A. VOYES AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF AUDREY HAMILTON, DEBORAH

A. SIEBER AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF AUDREY HAMILTON, STEVEN C. SAMMIS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF AUDREY HAMILTON, TEDD SAMMIS AS HEIR TO

THE ESTATE OF AUDREY HAMILTON, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF AUDREY HAMILTON IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION; SUCH UNKNOWN PERSONS BEING HEREIN GENERALLY DESCRIBED AND INTENDED TO BE INCLUDED IN WIFE, WIDOW, HUSBAND, WIDOWER, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF SUCH DECEASED, ANY AND ALL PERSONS DERIVING INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON, OR TITLE TO SAID REAL PROPERTY BY, THROUGH OR UNDER THEM, OR EITHER OF THEM, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WIVES, WIDOWS, HUSBANDS, WIDOWERS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNS, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES, EXCEPT AS STATED, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, DISCOVER BANK, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ELMER YOUNG IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION; SUCH UNKNOWN PERSONS BEING HEREIN GENERALLY DESCRIBED AND INTENDED TO BE INCLUDED IN WIFE, WIDOW, HUSBAND, WIDOWER, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF SUCH DECEASED, ANY AND ALL PERSONS DERIVING INTEREST IN

OR LIEN UPON, OR TITLE TO SAID REAL PROPERTY BY, THROUGH OR UNDER THEM, OR EITHER OF THEM, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WIVES, WIDOWS, HUSBANDS, WIDOWERS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNS, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES, EXCEPT AS STATED, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE IRS, NASSAU COUNTY CLERK, THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO FLEET NATIONAL BANK, VALERIE A CLEMENTS AKA VALERIE ANN CLEMENTS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELMER YOUNG, TINA M WENSLEY AKA TINA MARIE WENSLEY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELMER YOUNG, MELANIE JANE

MAGRUDER AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELMER YOUNG, REBECCA ANNE LUDKE AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELMER YOUNG, THERESA L WHITLOCK AKA THERESA LYNN

WHITLOCK AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELMER YOUNG “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fctitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendant(s).

MORTGAGED PREMISES: 16 Sampson Street East East Rockaway, NY 11518

To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental

Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an offce for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Nassau. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Audrey Hamilton, Unknown Heirs Defendants In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Jeffrey A. Goodstein of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Seventeenth day of September, 2025 and fled with the Complaint in the Offce of the Clerk of the County of Nassau, in the City of Mineola. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by Audrey Hamilton (who died on February 8, 2022, a resident of the county of Nassau, State of New York) dated the April 28, 2006, to secure the sum of $480,000.00 and recorded at Book 30530, Page 566 in the Offce of the Nassau County Clerk on May 24, 2006. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed September 13, 2017 and recorded on September 20, 2017, in the Offce of the Nassau County Clerk at Book 42392, Page 796. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed July 14, 2022 and recorded on July 28, 2022, in the Offce of the Nassau County Clerk at Book 46765, Page 235. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed June 11, 2024

News brief

Vendor spots available for festivals

The Village of East Rockaway is accepting vendor applications for its upcoming Fall and Winter Festivals, scheduled for Oct. 25 and Dec. 13 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Outdoor vendor space will be available for the fall event, while heated tents will be provided during the winter festival. Merchandise vendors and community organizations selling water, prepackaged snacks, seasonal flowers or handmade items are welcome to apply. For vendor fees and additional information, email NLanderer@VillageofEastRockaway.org.

— Ainsley Martinez

and recorded on June 19, 2024, in the Offce of the Nassau County Clerk at Instrument Number 2024-37387Book 475747, Page 793. The property in question is described as follows: 16 Sampson Street East, East Rockaway, NY 11518 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who fled this Foreclosure proceeding against you and fling the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

DATED: September 24, 2025 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law frm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 87489 156096

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. SENECA J. VETRANO, NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER, Defts. Index #610074/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered April 14, 2025, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 20, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. premises k/a Section 42, Block 235 Lot 32. Sold subject to terms and conditions of fled judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held, “rain or shine.” PAUL MELI, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY 11021. #102579 156282

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the New York State Annual Financial Report of the Village Treasurer, for the Fiscal Year June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025 has been completed and is on fle in the Offce of the Village Clerk, at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, New York, and is available for inspection between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. JOHN GIORDANO, VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 156422

