Nassau Herald 10-02-2025

Moritz, left, and Romy Fruman, both 14-year-old Hewlett High School freshmen, hosted “Lemons to Light,” an introduction to their Kindertransport clothespin education project at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, on Sept. 21.

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Come one, come all to the sixth annual Marion & Aaron Gural JCC Succos Fair, at Andrew J. Parise Park in Cedarhurst.

The seven-day Jewish holiday of Sukkot, a time of joy and happiness, will take place Oct. 6 to 13. Observers celebrate by dwelling in a Sukkah, a hut that is covered with branches and decorated, to commemorate God’s sheltering of their ancestors during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

The Succos Fair debuted in 2019, and after skipping 2020

because of the pandemic, it has been held every year since. It is co-sponsored by Community Chest South Shore.

This year the fair will take place on Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We draw people from all over the metropolitan area,” Stacey Feldman, executive director of the Gural JCC, said. “Thousands of people will be with us to enjoy the beautiful holiday.”

The celebration will feature the Chicago Boys, an acrobatic group, on Oct. 9, at 12:30 and 3 p.m., and the music of Danny

Palgom on Oct. 12. There will also be an array of activities for children, including face painting, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, rides and bounce houses. And kosher food will be available for purchase from local eateries including Chickies, Lollibop, David’s Pizza and Pizza’le.

“We are very proud to put together three days of a magnificent festival for so many members of our community and the extended community of the metropolitan area,” Feldman said.

She added that she hoped for three days of wonderful weather for the celebration. “Our

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Fueled by a passion for learning and sharing information, a National History Day project on the Kindertransport has been transformed into an educational packet for fifth- and sixth-graders across the country.

Romy Fruman and Harley Moritz, both 14-year old Hewlett High School freshmen, created a documentary for their National History Day project at Woodmere Middle School last December. They interviewed Manfred Korman, 94, about his experience during the Kindertransport, a rescue effort in which nearly 10,000 mostly Jewish refugee children were transported to Great Britain from Nazi Germany from December 1938 to May 1940, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia.

The girls wanted to preserve Korman’s story, believing that it was important to do something that

ConTinued on paGe 7

goal is to have an affordable fair where families can have a great day spent outside while celebrating the holiday of Sukkot,” Feldman said. “We do have a beautiful huge Sukkah on premises.”

She said she has been “humbled” by the number of thankyou notes that community members send each year after

the event.

This year’s fair has been in the works for the past six months, as staff members have made sure they have the necessary permits, insurance and marketing materials, and collaborated with the Village of Cedarhurst.

“We wish to thank the Vil -

Bringing artisan sourdough to the Five Towns

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Kaila Rabinovich never expected her love for baking sourdough to become a neighborhood sensation, but years after nurturing her first sourdough starter the Cedarhurst resident now supplies fresh artisan loaves to Five Towns residents every week.

What started as a way to feed her artistic side and serve as a creative outlet while pregnant, has transformed into “Baked on Spruce”, a small business that Rabinovich runs from her home kitchen, on Spruce Street.

Her sister Sara Cinamon kept telling her to start selling the loaves since she was already making some for friends and family.

“I started selling to friends and family at first,” Rabinovich said. “Then so many people started reaching out and it grew.”

Though she has only been in business for two months, she already has a long list of customers and lots of followers on her Instagram: BakedonSpruce.

She charges $15 for regular loaves and $18 for specialty

ones that have inclusions.

“My biggest limiting thing right now is that I can’t take too many orders,” she added. “Because you bake each loaf in a Dutch oven pot, I can only take up to 12 orders per week.”

Her process starts on Wednesday when she feeds her starter, which consists of flour and water that ferments. Then, on Thursday morning she feeds the dough, mixes it, lets it sit, folds it and repeats this multiple times.

“It’s funny because sourdough is very artisanal and that’s how bread was made in the olden day,” Rabinovich said.

Cinamon said that her sister needed someone to push her to open the small business and sell her sourdough.

“She’s such an amazing baker and cook that I knew she’d be super successful and really enjoy it, so once she mentioned it I just kept going with it,” Cinamon wrote in a text. “I harassed her a million texts with terrible ideas for a name, and with enough excitement she actually did it. She made the Instagram account and got a bunch of orders right away!”

She is supporting Rabinov -

ich by telling everyone she knows to follow the Instagram account and encouraging her sister to try new things.

“With all things that she has to do, I love that in her small way she’s giving some time to the things she wants to do,” Cinamon wrote. “She made this small dream of hers a reality and I’m so proud of her for doing it!”

