Merrick Herald 09-04-2025

Joseph D’Alessandro /Herald

Justina Martin attended Meet, Greet and a Treat to introduce her children, kindergartener Pauly, 3rd grader Mariella and 5th grader Mickaline to their teachers at Old Mill Road Elementary School on Aug. 28.

Teachers welcome new and returning Students connect with teachers at annual Meet, Greet

by JosepH D’AlessANDro jdalessandro@liherald.com

Teachers across North Merrick received students and parents with open arms at the annual Meet, Greet and a Treat event, gently beginning a new school year.

At Old Mill Road Elementary School, a steady crowd of parents and their children approached a line of tables set outside the building on Aug. 28. Behind each of the tables were pairs of teachers, introducing themselves to newcomers and welcoming familiar faces with enthusiasm.

Similar events happened at the Harold D. Fayette and Camp Avenue elementary schools. A key attraction of the event was teachers offering a treat to students, usual-

ly in the form of school supplies like writing utensils, pencil cases, and folders.

Ivy Morash has taught kindergarten at Old Mill Road for 29 years.

“It’s always nice to have a new beginning and a new set of really excited learners, and especially for me,” she said. “In kindergarten, it’s just their first experience in the big school, and it’s really nice to be that teacher that’s with them in their first experience.”

Families and educators meeting each other before classes begin gives both parties an opportunity to coordinate without the pressure of fitting conversation into a full day of classes.

“We have the kids come in for an hour on

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A program that packs a real punch

by KepHerD DANIel kdaniel@liherald.com

The sound of gloves hitting heavy bags echoed through the fitness room at the Friedberg JCC in Oceanside last month, when instructor and North Merrick resident Steve Solomon led a group of five seniors through a Parkinson’s boxing class. Gloria Lebeaux, senior director of social services at the JCC, said the twice-aweek program is a lifeline for those with the progressive disease.

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mental sharpness. Lebeaux said that the program is promoted by local doctors and therapists as well as word of mouth.

“Doctors refer here, physical therapists refer here, and people call us themselves,” she said. “This is just one piece of what we do for Parkinson’s — we offer discussion groups, caregiver support, and lots of different activities.”

just adapt to

needs

and don’t

“It’s really important, because it’s the only thing that, scientifically, has any impact on Parkinson’s at all,” Lebeaux said. “Medication has an impact on symptoms, but it doesn’t reduce the disease.

treat them too differently.

steVe

solomoN Boxing instructor

Exercise — and boxing in particular — has been shown to have an actual impact on the disease process.”

Boxing’s unique combination of footwork, coordination and cognitive focus works the brain and body together, improving balance, posture and

The boxing program runs twice a week — on Mondays, at 12:45 p.m., when it draws a particularly large group, and again on Thursdays, at 6 p.m., a smaller, more intimate session.

Tom Minlionica, 73, of Baldwin, who has Parkinson’s, said the sessions are more motivating than typical exercise. “It helps, and I notice the difference,” he said. “It’s something I look forward to.”

Hewlett resident Steve Toor, 74, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, after noticing mobility issues during a business trip to Las Vegas. His doc-

COnTinuEd On PAGE 23

Nassau unveils new strategic police unit

Forty-member squad to deploy as academic year begins, with focus on school and public safety

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has announced the formation of a new specialized strategic response team, set to be deployed across the county, which he said would provide an added layer of security and help keep communities safe.

“Our new strategic response team will be equipped with people who are experienced, who will be privy to intelligence and information on a real-time basis,” Blakeman said, “to make sure that they have the information they need to make sure that our communities are safe.”

The 40-person team will be rolled out as the school year begins, with members working closely with county schools and colleges to identify potential threats and ensure the safety of students, teachers and faculty.

“They will be able to travel and have the flexibility to go to places where they are needed,” Blakeman said at a news conference on Aug. 27 at the Nassau County Police Department Center for Training and Intelligence, alongside Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, county Council of School Superintendents President Marie Testa and Legislators Samantha Goetz, Thomas McKevitt and Rose Marie Walker.

The team will receive weekly intelligence briefings, according to Blakeman, who added that drones would also be used to monitor schools and communities. While he said that the unit’s initial purpose is the monitoring of schools, its responsibilities could expand to handling large public gatherings, such as concerts and protest, as well as increased crime activity.

The new response team will serve as another arm

County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced a new police response team at the NCPD Center for Training and Intelligence on Aug. 27, along with a $1.4 million investment in cameras equipped with artificial intelligence.

of one of the largest police departments in the state. The NCPD currently has the largest mounted unit on the East Coast outside New York City, and fully staffed K-9 and motorcycle units, alongside 84 tactical officers. And the department will be adding 10 members to its Emergency Service Unit, according to the county executive’s office.

Blakeman detailed another county initiative, a $1.4 million investment in 100 license-plate-reading cameras equipped with artificial intelligence that will be purchased with asset forfeiture funds. The technology, Blakeman said, will help the department recover license plate information on cars in Nassau County with greater efficiency.

“If there is a white car that has a golden retriever hanging out the window,” he said, “that AI will get us every car that is white with a golden retriever hanging out the window.”

Ryder praised both initiatives, arguing that they demonstrate the lengths the county will go to “protect your kids,” and “make sure that they’re safe.”

Testa, the North Bellmore School District superintendent, said that the updated security measures introduced in schools are something that she and the council of superintendents “respect, appreciate and admire.”

“We have kept students safe together,” she said. “We have kept students happy to come to school together.”

On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men and women perished at the World Trade Center in the worst terrorist attack on American soil. Twenty-four of the victims were from the Bellmore-Merrick area. 23 years later, we fondly remember them. To this day, our heartfelt condolences go out to the families.

will wear

late FDNY firefighter and Merrick resident Rob

Colts to honor fallen

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

The Calhoun High School football team is taking the field this fall with a tribute to one of its most dedicated supporters — late Merrick resident and FDNY firefighter Rob Okorn. Okorn, who died April 20 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, will be remembered with helmet decals bearing his initials “RO.” The tribute will appear on the bottom right of each helmet, placed diagonally across from the Colts’ signature horseshoe logo.

A lifelong public servant, Okorn was 53. He spent his entire 18-year firefighting career with Ladder 158 in Queens and was among those who worked in the recovery efforts at ground zero following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Football was always central to the Okorn household. Both of Rob’s sons, Luke and Ryan, played for Calhoun. Even after their graduations, Okorn and his wife, Mireya, continued to support the program by organizing team dinners — a tradition that bonded players and families alike.

The gesture of remembrance echoes what the Colts did a season ago, when they honored another longtime supporter, Wayne Baci, who died of cancer in Janu-

last fall as a tribute to the father of three Colts, including senior Jake.

ary 2024 at age 49. All three of Baci’s sons played for the Colts, and his youngest, Jake, is a senior on this year’s team. For the Colts, the decals are more than just symbols — they are reminders of the deep connections between the team and its community. By carrying Okorn’s initials into every game, players honor not only his life of service, but also the lasting legacy of support he gave to Calhoun football.

Hofstra eyes big final season for Nuttall

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra men’s soccer team is aiming for the program’s fifth straight conference title and sending its longtime head coach out a winner.

Richard Nuttall announced just before kickoff of the 2025 campaign this would mark his last fall leading the Hofstra sidelines. Nuttall has elevated Hofstra into a powerhouse during his 37 years leading the sidelines with eight NCAA Tournament appearances and led the Pride to a fourth straight Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship in 2024.

“Sometimes it’s just the right time,” said Nuttall, who will leave the program to associate head coach Stephen Roche, who was named head coach in waiting last year, and longtime assistant Shaun Foster. “My two assistants are great people and they’re ready to go.”

Hofstra entered Nuttall’s final season ranked 23rd in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll on heels of a 14-5-2 2024 campaign in which it earned the seven seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Pride’s historic season ended in heartbreaking fashion with a 2-1 second round loss to Vermont, who proceeded to go on a Cinderella run to win the national championship.

After a season-opening 2-1 loss to Bucknell on Aug. 21, Hofstra rebounded three days later with a 2-0 home victory against local Big East foe St. John’s on the strength of goals from seniors Laurie Goddard and Daniel Burko.

Nuttall said Goddard and Burko will play key roles in directing the offense this season on a squad that graduated much of last year’s starting lineup. Goddard, a midfielder from London, was named the Preseason CAA Player of the Year after tallying nine goals and five assists last season. Burko, a Norway native, transferred to Hofstra from Syracuse and will play a striker role with the Pride at forward.

Senior midfielder Aleksei Armas has

also factored into the offense early this season registering an assist on a goal from Goddard in the season-opening loss to Bucknell. The Floral Park High School product entered Hofstra last fall after playing two seasons at Adelphi University.

The backline is anchored by senior defender Gabriel Pacheco, a Brazil native who was named Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA. The defense

held St. John’s to just two shots on goal in the Pride’s shutout of the Red Storm Aug. 24.

Senior goalkeeper Sean Bohan recorded two saves in the St. John’s clean sheet. The Dublin, Ireland native is patrolling the Pride net after playing the last two seasons at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa where he recorded a program record 20 shutouts.

“He’s got such a great presence about

him and we just named him a captain,” Nuttall said of Bohan. “He’s a vocal leader and gets people organized.”

Nuttall’s two other goalies on the roster are from Hofstra’s backyard in Gino Cervoni, an Elmont native and Carey High School alum, and freshman Aidan GaNunHear from Garden City South, a Chaminade product.

Hofstra’s next home match is scheduled for Sept. 13 against Long Island rival Stony Brook in its CAA home opener at 7 p.m. The Pride will then face Monmouth at home for another Saturday evening conference match on Sept. 20 before hosting Columbia on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

The Pride were picked to finish first in the CAA’s North Division, which also features Monmouth, Drexel, Northeastern and Stony Brook. The top three finishers will advance to the CAA Tournament with a chance to add to Nuttall’s championship resume and claim the league’s automatic bid into the NCAAs.

Calhoun tabs Hughes as interim principal

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Assistant Principal Michael Hughes was named interim principal at Sanford H. Calhoun High School just weeks after Nicole Hollings announced a leave of absence following her arrest on DWI charges.

