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Experts warn of scams, fraud hitting seniors vice with the company. In another case, a local ice cream shop employee was persuaded A wave of electronic fraud by a caller impersonating an and identity theft reported to IRS agent to purchase Green the Lynbrook Police Depart- Dot gift cards, and lost more ment this year reflects a broad- than $1,000 in personal funds in er surge in increasingly sophis- addition to store money. ticated scams across Long (Victims’ names were redactIsland, many of them targeting ed in police reports provided in older residents response to a Freethrough fear, urgendom of Information cy and impersonLaw request.) ation. In the most According to severe local incipolice reports dent, a woman o b t a i n e d by t h e withdrew $30,000 Herald, victims from a Citibank h ave b e e n p r e s account after a callsured into sending er claiming to be money to scammers with the FBI said through Zelle trans- BRIAN PAlADINo the account had fers, wire payments Chief, Lynbrook Police been compromised. and pre paid gift Department The cash was later cards when sus picked up from her pects posed as rephome by an resentatives of the Inter nal unknown suspect, according to Reveue Service, the FBI, major police reports. banks, telecommunications Lynbrook Police Chief Brian companies and even employers. Paladino said that the few cases Losses have ranged from a few of phone scams that result in hundred dollars to tens of thou- arrests often hinge on timing. sands. Investigations are most effecOne Lynbrook resident dis- tive, he explained, when scamcovered that a Verizon account mers arrange in-person conhad been opened fraudulently tact, such as sending a courier in his name and sent to debt or arranging a cash pickup, collections for $311, despite the which gives detectives an fact that he had never had serContinued on page 19
By AINSlEY MARTINEZ
amartinez@liherald.com
Sue Grieco/ Herald photos
Hello, winter East Rockaway Mayor Gordon Fox, second from left above, and village trustees greeted families at Winter Fest, including Michell and Ingrid Bedoya, at right, with Evangeline, Amelie, Miabella and Marselle. 2025-26 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PREVIEW December 18, 2025
I
t’s hard to prevent, other than just educating the seniors about it.
Executive producer celebrates new L.I. exhibit diplomacy over confrontation. “I always believe that two people can solve anything if they want to. You get a six pack and a pizza, and you can figure out the problems of the world, if you want,” The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of he said. Fame is welcoming fans of “Everybody Loves Ray“Everybody Loves Raymond,” which aired from 1996 mond” with a new 30th anniversary exhibit, opening to 2005 on CBS, won 15 Emmys and garnered 69 nomiNov. 28 at its Stony Brook location. The immersive display features the 70-foot-wide set from the show’s anninations, yet continues to resonate with audiences versary special, including the Barone family home recacross generations. reated in meticulous detail. Visitors can sit on the “Everybody Loves Raymond. He’s your family. It’s couch, in Frank’s worn armchair, or explore the clutmy family, it’s your friend’s family. Everybody has a tered kitchen exactly as it appeared on the show. brother or a sister like that, or in-laws like that, or parThe exhibit traces the fictional family’s roots to Lynents like that,” Rosegarten said. “These are real situabrook, mirroring the suburban lives of countless Long tions that happen to real people. The writers on the Island residents. show were extraordinary. Phil Rosenthal was amazing. “I am thrilled that we can follow up the incredible And Raymond works. Because it’s real.” success of the Billy Joel: My Life exhibit with another The exhibit recreates the Barone home using origiblockbuster exhibition,” said LIMEHOF Chairman nal props, archival photographs, and exhaustive Ernie Canadeo. “Everybody Loves Raymond was based research. Every detail, down to a napkin holder seen on Long Island. It is a fitting tribute to Long Island that across all nine seasons, was verified. “Every time I go we can create and showcase 30 years of this beloved into the kitchen, I look at it,” said creative director Courtesy CBS Kevin O’Callaghan. “To me, that completed the whole show to be enjoyed by its legions of Long Island fans. It is truly the ultimate Everybody Loves Raymond fan The cast of “Everybody Loves Raymond” reunited for the 30th thing.” Fans have already demonstrated a sharp memoanniversary special. Creative director Kevin O’Callaghan exhibition.” ry for the show, spotting misplacements immediately, Rory Rosegarten, the show’s longtime manager and sourced original props from the reunion and the show to rechighlighting how ingrained the series remains in popuan executive producer, helped bring the exhibit to reate the Barone home at the museum, giving fans a chance lar culture. LIMEHOF. He grew up on Long Island and began his to step inside the world of the series. Rosegarten also helped coordinate the exhibit with career in journalism, writing a celebrity column for his the Paley Museum, which previously displayed the high school paper. By interviewing stars such as Dustin show’s set. Living in Manhasset, he had never visited “Ray is an amazing guy. He’s like my brother. He’s Hoffman and Gregory Peck, he honed a knack for persis- thoughtful, loyal, and friendly. They don’t get nicer than LIMEHOF before, but praised the museum’s execution. tence and communication that would later define his man- Ray.” “It’s a wonderful exhibit. I encourage anyone with agerial style. After college internships, including a sumRosegarten became an executive producer on “Every- interest to see it—it’ll take you 40, 45 minutes, and it’s fanmer at Playboy, he transitioned to talent management, body Loves Raymond,” acting as a liaison between Roma- tastic,” he said. eventually discovering Ray Romano during a comedy no and show creator Phil Rosenthal, ensuring both the The exhibit runs through March 29, 2026, with daily competition. star and the writers felt comfortable collaborating. He sessions from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and evening sessions from 3 “I’ve been his manager for 40+ years,” Rosegarten said. described his approach as collaborative, emphasizing to 6 p.m. Tickets are available at LIMusicHallofFame.org.
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Snow can’t stop Christmas celebration amartinez@liherald.com
The Lynbrook Knights of Columbus hosted their annual Children’s Christmas Party on Sunday, welcoming more than 80 families despite a mor ning snowfall. The free community event featured food, games, a bounce house, and a special visit from Santa, who posed for photos with children and helped distribute donated toys. Donna Ferrara, one of the event organizers, said the turnout exceeded expectations. “We were a little nervous when we saw the snow in the morning, but it ended up being really successful,” she said. “It was so nice to see families have fun and show up regardless of the weather.” After sitting on Santa’s lap, each child was able to select a toy donated by New York families for children with autism and other needs. The donations were coordinated by the New York Families for Autism Coalition (NYFAC), a nonprofit organization supporting indi-
viduals on the spectrum and their families. “It’s all about bettering the lives of those with autism, one family at a time,” said Frank Scafo, chairman of the board for NYFAC. Scafo, whose own son was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, has been involved with the organization since 2012. “We do job placement, training, basic life skills, sports programs… everything we can to support individuals and their families,” he said. The partnership between the Knights of Columbus and NYFAC highlights the community-driven nature of the holiday season. “One hand helps the other. We’re all brothers,” Scafo said. For local families, the event offered a festive way to celebrate while supporting a cause that touches lives across Long Island. Organizers hope that the success of this year’s party will encourage continued support and attendance in future years, ensuring that children of all abilities have a joyful holiday experience.
LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ
Delilah Roberts/Herald photos
Twins Zoey Smyt, left, and Fiona Smyth, 8, played in the Christmas bounce house. Donna Ferrara, left, Santa Joseph DiCaro and Ramona Scorcia helped organize the event.
Families played games at the event on Sunday at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
Joseph DiCaro took back his seat as Santa. The Lynbrook Knights of Columbus hosted its annual Children’s Christmas Party.
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“In our Western culture, although death has come out of the closet, it is still not openly experienced or discussed. Allowing dying to be so intensely present enriches both the preciousness of each moment and our detachment from it.” — Ram Dass “If we’re not reflecting on the impermanent nature of life, then there are a lot of unimportant things that seem important.” — Allison Choying Zangmo “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” — Steve Jobs
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.” — Marcus Aurelius “We drift on a chartless, resistless sea. Let us sing while we can, and forget the rest.” — H. P. Lovecraft “Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.” — Frank Ostaseski “Never mind. Never mind. In this brief life, one cannot always be counting the cost.” — Christopher Isherwood Oddly enough, contemplating death may be one of the most life-affirming experiences one can have.
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A homeowner and two children were injured in a basement fire at a home on Exeter Street on Dec. 9. The homeowner was hospitalized with burns to his face and head and smoke inhalation, while the two children were treated for smoke inhalation, according to the Lynbrook Fire Department. Firefighters quickly brought the electrical fire under control, limiting damage to the basement.
Three injured in fire in Lynbrook A homeowner and two children were injured in a basement fire at a home on Exeter Street on the afternoon of Dec. 9, 2025, authorities said. The homeowner was taken to a hospital with burns to his face and head and smoke inhalation after attempting to extinguish the fire, while the children were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, according to Lynbrook Fire Department spokesman Steve Grogan. Firefighters were called to the residence near Sunrise Highway at 1:03 p.m. and quickly knocked down an electrical fire involving basement equipment and extension cords. The fire was brought under control by 1:56 p.m. and caused minimal structural damage. No firefighters were injured. —Ainsley Martinez
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The fire was brought under control by 1:56 p.m. and caused minimal structural damage. No firefighters were injured.