One of her dedicated customers and close friend, Batya Schlossberg, has been sampling her baked goods for years and has been ordering every week for the past two months.

“I’ve been there through the whole process,” Schlossberg said. “I love tasting all her different varieties through trial and error. My favorite loaf is the seeded, it’s seeded and I hope she sells it soon.”

Schlossberg said that Rabinovich only uses clean ingredients and takes into consideration people’s food allergies and preferences.

“Her ingredients are extremely clean and she tries to use the best of the best,” she added. “It’s only five ingredients and she wants everyone to be healthy and live that lifestyle.”

EHS hosts suicide prevention awareness walk

Episcopal Health Services organized a Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk designed to bring the community together more than 60 people in support of mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts, on Sept. 23.

The event served as both an educational opportunity and a demonstration of community solidarity for those affected by suicide.

The walk began with an opening program featuring several key presentations aimed at providing hope and practical guidance to attendees. Pastor Asnel Valcin, director of pastoral care and educa-

tion at EHS, delivered a message of hope. The hospital’s Psychiatry team led participants through a grounding exercise, while the Social Work team offered reflections on the significance of supportive communication and creating safe spaces for those in crisis.

Ayodele Oliver, EHS director of behavioral health network development, provided logistical guidance for the walk, which began at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and proceeded to the Rockaway boardwalk and concluded at the flagpole.

“Medical student Joseph Wee addressed youth guests, addressed youth

guests, while social workers Stephanie Yen, Charlot Rosairo and Catrina Gordon led a session on the power of words and breath work, teaching the 4-Box Breathing technique and sharing resource information,” Tanya Barros, EHS’s vice president of Behavioral Health Services, said. Suicide remains a significant public health concern, affecting individuals, families, and communities across all demographics. According to recent statistics, suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, making awareness and prevention efforts crucial community initiatives.

Mental health professionals emphasize the importance of recognizing potential warning signs, which may include:

• Talking about wanting to die or hurt oneself

• Expressing feelings of hopelessness or being trapped

• Significant mood changes or withdrawal from family and friends

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs

• Giving away prized possessions

• Extreme mood swings or sudden calmness after a period of depression

Protecting Your Future

Taking Back Control with a Living Trust

In the fall of 1990, thirty-five years ago, your writer first heard of the proposition that if you set up a living trust your estate doesn’t have to go to court to settle – the so-called probate court proceeding for wills. Having spent the previous eleven years as a litigation attorney, and having faced numerous problems probating wills, this sounded too good to be true.

At the time, some of the best estate planning lawyers were in Florida. Perhaps you can guess why. In any event, off I went to Florida to train as an estate planning lawyer and, upon returning, closed the litigation practice and founded Ettinger Law Firm in April 1991, to keep people just like you, dear reader, out of probate court.

The reason I was so excited about the living trust, and continue to be so to this day, is the concept of taking back control from the courts and government and giving it back to you and your family. After all, who doesn’t want control over their affairs?

When you go to court, who’s in charge? The judge, right? Now tell me, does the judge

always act in your best interest? Does the judge ever make a mistake? And when the judge says jump, you know what the answer is!

Not only do you pay considerably for this privilege, but it can take many months and often years to complete the probate court proceeding. Meantime, houses cannot be sold, bank accounts accessed, or investment portfolios managed – at least without the judge’s permission which involves additional time and resources to request. Of course, that permission may be denied as well.

With a living trust, your trustee (formerly your “executor” under the will) may act immediately upon death to sell the house, pay the bills and handle the investments – no permission required! An additional benefit is, in the event you become unable to handle your affairs later in life, your trustee may take over by simply getting a letter from your doctor showing you are unable to handle your legal and financial affairs. Essentially then, a living trust gives you back the control your may have thought you had.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com

Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com

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Other offices in Huntington • Melville • Islandia

News brief

EHS Clinical Pastoral Education gets accreditation

Episcopal Health Services announced that its Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and Training program, accredited by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy, will now offer expanded career opportunities for graduates following a recent national designation.

The Association of Professional Chaplains and the Board of Chaplaincy Certification, Inc. have recognized the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy as an approved provider of CPE toward national certification. As a result, EHS trainees who complete the program and later achieve chaplaincy board certification will now meet eligibility requirements for positions with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other institutions.

“Our Clinical Pastoral Education Program has long prepared future chaplains to deliver compassionate, person-centered care,” Donald T. Morrish, CEO of Episcopal Health Services wrote in a news release. “This new recognition affirms the excellence of our program, while opening important new pathways for our graduates to extend their service, includ-

ing to our nation’s veterans who deserve the very best in spiritual care.”