Hughes, 43, began his career in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District in 2009 as a science teacher at Calhoun. Seven years later, he was appointed principal of the district’s Alternative/Twilight High School before moving into the role of science department chairperson at Calhoun and Merrick Avenue Middle School in 2018.

In 2020, he was named assistant principal at Calhoun, where he oversaw daily operations, student support services, instructional supervision and testing.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in cancer biology from Adelphi University. After working as an associate researcher at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research for a year, he enrolled at Queens College to pursue a master’s degree in teaching.

In 2009, Hughes was hired to teach Regents and honors chemistry, advanced science research and Advanced Placement psychology at Cal-

houn. Over time, he developed an interest in administration. In 2011, he returned to school to earn a certificate of advanced graduate study in educational leadership and administration from the College of St. Rose.

Hughes’ wife, Jessica, is a science teacher at John F. Kennedy High School.

“In this interim role, Mr. Hughes will provide leadership and support to the students, staff and families during the 2025-26 school year,” Superintendent

Michael Harrington wrote in a letter to families. “He will work closely with the district and building leadership teams to ensure consistency, stability and success. We will now begin the process of finding an interim assistant principal for Calhoun High School and will communicate when a decision is made.”

The district did not make Hughes available for comment.

Hollings, 52, announced her leave as principal in an email to families on Aug. 5, a little more than a month after her arrest in Rockville Centre. She was charged with driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle accident, village officials said.

In her letter to families, Hollings wrote that she would step away “for a period of time as I navigate the personal issues I am facing.” She added that being principal of Calhoun is “too

At a Glance: Calhoun Leadership

Who: Michael Hughes, longtime educator in the district, named interim principal.

Background: Began at Calhoun in 2009; became assistant principal in 2020.

Why: Principal Nicole Hollings took leave following July DWI arrest in Rockville Centre.

Status: Hollings pleaded not guilty; due back in Nassau District Court on Sept. 10.

Next steps: District seeking interim assistant principal to fill Hughes’ former role.

important a job for any distractions to detract from its mission — to serve our children, families, and staff with complete dedication, and focus.” Hollings, who was preparing to enter

her 12th year as principal, also said she would “work closely with my replacement to ensure a smooth transition and that our community remains fully supported throughout the process.”

Her announcement came exactly four weeks before classes were scheduled to resume at Calhoun, leaving the district with limited time to finalize leadership for the upcoming school year.

Hollings pleaded not guilty to the charges at Nassau District Court in Hempstead on July 25. At her next appearance on Aug. 7, prosecutors said her blood alcohol content was .25, more than three times the legal limit in New York. Her driver’s license was suspended, and she faces up to three years of probation and as many as 32 days in jail if convicted.

She was represented at both hearings by attorney Robert Schalk and is due back in court on Sept. 10.

Hollings’ absence has left the Calhoun community reeling. Parents and students are now looking to Hughes for stability during what could be a pivotal year for the high school. While he steps into the role under difficult circumstances, Hughes’ long history in the district and familiarity with Calhoun are expected to help guide the school through the transition.

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North Merrick Schools prepare for new year

this day,” Morash explained, “they come, they get to meet their teacher, and we give them a little welcome gift, and just get them ready and excited to come on the first day.

“It eases the tension on the first day a little bit, and they get a quick little meeting with us,” she continued. “The parents are also allowed to drop off their supplies, just to make that drop off on the first day a little easier.”

School Nurse Christine Torre’s station provided an important opportunity to medically prepare for the upcoming school year.

“[Parents] come over to meet me and give me any medical stuff that I need: medications, physical exams, and it’s a great opportunity for me to get to meet a lot of new families,” she said. “I look forward to it every year. Parents are always happy to see that I’m so involved with the kids, and it’s always nice to see the happy faces of the children.”

Justina Martin, a mother of three, took her children to the Meet, Greet and a Treat.

“We have been coming here for years, and now my youngest son is about to experience it,” she said. “My older one had Morash two years ago, and now he gets to experience this. We’re very excited.”

Martin expressed her appreciation to connect with school staff.

Harold d. fayette elementary School was one of the locations for the meet, greet and a treat event on aug. 28.

“It gives me an opportunity to drop off a little supplies, meet the teacher, which is really important for my little guy — he was kind of shy,” she said.

Martin credited the school for its support shown in programs during the school year.

“We just found out there’s a buddy system, so my older one gets to go read a book to her little brother,” she said. “We’re excited.”

School Principal Howard Merims took pride in Meet, Greet and a Treat, which “is now a tradition,” he said.

“It really does help break the ice,” he said. “The anxiety of the first day is really lessened. You see the smiles on everyone’s faces.”

The annual event began when classes returned to in-person learning after moving from online lessons due to Covid-19.

“That was a great way to get started again and build — or rebuild — the connection with the community after the covid years,” he said. “It has been a huge success, really, a huge success. We’re here for one purpose and one purpose only, these children, the students of our buildings.”

The school will hold further events to kick off the school year, including a Welcome Back Picnic on Sept. 12 and the Meet the Teacher night on Sept. 16, where teachers can review curriculum and expectations for the school year.

Art, history and inspiration fill library

By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent

Art lovers gathered at the North Merrick Public Library on Aug. 20 to hear artist and professor Thomas Germano bring the world of the recently renovated Frick Collection to life.

His lecture was part of the library’s summer reading program, “Color Our World,” which highlights the power of art to inspire and connect communities.

Germano, an East Norwich-based artist and professor at Farmingdale State College and the New York Academy of Art, gives about 75 lectures a year at Long Island libraries. He said he is drawn to Long Island’s natural setting, which fuels his creativity.

“I’ve always been connected to the water — on the North Shore, the Long Island Sound, and the natural setting between the preserve and the waterline,” Germano said. “As far as connecting to my art, it’s close enough to the city where I can get my fill of culture and New York City, and also have a quiet space to create on Long Island.”

Before his talk, Germano pointed out a local link to the Frick Collection.

“There’s also the Frick Estate, which has become the Nassau County Museum of Art off Northern Boulevard in Roslyn just off the viaduct,” he said.

The Merrick Library recently added the Frick Collection to its museum pass program, allowing cardholders to visit for free.

“I think we were really excited to have him here because we have our new museum pass to the Frick Collection,” said library trainee Alexa O’Kane, who hosted the program. “That allows our patrons to go. It’s two people per pass. That covers admission, so it’s free. We’re really excited to make the museum more accessi-

ble to people in our community.”

O’Kane praised Germano’s ability to make art approachable.

“I think he’s very, very knowledgeable,” she said. “And he’s very good at contextualizing the art to make sure that people who know a lot can still get something from his speech, but also people who are coming into it with fresh eyes.”

Several attendees said they left inspired.

“The idea that one man amassed that collection is just so impressive,” said Merrick resident Angela Dubinsky.

Another attendee, Mary Re, added, “I thought it was displayed so nicely. And the Frick itself really gives you the impression of a home.”

According to Germano, the Frick Collection in Manhattan traditionally focused on portraiture and old masters. But just before the pandemic, it began featuring contemporary artists such as Vladimir Kanevsky, known for his porcelain flowers that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing.

This mix of classic and contemporary art fit neatly into the library’s summer theme, O’Kane said.

“Our goal was to emphasize the importance of art,” she explained. “Especially for our youngest patrons — to get them interested in all sorts of art, whether it’s them making their own, or them going to museums and appreciating it. We can see ourselves and each other in different ways that way.”

O’Kane also noted the wealth of art available closer to home.

“I really love going to see local exhibits and pop-uptype things,” she said. “I know sometimes, when our reference room is open, we invite local artists to exhibit things there. So, it’s really fun to just see the culture of the island reflected that way.”

Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?

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If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions.

You’ll receive clear answers, an itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind.

Sound Lab to ring in Jewish new year

This year, the sounds of Rosh Hashanah will take on a whole new dimension for local children as the Chabad Center of Merrick, Wantagh and Bellmore hosts the Shofar Sound Lab — an immersive, hands-on holiday program designed to bring Jewish tradition to life.

The program, which blends science, creativity and holiday spirit, invites kids to explore the shofar in many ways. Young participants will step into the role of “sound scientists,” experimenting with sound waves using hightech, sound-activated bracelets in the soundwave sync-up. From there, they’ll enter the shofar testing zone, where airflow experiments, shofar engineering and the unique sounds of Rosh Hashanah take center stage in the audio den.

Of course, no Rosh Hashanah celebration is complete without something sweet. At the honey cake creation station, children will bake their very own treat in a shofar-shaped mold. They’ll also design colorful Shana Tovah bubble prints, making creative New Year’s greetings to share with friends and family.

“Rosh Hashanah is more than a holiday. It’s a chance for our children to connect deeply with the sights, sounds and sweetness of their Jewish identity,” said Rabbi Shimon Kramer. “This

program turns powerful traditions into unforgettable memories, and gives kids a hands-on way to understand why the shofar’s call is so special.”

The shofar, a ram’s horn, has been used for centuries during High Holiday services. Its three distinct sounds — “Tekiah, Shevarim and Teruah” — carry profound messages of reflection, renewal and awakening. The sound lab brings these traditions to life through teamwork, creativity and play.

“The Shofar Sound Lab brings these big ideas to life in a way that’s fun, interactive, and deeply meaningful,” added Chanie Kramer. “When kids hear the shofar this year, they won’t just listen, they’ll feel.”

The program will be held twice: Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 5-6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m.noon at the Chabad of Jewish Life in Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh.

Open to all Jewish children ages 5 to 11, the event is part of Chabad Hebrew School’s ongoing efforts to make Jewish learning accessible, engaging and meaningful.

For more information, families can visit ChabadJewishLife.org/chs, email chs@chabadjewishlife.org, or call 516833-3057 ext. 106.

— Brian Kacharaba

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Leaving a Vacation Home to Family

We all know the road to you know where is paved with good intentions. Nowhere is this more true than leaving a vacation or beach home for the children to share after the parents have passed. We have often advised that if they are all happy and get along well this might very well lead to the end of those good feelings and relationships.