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff AGAINST GEORGE R. ERCOLE JR A/K/A GEORGE ERCOLE; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 4, 2017, 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 November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 169 Spencer Avenue, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of East Rockaway, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 441, Lot 232. Approximate amount of judgment $367,743.07 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #008271/2009. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-002974 87357 156408

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WATERFALL VICTORIA GRANTOR TRUST II, SERIES G, Plaintiff, vs. JORGE ARIAS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to Amend Caption, Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale After Inquest, and Appointment of Referee duly entered on July 31, 2014, an Order Extending Time to Set Sale and Amending Caption duly entered on December 14, 2021 and an Order for Extension of Time to Conduct Foreclosure Sale duly entered on February 2, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 18 Catherine Street, Lynbrook, NY 11563. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 226 and Lot 593. Approximate amount of judgment is $342,900.28 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #008272/2009. Mark Ricciardi, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CSC Holdings, LLC seeks a VP, Product Operations, Analytics and Quality to develop, maintain, and enhance automated software engineering, testing, deployment, and monitoring capabilities. Oversee product quality tracking. Lead enterprise-wide remediation for identified issues and ensure ongoing customer satisfaction with technology platforms. Hire, develop, and retain product management and software engineering talent. Manage acceptance testing in production to determine technology capabilities and expectations. Determine release or rejection of software updates based on issue resolution. Serve as Tier 3 escalation point for frontline phone agents and field technicians. #LI-DNI Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field followed by 5 years of progressively responsible experience with overseeing software and hardware development lifecycle methodologies, including DevSecOps. Experience must include at minimum: 5 years of experience with wireless, hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC), and fiber access and transport network technologies; 5 years of experience with leading people, processes, and technology solutions design; 5 years of experience with SQL and visualization tools, including Tableau and PowerBI; 5 years of experience with epic, story, and spec writing as well as interval and sprint planning management tools, including Jira and Confluence; 5 years of experience with deep architecture design; and 5 years of experience with leveraging company financial data to inform business decision-making. Part-time telecommuting permitted. Up to 20% domestic and international travel required. Job location: Bethpage, NY. Rate of Pay: $261,248.00 – $271,248.00 per year. To apply, please visit https://www.alticeusacareers.com, and enter Job Requisition ID 10598. Alternatively, please send your résumé, cover letter, and a copy of the ad to: Altice USA, Attn: Erin M. Berry, One Court Square West, Long Island City, NY, USA 11101 Hareem Enterprises Inc seeks

Our window replacement looks complicated

Apartments For Rent

Retail Space For Rent

Real Estate

WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

GREENPORT: North Fork. Prime Main Street location. Historic Captains' house. Original floors and moldings. Suitable for: retail, gallery, office, tasting room. $3,700/month. Call 516-241-8135.

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

Cemetery Plots

FAMILY HEADSTONE WITH 8 Plots For Sale In Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, NY. First Row Facing Belmont Racetrack. Sold Together. $60,000.00/ Neg. Please Email stein@nova.edu

Q. With winter coming, we’re realizing that our windows are drafty and hard to open. It’s time to replace them after 40 years in our house. As we start shopping around, are there windows you recommend, and why? We keep seeing commercials for replacement windows, and were wondering if there’s a difference since our window openings aren’t standard. I took some measurements, and some of the windows are very uniform — like 4 feet tall, and others are off by 2 or 3 inches and those don’t match one another. Will the new windows be custom fit to the openings, or will we need to change the openings? I’m concerned, because our house is brick, and it seems like not every window is going to fit. What should I look for when talking to a contractor, and will we need a permit?

A. The most important thing to look for with windows is energy compliance and the strength and ease of operating the hardware. Windows that will lose more energy are a poor investment, followed by those that can’t be opened easily as they age. The strength of the frames goes hand in hand with the window operation, because less costly vinyl windows are made of less costly materials that will distort over time and directly affect the seal around the frames, making for more difficulty opening and closing.

Lately I’ve noticed that clients are searching for unique styles and brands from faraway places and even other countries. One person asked me to look at a lift-out window from Southern California that was meant for a café serving counter, but they wanted to use it for a second-floor bedroom. The window was a push-out-and-up type that didn’t look like it could handle our weather in the Northeast. There was no energy data to show resistance to our winters, and nothing published that could pass our local codes.