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poor.” hroughout this year, we have Before these words of Pope Leo, we marked many significant milerecall the wonderful truth: Christ stones in the life of the Church became poor so that we who are poor leading us to the Lord’s Nativity might become rich (Cor. 8:9). This is the and this holy season of Christmas, most good news of Christmas. We are not especially the passing of Pope Francis alone. We are not left to ourselves. A at Easter and the election of Pope Leo Savior has come - Christ the Lord. XIV in May. As we celebrate the Christmas seaWhat a gift it has been to walk these son, we remember with Pope Leo that months with our new Holy Father, to “Christian holiness often learn from his teaching, and flourishes in the most forwitness his example. gotten and wounded places On Oct. 4, the Memorial of humanity.” of Saint Francis of Assisi, How beautifully the folPope Leo released his first lowers of Christ have Apostolic Exhortation, “Di/ responded to the cry of the exit Te - I Have Loved You.” poor and looked with love It is a profound meditation upon the most vulnerable on love for the poor and among us. As we rejoice in speaks powerfully to the Christ’s Birth, we renew our mystery of the Lord’s Birth commitment to love others and the grace of this season. eveRend ohn as he has loved us. The Holy Father reminds On Dec. 28, at the Catheus: “The Gospel shows us aRRes dral of Saint Agnes, on the that poverty marked every Feast of the Holy Family of aspect of Jesus’ life. From Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we the moment he entered the will conclude our Jubilee Year of Hope. world, Jesus knew the bitter experience We thank both Pope Francis and Pope of rejection. The Evangelist Luke tells Leo XIV for igniting hope within our how Joseph and Mary, who was about to families, the global mission of the give birth, arrived in Bethlehem, and then adds, poignantly, that ‘there was no Church, and the human family, and we contemplate the light and grace that place for them in the inn’ (Luke 2:7). Jesus was born in humble surroundings radiates from the refugee Holy Family and that radiates to every family. and laid in a manger; then, to save him Our Catholic biblical and sacramenfrom being killed, they fled to Egypt tal worship, especially at the Catholic (Matthew 2:13-15). At the dawn of his Mass, focuses and ignites both our globpublic ministry, after announcing in the al mission to the poor and our humble synagogue of Nazareth that the year of grace, which would bring joy to the poor openness to being evangelized by the poor, the treasures of our Church. was fulfilled in him, he was driven out Merry Christmas and Happy New of town (Luke 4:l4-30). He died as an outYear to you and your families! cast, led out of Jerusalem to be cruciMay the Light and love of the Christ fied (Mark 15:22). Indeed, that is how Child animate and guide our global Jesus’ poverty is best described: he Catholic missionary spirit this Christexperienced the same exclusion that is the lot of the poor, the outcast of society. mas and throughout the New Year. Jesus is a manifestation of this privileSincerely in Christ, gium pauperum. He presented himself Most Reverend John O. Barres to the world not only as a poor Messiah, Bishop of Rockville Centre but also the Messiah of and for the
PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO ALL All the best in 2026!
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Merry Christmas to the people of God
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HERALD SPORTS Talented Hofstra eager to build momentum By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
Hofstra’s women’s basketball team is looking to build off a 14-win season which marked the most victories for the program in nearly a decade. The Pride went 14-16 overall and 9-9 in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) to finish eighth in the 14-team conference after being picked to place 12th. Hofstra returned eight players from the breakthrough season in which the Pride achieved their highest win total since going 25-9 in the 2015-2016 campaign and are looking to continue that winning mindset this winter. “Ging into this year we were really excited because we have a really talented bunch,” said sixth-year head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “The returners want more as they had a taste of it last year and ran out of gas down the stretch.” Senior guard Chloe Sterling, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury, gives the Pride an offensive boost this winter leading the team in scoring with 13 points per game prior to being sidelined in February. Sterling made her season debut on Dec. 6 with 11 points in a 67-46 home loss to Fordham. The Pride also brought back senior guard Emma Von Essen, a Rockville Centre native who averaged 10.9 points per game as a junior. The Long Island Lutheran product has proven to be a three-point threat throughout her Hofstra career and sank her 200th career shot from beyond the arc at the end of last season. “Her leadership has been great this year,” said Santos Atkinson of Von Essen. “She has led by example in things that we want to be able to do culturally and establishing our standards and expectations. Hofstra has gotten a boost with the addition of SMU transfer Sandra Magolico, who is averaging more than 10 points per game despite battling some injuries. The 6-1 forward from Spain recorded 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 73-66 win at Yale on Nov. 11.
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Senior Alarice Gooden, left, is the Pride’s starting point guard. The Pride boast a number of offensive weapons as evident by an 80-44 win against Marywood on Dec. 10 where four players reached double figures led by sophomore guard Ema Karim, a Portugal native, who posted a career-high 15 points along with four assists. The Marywood blowout victory also featured 11 points apiece from Sterling and Von Essen. Senior point guard Alarice Goode, a Brampton, Ontario native, tallied 11 points while senior Deivejon Harris nearly cracked double digits with nine points. “We have the talent and it’s about us just being able to put it together,” Santos Atkinson said. “We’re still trying to figure out our identity because we haven’t had everyone out there together due to injuries.” Freshman forward Olivia VanPatten, who shined at St. George’s School in Rhode Island, has also shown offensive potential early in the season netting
Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications
Sandra Magolico, a transfer from SMU, had 25 points and 11 rebounds in Hofstra’s Nov. 11 win over Yale. eight points in a 95-38 loss to then seventh-ranked Maryland on Thanksgiving Day in Puerto Rico. Santos Atkinson organized a rigorous non-conference schedule that kicked off with a season-opening 83-48 loss at ACC foe Miami and saw the Pride take on Big Ten power and seventh-ranked Maryland. The Pride will close the non-league on Dec. 28 at Kentucky, who was ranked 15th in the nation in mid-December.
The home CAA schedule commences on Jan. 9 against Towson at 6 p.m. followed a week later when Hofstra hosts Long Island rival Stony Brook on Jan. 16 for another 6 p.m. tipoff. The Pride were picked to finish ninth in the 14-team conference in a preseason coaches poll. “I think the conference season is going to be as it is every year, anybody’s game for that championship, “ Santos Atkinson said. “It’s going to be a fight.”
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025 Carly Hariton/Herald
Gary Brown, at rear in Green Bay Packers sweatshirt, with Herald staff and the donated toys collected for the nonprofit Dream 68.
‘Pack’ing up toys for a good cause at the Herald Brown was a member of the 1996 Super Bowl-winning Packers team. Yes, Herald staffers saw his ring! He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Knowing firsthand how much a single act of kindness can mean, Brown spoke candidly about how hard he worked to play professional football. His message was unmistakable: A community that invests in its children — consistently, intentionally and all year
long — creates pathways to hope that last a lifetime. Dream 68 has mentored and supported underprivileged children and their families for the past 10 years. The organization also supplies local homeless shelters serving more than 500 people on Thanksgiving. The toys are distributed to more than 350 children. –Jeffrey Bessen
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It’s not often that journalists become as giddy as schoolchildren, but when former NFL player Gary Brown visited the Herald on Dec. 9, the entire office rippled with excitement. Brown, who was born in Amityville and grew up in Brentwood, came to pick up two boxes of toys that Herald employees collected for Dream 68, the nonprofit organization he founded. The 68 is the number he wore playing for the Green Bay Packers, and
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Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that could bring property tax relief to New York senior homeowners. It allows local governments to raise the maximum allowable exemption for eligible residents.
LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
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Hochul authorizes property tax exemptions for seniors ue to help older adults remain in the homes and communities of their choice and keep their vast contributions within New York State,” he said. Lawmakers who sponsored the bill said the higher exemption level reflects the economic pressures seniors are facing. State Sen. Leroy Comrie said many older adults are grappling with rising housing costs and inflation. “Signing S5175A into law is an important step toward restoring real affordability for older adults across New York,” Comrie said. “This law allows localities to offer up to a 65 percent discount to eligible seniors so long-time homeowners can remain in their communities with dignity and security.” The measure builds on Hochul’s broader affordability agenda, which includes a middle-class tax cut affecting an estimated 8.3 million New Yorkers and bringing tax rates to their lowest levels in 70 years. Her administration has also expanded the Child Tax Credit to provide up to $1,000 per child under age 4 and up to $500 for school-aged children beginning in 2026. Other recent initiatives include inflation refund checks — up to $200 per person or $400 per family — issued to more than 8 million residents, and statewide free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students, which officials say can save families up to $1,600 per child each year.