Inevitably, some will do more work on the premises than others, some will use the premises more than others, there will be disagreements as to maintenance and repairs. Some may never visit or use it at all.

Initially, all expenses tend to be shared equally, since all are equal owners. The foregoing issues, however, will quickly arise and then it will often be difficult or impossible to determine what each child’s fair share of the expenses should be. The one living across the country who never visits may insist that they be “bought out” or, if that’s unaffordable to the others, that the house be sold so that they can get their share.

Sooner or later, one of the siblings dies and

their share goes to a sister-in-law or brother-in-law who may remarry and bring a stranger into the shared arrangement. Or let’s say an owner of onethird of the house dies, and now their share goes to their four children. How is that going to work?

Vacation homes are an excellent example of why good estate planning is often more social work than legal work. In these cases we anticipate the problems and spend the time to figure out who wants and uses the home and perhaps leave it to those children only and compensate the others with money or other assets. If they all use and enjoy the home, we sometimes require that it be held jointly with the right of survivorship, allowing the last of the joint owners to decide who to leave it to.

While the possibilities are endless, each case should be looked at and thought through so as to keep harmony in the family by preempting any potential conflicts. Otherwise, it’s often a case of the old adage that “ no good deed goes unpunished”.

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NIMBYs, YIMBYs and the great divide

Communities are split on the value of new housing developments, and their effects on quality of life

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO, JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO & RENEE DELORENZO of Herald Community Newspapers

Fourth in a series on housing on Long Island.

Communities across Long Island often fall into one of two camps: those in favor of new developments, and those against.

For some residents, the common refrain is “Not in my backyard!” — disapproving of the construction of new residential and commercial projects near where they live. The would-be neighbors of these developments are directly affected by their construction in the short term, and often see lifestyle changes for years to come.

Marge Congello, president of the Central Bellmore Homeowners Association, disapproved of recent plans to develop an apartment building on Bedford Avenue in Bellmore. After attending a public event reviewing the proposal, she described the project as “too robust.”

“Am I against apartment buildings? No, but I think that there’s becoming an influx of them in Nassau County,” Congello said. “The builder wants to make money, the developer wants to make money, and then they go live somewhere else. They’re not living in my backyard.

“Our main priority is maintaining and improving the quality of life here in Uniondale and all of Nassau County,” Jacobs said.

Another housing program Jacobs regarded with skepticism was accessory dwelling units — an initiative spearheaded by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2024 state budget talks to add extensions to existing homes to create more — and less expensive — living spaces.

“ADUs — the vast majority of people that I speak with are totally against it,” Jacobs said. “With ADUs, they come with more people, more cars.”

While accessory units may not be a welcome solution, Jacobs acknowledges a need for housing on Long Island. “I do believe that there should be some affordable housing,” she said. “We want to retain our children and our grandchildren. We want them to stay here.”

On the flip side . . .

“There were lots of issues,” she added of the Bedford Avenue proposal. “There’s the traffic congestion that comes along with the overdevelopment. There’s the overburdening of utilities that comes along — the overburdening of schools and emergency services.”

Congello cited the loss of green space to new real estate developments as a major cause for concern, describing it as a type of urbanization that disrupts Nassau and Suffolk counties’ way of life.

“You can’t go and change the zoning in a residential area to allow an apartment building and then ‘save our suburbs,’” she said. “You can’t have both.”

Congello has been a member of Bellmore’s homeowners’ association for 25 years, serving as “the eyes and the ears for the local residents,” she said.

“We’re here to protect the quality of life that we feel very strongly about, not to hurt any businesses,” she said. “It’s definitely not about stopping growth, but it’s maintaining both.”

Congello’s criticisms of overdevelopment extend beyond apartment projects. She was a prominent voice of the Say No to the Casino movement, which opposed plans by Las Vegas Sands to build a casino resort in Uniondale. She worked with Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, who shares similar concerns about overdevelopment.

Other community activists disagree, welcoming new projects with open arms as YIMBYs — “Yes, in my backyard!”

According to Hunter Gross, vice president of the Hempstead Housing Coalition, combating the NIMBY movement remains a challenge. When towns hold meetings on housing projects — such as apartment buildings with affordable units — the key demographic those projects aim to serve is usually underrepresented, Gross noted. Instead, he said, the attendees are often homeowners, many of them older than the group that would benefit most.

New York state’s 2025 Nassau County Rent Guidelines Board explanatory statement — compiled by the state’s Home and Community Renewal agency — reports that 81.9 percent of homes in the county are owner-occupied, and 18.1 percent are renter-occupied in the county.

“You’re always going to have people who show up who don’t have valid concerns about the project,” Gross said. “It creates this sentiment that every single person is objecting to a housing project.

“Oftentimes, elected officials listen to the loudest people in the room,” he continued. “I don’t think economic development and housing policy should be dictated by the small minority of people.”

The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that about 40 percent of people in need of affordable housing are in the workforce, with 42 percent working more than 40 hours a week. As well, 33 percent of extremely-lowincome households are seniors, and 18 percent are people with disabilities.

The dynamic often becomes one of “ladder-pulling,” when homeowners block opportunities for those trying to enter the market, Gross said.

He recalled an older man at a Sayville

The real estate development firm Economic Development Strategies submitted to a third round of community feedback on plans to build a new apartment building on Bedford Avenue in Bellmore on April 2. Bill Bonesso addressed would-be neighbors, answering questions and getting feedback.

public hearing saying that he had worked multiple jobs to afford living on Long Island. Gross responded that he also juggles more than two jobs, but structural issues like wages failing to keep pace with inflation leave younger workers at a disadvantage.

“It has nothing to do with you working hard enough,” he said.

Gross also noted that homes bought decades ago would be unaffordable for those same buyers today. In a 2024 survey conducted by the real estate brokerage Redfin, nearly 40 percent of homeowners said they could not afford their homes if they were purchasing them now. Redfin cited population growth, housing shortages and rising mortgage rates as explanations, adding that the median home sale price has doubled in the past decade.

“If we truly care about our communities on Long Island, I think it’s time to say that we’re not going to close the gates,” Gross said. “We’re not a gated community, and we can ensure that people can afford to live here.”

Why some support new development

In communities across Long Island, new housing developments often spark debate, as they try to balance the need for growth with residents’ desire to preserve the neighborhood character.

In Lynbrook, that tension was visible with the opening of the Langdon, a sixstory apartment building at Broadway and Langdon Place that added 201 rental units to the village. While some residents raised concerns about traffic, crowding and other changes to the community, others, including local business leaders and many residents, viewed the project as an opportunity for revitaliza-

tion.

Polly Talbott, a former president and the current executive director of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce, lives in the village and has seen the transition firsthand. Her dual perspective as resident and chamber leader informs her view of the YIMBY approach. While construction created temporary disruptions, the project was thoughtfully executed, Talbott said, and recent improvements, including updated streets and parking, have already enhanced the surrounding area.

“It will help our village to flourish,” she said. “I think it’s inspiring to see our community embracing it. We understand that people, some people, have a hard time with it, but it is a great opportunity for young people to find a home here, and it will bring just life and vitality to our streets.”

The project included 20 affordable apartments designated for households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income — six studios, 11 onebedroom apartments and three two-bedroom units, with monthly rents ranging from $2,212 to $3,147.

Asked about the cultural resistance often associated with NIMBYism, Talbott acknowledged that some residents worry about overpopulation or losing the village’s small-town character, sometimes expressed as a fear of “turning Long Island into the city.” From her perspective, these concerns are understandable but overstated. She emphasized that Lynbrook continues to offer green spaces, parks and community amenities, and that adding housing does not diminish the village’s character; rather, it strengthens it by welcoming

Debating the pros and cons of new housing

new residents who are invested in the community.

“Are we going to put one on every corner? No, we’re not,” Talbott said. “We can’t stop change. We can’t stop progress. And I think we’ve done it tastefully.”

Affordable housing and rental options are also critical in the broader context of Long Island’s housing crisis. With the rising cost of homeownership, apartment complexes like the Langdon provide alternatives for young professionals and families who would otherwise be priced out.

While NIMBY resistance often focuses on perceived disruptions, housing developments are increasingly seen as necessary to ensure that communities remain vibrant, inclusive and economically sustainable.

Bob Barker, president of the Locustwood Gotham Civic Association, in Elmont, said he believes that building affordable housing — or changing zoning laws to allow it — could help solve a nagging issue in some neighborhoods vacant houses.

“There are a lot of unoccupied buildings that are causing a blight in the community,” Barker said. “Let’s get rid of these zombie homes. Let’s get rid of these structures that have been there for years that are boarded up and look tacky.”

Barker argues, would benefit the community twofold: It would create more options for young people or families in need of affordable housing while eliminating properties that are poorly maintained and increasingly dilapidated. The economic benefits, Barker added, could also help towns attract new residents, generate more property tax revenue and boost local businesses.

And, he said, renovating existing homes to create accessory dwelling units could create jobs for local contractors.

“You want people to say, ‘You know what? This is a great program,’” Barker said.

But, he cautioned, community input is essential in determining what kinds of affordable housing make sense — whether apartments or smaller homes that can be converted into multi-family rentals.

NIMBYism vs. YIMBYism on Long Island

NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)

■ Oppose apartment projects as too extensive

■ Cite traffic, utility strain, crowded schools, and loss of green space

■ Fear suburban character will be lost

■ Skeptical of accessory dwelling units

■ Support quality of life over rapid growth

YIMBY (Yes, In My Backyard)

Marge CoNgeLLo President, Central Bellmore Homeowners Association

Best Neighborhood, a website that tracks real estate data, reports that the average vacancy rate in Nassau County is roughly 6 percent.

Converting vacant homes into affordable housing,

“These are things you have to look at in terms of how best the community agrees with it,” Barker said. “The community should play a vital part in what kind of structures and buildings are built.”

And, he stressed, just because current laws may limit development doesn’t mean they can’t be changed. As the community evolves over the years, laws need to reflect that change, and existing ones may not truly benefit the community.