Another client is getting windows from Poland. They’re very strong, triple-pane units that cost less and will probably comply with the energy codes, but it was a struggle to get the energy data in a format required in your state codes.

The rule with most building departments in your area is that direct replacement doesn’t need a building permit, but altering window sizes does. You should still verify this with your building department, because you want to avoid receiving a warning or summons during the installation and then having to stop to get plans made and permits filed.

Custom window sizes require creating extra framing to attractively insert standard sizes. If you reduce the window opening, it must still comply with safety requirements. Consult either a local official or an architect to be sure that you comply. The codes vary for existing window openings, which require 4 square feet versus altered openings that bump the required size up to 5.7 square feet. The architect can also give you some guidance about wood versus vinyl, fiberglass versus metal, etc. Good luck!

AFFORDABLE

Costume Jewelry Wanted Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & Rings. Also Buying Gold & Silver. $$ CASH PAID $$ 631-500-0792 Long Island / Will Travel

Under $100 (2) 30 X 36 mirror, bevelled edge, etchings in corners, hardware attached. beautiful 516-579-9089 $45.00 36 INCH DOG crate $35.00. Call 516-872-8486

BRAND NEW HOLLY Pattern Vase, Vintage Statues (Christmas), Christmas ornaments, excellent. (516)579-9089 under $25.00 all

CEDAR RABBIT HUTCH: Mica cleanout drawers, Casters, 54" X 24", Solid construction. $95. 516-343-4010

DRESSERS: TWO BLACK Wood. Single drawer, 2 doors w/shelf. Formica top. W-32"xH-30"xD-18" $35 each. 516-320-1906

GIRLS SIZE 10, Hoodies, Long-sleeve tops & pants, New with Tags $10. Text (917) 420-5814

GIRLS SIZE 6 Tops and Jeans - New with Tags $8. Text (917) 420-5814

IKEA SOLID OAK: Unassembled, Media Storage Cabinets, New in Box: DVD, CD VCR $50 each. 516-486-7941

MIKASA SENTIMENTS CARAFE, glass, new, boxed, inscribed with Happiness, Success, Wisdom and Friendship. $25, 516-678-0694.

MIKASA SENTIMENTS CHAMPAGNE Fluted Glasses, 4, inscribed with Friendship, Wisdom, Success and Happiness. $40. 516-678-0694.

QUARTERS: ALL FIFTY STATES: Uncirculated, in presentation folders. 3 sets all 50 States. $50. 516-486-7941

Home Improvement

Finds Under $100

SEIKO SCHOOLHOUSE CLOCK: Like New, Excellent condition, Chimes, $80 (516) 486-2363 Jack Taylor.

WOMAN'S REVERSIBLE BLACK shearing coat for $90.00. Pictures upon request. 516-668-7286

SERVICES

Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry

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

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

Cable/TV/Wiring

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

Electricians

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

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

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

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

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

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

Miscellaneous

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

Painting

CHARLIE THE PAINTER: Highly Skilled Professional Painter. All Phases Of The Painting Trade. Interior/ Exterior. Expert Repairs. Commercial. 25 Years Experience. FREE Estimates. Charlie 516-325-6574

Plumbing

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

Power Washing

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

Services

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?

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

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

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

Telephone Services

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

Tree Services

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

Satellite/TV Equipment

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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

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

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

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

FORD FOCUS, 2014, 4 Door, Hatchback, Fully Loaded, Garaged, 8K-Miles, Showroom Condition, $10,000 Cash. 516-941-5874

MERCEDES C350, 2015: 4Matic, Sunroof, 77K,

opiNioNs

How does this shutdown finally end?

The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1. I can’t stand it. I’ve been back and forth to Washington, but the Capitol is relatively quiet. Federal workers are missing paychecks; Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare applications can’t get processed; flights are being delayed; and without any action come Nov. 1, millions of Americans will be notified that their health insurance premiums are going up by over $1,000 — per month!

Why can’t we fix this? Republicans have the White House and majorities in both the Senate and the House, but they need eight Democratic votes in the Senate to pass a government funding bill. Despite the high stakes and the need for high-level bipartisan negotiations to end this crisis, no one is talking. Why?