The EHS Clinical Pastoral Education and Training Program provides supervised, hands-on experience in spiritual care for patients, families, and team members in a diverse hospital setting. Through its national accreditation, the program emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development, and holistic support for communities facing complex health challenges.

“This is a powerful affirmation of the work our trainees and supervisors do every day,” Pastor Asnel Valcin, director of pastoral care & education at EHS wrote in a news release. “With this approval, our graduates can bring their skills to a broader range of institutions, including the VA, where the need for professional chaplaincy is profound.”

For more information about Episcopal Health Services’ Clinical Pastoral Education and Training Program, please visit https://ehs.org/medical-education/clinical-pastoral-education/.

— Melissa Berman

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LUKE MARTINI WANTAGH Sophomore FOOTBALL

IT WAS A HISTORIC 2024 for Martini and the Warriors as they captured both the Nassau Conference IV and Long Island Class IV titles. One of a handful of returning starters and a rise to Confernece III, Martini is being counted on to produce even more. So far, so good. He led a 35-7 victory at Elmont Sept. 20 with four rushing touchdowns, all coming in the second half. He finished with 195 yards on the ground with his longest score covering 78.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Oct. 3

Football: Carey at V.S. North 4:30 p.m.

Girls

Girls Soccer: Calhoun at Seaford

Football: Mepham at Glen Cove

Football: Baldwin at V.S. Central

Football: Plainedge at Lynbrook 6 p.m.

Football: Seaford at East Rockaway 6 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Massapequa 6:30 p.m.

Football: South Side at Bethpage 6:30 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Freeport 7 p.m.

Football: Garden City at MacArthur 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Girls Soccer: Garden City at Wantagh 2 p.m.

Football: Syosset at Uniondale 3 p.m.

Football: Lawrence at West Hempstead 3 p.m.

Football: Hempstead at Hicksville 3 p.m.

Football: Manhasset at V.S. South 3 p.m.

Football: Mineola at Sewanhaka 3 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Clarke 3 p.m.

Football: Hewlett at Division 3 p.m.

Football: Roosevelt at East Meadow 3 p.m.

Football: Jericho at Kennedy 3 p.m.

Football: C.S. Harbor at North Shore 3 p.m.

Football: Floral Park at Elmont 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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

Hewlett tries to regain momentum

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Hewlett’s boys’ soccer team entered the fall with optimism after last year’s dramatic eight-round penalty-kick victory against Long Beach in the playoffs. But as the season enters the home stretch, the Bulldogs are searching for consistency while being mired in their current four-game skid.

Hewlett (3-5-2, 1-5-2 Conference AA2) opened the year in style with shutouts of Lynbrook and Sewanhaka, and later edged Cold Spring Harbor, 1-0, in a non-league contest on Sept. 13 behind a long-range strike from junior midfielder Sebastian Mendoza-Reyes.

Two days later, the Bulldogs battled Roosevelt to a 4-4 draw. But since then, the losses have piled up — including a tough 4-3 defeat to previously winless Sewanhaka in the Sept. 25 rematch and a 6-1 defeat to Glen Cove last Saturday.

Hewlett coach Jesse Corben insists the record does not reflect the team’s character or potential. “We have a great group of kids this year,” Corben said. “They’re respectful, disciplined, hardworking. They’re a pleasure to be around. I enjoy going to practice every day.”

The Bulldogs are led by three senior captains: Tamir Nagar, Ryan Leguillow, and Roi Wodnitsky. Their leadership, Corben said, has kept the group together through the tough times.

Sebastian Mendoza-Reyes and the Bulldogs will look for a strong finish against a tough slate of conference foes.

scorer with eight goals and an assist, including a pair of tallies in the Sewanhaka loss.

“Alan’s our workhorse,” Corben said. “He has one speed — as fast as he can possibly go at all times. He never stops, he never gives up, and with that kind of effort, things go his way.”

Alongside him, MendozaReyes controls the pace from midfield and junior winger Natanel Bargig has provided speed and creativity up front with two goals and four assists this fall.

Replacing All-County goalkeeper Matthew Fridburg was a tall order, but junior Roy Leshem has stepped into the role with confidence.

“We were very worried about that goalie position,” Corben admitted. “But Roy’s been stepping up big time. He’s aggressive in the air, catches the ball at the high point, and doesn’t give up rebounds.”