“You can make amendments to the laws to make them better,” Barker said. “Progress is about change, and the only way you can do that is by amending the laws. We have to be proactive, and not reactive.”

■ Welcome new housing, including affordable units

■ Say opponents dominate public hearings while younger renters are absent

■ Argue that housing shortages and rising costs price out new residents

■ View projects like the Langdon, in Lynbrook, as revitalization

■ Advocate reusing vacant “zombie homes” as affordable housing

SPORTS

Massapequa hosts Wrexham soccer camp

By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

The iconic Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC (Association Football Club) touched down in Massapequa, bringing with it a wave of excitement, skill, and inspiration during a two-week youth soccer camp that captivated young players and families from across Long Island beginning Aug. 18 at John J. Burns Park.

The camp, hosted by the Massapequa Soccer Club, was made possible through the combined efforts of the Massapequa Soccer Club, the Long Island Junior Soccer League, the American Soccer Club, and the Town of Oyster Bay. According to Paul Bigilin, director of coaching for Massapequa Soccer Club, the collaboration with Wrexham was a dream come true for the local soccer community.

“We were able to connect with Wrexham and collaborate to hold a camp here for two weeks in August,” said Bigilin. Wrexham AFC is co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The camp was a huge hit, drawing young soccer enthusiasts from Long Island and beyond. Kids not only had the chance to learn the game from toplevel coaches but also to connect with fellow players in a positive, high-energy environment.

“It has been very well received by the parents,” Bigilin said. “We’ve had kids from all over Long Island coming to participate in this camp. As the director of coaching for a community-based club, just to provide this experience and opportunity for the kids is amazing. It’s life-changing for these kids to see professionals on TV and now being able to train with coaches from Wrexham is fantastic.”

One of those kids is Charlotte Rismiller, an 8-year-old Massapequa resident who enthusiastically shared her favorite parts of the camp: “My favorite part is how fun the drills are. They are teaching us cool moves and they’re really good coaches,” she added. “This camp is very fun and we will totally come back again next year.”

Her brother, Noah, 9, echoed the excitement: “My favorite part is making new friends and learning new moves. I saw my sister playing soccer and it looked fun so I wanted to play too.”

For the coaches from Wrexham AFC, the camp was just as rewarding. Josh Evans, one of the visiting coaches, emphasized the value of cultural exchange and building connections through sport.

“I think it’s experiencing different cultures that makes this cool,” Evans said. “I’ve done this for many years now and working with different children and different age groups never gets old. We’re trying to make it educational

Wrexham coach Josh Evans spoke to kids

at Massapequa’s John J. Burns Park.

while also having fun at the same time. We are running and teaching drills for all different aspects of the game.”

Parents, too, have been impressed by the professionalism and passion brought by the Wrexham team. Roman Seltenreich, a father from Farmingdale, praised the camp’s atmosphere and impact on his children.

“It’s awesome! They really look like they live and breed soccer,” Seltenreich said. “Both my kids [Lillian, 9, and Charles, 6] have learned so much from the coaches while also having a great time. I’m definitely going to be talking this up to other parents. Every kid that plays soccer should be participating in this camp.”

Looking ahead, Bigilin hopes this inaugural partnership is just the beginning of a lasting relationship between Massapequa and Wrexham.

“We’d like to create a relationship, especially here for the community of Massapequa, where we would continue to host Wrexham AFC coaches for camps, and then have the opportunity to send Massapequa players, coaches and families over to Wales to experience the soccer culture they live over there,” Bigilin said.

TOWN

Volunteers will see Ryder Cup up close

By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

On the floor of the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University on Aug. 23, the atmosphere was quiet and simultaneously busy — like a golf tournament. Volunteers picked up their uniforms and credentials, while organizers moved briskly, helping them with size changes.

More than 4,300 volunteers, from 46 states — including over 2,700 from New York — and 28 countries will play a pivotal role in the historic Ryder Cup competition Sept. 23 to 28. The biennial showdown between the United States and Europe will take place on Bethpage State Park’s famed Black Course in Farmingdale — the first time the prestigious event has been held in New York.

Kasey Minnigan, who manages volunteer operations for the Ryder Cup through the PGA of America, said the event simply wouldn’t be happening without the thousands of people who signed up to help.

“We are just so excited to be a part of it,” said Minnigan, a Rockville Centre resident who grew up playing golf in Frisco, Texas, where the PGA is headquartered. “We get to give (the volunteers) access to the event for all six days, and they will be provided with two uniform shirts, a jacket, a headwear item and, most importantly, our credential.”

Minnigan, who captained golf teams in both high school, in Frisco, and college, at St. Francis, in Brooklyn, said that each volunteer becomes an ambassador for the event, whether on or off shift.

“We have shifts that cover up to 30 committees — from accessibility shuttles to the shops to on the course — every little thing is covered by volunteers,” she said. “The event would not be possible without them. When they’re on property during non-scheduled shift times, we ask that they wear their headwear so they can be easily noticed and able to step in if we need them.”

The merchandise tent — the largest the park has ever had for a golf event — will be manned by 1,200 volunteers, and there will be 1,300 marshals (also volunteers) stationed on the rope lines of Bethpage Black. Course marshals are tasked with crowd control, managing the pace of play and maintaining safety on the course.

“They are the backbone of this event,” Minnigan said of the volunteers. “We are just so grateful that they are excited to be a part of it.”

For many, the motivation to volunteer was simple: to experience world-class golf from just feet away. Sara Blau, a native of Brookville who now works for Citibank in Manhattan, said the bank offered slots to employees, and she jumped at the chance.

“I thought it would be a really cool opportunity for me to see the tournament up close,” Blau said. “I’m personally trying to get into golf more, taking lessons. I thought this would be a good opportunity for the start of my golf career.”

She said she sees golf as both a sport and a business tool. “It’s a lifelong sport, a great way to network, to take out clients,” she said. “And it’s just a lot of fun.”

For Andres Diez of Austin, Texas, the Ryder Cup will be a new volunteer experience, though he helped out at a Formula One race in his home state.

“I started playing as a kid, then took a hiatus,” he said. “It’s a great sport, especially playing with your friends in the summer. It’s a really nice way to ground yourself. You’re outdoors, it’s amazing. I love golf.”

Diez, a University of Texas graduate, said he was especially excited to see Scottie Scheffler — a fellow Longhorn who happens to be the top-ranked golfer in the world — lead Team USA.

“Honestly I think it’s worth it,” Diez said of the time and expense of traveling to New York.

Other volunteers are veterans of past tournaments at Bethpage. Diane and

Mark Wojcik, of upstate Troy, volunteered at the 2019 PGA Championship — also contested on Bethpage Black — and signed up for the Ryder Cup.

“We really enjoyed it, we had a great time, it was a great experience and we wanted to do it again,” Diane said.

She will work at the entry gates checking credentials, while her husband will serve as a marshal on the fourth hole — one of his favorites to play on the Black Course.

“It’s a lot longer than the courses that I usually play, and a lot more difficult, with the sand traps and the fescue,”

Mark said of the course’s tufted grass.

“It’s not what we’re used to. But that’s what makes it so special.”

“What I’m really excited about is just meeting new people,” his wife added.

“We’ve got Europe coming over, USA, I just think the whole experience is going to be amazing.”

The couple rented a recreational vehicle site near Bethpage for the week.

“After we win,” Mark joked, “the party is at our RV camp.”

For Hicksville resident Jonathan Gotto, this Ryder Cup has personal meaning. His father-in-law, Judge John Marks, who died in April 2024, first encouraged him to volunteer for the PGA tournament in 2019.

“He’s the reason that a lot of us are here,” Gotto said. “He was the guy who would call you up and say, ‘Hey, what are you doing? We’re doing the Ryder Cup in September.’”

Gotto admits that he’s not much of a golfer. “The best thing I have in my bag is a machete to find my ball after I tee off,” he said, adding that his fondest memory was of serving as a flagman for tee shots in 2019.

“I actually had goose bumps because it was one of the coolest experiences,” he said. “(John) Daly was teeing off, I’m standing right next to him shaking, hoping I didn’t mess it up. I’ve got photos of Tiger (Woods), (Phil) Mickelson walking right next to me. It’s just amazing.”

This year, Gotto will serve as a marshal on holes 4 and 11. “It’s a great week to see some of the pros,” he said. “It’s just amazing to be part of it.”

The Ryder Cup is one of the few sporting events in which volunteers can be part of the action without swinging a club. For Long Islanders, it’s also a chance to showcase their home course to the world.

Bethpage Black has built a reputation as one of the most demanding layouts in golf, with a sign at the first tee warning that it is “extremely difficult” and recommended only for highly skilled players. Previous major tournaments there drew enormous, raucous galleries, something both players and volunteers expect again.

And for many, the reward will be what Blau called “seeing the tournament up close and personal” — an experience no TV broadcast could match.

Town goes mobile with feral cat program

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

The increasing stray cat population in the Town of Hempstead has moved officials to unveil changes to its Trap, Neuter, Return program.

This month, there will be a new addition to the program: a vehicle to make the functions of the town’s animal shelter mobile.

“Today we’re announcing the return of our mobile Trap, Neuter and Return program — that’s TNR,” Supervisor John Ferretti said at a news conference in Franklin Square’s Rath Park, which is home to many feral cats, on Aug. 26. “An important initiative that addresses the feral and stray cap population in a way that is both humane and effective.”

Feral cats cannot be put up for adoption because they are accustomed to living outdoors, so the initiative will help the town prevent overpopulation and reduce the strain on animal shelters.

Officials said the cats would be trapped humanely, and that residents could rent traps.

After they are safely caught, the cats will be neutered and, when they recover in 48 hours or so, released.

The TNR program is making its return after being halted in 2015 by the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh. Officials did not comment on why the program was suspended.

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter Director Ashley Behrens, far left, Town Clerk Kate Murray, Town Supervisor John Ferretti, Deputy Supervisor Dorothy L. Goosby and Town Councilman Thomas Muscarella discussed expansion of the town’s Trap, Neuter, Return program at Rath Park on Aug. 26.