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Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that increases the real property tax relief local governments may offer to senior homeowners, raising the maximum allowable exemption for eligible residents for the first time in decades. The measure, S5175A/A3698A, authorizes cities, towns and villages to provide property tax exemptions covering up to 65 percent of a home’s assessed value for seniors who meet local income limits and other eligibility requirements. Previously, localities could offer exemptions of no more than 50 percent. State officials said the increase could translate to as much as $300 in annual savings for the average senior if adopted by a local government. Hochul said the goal of the legislation is to help older New Yorkers remain in their homes as housing costs rise. “No New York senior should lose their home because they can no longer afford their property taxes,” she said in a statement. “By signing this legislation, we are working to make New York more affordable for our seniors on fixed incomes and empowering them to age in place, at home, in the communities they know and love.” The change could have broad impact across the state. The New York State Office for the Aging estimates that more than 1.8 million older adults own their homes. Greg Olsen, NYSOFA’s acting director, said property taxes are a significant burden for residents living on fixed incomes. “This important law will contin-
December 18, 2025 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
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Tim Baker/Herald
At the last game of the afternoon, Hempstead squared off against Sewanhaka.
SIBSPlace unites areas together on the court By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
SIBSPlace, in partnership with Molloy University, hosted its 20th annual Hoops for Hope Basketball Fundraiser. SIBSPlace is a support program for children ages 5 to 17, sponsored by Mount Sinai South Nassau. The program provides free support to children with siblings with cancer or another devastating medical diagnosis, a parent with a cancer diagnosis, or to children coping with the death of a sibling or parent. SIBSPlace, based in Rockville Centre, is an affiliate of Mount Sinai South Nassau based in Oceanside. Hoops for Hope, which started as a high school fundraiser led by Bill Dubin, has expanded over the years to include various local schools. The basketball tournament on Dec. 6 showcased local varsity teams from Bethapage, Oceanside, Malverne, East Rockaway, Valley Stream Central, Seaford, Sewanhaka and Hempstead. Participating in this year’s game was Valley Stream Central twin brothers and for mer SIBSPlace program participants, Jaiya and Julian Vera, now in 11th-g rade. The Vera brothers had taken a leadership role in promoting the game and raising awareness for SIBSPlace. The games were sponsored by the
Basketball players for local high school communities participated in Hoops for Hope, which benefits SIBSPlace, in partnership with Molloy University. Peninsula Kiwanis Cllub, the original and longest continual sponsor of the event. Between games, the Peninsula Kiwanis presented a $2,000 check to SIBSPlace, further supporting the organization’s vital mission. “T he dedication of Coach Bill Dubin and our local Nassau County high schools over the years has been instrumental in advancing our mission through community events that raise both awareness and critical funding for families facing unimaginable challenges,” said Joanna For mont,
executive Drirector of SIBSPlace said in a release. “The generosity and compassion these young athletes demonstrate will directly impact the lives of children and families we serve across Long Island, including some of their own peers and neighbors.” Hoops for Hope is a cornerstone of fundraising for SIBSPlace, raising more than $15,000 annually for the nonprofit organization. Funds are generated through ticket sales and donations that support critical programs that provide mental health care to
children and families throughout Nassau County. “The gym was packed with energy, teamwork and hear t as we came together to spread awareness and support SIBSPlace,” SIBSPlace wrote on Instagram. “A huge shoutout to Molloy University for their continued support of our mission. And a big thank you to the Peninsula Kiwanis and all of the high schools, coaches, and players who showed up with enthusiasm and gave it everything on the court. You made this day unforgettable.”
Jayden Spaulding, No. 3, on the court during a game.
Joanna Formont, executive director of SIBSPlace, Mike Schamroth, founder of SIBSPlace, Larry Romanelli, of the Peninsula Kiwanis Club, Bill Dubin, board member of SIBSPlace and founder of Hoops for Hope and Sewanhaka coach, and Michael Gliner, lieutenant governor of the Peninsula Kiwanis Club.
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things to know about new York’s snow New York’s early‑season heavy snow on Dec. 14 caught many residents off guard, bringing up to 8 inches across parts of Long Island and snarling travel as the first measur‑ able snow of the season fell well before winter’s start. Meteorologists say an unusually strong cold air push from the Arctic combined with a low‑pressure system drove early accumulation. Slick roads contributed to collisions and challenging conditions even for experienced drivers. — Ainsley Martinez
n Why New York saw snow so early
n What snow means for travel and safety
n Smart preparations and response tips
New York’s early‑season snow was driven by a potent combination of an Arctic cold air mass and an arriving winter storm system. A strong push of frigid air from the north dropped temperatures below freezing across the Northeast, allowing pre‑ cipitation to fall as snow rather than rain. That moisture, coupled with a developing low‑pressure system over the region, produced the first measur‑ able snowfall of the season on Dec. 13‑14, with heavi‑ er bands reaching roughly 6–8 inches on Long Island and prompting winter weather advisories. Early Arctic intrusions like this are consistent with broad‑ er winter forecasts for cold, snowy conditions in the Northeast this year.
Even relatively modest snow totals can create treacherous conditions, especially early in the sea‑ son when roads lack treatment and drivers are unprepared. On Long Island, heavy snow contribut‑ ed to roughly 200 vehicle collisions and at least two traffic fatalities during the Dec. 14 storm, under‑ scoring rapid snow’s impact on travel safety. Tem‑ peratures below freezing limited the effectiveness of salt treatments, leaving untreated surfaces icy and slick. Motorists should slow down, increase fol‑ lowing distance, and limit unnecessary travel dur‑ ing and after snow events to reduce crash risk.
Long Islanders can stay safer during winter storms by preparing both home and vehicle ahead of snow. Before snow arrives, check snow‑clearing tools like shovels and snowblowers, and winterize outdoor equipment and pipes. When snow is falling, New York authorities urge drivers to avoid travel if possi‑ ble, clear all snow and ice from vehicles before driv‑ ing, and carry an emergency kit with blankets, food, and a flashlight. On foot, wear traction‑friendly boots and allow extra time for travel. At home, stock essentials in case of power loss and sign up for local emergency alerts for timely weather updates.
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
Early-season snow blankets Long Island, snarls traffic
What is your favorite family holiday tradition? Compiled by the Herald Staff
Ozzie Beck
Erika Palette
Celebrating Hanukkah. My four kids live all over the United States, so when we get together, it’s really festive. I love all holidays!
On Christmas Eve, we go around and look at all the Christmas lights all around Lynbrook. We play holiday music in the car, we drink hot cocoa then we come home and leave cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Bonus points for snow.
Long Beach
Lynbrook
Tim Baker/Herald
Tim Baker/Herald
Lucy Frain
Rockville Centre, age 17
Ian Siegel Glen Cove
Grace Robson
Christmas morning, enjoying breakfast. We make the same breakfast every year and sit in front of the fire watching Christmas movies. Tim Baker/Herald
I like making cookies and going to my grandparents’ house on Christmas Day. Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Massapequa, age 10
On Christmas Eve, we’re usually at my aunt’s house wearing matching pajamas, which is always my favorite, and we pass gifts around. I’m excited to finally be involved in their white elephant. Alyssa Griffin/Herald
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
Courtesy Nicole Muller
Students gathered for holiday photos at Hewlett Point Beach during the “Photos by the Bay” fundraiser, organized by parents to support Rhame Avenue Elementary School’s sixth-grade graduation activities.
Sixth graders raise funds and friendships by the bay mates in junior high. The dance, planned at the high school, is intended to give students a chance to meet before the school On a stretch of sand at Hewlett Point year ends, easing the shift into a larger, Beach, families lined up against the unfamiliar environment. Proceeds will water, children brushing sand from their also help cover the cost of a DJ, decorashoes as parents adjusted holiday props tions, food and drinks, and, organizers hope, a photo booth. and waited their turn. The Additional money will photographs they took home support an end-of-year picnic were keepsakes. The money at Bay Park for both schools, they raised was something transportation costs for a more. sixth-grade overnight trip in The event, called Photos February, and graduation by the Bay, was organized by items including balloons, decparents of sixth graders at orations and custom T-shirts. Rhame Avenue Elementary Leone said the goal of the School to help fund end-offundraising is not just celeyear activities tied to graduabration, but connection. tion. More than 30 families “Starting junior high can participated over the course feel scary and intimidating,” of the weekend, posing she said. “But when students against three backdrops that build friendships now, they’ll framed the shoreline and the walk into their new school bay beyond. next year surrounded by Nicole Muller said she familiar faces and a stronger worked alongside Kathleen sense of community.” Leone and Christine GerParents said Hewlett Point mani to prepare the props Beach and the Town of and photograph each family. Hempstead played a critical The effort, she said, brought role after a stressful planning neighbors together while sup- KAThLEEN LEoNE process, granting permission porting students preparing Organizer for the fundraiser and offerfor a major transition. “It turned into a wonderful weekend ing flexibility throughout the weekend. that showcased the best of our communi- Organizers described the beach staff as ty, neighbors helping neighbors, families accommodating and supportive, helping enjoying our beautiful local waterfront, ensure the event ran smoothly. For families, the setting carried its and students taking part in something own meaning. Hewlett Point is a familiar meaningful for their school,” Muller said. Funds raised will help pay for a joint gathering place, and for many, it offered a graduation dance bringing together stu- sense of home as children marked the dents from Rhame Avenue and Centre closing weeks of elementary school — Avenue, who will soon merge as class- and the beginning of what comes next.