Republicans say they won’t negotiate until the government is reopened. House Speaker Mike Johnson hasn’t called us back to Congress for a month. Senate Majority Leader John Thune refuses to budge, and President Trump continues his my-way-or-the-highway

“Nposture, unilaterally — and likely unlawfully — firing federal employees, cutting projects in Democratic states and eliminating programs to try to impose his will, making this shutdown as painful as possible.

The Democrats are just as dug in. They warn that those health insurance premiums will soon skyrocket because Republicans refuse to extend the tax credits that keep the premiums down. We’re running out of time.

W

e need a solution that staves off spikes in health insurance premiums.

If the credits expire, 22 million Americans, including more than 100,000 Long Islanders, will see their premiums spike. Healthy people all over the country will choose to forgo coverage, which will shrink the risk pool and raise premiums for everyone. The results will be catastrophic.

The crazy thing is, most Democrats want to reopen the government, and many Republicans want to extend the tax credits. The problem is that no one trusts one another. Republicans want to open the government with a handshake promise to talk about health insurance later. Democrats want it dealt with as part of the reopening. There must be compromise, often a dirty word in D.C.

Normally, I’d advocate for trust. I don’t believe shutdowns should be used

as negotiating tactics for these kinds of policy debates. But these aren’t normal times. For the past nine months, the administration has ignored the Democrats, unilaterally eliminating jobs and cutting key programs, reversing budget decisions without warning and generally steamrolling Congress’s constitutional authority over “the power of the purse” and the use of the military in our cities.

Johnson and Thune have refused to negotiate with Democrats. I’ve voted to keep the government open more than 40 times over my five terms in Congress. Each time, the governing majority has negotiated with the minority party, with the understanding that they simply don’t have the votes on their own.

How can Democrats reasonably be expected to trust that health care will be dealt with after the reopening in an environment of such fear, anger and distrust in Washington?

Nevertheless, we need to find a way to reopen the government as soon as possible, or things will only get worse. We need a solution that also staves off spikes in health insurance costs.

That’s why I’m leading a bipartisan effort with Republican Congresswoman Jen Kiggans. Our bill, the Premium

Tax Credit Extension Act, would extend the credits for one year, protecting families while giving Congress time to reach a broader health care deal. It’s not perfect. Like most of my Democratic colleagues, I’d prefer extending the credits permanently. But we’re in the minority, and we can’t let our aspiration for perfection stop us from achieving the good. Republicans, who can’t open the government without Democrats, must also see that truth.

The sticking point in this shutdown is health care affordability: Polling shows that the top concern in our country is the cost of living, and health care costs are a key contributor. At Trump’s inaugural address, he said he would “rapidly reduce prices.” I, like many Americans, hoped that he would.

Now inflation is up, costs are climbing, and Americans feel duped. They want us to reopen the government, prioritize lowering costs —health care a big part of that — and stop playing partisan games while they pay the price.

For many Americans, Washington hasn’t just shut down this month — it’s felt closed for far too long. We need to reopen it in every sense: by rebuilding trust, negotiating honestly, and committing to working together to find solutions for the people we represent.

Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.

Returning to autumn in New York, 2025

o man can step into the same river twice.” — Heraclitus, 500 B.C.

After spending the past few years in Florida, my husband and I decided this season to rent a place near Woodmere, where we lived in the same house for 51 years. I taught in the local schools, our kids grew up here, and our roots in the community run deep.

We’ve been back in town for about two months. I don’t have meteorological data, but I believe we’ve had the most glorious autumn weather ever experienced in southwestern Nassau County. Until the nor’easter, of course, which brought back memories of Hurricanes Belle and Irene and Sandy.

I took myself to Woodmere Dock and found the seascape of the bay, the waterside holes of the Rockaway Hunting Club and the vast marshes all the same. I imagine I’m one of few people who

recall that the dock was owned at one time by the Ike family, who rented rowboats by the hour and owned an access road to the dock known as Ike’s Lane.

You can go home again, but if you do, be prepared. Everything is the same, but entirely different. And, of course, you are different, too. Our old house looks as if we closed the door and walked away yesterday. The tiny memorial to our dog Sheba still rests in a flower bed where we buried her ashes.

You can go home again, but be prepared. Everything is the same, but entirely different.