“This program is to come out to the community, not just have trappers have to come to Wantagh to do it, so it’s more accessible for the people in the community,” Ashley Behrens, the animal shelter director, said.

“We’re making the extra effort to bring our commitment to humane animal care directly into local neighborhoods,” Ferretti said. “This is further evidenced by the fact that our TNR program is free, whereas other programs

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across Long Island charge a fee.”

The new town vehicle will target Floral Park, Franklin Square, Lawrence, Levittown, Lynbrook, Malverne, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Seaford and Wantagh for the remainder of the year. The animal shelter will also be expanding its availability from three days a week to four.

“The cats are allowed to recover on site in a controlled environment,” Ferretti explained. “Then they return to the exact location they were found, where they can live without adding to the overpopulation.”

The TNR program is described by the town as a humane, effective and widely recognized initiative that will reduce and manage the feral cat population. The neutering of cats will address the challenge by preventing the birth of kittens that often struggle to survive, and the program will also eliminate mating behaviors such as yowling, fighting and spraying, which in turn will help protect public health.

“This is about being proactive, compassionate and responsible,” Ferretti said. “With the launch of our mobile TNR vehicle, we’re making it easier than ever for residents to be part of the solution. Together we can create healthier communities for both people and animals.”

For more information on the Town of Hempstead’s program, visit HempsteadNY.gov.

STEPPING OUT

From to table

By Karen Bloom

Labor Day may have come and gone, but there are still opportunities to fire up that grill to savor summer’s waning days before we head into apple picking, pumpkins and all those harvest season delights around the corner.

When it comes to entertaining outdoors, easy yet flavorful dishes that spotlight the season’s bounty can keep prep time to a minimum. Plus, they’re sure to please guests’ palates.

Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad

• 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4-inch pieces

• 1/3 cup Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

• 1 large garlic clove, crushed

In a large bowl, combine chipotle pepper sauce, cumin and garlic; add skirt steaks. Toss to mix well; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat grill to high. Grill skirt steak about 5 minutes, or until of desired doneness, turning once. To serve, plate steak with corn salad.

Corn Salad

• 4 ears corn on the cob, shucked

• 2 large tomatoes, chopped

• 1 small red onion, diced

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

To prepare corn salad: Preheat grill to medium. Grill corn about 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until tender-crisp. When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cob. In medium bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, basil, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper sauce to taste, and salt; toss to mix well.

End-of-summer dining al fresco

Hoisin Garlic Drumsticks with Tomato-Corn Salad

Foreigner

Legendary rock band Foreigner visits Tilles Center for a special one-nightonly benefit concert, hosted by original lead singer Lou Gramm. Hear special acoustic renditions of the band’s biggest hits such as “Cold As Ice,” “Juke Box Hero”, “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” and more in a rare and intimate unplugged format. The concert celebrates the band’s groundbreaking collaboration with Tilles Center LIU Post Theatre Company to develop and stage “Feels Like The First Time — The Foreigner Musical.”All proceeds from the evening will support the production and LIU and Tilles Center’s New Works Initiative. This exciting new production is to be directed directed by Broadway icon Adam Pascal (“Rent,””Aida,” “Cabaret,”, “Chicago,”, “Something Rotten!” ) slated to premiere in April 2026. Pascal also performs with Foreigner in what is sure to be a truly memorable event.

• 8 chicken drumsticks, about 2 pounds total

• Kosher salt, to taste

• Ground black pepper, to taste

• 1/2 cup hoisin garlic sauce or hoisin barbecue

sauce

• 3 ears corn

• 1 pound tomatoes, cut into small dice

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• Thinly sliced basil leaves, for garnish

Season drumsticks with salt and pepper, and rub with about 1/3 cup hoisin sauce, reserving rest for basting.

Marinate at least 30 minutes, up to four hours.

As chicken is marinating, prepare grill for both direct (medium-high heat) and indirect cooking. Discard used marinade.

Grill chicken, starting with skin side down, about 8-10 minutes, keeping lid closed as much as possible and turning chicken once or twice.

Move to indirect heat, cover grill and continue to cook for another 25-35 minutes until juices run clear and an internal temperature of 165∫F has been reached, basting with extra sauce occasionally in last 10 minutes of cooking.

To make salad, boil corn if needed for about 2-3 minutes, then cut kernels off cob.

Toss with tomatoes and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in basil. Serve salad and drumsticks together.

Mediterranean Vegetables

• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (seasoned)

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus extra, to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper, plus extra, to taste

• 1 tablespoon, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons, fresh parsley, chopped

• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced

• 1 cup fresh zucchini, sliced into 1 3/4-inch long, 1/4-inch thick planks

• 1 cup fresh green pepper strips

• 1 cup fresh red pepper strips

• 8 fresh stalks asparagus, slicing off 1/4 inch from bottom of stalk

• 1 fresh portobello mushroom, sliced into 1/2- inch squares

• 1 cup fresh eggplant, diced into 1/2-inch squares

Heat grill to 375 F.

In large bowl, mix together rice vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley and garlic to create marinade.

Clean vegetables then place them in marinade in small batches. Toss to coat then place in foil pouch. Pour remaining marinade over vegetables and seal pouch.

Bake in oven or over indirect heat on grill 25 minutes. Add salt and pepper, to taste, after removing pouch from heat.

Chef’s tip: Open pouch after 20 minutes of cooking and allow vegetables to crisp slightly under direct heat for remaining 5 minutes.

Friday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Maren Morris

Maren Morris brings “The Dreamsicle Tour” to the Paramount stage with special guest Jade LeMac. Morris has broken boundaries, smashed records and affirmed herself as a dynamic vocalist, prolific songwriter and showstopping performer. Her catalog encompasses a trio of acclaimed albums, namely “Hero” (2016), “Girl” (2019), and “Humble Quest” (2022). She’s the rare force of nature equally suited to collaborating with Zedd on the 6x-platinum “The Middle” or duetting with everyone from Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow to Teddy Swims and Hozier. She entered a bold new era with the release of her “Intermission” EP in August, which features the MUNA-produced and playful single “Push Me Over.” Maren promises to be unapologetically herself — and it shows in this music and in what is next to come.

Wednesday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. $114.25, $92, $71.75, $65.25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

SEPT

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainmentrelated activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the Folies-Bergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: Ongoing

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

Daniel Tiger’s birthday party

Merrick Library is the place for a “grr-ific” celebration of Daniel Tiger! Bring your kids ages 1-4 for an enjoyable morning. Registration is underway for both cardholders and non-cardholders.

•Where: 2279 Merrick Ave., Merrick

•Time: 10:30 a.m.

•Contact: merricklibrary.org or (516) 377-6112

Blood drive

Donate and support those in need. Assemblyman Dave McDonough and State Sen. Steve Rhoads host a mobile blood drive at Merrick Road Golf Course. Reservations are required for whole blood and double red cell donations.

•Where: 2550 Clubhouse Road (back building), Merrick

•Time: 1 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 409-2070

Sit and be fit

North Merrick Library invites all to a fun, energizing seated exercise class designed for all ages and abilities. This lively, fullbody workout is taught to music and includes stretching, light cardio, flexibility training, and more. No experience necessary, and all equipment is provided. Just bring yourself and get ready to feel great!

SEPT 17

The Australian Pink Floyd Show

candies are provided to help you create your own personalized autumn treat. Registration required.

•Where: 1551 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore

•Time: 6:30 p.m.

•Contact: northbellmorelibrary. org or (516) 785-6260

SEPT

10

League of Women Voters General Meeting

The League of Women Voters of East Nassau invites all to their next meeting at Levittown Public Library. The topic is the new New York State reguluation that require all school boards to have students as nonvoting members. With Levittown Public Schools Superintendent Todd Winch as guest speaker.

•Where: 1 Bluegrass Lane, Levittown

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: Grace Felicetti at gfelicetti7@yahoo.com

SEPT

Chamber of Commerce

•Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

After over 40 years performing, it is time to shine on again with The Australian Pink Floyd Show. Be there when the band returns from Down Under to the Paramount stage. The seminal album Wish You Were Here is performed in its entirety, including all nine parts of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” along with more of Pink Floyd’s greatest hits from The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. See what critics have acclaimed as “the gold standard” of tribute acts with stunning special effects that re-create Pink Floyd’s legendary stage shows. The band delivers a memorable experience. — with colorful lighting and video, pinpoint lasers, gargantuan inflatables and flawless live sound that was the benchmark of Pink Floyd shows. Replicating music from every phase of Pink Floyd’s journey, this tour reinforces the band’s dedication to the heritage of Barrett, Waters, Gilmour, Wright & Mason. With songs that mean so much to Pink Floyd fans everywhere, this is an unforgettable tribute to an iconic band’s classic album. $105.25, $88, $77.75, $66.25, $55.75.

•Where: 1691 Meadowbrook Rd., North Merrick

•Time: 2 p.m.

•Contact: nmerricklibrary.org or call (516) 378-7474

Outdoor tunes

SEPT

5

Bellmore Library welcomes everyone to a night of music, dancing, and fun that can’t be denied.

DOCK Holiday, a riotous six-piece cover band that plays the best of funk, country, pop, rock, and soul, is ready to entertain patrons. Bring your own chairs. Seating is first come, first served.

•Where: 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore

•Time: 6:30 p.m.

•Contact: bellmorelibrary.org or (516) 785-2990

SEPT

Storybook Stroll

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for the next storybook adventure. Stroll the gardens and enjoy a telling of Allison Sweet Grant’s “Leif and the Fall.” With a take-home craft. For ages 3-5. Storybook Strolls start at the Beech Tree (next to Westbury House), and end at the

Thatched Cottage.

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

•Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

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

Art Talk

SEPT 7

Join John Grande when he visits Nassau County Museum of Art. The New York-based artist reflects upon modern and contemporary culture with his constructed paintings, sculptures, and murals while carefully utilizing techniques and traditions as far-reaching those of Old Master painters, 19th-century artists to 20th-century advertising and Pop Art. His subjects are diverse, often readily recognizable and at times quite humorous: from glamorous Hollywood stars to the art world itself and the grittier subjects of street art. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students, members free. Limited seating. Registration required.