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ
amartinez@liherald.com
build friendships now, they’ll walk into their new school next year surrounded by familiar faces and a stronger sense of community.
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hen students
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Today Today County emphasizes Christmas tree safety By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Nassau County fire officials and the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center are reminding community members to prioritize fire safety during the holiday season. County firefighters demonstrated the dangers of an untreated Christmas tree during a live fire demonstration at the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage on Dec. 9. The demonstration made clear how quickly a home can go from festive to heavily damaged, with a Christmas tree fire completely consuming a room in just one minute. Paul Wilders, chief of the academy, spoke about the importance of fire safety — and for Wilders, these demonstrations hit close to home. In 2001 he lost his mother’s home, where he grew up, as the result of a Christmas tree fire caused by their cat. “After 49 years, my mother’s house burned to the ground,” he told the Herald. “If it can happen to me and happen to my family, it happens to anybody out there.” “We do our best to prepare first responders, but this demonstration is aimed at the public,” Wilders said. “As beautiful and festive as the holidays are, tragedies can happen if we’re not vigilant.” Joining Wilders at the event were Alana Petrocelli, the center’s executive director; John Rottkamp, executive director of Nassau County VEEB; Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro; and others. “We don’t want any accidents in our homes, especially as holiday decorations go up,” Petrocelli said. “It’s important to be mindful of the wires you’re using, avoid overloading electrical outlets, and make sure your tree and decorations don’t block exits.”
Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald
Paul Wilders welcomed those who watched the holiday tree burn at the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board Fire Service Academy with John Rottkamp, far left, VEEB’s executive director; Alana Petrocelli, the center’s executive director; Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro; VEEB Director Ray Maguire; Nick Corrado, captain at the Nassau County fire marshal’s office; and Rob Leonard, of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. The demonstration featured a live Christmas tree, presents and furniture set up in the academy’s burn building, which were set ablaze to show how quickly fire can spread. Firefighters Josiah Reed and Alex Thompson extinguished the flames. Fire officials emphasized the need for working smoke detectors and fire safety precautions not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. “If people take proper precautions and make sure they water their tree — if they want to use a synthetic tree, obviously that’s a better option, but smoke alarms are the main thing that we try to push,” Capt. Nick Corrado, of the fire marshal’s office, told the Herald.
Fire departments respond to hundreds of home fires caused by Christmas trees, and between 2016 and 2020, the U.S. recorded two civilian deaths, 11 civilian injuries and $12 million in property damages. “Most people don’t think about it every day, and that’s when accidents, unfortunately, do occur,” Petrocelli said. “But during the holiday season, we have lots of decorations up. We’re putting things in different places, we’re plugging things into different outlets that we maybe don’t use. So we need to be conscious of safety while we’re decorating as well.” For more information on the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center, visit NCFireMuseum.org.
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News briefs Laurel Diner co-owner Andrew Loucas noted the diner’s more than 90-year history and its ties to Long Beach. The registry honors New York businesses with lasting economic and cultural impact. M o re infor mation is available through the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s Historic Business Preservation Registry. —Ainsley Martinez
“New York is the only state in the nation in which our duly elected judges cannot consider the dangerousness of the defendant when setting bail,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said. “This has resulted in high-risk offenders returning to our neighborhoods and putting families at risk. The PROTECT Act is a responsible solution that would restore accountability and allow law enforcement to remove dangerous criminals from our streets and restore safety to communities across our state.”
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Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick advocates for act State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick joined her New York State Senate Republican colleagues, along with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, District Attor ney Ray Tier ney, County Clerk Vincent Puleo, local law enforcement, and community leaders to call for passage of S.2282A. The PROTECT Act, sponsored by State Sen. Pamela Helming. Developed with input from law enforcement, the legislation mandates that judges use a standardized risk assessment tool to determine whether dangerous offenders should be held pretrial or released.
HEALTH CARE ON LONG ISLAND!
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State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick recognized Mur-Lees of Lynbrook and the Laurel Diner of Long Beach after their acceptance into the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick nominated both businesses for their long-standing community presence. She visited each location to present official designation certificates. M u r- L e e s ow n e r B r u c e L ev i t t thanked the community for its support.
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
Mur-Lees added to NYS historic registry
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Today Today Blakeman will run for N.Y. governor’s seat It’s official:
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
In a video ad unveiled on his campaign website, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman officially announced his intention to run for governor of New York on Dec. 9. Blakeman, 70, who was toying with the idea of a gubernatorial run since last year, solidified his ambition for the state’s top elected spot with a 12-point victory over County Legislator Seth Koslow last month. However, the longtime elected official faces an uphill battle in his own party as upstate Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s poll numbers outshine Blakeman’s and the state GOP has said it didn’t want an intra-party battle and strongly backs Stefanik, 41. Originally from Valley Stream, Blakeman has spent a good deal of his life in politics. His father, Robert, served in the Assembly and Blakeman’s brother Brad, served on the staff of President George W. Bush. First elected to the Hempstead town board in 1993, two years later Blakeman was elected to serve in the County Legislature’s first class as that lawmaking body replace the Board of Supervisors. He also served as the Legislature’s first presiding officer. Blakeman, who now lives in Atlantic Beach, was the commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2001 to 2009, and was appointed to the Hempstead Town Board in 2015. He challenged then County Executive Laura Curran in 2021, and won, and captured another four-year term in November. In 2014, Blakeman lost to Kathleen Rice to represent
Tim Baker/Herald
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced his intention to run for governor of New York on Dec. 9. the 4th Congressional District that covers a large swath of Nassau’s South Shore. Four years earlier, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City and U.S. Senate.
The past few years, Blakeman has strongly supported President Donald Trump and has allowed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold detainees in a portion of the county’s Correctional Center in East Meadow — a first of its kind partnership in the U.S. “The people of Nassau County want us to cooperate with ICE,” he said during his November victory speech at the Coral House in Baldwin. “They want to get the criminals out of our country.” Blakeman advocated for the Las Vegas Sands proposed casino project at the Nassau Hub, which fell apart when the Sands dropped out in April. Previously, he told the Herald that alternative development plans are now progressing under a “Plan B” strategy. His campaign ad highlighted his county executive win in a “Democratic county,” keeping his promises not to raise taxes and maintaining Nassau as “the safest county in America,” and as stated in the ad by the narrator, “locking up thugs.” “Bruce’s failed statewide electoral record speaks for itself — he has lost every statewide primary and general election over the last three decades in smashing fashion,” Stefanik campaign spokeswoman Bernadette Breslin wrote in a statement. “And after a career of colluding with elected Democrats, Blakeman’s swan song is choosing to prop up Kathy Hochul.” His campaign ad highlighted his county executive win in a “Democratic county,” keeping his promises not to raise taxes and maintaining Nassau as “the safest county in America,” and as stated in the ad by the narrator, “locking up thugs.”
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Get ready for more car-smashing, ramp-jumping, wheel-revving action with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live By Abbey Salvemini
H
ot Wheels fans, buckle up — it’s about to get loud and crazy at Nassau Coliseum shortly. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is back with its wild glowing spectacle, Jan. 17-18, introducing spectators to its newest vehicle: Rhinomite. Following the tour’s success this year, the production is set to debut the rhino-themed truck as part of an expanded slate of stunts and performances for the 2026 season. Audiences can expect new, high-intensity action from the Hot Wheels lineup, including the first no-handed front flip by the FMX riders, when the tour makes • Jan. 17-18, times vary its final appearance in • Tickets start at $48.80, $30.05 Uniondale. children (also me +3 ticket Witness the raw offer $39.45); available at ticketmaster.com and power of these epic hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com machines when the • Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead iconic Hot Wheels toy Tpke., Uniondale vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for this “Glow-N-Fire” competition. As the arena darkens for the glow-in-the-dark effect, each truck revs up with its unique LED lights. Pyrotechnic effects light up the arena, adding even more intensity to the stunts. The action unfolds through four signature competitions: the wheelie challenge, the donut, the long jump and the freestyle finale. Together, the components determine the ultimate holder of the Champions Cup. This format allows fans to follow the action closely and see how each truck performs across a variety of challenges, adding a competitive edge to the entertaining experience. At the center of the excitement is Rhinomite, a truck designed to charge “horn-first” into the lineup with its dynamic, high-impact personality. Along with its striking appearance, Rhinomite will showcase a set of stunts tailored specifically for its debut.