The second day up North, I walked into a doctor’s office and into a friend from our kids’ high school days. We looked the same, other than dusted and stamped by time. That afternoon, a woman jogged by our rental house, and I realized she was in a book group I ran 25 years ago. I kept running into people who looked as if a makeup artist had worked them over. And they did double takes when I reintroduced myself.

Things are where I remember them — firehouses and supermarkets and a few restaurants. But some stores are now banks, and many small businesses

have been replaced by medical megapractices, gyms or nail spas. Community boards advertise unfamiliar events and groups. I felt like Emily in “Our Town,” when she returns from the dead to revisit her 12th birthday and realizes that no one ever appreciates the everydayness of their lives while they’re living them.

I took the LIRR to the city from Lawrence one day. I didn’t know where or how to park, how to buy a ticket or how to find the train schedule. Since I last rode the Snail, it went digital. I got a tutorial from my granddaughter and enjoyed a glorious day with her traipsing through downtown Manhattan. BTW, despite the fearmongering of many Floridians, the subway was clean, and it all felt safe.

Penn Station was emblematic of my experience, looking completely new and kind of brazen and futuristic, but foundationally the same. Track 19 is still Track 19, and the train back to Lawrence still left from there.

Another day, I drove from the Five Towns to Astoria. I hadn’t driven in city

traffic for six years. That was hell and a half. I felt gratified that my memory of the roads was accurate, and the Van Wyck still went to the Grand Central and then to Steinway Street — but what a holy mess the roads are. Everything is under construction, and cement trucks terrorized me all the way from here to there. My Waze app told me to go right so I could go left, and then an 18-wheeler backed into my lane. More people gave me the finger salute during that 50-minute ride than in all of my years driving.

The Woodmere and other towns of my younger self have evolved and, in some cases, disappeared. That’s what happens. New people, new shops, new activities festoon the old infrastructure. All the little back roads are the same, though. I realized I knew 10 different ways to drive anyplace.

I also know the origin stories, the history, of people and places, and it all came flooding back as I zipped about town. I felt grounded in the way you can only feel when your present is layered with rich memories of the past.

It’s autumn in New York again, and it’s good to be home.

Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD

Herald editorial

Science strengthens justice on Long Island

For decades, justice in Nassau and Suffolk counties often depended on eyewitnesses, confessions and detective work that, while diligent, was limited by the science of its time. But today, the breakthroughs of modern forensic science are rewriting history, freeing the innocent and holding the guilty accountable.

Last week, the Nassau County district attorney’s office announced a stunning development in one of Long Island’s most haunting cold cases, the 1984 murder of 16-year-old Theresa Fusco in Lynbrook. Fusco disappeared after finishing her shift at the Hot Skates Roller Rink. A month later, her body was found in a nearby wooded area.

For nearly 40 years, her family lived with grief and confusion, compounded by the wrongful convictions of three men whose lives were destroyed before DNA technology could prove their innocence. Those men — Dennis Halstead, John Kogut and John Restivo — spent nearly two decades in prison before DNA testing cleared them in 2003.

Now, that same science has brought the case full circle. Investigators linked Richard Bilodeau, 63, of Center Moriches, to the crime after obtaining DNA from a discarded smoothie cup earlier this year. When tested, it was a 100

letters

percent match with evidence preserved from the Fusco crime scene.

“Science and DNA evidence doesn’t lie,” the district attorney’s office stated. And it doesn’t coerce confessions. It doesn’t forget. It doesn’t play favorites. It tells the truth when the truth is hard to find.

The Fusco case isn’t just about closure — it’s a lesson in progress. Four decades ago, detectives couldn’t imagine a world in which a cold case could be revived by a few microscopic cells. Today, the Nassau County forensic unit has reopened a number of cases, identifying both victims and suspects through genetic technology once considered science fiction.

Science is also central to another major Long Island case now unfolding in court: that of Rex Heuermann, the Massapequa Park architect accused of being the Gilgo Beach serial killer. There, too, DNA stands at the center of the search for truth. Prosecutors are relying on cutting-edge testing from Astrea Forensics, a California lab that analyzes even the tiniest hair fragments. Defense attorneys have tried to discredit the science as “magic,” claiming that New York courts haven’t yet accepted it.

But experts such as Dr. Kelley Harris,

There should be funding in the county budget for a safe center

The following letter was sent to Nassau County legislators.