•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

•Time: 3 p.m.

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

•Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

market at the Bellmore LIRR station parking lot (B-2). No fee. Weather permitting.

•Where: Bellmore LIRR, located just north of Sunrise Highway and just west of Bellmore Avenue, across the street from the King Kullen supermarket.

•Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 783-1471

SEPT

9

12

The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead welcomes all to the Friday Night Car Show. Weather permitting, attendees are sure to find a wide selection of automotives, whether it be vintage vehicles, vans and buses, or newer models, like sports cars. Spectators can enter free of charge. The admission fee for cars is $5.

•Where: Bellmore LIRR, across from King Kullen parking lot

•Time: 5 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 679-1875

Chamber of Commerce meets

Merrick Chamber of Commerce hosts their monthly meeting at Merrick Library.

•Where: 2279 Merrick Ave., Merrick

•Time: 8:15 a.m.

•Contact: (516) 377-6112

Fall chocolate dipped apple workshop

Visit the North Bellmore Public Library for a delightful hands-on workshop where you’ll master the art of creating beautiful chocolate dipped apples perfect for the season. Learn the proper techniques for preparing, sticking, dipping, and decorating apples with rich chocolate. An array of seasonal sprinkles, colorful chocolate varieties, and festive

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.

St. Jude’s fundraiser raises over $3K

The annual St. Jude’s fundraiser at Sacred Heart Church in North Merrick raised $3,416 on Aug. 10, bringing the total collected for the children’s cancer research hospital to more than $16,000 since 2020. The event was directed and coordinated by Jennifer Scalise, with assistance from Kathryn Bagnasco, Natalie Ciccone, Sandra Schwartz, Thomas Scalise, and local kids in the community. They raised the money by selling refreshments, hand-made jewelry sales, t-shirts, and key chains.

September 4, 2025 —

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

Public Notices

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU. WILMINGTON

SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF CSMC TRUST 2015 2, Plaintiff against WAFA ABBOUD, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 25, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, known and designated as Section 63 Block 146 Lot 34. Said premises known as 2739 MERRICK AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566

Approximate amount of lien $1,216,154.12 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 003460/2017.

LAWRENCE FARBMAN, ESQ., Referee DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280 2832.

DLG# 37135 {* Merrick Life*} 155057

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CIT, -againstJOSEPH SCHNAIER, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 12, 2024, wherein US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN

ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CIT is the Plaintiff and JOSEPH SCHNAIER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 18, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1808 ECHO LANE, MERRICK, NY 11566; and the following tax map identification: 62-24-15.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, BEING AT MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 615396/2018.

Peter Kramer, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155268 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 16th day of September, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following locations:

MERRICK

RIVERSIDE AVENUE (TH 365/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Florence Street shall come to a full stop.

RIVERSIDE AVENUE (TH 365/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Florence Street shall come to a full stop.

ALFRED ROAD WEST (TH 509/24) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Hawthorne Avenue shall come to a full stop.

ALFRED ROAD WEST (TH 509/24) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Willow Avenue shall come to a full stop.

OCEANSIDE

HARVEY AVENUE (TH 382/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Nassau Parkway shall come to a full stop. (southwest corner)

HARVEY AVENUE (TH 382/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Nassau Parkway shall come to a full stop. (northeast corner)

POINT LOOKOUT

BELLMORE AVENUE (TH 405/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Lido Boulevard shall come to a full stop.

BELLMORE AVENUE (TH 405/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Lido Boulevard shall come to a full stop.

WANTAGH FIR STREET (TH 386/25)STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Walters Avenue shall come to a full stop. FIR STREET (TH 386/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Walters Avenue shall come to a full stop.

WEST HEMPSTEAD

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Coolidge Street shall come to a full stop.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Coolidge Street shall come to a full stop.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 3, 2025

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

JOHN FERRETTI

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 155508

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 16th day of September, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE and REPEAL “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations:

BALDWIN STEELE BOULEVARD (TH 399/25) South Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 230 feet west of the west curbline of Eastern Boulevard, west for a distance of 80 feet.

BELLMORE MARION STREET (TH 364/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Bedford Place, east for a distance of 25 feet.

ELMONT

LINCOLN STREET (TH 258(B)/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Rosalind Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Lincoln Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Lincoln Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

ROSALIND AVENUE (TH 258(B)/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

FRANKLIN SQUARE POLK AVENUE (TH 387/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

POLK AVENUE (TH 387/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lincoln Street, west for a distance of 35 feet.

INWOOD

LINCOLN STREET (TH 387/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Polk Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.

BAYVIEW AVENUE (TH 172(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Harris Avenue, west for a distance of 30 feet.

BAYVIEW AVENUE (TH 172(B)/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Harris Avenue, east for a distance of 30 feet.

MERRICK

ELSIE AVENUE (TH 363/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Jefferson Street, west for a distance of 35 feet.

JEFFERSON STREET (TH 363/25) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Elsie Avenue, south for a distance of 40 feet.

POINT LOOKOUT

LIDO BOULEVARD (TH 405/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Bellmore Avenue, west for a distance of 67 feet.

LIDO BOULEVARD (TH 405/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Cedarhurst Avenue, west for a distance of 25 feet.

LIDO BOULEVARD (TH 405/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Bellmore Avenue, east for a distance of 28 feet.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

CLINTON AVENUE (TH 381/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Woodfield Road, west for a distance of 28 feet.

CLINTON AVENUE (TH 381/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Clinton Avenue, north for a distance of 40 feet.

UNIONDALE

MERILLON STREET (TH 374/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Newbridge Road, east for a distance 53 feet.

MERILLON STREET (TH 374/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Merillon Street, north for a distance 30 feet.

(NR) VALLEY STREAM HOMMEL STREET (TH 395/25) West SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting from the north curbline of Oliver Avenue, north for a distance of 92 feet.

WESTBURY STEWART AVENUE (TH 390/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Lincoln Court, east for a distance of 45 feet.

STEWART AVENUE (TH 390/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Lincoln Court, west for a distance of 35 feet.

WEST HEMPSTEAD WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 367/25) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 25 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 90 feet.

WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 367/25) East SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 115 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 208 feet.

COOLIDGE STREET (TH 356/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the East curbline of Langley Avenue, east for a distance of 34 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Langley Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Langley Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Langley Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.

WILSON STREET (TH 356/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Langley Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from

the east curbline of Wilson Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Wilson Street, east for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Wilson Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

LANGLEY AVENUE (TH 356/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Wilson Street, west for a distance of 30 feet.

ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following locations: WEST HEMPSTEAD WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 125/98) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 65 feet. (Adopted 10/20/98) WOODLAWN ROAD (TH 495/04) East SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 175 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Avenue, south for a distance of 146 feet.

(Adopted 12/14/04) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 3, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETT Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155507

Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 09/10/2025 at 9:30

A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

468/25. MERRICK - 7Eleven # 27322, Renewal of grant to maintain one detached, double-faced, wwwilluminated ground sign, setback 4’ from side property line & 10’ from front property line., W/s Merrick Ave., 50’ N/o DeKalb Ave., a/k/a 1800 Merrick Ave.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Merrick within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

155494

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF YURT SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. SOPHIA AKSOY, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 12, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the

Boxing class brings health and community

tor identified the condition based on changes in his arm swing and gait — Toor didn’t have the common tremors, but instead experienced muscle tightness that shortened his stride.

“Every neurologist says the best thing you can do for Parkinson’s is to stay active — and they especially recommend boxing,” he said. “When you box, every muscle in your body is used. You’re moving your legs, punching with your arms and working your upper body.”

Toor has been active throughout his life, regularly playing softball and other sports. His diagnosis was a shock. Since his neurologist advised him to stay active, he has added boxing at the JCC.

East Rockaway resident Martin Lesser, 72, also got involved in the sport after his diagnosis in 2012 but had noticed symptoms for years before. He has been at the JCC class for 3 years.

“I was never an athlete and never had any interest in boxing, but I fell in love with it,” he said

The Monday class, which is taught by Maria Campanella, a multi-talented instructor with a background in martial arts as well as ballroom dancing, draws as many as 45 participants of varying abilities. Solomon’s Thursday-night class offer a different pace and style.

“Steve’s class is very challenging,” Lesser said. “We do aerobic and muscle exercises before boxing, and unlike other classes, he encourages us to spar — safely, of course. You have to remember the combinations and it helps with balance and confidence.”

Toor, who has been in Solomon’s class for about three years, praised him for his leadership and camaraderie, describing the group as feeling “like a family.”

“Steve’s a great leader,” Toor said. “He understands what we’re going through, and we’ve become friends. We as a class have gone out socially.”

Solomon’s path to the JCC began long

before he started leading Parkinson’s classes. Now 66, the lifelong boxer has decades of experience in training both competitive athletes and people with special needs. He took up boxing at East Meadow High School and trained at Echo Park in West Hempstead under legendary referee Arthur Mercante Sr., who worked the first Muhammad Ali–Joe Frazier heavyweight title fight in 1971.

From Golden Gloves competitions to masters amateur tournaments, Solomon has stayed active in the sport. He taught health and phys. ed., primarily to special-needs students in the Uniondale School District, developed boxing programs for those who had few athletic

Public Notices

Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 319 Frankel Boulevard, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 63, Block 125 and Lots 10-12. Approximate amount of judgment is $266,677.21 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of

filed Judgment Index #616143/2018.

Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 201125-1 155532

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE TIKI SERIES III TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. VLADISLAV BONDARSKY, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 5, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 9, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2621 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being

at Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 63, Block 135 and Lot 881. Approximate amount of judgment is $949,219.50 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #004169/2009.

Jerry A. Merola, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 191890-2 155530

opportunities, built school boxing gyms, and even took special-needs students to the Empire State Games. Over the years he has adapted boxing to those of all abilities.

“You’ve got to be a little more careful with them, but you just adapt to their needs and don’t treat them too differently,” Solomon said of his Parkinson’s group. His classes blend technique, movement and cognitive challenges — from footwork drills to rapid call-andresponse combinations — all tailored to the participants’ abilities. The program’s impact is felt well beyond the physical benefits.