According to its driver Kellen Williams, Rhinomite offers something entirely new to the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks universe. “The tool that I have against everybody else is I have a real mighty front horn that I’m going to use to bash the competition,” he says. Besides Rhinomite, fans can expect several new technical elements in this edition of the show, including that groundbreaking no-handed flip. Returning FMX rider Koltin Polinsky is excited to debut this trick for Long Island audiences. “Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is all about pushing the limits, and this stop is going to be one of our wildest yet,” he declares. Thoroughly enjoyed by dedicated fans and newcomers alike, the show blends competitive action with immersive visual elements that engage all ages. A major part of the appeal is Glow-N-Fire’s signature darkened arena setting, where glowing trucks, dramatic lighting and special effects give the show a special edge with electrifying visuals. Arena lights are dimmed at the start, allowing the trucks to glow. After intermission, the show shifts into its fiery segment, highlighting the “fire” element that gives Glow-N-Fire its name. The production’s popularity has grown in part because of its consistent engagement with fans, particularly younger audiences experiencing monster trucks for the first time. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live continues to distinguish itself from other monster truck shows on the circuit with its unique characteristics, such as appearing in smaller venues. “We are very fan-oriented and bring them into the show,” Williams says. “The fans announce the scores a lot of times and we also do toy giveaways. Our shows are mainly geared towards smaller children. However, everybody enjoys it. Children especially love watching the trucks crush cars and the dinosaur-themed elements.” Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held twoand-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers. With the mix of innovative stunts, high-energy performances and interactive fan experiences, this promises to be more than just a show — it’s an immersive event. The debut of Rhinomite adds an extra layer of excitement, while thrilling car-crushing trucks, dinosaurs and jaw-dropping FMX stunts keep the audience fully involved from start to finish. Fans can expect an unforgettable, actionpacked experience that celebrates the Hot Wheels legacy and leaves everyone with lasting memories of speed, power and fun. Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
FMX rider Koltin Polinsky is sure to thril fans with his no-handed front flip. He’s joined by many Hot Wheels favorites in a display of exciting car-crunching feats as they fly more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp,” as everyone awaits the debut of Rhinomite.
Beloved holiday tunes are combined with a musical cabaret in a joyous over-the-top spectacle at the Madison Theatre. The cast of 41 performers enthusiastically share all the delights of the season in this remarkable show, created by Artistic Director Angelo Fraboni. The cast includes Molloy’s CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory students, Broadway performers Kevin Bernard and Christina DeCicco, with local children. Their energy shines throughout the 90-minute show that tells of a young girl who has lost the Christmas spirit. Family and friends help reignite her love for the holidays.Timeless songs are brought to life in joyful arrangements, accompanied by a lively band..This captivating theatrical experience that brings the spirit of the season to life with energetic dancing and well known pop culture references.
Thursday and Friday, Dec. 18-19, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m. $40-$60. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.
‘Rockin’ the Holidays’ with The Rascals If you’re humming holiday tunes and craving a little rock ‘n’ roll spirit, here’s your chance to celebrate in timeless style. Rockin’ the Holidays brings The Rascals back to the stage — joined by special guests John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band — for a concert packed with energy, nostalgia and chart-topping hits.Two of The Rascals’ founding members, Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish, reunite for this festive performance, fueled by a deep love for their fans and the enduring power of their music. With accolades that include induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Rascals remain icons of American rock and the defining sound of 1960s blue-eyed soul. Their legacy shines through 17 Top 20 hits, seven Top 10 singles and three No. 1 classics — among them “Groovin’,” “People Got to Be Free” and “Good Lovin’.” Expect all the favorites, plus holiday flair and those warm, soulful harmonies.
Saturday, Dec 20, 8 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at livenation.com.
LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
Christmas Spectacular
December 18, 2025 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEC
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LuminoCity Festival
CALENDAR Holiday at Westbury House
LuminoCity is back at Eisenhower Park. Walk through a winter wonderland. Timed admission fee.
Celebrate the holiday season at Old Westbury Gardens during the final weekend of the timeless holiday tradition. Step inside Westbury House and experience the magic of Christmas past with rooms beautifully decorated in period style and filled with festive cheer. Stroll through the gardens, enjoy holiday treats like cookies and warm cider, and don’t miss a special visit from Santa himself. $18, $15 seniors (62+) and fulltime students, $8 children (ages 7–17), free 6 and under and members.
• Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow • Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m., 6-6:45 p.m., 7:30-8:15 p.m., through Jan. 1 • Contact: luminocityfestival.com
‘Home for the Holidays’ Pet Adoption There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during “Home for the Holidays’ at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. All adoption fees are waived and include free spaying/neutering, vaccinations and micro-chipping. Preview the cats and dogs online at Hempsteadny.gov/179/animalshelter.
• Where: 3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh • Time: Ongoing, through Jan. 4. • Contact: (516) 785-5220
‘Holiday Joy’ Christmas Celebration
Beloved holiday tunes are combined with a musical cabaret in a vibrant, joyous over-the-top spectacle that is the Madison Theatre’s annual holiday celebration. The performers enthusiastically share all the delights of the season in this remarkable show, now in its 12th year, created by Artistic Director Angelo Fraboni. The lively cast includes Molloy University’s pre-professional CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory students and Broadway performers. Their enthusiasm and energy shine throughout the show, making it a one-of-a-kind holiday experience. Timeless songs are brought to life in joyful arrangements, accompanied by a lively band that adds a festive musical backdrop to the spectacle. • Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre • T ime: 7 p.m.; also Dec. 19, 7 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 21, 3 p.m. • C ontact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
DEC
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Candlelight Evenings
Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for some holiday fun. Experience a rare evening visit to the village in winter. Enjoy 19th-century musical entertainment, hot drinks, and festive activities as you stroll through a village ablaze with light, with candles glowing in the
DEC
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• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., also Dec. 21 • Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Get The Led Out
Get The Led Out rocks out with their tribute to what many consider rock ‘n roll’s greatest band, in “A Celebration of the Mighty Zep,” on the Paramount stage. From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The six veteran musicians who make up the Philadelphia-based group delivers Led Zeppelin live with the all passion and fury these blues-soaked, groove-driven rock anthems deserve. Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album, GTLO delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, GTLO brings what the audience wants — a high energy Zeppelin concert with honest, heart-thumping intensity with a strong focus on Led Zeppelin’s pivotal early years. They touch on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever heard in concert. GTLO’s approach to performance of this • Where: The Paramount, 370 hallowed catalog is not unlike a classical performance. “Led Zeppelin are sort of the New York Ave., Huntington classical composers of the rock era,” says lead vocalist Paul Sinclair. “I believe 100 years • Time: 8 p.m.; also Dec. 27 from now they will be looked at as the Bach or Beethoven of our time. As cliche as it • Contact: ticketmaster.com sounds, their music is timeless.” $92, $49.25, $60.25. or paramountny.com windows of homes and buildings. It will be an enchanting evening to live in your memory. $15, $12 seniors and children 5-12. • Where: 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage • Time: 5-9:30 p.m., also Dec. 20-23, Dec. 26-29 • Contact: oldbethpagevillagerestoration. org or call (516) 572-8409
‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical’
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes back this delightful production, based on Mo Willems’ award-winning “Pigeon” picture books. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party. It’s not easy being the Pigeon — you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. • Where: Museum Row, Garden City • Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also Dec. 20, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2:15 p.m.; also Dec. 29-30
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
20
Family Chess Club
Join anytime and attend as often as you like at Lynbrook Public Library. Adult attendance required and participation encouraged. Chess sets provided or bring your own.
Fire Truck Christmas Rides
• Where: Earle Avenue Parking Lot, Field 8 • Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. • Contact: LynbrookVillage.net
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City • Time: 1-4 p.m.; also Dec. 27-Dec. 30 • Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Christmas Light Trail to Santa
• Where: 56 Eldert St. • Time: 2:30-4 p.m. • Contact: LynbrookLibrary.org
Walk through a glowing holiday trail leading to a visit with Santa at Greis Park Picnic Area. Rain date is Dec. 21.
Family Yo-Yo/Juggling Group
• Where: 55 Wilbur St. • Time: 5-7 p.m. • Contact: LynbrookVillage.net
Participate anytime and attend as often as you like. Adult attendance required and participation encouraged. Supplies provided. Walk-ins and siblings welcome. • Where: 56 Eldert St. • Time: 3-4:30 p.m. • Contact: LynbrookLibrary.org
Christmas Movie
Participate in a special holiday movie screening for families to enjoy together at Regal Lynbrook • Where: Merrick Road • Time: 9 a.m. • Contact: Lynbrook.RecDesk.com
26
Make a Memory Book!
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes all to a special program Interview your grandparent or another special adult in your life and collect their stories. Ask them fun questions like what games they played as a kid, their favorite food, or a special memory from school. Write down their answers, draw pictures, and decorate. Put it all together in your very own Memory Book. It’s a treasure to keep forever to remember their stories and share with your family. This is a drop-in activity.
Take a festive holiday ride on a decorated fire truck.
DEC
DEC
Christmas Starfish Ornaments
Stars are an iconic symbol of Christmas, inspired by the Star of Bethlehem. Bring the kids to Long Island Children’s Museum to learn more about the importance of the Christmas star and create a Christmas starfish ornament to take home. This is a drop-in program. • Where: Museum Row, Garden City • Time: Noon-2 p.m. • Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
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.