The South Shore Women’s Alliance is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to advocating for the rights of women and families. In line with this mission, SSWA hosted “Not Me” workshops for parents and their daughters, in which the Safe Center LI, of Bethpage, played a crucial role, providing instruction on fundamental prevention and protection strategies, as well as education on the warning signs and cycles of abuse.

In addition to serving as the primary center for people affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse, the Safe Center operated as an advocacy center for child-abuse prosecutions, maintained a crisis-intervention hotline and offered an advocate-response program that dispatched trained volunteers to emergency rooms to assist survivors of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence.

The Safe Center was the lifeline for over 5,000 people each year, providing crucial resources and support to victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence, the only center of its kind in Nassau County. It is unconscionable that County Executive Bruce Blakeman allowed it to close.

Nassau provided $2.9 million to the Safe Center in 2023. But when asked for county grants to keep the center going, Blakeman failed not only to provide the needed funding, but also to facilitate a takeover by another organization, forcing the center to shut its doors.

The Safe Center board’s former president, Shanell Parrish-Brown, said, “The county sort of left the Safe Center

a University of Washington geneticist, defend the method as “elegant and powerful”— a reminder that while justice is constant, the tools to attain it evolve. Every forensic innovation, from fingerprints to fiber analysis to DNA sequencing, was once new and controversial. Yet each step forward has given law enforcement stronger, fairer tools to uncover facts that human memory or intuition alone could never provide.

Whether it’s exonerating the innocent, as in Fusco’s tragic case, or convicting the guilty, as prosecutors hope in the Gilgo Beach murders, forensic science is reshaping the path toward justice on Long Island. It demands accuracy. It demands accountability. And it demands that we trust evidence grounded not in guesswork or coercion, but in chemistry, genetics and time-tested truth.

For the Fusco family, science may finally bring the closure they’ve waited for since 1984. For the families of the Gilgo Beach victims, it may soon bring answers to a mystery that has haunted this area for years.

From Lynbrook to Massapequa Park and across Long Island, one message is clear: Science keeps faith with the facts — and with the people who deserve justice.

out to dry.”

As reported in Newsday, County Legislator Seth Koslow “said the impending closure could have been avoided with better county planning.”

“This was a failure of leadership in Nassau to ensure the safety of these children who have been victimized once and are now being victimized again by the Blakeman administra -

tion,” Koslow said. “This wasn’t something that just fell out of the heavens — people saw this coming.”

Why weren’t there hearings about the future of the center when the financial problems first became known? Why hasn’t the Legislature’s Health and Social Services Committee held hearings about how it might save the center?

opinions

Haven’t heard about kratom? It’s a new cause for concern.

kratom is a substance that has caught the attention of legislatures across the country — in New York especially, due to its wide usage as a stimulant and because of its alleged medicinal properties, but mainly as a cause of recent tragic deaths. I believe you should be aware of the risks of kratom, its compounds and synthetic derivatives. According to Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Concentrated, synthetic 7-OH” — the herb’s chemical byproduct — “may be the fourth wave of the opioid epidemic.”

Kratom is a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves are sold on the market as tea, powder, pills, tablets or capsules. It is found in energy drinks, vapes, herbal supplements and gummies. Unregulated kratom products have been found to contain lead.

People use kratom to treat conditions such as pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, opioid use disorder and withdrawal, and to boost energy and enhance wellness. Depending on the dosage,

however, it can produce both stimulant effects and opioid-like sedative effects. Its risks include liver toxicity, seizures and addiction.

The use of kratom started to become mainstream over the past decade. It’s relatively inexpensive, but according to industry statistics, the industry is valued at between $1.3 billion and $5.62 billion, and is projected to grow rapidly. This is concerning!

TThe FDA has not approved any uses for kratom, and it is not lawfully marketed in the United States. The FDA describes it as lacking medicinal value, and has raised concerns about risks it says are similar to those of using morphine. The FDA warns consumers to avoid usage until it is better understood.

Although it occurs naturally in the kratom plant, it is considered a synthetic substance in its potent form, in commercial products. The recommendation is now under review by the DEA.

he head of the FDA says it ‘may be the fourth wave of the opioid epidemic.’

In 1970, Congress established five schedules of classification for controlled substances, Schedule 1 being the worst, and granted the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FDA the authority to determine which substances could be added or removed from those schedules.