“I was never into boxing before I came here,” 72-year-old Joanne Moore, of Long Beach, a former nurse and a regular attendee, said. “It’s fun, and the fact that we’re all in it together is fun too.”

Lebeaux noted that the Monday class

is offered in a hybrid format so participants can join in on Zoom from anywhere. “We have people from Staten Island, the South Shore, even out of state,” she said.

Funding from grants and donors helps keep classes affordable. The JCC recently secured funding for a yoga sound-healing program and a drumming program starting in September. Lebeaux said she hoped to expand the boxing sessions and divide them by skill level.

For her, and for Solomon, the mission is to keep people moving, engaged and empowered. “What’s important about boxing is that it works on the brain and body,” Lebeaux said. “You’re not just moving your feet — your brain has to be connected to your body. Balance, posture and cognition — this one activity works on all of it. And the feedback is always the same: They love it.”

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It develops when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine — a chemical that helps control muscle activity — begin to break down or die.

Common symptoms include tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems. Over time, people may also experience changes in speech, handwriting, sleep, and memory.

Who it affects: Most cases are diagnosed after age 60, though early-onset Parkinson’s can appear sooner. The exact cause is unknown, but a mix of genetic and environmental factors is thought to play a role.

Treatment: There is no cure, but medications, physical therapy, and innovative programs — like boxing workouts — can help manage symptoms, improve balance and coordination, and boost quality of life.

Can we just handle some problems later?

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Q. We are in contract for a house we were lucky to find. The price is right, fortunately, but we think it has some problems, mostly legal. The basement has a bathroom but is otherwise unfinished, except for the walls on either side of the stairs and a closet underneath. The sellers are selling as-is, so we want to just handle it later, but is this going to be a problem?

A. The answers are yes and no. In all of the selling cycles I’ve witnessed, issues seem to be mostly based on what the market is like, rather than the reality that it’s always best to have everything legally wrapped up before the closing. I’ve noticed that when there are fewer properties to sell, real estate and lending businesses tend to be less concerned with permits and more concerned with cash flow. Close now and worry about the open issues later.

It’s just like during the coronavirus pandemic, when prices climbed because there were fewer buyers of products, food and services, but the bills still had to be paid. The federal government sent out funds to help businesses survive.

You faced possibly overlooking the legality and absorbing considerable expenses later, when you decide to take care of issues or are forced to at the next sale, when banks have more foreclosures on their books and must make certain the properties they are selling are legal.

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All the professionals helping you through the closing are doing their job, but I’m not certain they know how expensive the permit process can be for you. When I sit with clients for the first time, I look at their records and compare them with their property, becoming the “bad guy” for pointing out that the proposed work will now have to include these open items, complicating the cost and the process. This happens weekly. There is often a glut of permit applications for old issues.

Knowing that you really want this house, you’ll have to face the fact that building officials look at your property from a position of safety, and can easily require you to legalize the finished basement, even with only a few finished walls. In the beginning sections of the state code, building officials are given authority to interpret the regulations. You definitely would need to have plans for the basement, to show the bathroom and a plumbing permit as well as an electrical inspection and building permit.

In most jurisdictions, the plans examiners have leaned toward saying that even one or a few finished walls — like the bathroom, closet and stairway walls — constitute a finished basement. In that case, you would also need to have a second way to escape, by either adding a taller window and a 9-square-foot escape well or a door and stairs on an outside wall, so you could exit from the main basement room. I have watched the cost of doing just this rise from $3,000 to over $12,000. Good luck!

the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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College football just ain’t what it used to be

Besides the excellent education I was fortunate to receive at Notre Dame Law School, and the interesting people I had the opportunity to meet, and the lasting friendships I forged during those years, there was the added benefit of watching up close as the Fighting Irish won the 1966 college football national championship. As an IrishCatholic kid from Sunnyside, Queens, that was as good as it could get.

In Catholic neighborhoods in those days, Notre Dame football personified IrishAmerica’s acceptance into the American mainstream. Beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the mid-1950s, Notre Dame won more national championships and had more All-Americans than any other college football team. But by the time I got there, the famed Golden Dome had lost its luster. During eight long seasons under three head coaches from 1956 to 1963, Notre Dame lost more games than it won. The prevailing wisdom was that its academic standards precluded it from becoming a major college football power again.

TThen, in 1964, Notre Dame hired Ara Parseghian as its head coach. The “Era of Ara” had begun. In 1964 and ’65, the Irish were back in the Top 10, and in 1966 they won it all, clinching the national championship with a 51-0 victory over longtime rival Southern California, led by such luminaries as Heisman Trophy finalist and All-American quarterback Terry Hanratty, eventual four-time Super Bowl champion Rocky Bleier and future NFL Hall of Famer Alan Page.

A less-heralded but vital member of that championship team was substitute quarterback Coley O’Brien, who would have been the starter on almost any other college team. Stricken with diabetes halfway into the 1966 season, O’Brien hadn’t played for four weeks when, in the second-to-last game of the season against Michigan State, he was suddenly called into action to replace Hanratty, who’d suffered a fractured shoulder with the Irish losing 10-0. O’Brien played brilliantly to lead two scoring drives, and Notre Dame tied Michigan State and preserved its unbeaten record.

ship-clinching victory over USC.

After his college career, O’Brien attended Notre Dame Law School and became a successful attorney in Washington, D.C. When I chaired the House Homeland Security Committee, he served as a committee counsel. I was proud to call him my friend, and it meant a lot when he, Hanratty, Bleier and other members of the 1966 team would come to my district to campaign for me.

he ‘student athlete’ has become a hired gun, and school loyalty is traded for big bucks.

O’Brien died several weeks ago. Reflecting on his life and career got me thinking about how much the whole concept of college football has been altered, in many instances not for the better. The attraction of the game was that it wasn’t professional. There was the appeal of watching young athletes competing for their schools, cheered on by an often fanatical fan base. And there were the bitter rivalries: Notre Dame-Michigan State, AlabamaGeorgia, Michigan-Ohio State.

IThe following week, despite the fact that four starting players were sidelined with injuries, O’Brien led Notre Dame to the resounding, national champion-

Sure, some of it was mythical. There were recruiting violations. Some athletes were given academic shortcuts. But there was so much that was genuine. Hanratty might be on the cover of Time magazine or Sports Illustrated but then be seen on campus, eating in the same dining hall and trudging to the

same classes as other students. That world of college football — school loyalty, amateurism and tradition — barely exists anymore. Now paid for their name, image and likeness, recruited players can go to the highest bidder for millions of dollars. And they can opt out of the following season and the season after that by entering the “transfer portal,” again able to go to the highest bidder. (Years ago, Minnesota was sanctioned by the NCAA when the coach gave a player $100 to fly home for his father’s funeral.) So you can have a fiveyear senior suddenly playing starting quarterback for a team whose campus he has never set foot on and will be leaving at season’s end. Players can even go back and forth from one team to the other in succeeding seasons. The “student athlete” becomes hired gun. School spirit and loyalty are traded for big bucks.

Sure, there will still be pageantry and marching bands, and I’ll still be watching on Saturdays. But it won’t be the same. What I will always have, though, is the lasting memory of what Coley O’Brien and his 1966 national championship teammates meant to their many fans, and to college football.

Go, Irish!

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

Now Trump wants to put lipstick on this pig

’ve been thinking about President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which Congress passed in July. Recently Trump stated that it was time to call the legislation something else. But what do you call a bill that is highly unpopular with the public and is set to do much damage?

Shakespeare said it best in “Romeo and Juliet,” when he wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” So Shakespeare might have agreed that no matter what you call this bill, it will have the same impact on the American public.

To begin with, when you pass a thousand-page piece of legislation, it will have good parts and bad parts. Members of the majority party in Congress are forced to vote for the entire bill, and they don’t have the luxury of stripping out the bad from the good. So they have to live with the results.

A poll last month by the Pew Research Center found that 46 percent of the country disapproved of the law, and just 32 percent approved of it, with 23 percent saying they weren’t sure. It seems obvious that calling it something else won’t change the public’s feelings about it.

NWhy is the bill so broadly unpopular? Much of the publicity about it prior to its passage was negative. Almost every part of it got people’s attention, and those who opposed it were much more vocal than its supporters. Perhaps most important, it was clear that millions of people who are now eligible for health care were going to be knocked off the eligibility rolls.

costs for families, and raise premiums for employer-sponsored plans.

o matter what the president calls his signature legislation, it’s not popular.

In the lead-up to the passage of the bill, supporters in the House of Representatives portrayed it as being aimed at eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse.” There is no doubt that there are some Medicaid participants who should be disqualified, but the vast majority of people in the program are worthy recipients. Supporters of the legislation claimed that no person in the program who was currently employed would lose their coverage, but that is not true. Because states will get less federal revenue, they will be forced to drop qualified people from the Medicaid rolls.

the United States experience food insecurity, meaning they have limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Most SNAP recipients go to work every day, but don’t earn enough to feed their loved ones. The SNAP program provides the help they need.

Historically, the Republican Party has favored letting the states run assistance programs and keeping Washington out of it. But the Big Beautiful Bill cuts federal allocations to the states, and leaves them to decide who should participate in federal programs. The net result is that the states will be the bad guys when it comes to doling out assistance funding.

The law will cut more than $1 trillion in Medicaid funding, and it’s estimated that more than 10 million people will lose their health coverage by 2034, including seniors, children and people with disabilities. States with high poverty rates are particularly at risk, because they rely on federal funding to maintain Medicaid and related programs. The loss of coverage will increase medical

For years, the more conservative members of the House expressed their opposition to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps, on the grounds that it was too progressive and costly. They got their wish in the new bill, which would, by some estimates, cut federal spending on the program by more than $200 billion over 10 years. It’s worth noting that nearly 50 million people of all ages in

In the next few months, at the insistence of the president, there will be efforts to change the conversation about what is in the bill. Even though many of its provisions take effect after next year’s midterm elections, however, many millions of Americans are firmly opposed to it, and no amount of slicing, dicing and finessing of the contents will make them change their minds.