Elderly residents fall victim to scams, data shows opportunity to intervene. If police are alerted while the scheme is still unfolding, Paladino said, investigators can coordinate surveillance or sting operations to identify and apprehend suspects. When money is transferred electronically, however, he added, options narrow quickly, underscoring the importance of immediate reporting. In one high-profile case in East Rockaway, a 74-yearold woman lost $117,000 after responding to a fake computer alert in October. In October, Nassau County police arrested two suspect in that scheme, one of whom was implicated in a similar fraud case in Rockville Centre in August. Eric J. Einhart, an elder law attorney and president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, said the damage of fraud is often invisible until it devastates families. “The experience with the person in East Rockaway is not unique,” Einhart said. “That happens all the time.” Shame and fear, he said, often keep victims from reporting these types of crimes, which only compounds the harm. “But there are so many people that don’t get to that point,” Einhart said. “Whether it’s because the scammers are just so good or they’re touching an emotional heartstring … it’s a very pervasive problem.” Paladino that said scams often spike around the holidays and tax season. PSEG Long Island has warned of a rise in scammers threatening power shutoffs unless an immediate payment is made. The company says it never demands payment by way of gift cards, cryptocurrency or thirdparty apps. “It may be an advanced digital scam, an in-person scammer or a telephone call,” Lou DeBrino, PSEG
Courtesy PSEG Long Island
robert Vessichelli, lead investigator with pSeg Long island Corporate Security, teaches seniors about common utility scams. Long Island’s vice president of customer operations, said. “But most scammers try to blindside you with an urgent problem in the hopes that you panic and miss all the clues that they’re not who they appear to be.” Monica Martinez, executive director of Utilities United Against Scams, a consortium of more than 150 U.S. and Canadian utilities, said that its national theme — “Slow Down, Verify, Stop the Scam” — is a simple but effective tool to help customers avoid becoming victims. Nationally, Americans reported more than $3.4 billion in losses to imposter scams in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission, with older adults suffering the highest losses. In New York, victims ages 60
and over reported losing more than $145 million last year to online crime, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. State consumer protection data shows that elder-targeted scams on Long Island have risen 18 percent since 2022. In East Rockaway, residents describe scam attempts that appear indistinguishable from legitimate calls. Stacy Lynn said that scam calls have displayed her bank’s name on her caller ID. “But they ask for my husband’s last name,” Lynn said. “I never legally changed mine, so I know it’s a scam.” Others report constant digital pressure. Jillian O’Connor, of Lynbrook, said that she receives scam texts daily. “I could see how people could fall for it,” she said. “I get text reminders for other bill payments — why not this?” Some residents have turned to technology as a shield. Muhammad Rehman, of Lynbrook, said that a new phone feature, which alerts him to potential scam calls, eliminated the problem. “I used to get scam calls every one to two hours,” Rehman said. “But they’ve gone down to zero since then.” With more than 18 percent of Nassau County’s population now over age 65, authorities and advocates say the threat is only growing. “It’s hard to prevent, other than just educating the seniors about it,” Paladino said. “Just beware.” Residents are urged to report suspected fraud immediately to police and financial institutions. The Nassau County Police Department’s Fraud and Forgery Section can be reached at (516) 573-2815. More information on recognizing and reporting scams is available at Consumer.FTC.gov. —Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone.
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
Continued from page 1
19
December 18, 2025 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
20
Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, center, led a group of other elected officials and business leaders to form the Long Island Coalition of Business and Political Leader to oppose corporate tax increases.
County legislators say ‘no’ to corporate tax hike jdalessandro@liherald.com
Nassau County’s legislative leaders have a message for Gov. Kathy Hochul about New York City’s Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s tax plan: this would not be good for the state. To oppose the Democratic-driven plan to increase New York’s corporate tax rate, the officials — all Republicans —formed the new Long Island Coalition of Business and Political Leaders, a collection of elected officials and business organizations. “This is bad for New York state, and we are going to fight very hard against that,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Nov. 17. The mayor-elect’s plan is to increase to the corporate tax rate in New York City, bumping the top rate from 7.25 percent to 11.25 percent, aiming to support social programs with money sourced from the region’s highest earning businesses. Blakeman bristled at the thought, expressing concern that higher taxes will drive out business, jobs and residents. “We are on the border of New York
City,” he said, “many of our people com- the Hochul campaign, disputed the Counmute to the city to do business. What I’m ty Executive’s assertions. “Governor Hochul cut middle class concerned about is the deleterious effect that this will have on Nassau County and taxes while putting inflation refund checks in New Yorkers’ pockthe rest of the state.” ets,” she wrote in a stateBlakeman alleged that tax ment. “Bruce Blakeman is increases would be passed the number one fanboy for along to consumers and has Trump’s tariffs that are raisheard some business leaders ing costs for families and threaten to leave the city if making everything more taxes increase, which in turn expensive for small businesscould be a financial burden es – while the gover nor to the city’s middle class resiremains laser-focused on dents. He suggested the state lowering costs, Blakeman’s and city cut spending on shilling for Donald Trump’s undocumented migrant protariff tax hikes.” grams as an alter native Meanwhile, Matt Cohen, method to retain revenue. president and CEO of the “We don’t have a deficit in Long Island Association, Nassau County,” he said. called the tax proposal “a “For the past four years, DR. RicHARD real problem.” we’ve had surpluses because BEckER “It’s really incumbent we know how to manage nterim chief executive upon us to push back against money in Nassau County, officer NUMC this plan as much as possiand we’ve gotten seven bond ble,” he said. “We have an upgrades, but that’s one of the ways that we can spend money on affordability crisis in this country, but nowhere is it more acute than here on programs that benefit our residents.” Sarafina Chitika, the spokesperson for Long Island. And when you’re driving
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his extraordinary act of generosity will help us detect breast cancer and osteoporosis earlier.
Public Notices
LLYN1 1218
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 71-2025 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a
public hearing was duly called and held on the 9th day of December, 2025, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 71-2025, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 71-2025, to amend Section 202-1 of the
Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include & repealing “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations. Dated: December 9, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY
Town Clerk 157344
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to:
legalnotices@liherald.com PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
out businesses, when you’re driving out jobs, that’s going to make it worse, not better.” Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, highlighted the way New York City policies affect neighboring counties and businesses. “Small businesses don’t have the wherewithal to try and work around this,” he said. “A strong New York City is a strong Nassau. If New York City is gonna propose things like this, it’s gonna be like an everyday occurrence, trying to work around it, and it’s going to be difficult.” State Sens. Jack Martins, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Steve Rhoads joined the chorus of critics. “This is dumb, plain and simple,” Martins said. “The fact that the governor is even thinking about this is a disgrace. We urge the governor to say no. We urge the leaders in Albany to say no.” The coalition supports a move towards a 5 percent corporate tax rate, according to Blakeman. The fiscal year for the state will begin on April 1, and no business tax policy changes have been confirmed.
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ȩȩ2ESUME ȩ(IGHLIGHTINGȩYOURȩPHOTOGRAPHYȩEXPERIENCEȩANDȩRELEVANTȩSKILLS Resume: Highlighting your photography experience & relevant skills ȩȩPortfolio: 0ORTFOLIO ȩ!ȩLINKȩTOȩYOURȩONLINEȩPORTFOLIOȩORȩSOCIALȩMEDIA A link to your website or social media
Please contact Tim Baker at: tbaker@liherald.com 0LEASEȩSENDȩYOURȩAPPLICATIONȩTOȩ4IMȩ"AKERȩAT ȩ TBAKER LIHERALD COMȩȩ WITHȩTHEȩSUBJECTȩLINEȩ &REELANCEȪ0HOTOGRAPHERv ȩ with the subjectline “Freelance Photographer” ȩORȩCALLȩ or call (516) 784-8135
1327252
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO
21
W1 12/18
Employment
CLASSIFIED
To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5
Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.
Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.
BUS NOW HIRING IVERS AND VAN DR
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LOOK NEW PAY RATES FOR SEPTEMBER
• Must be able to manage all bookkeeping, including invoicing and bill payments, using QuickBooks. • Handle payroll processing through QuickBooks. • Payroll tax processing through IRS and NYS online systems. • Reconcile accounts and maintain financial records. • Perform administrative tasks such as filing and correspondence.
Big Bus $31.68/hr.
Non-Benefit Rate
Help Wanted CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
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1326093
EDUCATIONAL BUS TRANSPORTATION
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. H i s t o r i c a l l y, r e p o r t e r s w h o h ave launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com Global Strategy & Client Development Specialist sought in New Hyde Park, NY to direct & implement strategies for international client acquisition, market penetration, & partnership dev. Dev. market analysis, client growth initiatives, & forecasting. Liaise b/t global clients & internal teams. Provide advisory support to leadership. Contribute to organization’s long-term global strategy. Reqs: Masters Deg. International Relations, International Affairs, Politic a l E c o n o m y, o r r e l . S a l a r y : $83k-$83k/year. Resumes: Accelerated Global Solutions, Inc., er inn.mcmahon@agslogistics.com. MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
1324119 1318134
for CDL driver bus and Sign On Bonus $5,000.00 van $500.00 for non CDL drivers.