In July, the FDA announced that it would recommend to the DEA that 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, the powerful compound found in kratom, be classified as a Schedule I substance.

LeTTers

Even more egregious is how Blakeman uses women’s trauma as a political ploy in mailings and TV ads against his opponent, while abandoning survivors of rape, abuse and domestic violence — effectively casting them onto the streets.

The South Shore Women’s Alliance gathered hundreds of Nassau resident signatures urging that, rather than spending millions of dollars on outside legal fees for frivolous culture war lawsuits or for his own personal militia, Blakeman reinstate the county’s only domestic violence center.

The SSWA requests that Nassau County allocate funds in the 2026 budget for opening a new facility that shelters and provides the services that the Safe Center provided to women and children of Nassau County.

CLAUDIA BORECKY Executive director,

South Shore Women’s Alliance

Should D’Esposito be an inspector general?

The following letter was sent to United States Senate Majority Leader John Thune. It has been reported that the U.S. Senate is advancing the confirmation of former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito to be Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nassau Residents for Good Gov-

Until the review is complete, New York can’t pass legislation that deviates from a federal classification standard because of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Although this was a step in the right direction, the kratom plant itself was not included in the recommendation. I recently signed a letter written by the chairman of the Assembly’s Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee requesting that the DEA and FDA add kratom products as a Schedule I substance.

At least half of the states in the U.S. regulate kratom, often including age restrictions. As of this year, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., have banned it, and classified it as a Schedule I substance. Florida and Missouri have banned synthetic 7-OH.

The inconsistency of these laws demonstrates exactly why federal regulation streamlining the classification and use of kratom is so vital. While it may have medicinal benefits, the focus should be

ernment is a nonpartisan group concerned about transparency, accountability and integrity. We believe Mr. D’Esposito is wholly unqualified for this job, and ask that you block his confirmation.

Anthony D’Esposito’s history of questionable hiring practices has been well documented. While at the New York City Police Department, he reportedly broke labor rules by working a second job. More recently, D’Esposito was at the center of a scandal. In September 2024, it was reported that that while he was serving as a congressman in the 4th District, he put his fiancée’s daughter and his mistress on his congressional payroll, despite the House Code of Conduct prohibition against employing spouses, relatives and stepchildren.

There are also questions about his judgment. D’Esposito was part of the GOP’s slate of 2022 freshmen candidates for Congress, which included the disgraced George Santos, who was expelled in 2023 (and just released from prison). D’Esposito reportedly had a close financial relationship with Santos, and coordinated with him during their concurrent 2022 House campaigns, sharing a campaign treasurer (who later pleaded guilty to conspiring to defrauding the U.S. government) and raising money together through the Santo D’Esposito Nassau Victory Committee.

D’Esposito says that if confirmed, he will bring “grit, independence and accountability to the Department of Labor.” In fact,

on harm reduction. Individual choice needs to be respected, but I believe public health is at stake.

We have taken action in New York state. I co-sponsored two bills that passed unanimously in June and are awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature. One would require manufacturers of kratom products in New York to include a warning label stating that the product hasn’t been approved by the FDA, and is prohibited from being labeled as all natural. The other bill would prohibit the sale of kratom to anyone under age 21. It is vital that we protect this age group, just as we do with the sale of alcohol and marijuana.

It is paramount that these bills be signed, and that kratom products be classified as Schedule I substances. The tragic deaths of too many New Yorkers have shown how dangerous and addictive kratom can be. Some people seeking alternative remedies to pain, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue and other problems have unknowingly been at risk, and some have died believing this substance was natural, safe and had therapeutic value.

Unfortunately, this sounds all too familiar. “We got burned with fentanyl. We got burned with prescription drugs,” Makary said. “We cannot get behind the eight-ball again.”

Judy Griffin represents the 21st Assembly District.

his record is antithetical to that position and that promise. As detailed above, his record is one of corruption and a general disregard for ethical considerations.

President Trump chose D’Esposito despite his ethical lapses amid lingering questions about his hiring practices. But the Senate doesn’t have to.

Here in Nassau County, we have seen up close D’Esposito’s labor practices, which we believe should disqualify him from consideration. Instead of advancing D’Esposito’s confirmation, it should be blocked.