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

HERALD

Never forget: 9/11’s legacy lives through us

Next Thursday will be the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Remembrance ceremonies will take place across Long Island. They serve as more than solemn commemorations — they are living reminders of the strength and resilience that define us as New Yorkers, and as Long Islanders.

Nearly 3,000 lives were lost on that day in 2001, and among them were hundreds of men and women who called Long Island home. Nearly every area community lost someone: a parent who kissed her children goodbye at dawn before catching a train to Manhattan, a firefighter who answered the alarm, a neighbor who never made it home from his office in one of the twin towers.

Names etched in memorials — usually near a piece of steel from the towers — are not simply markers of history. They are reminders that the victims were our neighbors, classmates, teammates and friends. And attending remembrance ceremonies is not mere ritual. It is an act of collective will — a promise that those lives will never be reduced to a statistic. When communities gather at candlelight vigils, at town memorials and at firehouses, they reaffirm the values that carried us through the aftermath: sacrifice, unity and perse-

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Young Professionals Network collects school supplies

To the Editor:

verance.

The shared experience of loss binds us, within and across different communities. And each ceremony, whether on a village green or in a community park, serves as a bridge between past and present — between those who remember that day vividly and those who were not yet born.

It is vital that younger generations come to understand why we gather. Students returning to school this year were not alive on Sept. 11, 2001. For them, the images of collapsing towers are history lessons, not lived memory. Yet the lessons of that day — the bravery of first responders, the resilience of families, the unity of strangers who became helpers — are timeless. Attending these ceremonies ensures that young people see remembrance as a civic responsibility.

For the firefighters of Nassau County who still gather in uniform, and for the police officers, EMTs and volunteers who rushed to the site of the attacks from Long Island, the ceremonies are also about recognizing the continuing toll in the decades since: More than 4,350 additional people have died after suffering long-term health problems, such as cancers and respiratory illnesses, linked to the toxic environment at the World Trade Center site. That number grows

United Way of Long Island’s Young Professionals Network hosted its Summer Social at Blue Point Brewery on Aug. 7, gathering more than 200 neighbors for an evening of networking, entertainment and purpose.

Thanks to the generosity of attendees, the event raised over $20,000 and collected several boxes of school supplies for United Way’s Stuff-A-Bus initiative, which delivers backpacks and essentials to elementary students across Long Island.

Now in its 17th year, Stuff-A-Bus helps ensure that children from underserved communities step into classroom confident and ready to learn. Funds from the Summer Social will be used to purchase supplies for the coming school year — investments that make an immediate, tangible difference.

“The donations we’ve received through the StuffA-Bus initiative have made a profound impact on our school community,” Hannah McCarthy, assistant principal at Laurel Park Elementary School, in Brentwood, said. “Each year, our teachers share supply lists with families, but we know that many students arrive with only a few items, or sometimes none at all. Thanks to these donations, our staff can confidently ensure that every child has the tools they need to succeed from day one.”

McCarthy recalled a student living in a shelter

every year, and we cannot forget the need to provide health care and other resources to those heroes and their families, too.

When we gather to pay tribute, we do more than keep memory alive — we look to the future. “Never Forget” isn’t just a slogan or a rallying cry. It implores us to take seriously the responsibility of building stronger, more compassionate communities by bonding with our neighbors, supporting local volunteers, and ensuring that the ideals of service and unity overcome fear and division.

Long Islanders have always known what it means to come together in times of crisis. The outpouring of support after Sept. 11 — food drives, blood donations, and neighbors taking care of one another’s children — showed us our best selves. At our many memorials, we honor not only those we lost, but also the spirit of community that helped carry us forward.

Next Thursday, let’s recommit ourselves to remembrance. Attendance isn’t just symbolic. It is a living act of devotion to the people we lost, the families who still grieve, and the generations who must carry the hard lessons of a dark day forward.

Long Island’s promise is simple, but profound: We will never forget.

who arrived carrying supplies in her arms after losing her backpack — which her family couldn’t replace. Thanks to Stuff-A-Bus, the school provided a brand new backpack in the child’s favorite color. That small act, made possible by community support, is the kind of dignity and hope this initiative delivers every day.

This year’s Summer Social succeeded through the dedication of event cochairs Justin Merk, of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union; Lauren Grasso, of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.; Brendan Bateman, of Flushing Bank; the Young Professionals Network committee, and generous sponsors. Attendees enjoyed craft brews, live entertainment

The Republicans have allowed NUMC to fall apart

nassau University Medical Center — an essential safety-net hospital for our first responders and our region’s most vulnerable patients — has been hamstrung by political patronage, gross mismanagement and wasteful spending.

CEO, Meg Ryan, had given herself and 12 other employees $1 million in wage and leave payouts that they were not entitled to receive. Ryan was subsequently fired for cause.

The circus-like atmosphere surrounding Matthew Bruderman’s longoverdue firing as NUMC board chairman — complete with tales of a mysterious breakin and the alleged theft of sensitive documents — would have been bad enough on its own.

But the initial stages of a forensic audit into hospital finances have unearthed disturbing findings that, commensurate with the hospital’s reliance on federal, state and local funds, demand an immediate and full investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, state Attorney General Letitia James and Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly to identify and prosecute any acts of criminal wrongdoing.

On June 19, Newsday first reported allegations that the hospital’s departing

To make matters worse, Newsday further revealed that, as Ryan and other top hospital executives had one foot out the door, they spent thousands of dollars on lobster dinners and hotel and travel reimbursements, all while the hospital teetered on the brink of financial collapse.

a

n essential safety-net hospital has teetered on the brink of financial collapse.

As these shocking facts came to light only partway through a forensic audit being led by NUMC’s new management, there is a very good chance that this is just the tip of a big, ugly iceberg of corruption and graft.

The blame for this latest chapter falls squarely on the desk of County Executive Bruce Blakeman — whose disinterest in doing his job led him, despite numerous warnings, to install an unqualified individual as hospital CEO, who now stands accused of taking advantage of taxpayers.

For generations, the Nassau County GOP has treated NUMC — a regionally significant Level 1 trauma center that provides essential drug detox services,

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and raffles, and made connections with young professionals committed to making a difference.

Thank you, Long Island, for showing up for our students.

ThERESA REGNANTE President and CEO, United Way of Long Island

Long Island is breaking tourism records

To the Editor:

Long Island has long been known for its beaches, wineries and charming downtowns, but new data confirms what residents and visitors alike already know: Our region is thriving as a premier travel destination. For the third consecutive year, tourism on Long Island has broken records, with travelers spending $7.9 billion in 2024 — an impressive 3.8 percent increase over 2023.

This surge in tourism is more than a point of pride; it is a vital driver of our local economy. According to the recently released state Tourism Economics report, visitor spending supported 78,418 jobs in 2024, up from 76,227 in 2023.

From restaurant servers and hotel staff to retail clerks and tour operators, these are real, local jobs that sustain families and strengthen our communities. In addition,

boasts a world-class burn center, and serves as a medical lifeline for those who can’t afford care anywhere else — like a candy store for political patronage. There they have packed the payroll with allies, forcing taxpayers to foot sixfigure salaries for their cronies as deficits soared, the future of the hospital hung in the balance, and Republicans blamed everybody but themselves for the crisis they created.

Blakeman and the Nassau GOP’s exploitation of NUMC goes well beyond these most current allegations. In December 2023, Blakeman appointed disgraced former Sheriff Michael Sposato, whose tenure at the county jail was marred by scandal and numerous inmate deaths, as the $275,000-per-year executive director of public safety and investigations at the hospital. On April Fool’s Day 2022, the Republican majority of the Legislature, at Blakeman’s behest, had rubber-stamped the appointment of Matthew Bruderman as president of the NUMC board — even though his only qualifications seemed to be his reckless, vulgar mouth and the big checks he wrote to Blakeman’s political campaigns.

In the Legislature where I currently

tourism generated $945 million in state and local taxes last year. Without that revenue, the average Long Island household would face nearly $1,000 more in annual taxes.

The benefits ripple across the economy. Food and beverage spending alone accounted for 36 percent of all tourism dollars, while lodging comprised another 21 percent. Retail and service stations saw $1.2 billion in visitor spending. Suffolk County, in particular led the way, experiencing a 7 percent increase in tourism spending, while Nassau County’s numbers held steady, with only a slight decline. Overall, Suffolk now makes up nearly 60 percent of Long Island’s tourism tax base.

This remarkable growth did not happen by chance. It is the result of tireless efforts by Discover Long Island, whose leadership and innovative marketing strategies continue to attract visitors year-round. Looking ahead, the region is well positioned to keep building momentum, with major international events like this year’s Ryder Cup and next year’s U.S. Open drawing global attention.

Tourism is more than visitors coming and going — it is an investment in our quality of life, our small businesses and our future. Long Islanders should take pride in this achievement and continue supporting efforts that keep our region shining on the national stage.

MITCh PALLY, INTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO

ShARON WYMAN, COO Discover Long Island

serve, Republicans have co-signed Blakeman every step of the way with disastrous results. True leadership would have been pushing for the county to invest $30 million of the opioid lawsuit settlement funds into expanding the hospital’s in-patient drug detox and treatment facilities. In doing so, they could have delivered much-needed treatment resources to families in crisis, helped to get opioid funds off the county books and into the hands of lifesaving agencies, and sent a message to the state demonstrating a heightened commitment to the hospital’s future.

Instead, they failed to exercise their duty and responsibility as a coequal branch of government and sat on their hands as Blakeman allowed NUMC to fall apart with Meg Ryan as its CEO.

Such a disastrous and self-serving track record creates a perfect storm in which oversight is curtailed, chaos thrives and corruption can run rampant — and it creates an inflection point. We can either remain silent and co-sign Blakeman’s exploitation of NUMC — or be independent watchdogs, follow the facts and get this essential public resource back on the right track for the benefit of every Nassau County resident.

Seth I. Koslow represents Nassau County’s 5th Legislative District, and is the Democratic nominee for county executive.

Framework by Tim Baker