516.454.2300 Call Today!
Positions available in Nassau and Suffolk Counties Apply At: www.educationalbusjobs.com/ EOE
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250 PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
HERALD
December 18, 2025 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
22
Homes
HERALD
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
HOME OF THE WEEK
W2 12/18
• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
Lynbrook
Timeless Charmed Craftsman
Yes, A.I. will shape the future of building houses Q. Has A.I. affected construction? What do you see happening with A.I. in the building sector, and how does it change the cost of what we want to build? Are you seeing costs level out or drop? A. Lots of questions. Costs are not dropping. The future of construction will definitely be affected by the emergence of A.I., but, as usual, from the top down. The most sophisticated construction, large buildings and very high investments, started the trend. This is similar to what the space program did for technology. First were the onte eeper innovations in military development, followed by civilian aircraft and then automobiles, kitchen appliances and finally computerization on a large scale. The same is happening with artificial intelligence. For me, the first significant experience with AI was when a client, young enough to be my daughter, grabbed her cellphone, ran outside and took a picture of the front of her house. I had been drawing various styles of roofs, and she focused on one scheme that was very modern, with sleek lines, lots of verticalshaped structures intersected by horizontal overhangs and balcony rails, some glass and some solid. She took a picture of the house on her phone, a second one of the outside of the house and then, after speaking a command into her ChatGPT, waited a minute or so, and up came an image in 3-D — complete with palm trees and a red Ferrari — of the design I had developed in 2-D on my laptop screen. It was rough and a little out of scale, but close to what she was looking for. Then she got a little crazy and asked the program to use shades of pinks, grays and black trim for the handrails. Her husband objected, and said it should be all gray and white, and while they went back and forth, I was pondering what the architectural review board would do, how to structure the cantilever balconies and how much protest would come from the neighbors with their adjacent brick suburban colonials and split-level homes. Tall buildings are now designed with A.I., with great success, and intricate aligning of all the systems and construction utilizes robots that can hang off a building’s edges to install the fasteners, exterior panels and glass within tolerances normally seen under a microscope. Training has evolved to not only understanding the manual assembly of building components, but also the level of skill to guide robotics. New fields in technology are emerging, but with every change comes adjustment to the way we think about the tasks and how to solve them. Cars are now mobile computers, not just greasy machines. Construction is changing in the same ways. We’re going to need people to adjust to not going to college for degrees in medicine and law, but rather to master careers with great skill and knowledge, commanding robotics, knowing engineering, science, math and problem-solving in several fields. That’s the future.
Ask The Architect
M
S
tep into the timeless charm of this Craftsman-style home, beautifully blending classic character with everyday comfort. A welcoming living room with a stately fireplace sets the tone, offering the perfect backdrop for gatherings or quiet evenings in. The formal dining room provides an elegant space for hosting, while the large eat-in kitchen delights with abundant cabinetry, expansive counter space, and a cozy breakfast nook ideal for starting your day. With 4 well-appointed bedrooms, including an additional office/nursery that adapts to your lifestyle, this home offers exceptional flexibility. Classic architectural details—from rich woodwork to thoughtfully preserved finishes add warmth and personality throughout. Located in the heart of Lynbrook, this home pairs timeless style with convenience, creating a truly special place to call home. Asking $799,000.
REAL ESTATE 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
House For Sale FLORAL PARK: 4 BRS, 3 Bths, Must Sell. Asking Mid $800's. By Owner. Call 970-989-0444
Apartments For Rent 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
INWOOD: NEW 2 BR, Kitchen, Bath, LR, 1 Car Rear Parking, Outdoor Storage Shed. No Pets/ Smoking, $2,800+ Electric. 516-315-0083
Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-569-4000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)
Leon Sanchez – Licensed Broker/Owner M: 516.444.2779 Jonathan Sanchez – Licensed Salesperson M: 516-406-4046 Newman Realty 341 Hempstead Avenue Malverne, NY 11565 516.599.2800
Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own. Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!
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© 2025 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
23
W3 12/18
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
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LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
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December 18, 2025 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
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Answers to todAy’s puzzle
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opInIons
o
n Long Island and across our country, the rising cost of living is making it harder for people to get by. From some of the highest tax bills in the country to rising utility and health care bills, everything just costs too much these days. Making life more affordable for Nassau County’s young people, families and seniors is deeply personal to me. My grandfather immigrated to Long Island from LAURA A. Italy to give his family a better GILLEn life, and took a job as a sanitation worker in the Town of Hempstead to make ends meet. Two generations later, I’m raising my four children in Nassau County and fighting for a future they can afford. In serving this region, I consider it my utmost duty to give all Long Islanders the opportunity to prosper. Since taking office, I’ve been focused on common-sense solutions to make life more affordable. In Congress I’m fight-
ing to lower costs by extending tax credits that help families afford health care, eliminating the state and local tax deduction to give Long Islanders a much-needed tax cut, and preventing outrageous utility rate hikes that drain families’ wallets. When I speak with Long Islanders about what expenses are keeping them awake at night, health care costs are one of the main concerns I hear about. No one should have to choose between keeping food on the table and seeing a doctor. That’s why I’m pushing to extend tax credits that lower the cost of monthly insurance premiums. For some Nassau County residents, that could mean saving nearly $4,500 a year on their health care. A bipartisan majority of Americans agree that we should extend these common-sense tax credits that help millions of families afford health care. If Republicans refuse to negotiate a bipartisan solution, the credits will lapse and health care premiums will rise for everyone, even those with private insurance. I’ve also heard from countless Nassau
H
residents about the burdensome effect that high taxes have had on their bottom lines. For nearly a decade, countless hardworking families have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars more in taxes due to the unfair cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, instituted by the GOP in its 2017 tax bill. This double taxation is fundamentally unfair, and is making life more expensive for the middle class. Congress has the opportunity to correct that wrong and cut taxes for Long Islanders by eliminating the SALT cap, which is making it so hard for families and small businesses in my district to get by. That’s why I’m leading a bipartisan bill that would do so. I also testified before the House Rules Committee earlier this year about how restoring the full SALT deduction would mean lower tax bills and more affordable mortgages for homeowners in our region. Another worry for Long Island families is the dramatic and painful increase in their utility bills. No Nassau residents should have to pay 40 percent more per month just to have clean water
igh taxes continue to be a burden for too many Nassau County residents.
in their homes. That’s why I’m demanding answers from utility companies about the rate hikes that are draining Long Islanders’ wallets. I’m also working to pass the Stop the Rate Hikes Act to help prevent price surges in the future. Long Islanders are counting on Congress to come together and address the affordability crisis. This shouldn’t be a partisan fight: Every member of Congress has a responsibility to lower costs and make life more affordable for the people we represent. I will work with anyone, from any party, who shares this goal of tackling the cost-of-living crisis and giving families more financial security. I will always put Long Island first, and will continue my work to make life more affordable in our region by taking on the rising cost of health care, cutting taxes and preventing utility rate hikes that are crushing families’ budgets. I know that many people are having a hard time these days, and there’s a lot more work to be done. Long Islanders can trust that I will continue my fight to lower your costs so we can move forward together. Laura Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.
The sun rises and the sun sets; the rest is up for grabs
D
ear readers, I began this column, my last of 2025, thinking that despite the chaos in our lives, we can all agree on certain basic truths. And that’s as far as I got because, really, we can’t agree on anything. We’ve reached a point in our America where we can’t even agree on what we’re seeing or hearing with our own eyes and ears. Fakery, fraud and deceit, perpetuated by people inside and outside the country, from the RAnDI influencers and KREIss conspiracists to our own political leaders, have torn down the normal guideposts that let us know that up is up, down is down, right is right and wrong is wrong. We are in the vortex of an acute national vertigo. Imagine climbing a mountain. Everything looks good in base camp, but then, after several hours, it seems someone has removed the signposts. Then there’s a signpost, but it has the wrong information. Then you dig into your supplies and find that your camp-
ing food is rancid. You can’t call for help because your phone has been hacked. Five hours out, your hiking shoe has unraveled and the tent you pitch is so poorly made that water seeps in. A storm is rolling in. We climb mountains every day, and we need to trust our leaders to keep our schools safe, to keep education excellent and available. We need to know that airplanes will stay in the air; that competent air traffic controllers are on the job. I want to know the water I drink isn’t poisoning me. Pick any aspect of Life in America 2025 and find the relentless erosion of faith in our institutions and our elected officials. If someone had told me that in December 2025 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, led by a discredited official with little medical background, would unravel our vaccine protocols and sow doubt among Americans about the efficacy of long-established standards and treatments, I wouldn’t have thought it possible. Yet here we are. If someone had told me that in December 2025 I would see my president order kill strikes on vessels off Venezuela, calling it a war against nar-
I
co-terrorists and not getting an OK from Congress, I wouldn’t believe it possible. If, during the last election, someone had identified the political players who now run the country — some inexperienced, some ill-informed and some drunk on power — we would have dismissed the idea as hysteria. Yet consider Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller. And the man who breathed life into their political savagery: Donald Trump. Oh, and I forgot Elon Musk, the nation builder with the hatchet. Trump promised he would be aggressive on illegal immigration. No one supports illegal immigration; it isn’t sustainable. But did we expect to lose our national reputation and our humanity in the process? Did we expect to become a global outlier, threading immigration policy with malice and violence and overreach? In a short time, the new administration has sanctioned more drilling, building and digging in previously protected areas. There isn’t a discernible plan. Could it be creating havoc so no one notices who’s profiting from the relaxed regulations in everything from finance to the Alaskan wilderness?
f someone had told me where we’d be today, I wouldn’t have thought it possible.
Everything every one of us does, from buying groceries to traveling, getting an education, having babies, getting health insurance, buying a home, finding reliable news sources, serving in the military or getting married, has been altered by the policies of the Trump administration. And all the policy makers start slip-sliding away when citizens call for accountability. Who ordered the killing of the boat survivors off Venezuela? The president says he’ll release the videos. The president says he never said he’d release the videos. One general says the killing was a crime. Another says it was the right move. This isn’t the “fog of war”; this is the overwhelming fog of this administration, seeping into our homes. The Trump touch has affected every aspect of our lives. At the end of the day — and we’re not there yet — all the razzle-dazzle, all the kill strikes, ICE raids and military occupations of our cities and tariffs and taxing and sucking up to dictators around the world, may be a smoke screen for damning revelations in the Epstein affair. We can’t know. What we can know is, as the sun rises and sets, the world will turn, and better people may come forward to restore America to itself. Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
I’m fighting to lower costs for Long Island families
26
HERALD
Herald editorial
Ainsley MArtinez Editor
The power of giving, in every season
December 18, 2025 — LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD
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s the holiday season reaches its peak, reminders of generosity surround us. Yet beneath the glow of holiday lights lies a reality we cannot overlook: The needs our neighbors face do not disappear when the calendar turns to January. Toy drives spill over with brightly decorated packages waiting to be delivered to children who might otherwise go without, and food donations are stacked high at local pantries, arriving just in time to help families struggling to put meals on the table. Across Long Island, community groups, places of worship and nonprofits mobilize volunteers and resources to make the season a bit warmer and brighter for those facing hardship. These efforts showcase the best of who we are. When people give — not because they must, but because they care — they reveal the true strength of community. But hunger doesn’t take a winter vacation. Unemployment, illness, unstable housing and financial strain don’t wait for the next holiday season to return. Families who rely on food pantries in December will still need support in the spring and throughout the
year. Young people seeking stability, guidance and opportunity can’t put their challenges on hold until the next wave of donated toys arrives. The organizations that step up so visibly during the holidays are working tirelessly well beyond them. A community that invests in its children — consistently, intentionally and all year long — creates pathways to hope that last a lifetime. Food banks, youth centers, shelters, churches and community organizations depend on steady support to continue their vital work. Together they form a safety net, but each strand of that net requires reinforcement. Donations of food, toys, clothing, money and time aren’t simply seasonal gestures. They are essential tools that allow these groups to respond quickly when new needs arise, or when crises strike without warning. Year-round giving strengthens that safety net. It ensures that food pantries have enough supplies in the slower months, when contributions often dwindle. It allows youth programs to sustain mentorship and recreation long after the holiday volunteers go home. It gives shelters the flexibility to support fami-
lies beyond the seasonal surge. As the holidays encourage us to reflect on gratitude, connection and generosity, this moment offers an opportunity to broaden our understanding of giving. Your contribution, whether it’s a toy, a can of soup, money or a few hours of volunteer work, can lift a family through a difficult week. It can motivate a teenager to stay focused on school. As you think about where and how to give during this festive season, consider extending that generosity into the months that follow. Support a food pantry in February. Volunteer at a youth center in April. Donate to a shelter in July. Share your ideas with community groups that need fresh perspectives and helping hands. Giving is powerful in every season, and your commitment can help build a foundation of hope, compassion and opportunity that lasts all year long. Community is not built in a single season. It is built day by day, through acts of kindness large and small. If you have a favorite charity, please give yearround. If you don’t, please find one. And with your continued generosity, that community can grow stronger than ever.
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opinions
i
’ve spent the past decade teaching New York entrepreneurs how to launch and grow successful small businesses. Today, sophisticated digital tools help many entrepreneurs scale and succeed with unprecedented efficiency. So I was astonished when, just a few months ago, New York lawmakers seriously considered legislation called The Twenty-First Century AntiTrust Act, which would have effectively rendered many of those tools illegal. Fortunately, the act didn’t pass. Unfortunately, many of its richard central ideas seem to be gaining trachayes tion, and I’m worried that it (or something like it) will be reintroduced, once again threatening the state’s entrepreneurs and small-business leaders. The Twenty-First Century Anti-Trust Act assumed that market-leading businesses gain “dominant” positions not by offering appealing products, services and/or the best prices, but by engaging in “abusive” behavior. It particularly targeted leading tech companies like Microsoft and Apple, claiming they stifled
competition and hurt small businesses. It’s easy to think the big guys are the bad guys. In reality, the biggest tech companies offer high-value, low- and no-cost digital tools that thousands of New York small businesses rely on to find customers, grow, compete and succeed — and the legislation’s passage would have shattered those tools. Small businesses turn to the biggest tech companies for cutting-edge capabilities, efficiencies and reach that smaller competitors can’t match — and that small businesses could never achieve on their own. For example, local restaurants use leading delivery platforms like GrubHub to reach more customers and compete with big chain restaurants. Likewise, niche businesses launch inexpensive marketing campaigns on big social media platforms like TikTok, helping them tell the right audiences about their products and services. Small businesses can also access sophisticated, integrated business-software packages like Microsoft 365, often for just a few dollars a month. And many small app developers leverage leading outlets like Apple’s App Store to launch and grow innovative new app-based businesses with astonishing efficiency. Those tools empower small business-
LeTTers It was Mamdani who brought new energy to Carville’s message
T
es to succeed; that’s why small businesses use them. But because the tools are provided by leading companies — and because they’re often offered in integrated packages of services — the AntiTrust Act could have labeled them illegally “abusive.” Accordingly, thousands of New York small businesses would have lost access to affordable, world-class services that have helped them reach and serve customers throughout the state and across the country. The act raised other serious concerns. First, it would have hit minorityand women-owned business enterprises especially hard. These businesses often have difficulty securing startup funding and loans, and typically have limited professional networks. That makes access to affordable, large-scale tools and infrastructure provided by tech leaders critically important — and means that losing that access would be particularly damaging. Second, the legislation’s vague language suggested that any successful New York company could have been accused of anticompetitive behavior — simply for succeeding! Suppose you opened a family of gluten-free bakeries that bested neighborhood competitors thanks to
ools created by the big tech companies help small businesses succeed.
Framework by Tim Baker
To the Editor: In his column “Those who ignore James Carville face oblivion” in last week’s issue, Jerry Kremer rightly cites Democratic Party guru James Carville as touting a message — “It’s the economy, stupid” — that Democrats (and Republicans) ignore at their electoral peril. Kremer credits that emphasis on the economy as a key to the victories last month of Democratic gubernatorial candidates Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. And he warns that Democrats lose when they pay more attention to cultural issues than to “the economy, stupid.” No argument here. But Kremer reveals his own political narrowmindedness in not noting that it was New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani who earlier this year modeled the power of a campaign focused on economic issues. Mamdani coasted to victory in both the June Democratic primary and the November general election by hammering on issues related to “affordability.” Other Democratic pols — and a growing number of Republicans — have since echoed his theme (also without crediting Mamdani). Come on, Jerry. How about giving credit where credit is due? Or are you too locked into a traditionalist political mindset to acknowledge the electoral success of a 34-year-old democratic socialist? EILEEN BRADY Atlantic Beach
At the Coral House’s Breakfast with Santa — Baldwin
superior quality and lower prices. If the law had passed, you could have been accused of unfairly dominating the local gluten-free baked-goods market. That would be terrible for consumers, and leave small businesses vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits they couldn’t afford. Third, the act’s introduction revealed that many state legislators fundamentally misunderstand today’s digital economy. The biggest and smallest businesses aren’t always competitors — they’re often partners. That is, small neighborhood businesses use the tools, platforms and reach of global tech companies to level the playing field and compete with bigger players. I’ve spent much of my career helping small local businesses — particularly those owned by women, minorities and veterans — achieve success. I’m extraordinarily proud of the work I’ve done — because when small businesses thrive, families, communities and local economies do, too. New York’s entrepreneurs deserve thoughtful legislation that will make it easier — not harder — for them to grow and succeed. The failure of the Twenty-First Century Anti-Trust Act was a win for New York’s small businesses. Richard Hayes is executive director of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and an associate professor of management and entrepreneurship at Hofstra University.
LYNBROOK/EAST ROCKAWAY HERALD — December 18, 2025
Antitrust act would have hurt N.Y.’s small businesses
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