In front of him, sophomore Ron Tamir and junior Marco Caruso have grown into reliable outside backs.

The Bulldogs have scored 15 goals this season while conceding 27. Corben believes turning scoring chances into goals will determine whether Hewlett returns to the postseason.

“They lead by example on the field, but also at practice and off the field,” Corben said. “Even if we go down, they keep the team up and make sure we never give up.

In that Roosevelt game, we were down 2-0, then 4-2, and we came back both times.”

Center forward Nagar has five assists on the season and Leguillow anchors the defense at center back. Wodnitsky is a tireless midfielder who wins balls in the air and sets the tone physically.

“We’ve had the opportunities to go up on teams, and we just haven’t finished,” Corben said. “Those ties against Roosevelt and Glen Cove could have been wins.”

Junior forward Alan Trakhtenberg is Hewlett’s top

Hewlett hosts Lawrence this Saturday and Roosevelt next Tuesday before finishing the season with road contests against Great Neck North and Garden City.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Kindertransport survivor Manfred Korman, 94, shared his story, and how much Harley Moritz and Romy Fruman’s work means to him, on Sept. 21. Donna Rosenblum, director of education at HMTC, spoke about collaborating with the girls on the Kindertransport educational packet for students.

Kindertransport survivor moves girls to share his story

represented their Jewish heritage. They found the details of the Kindertransport to be particularly imperative to share, they said.

Romy and Harley created a “clothespin education project” as a “symbol of hope and remembrance,” with clothespins representing the children rescued by the Kindertransport.

They turned their History Day Project and the clothespin initiative into an educational packet for students.

The girls hosted “Lemons to Light,” an introduction to their project and the packet, at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove, on Sept. 21.

“Seeing everyone intrigued and how amazed people were felt really good,” Romy said. “To see all of our hard work paying off and seeing the educational packet in person was truly just such a good feeling.”

Five schools from across Long Island have already signed up to integrate the packet into their social studies curriculums.

“I’m really happy that schools want to take up on this project and keep it going,” Romy said, “and that people want to learn about the Kindertransport.”

The packet was created in collaboration with the HMTC, and has been a work in progress all summer. The girls worked with Donna Rosenblum, director of education, to make sure it includes all the proper information and activities created by the girls.

“As an educator and somebody who spent my whole life teaching in the classroom, and as a school librarian and administrator, when you come across two young ladies who take something like this and want to bring it to so many other people, it’s a gift,” Rosenblum said. “It’s really exciting to see the passion and love from these girls.”

Students who receive the packet will learn about the Kindertransport, read survivors’ testimonies and take part in the clothespin project. The educational activities including writing a personal

journal entry as if you were going to be transported by yourself, and deciding what to take in your luggage.

“Manfred Korman came to the event,” Harley said. “He talked, and I think his words helped make people realize why we were doing this.”

She added that she never thought their eighth-grade history fair project would become as big as it has. “I’m just looking forward to all the schools doing this,” Harley said. “It should be something that is implemented into every school. It’s so amazing, and it’s a soft start to introduce kids to the Holocaust.”

Korman, who was just 7 when he took the Kindertransport, recalled that parents simply put their kids on the train, not knowing if they would ever be reunited.

“My mother did exactly that in Poland,” Korman said. “She took us to the railroad station and my brother (Gerd) and I ended up in England. We entered England, it was the end of August 1939.”

Within two weeks of his arrival, Korman recounted, he was taken from a Jewish home and school to a Christian community and family.

“My family was fortunate,” he added. “We all survived, and ended up in the United States at different times. Without the Kindertransport, we would not be here talking to you right now.”

Romy said she thought the history fair project would be “one and done,” but instead it has grown beyond all expectations. “It feels amazing looking back to what was so small, to now is becoming so big and impactful to many people and schools,” she said. “It brings a lot of joy and a good feeling in every bone in my body.”

Her life lesson to others is “never think small” and “there’s no dream too big.”

Harley said she believes that “if you have the mindset to do something,” you should do it. “We found so many different connections and stories,” she said, “and took this to a different level than we thought we would ever achieve.”

Town proposes 18 percent tax cut for 2026

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Just under six weeks before Election Day, the Town of Hempstead unveiled an 18 percent tax cut in its general fund as part of its 2026 budget.

The tax cut is anticipated to reduce the overall tax levy by $5 million, according to town officials, by “directly putting that money back into the pockets of every single taxpayer,” said John Ferretti, who was appointed town supervisor on Aug. 5 after Don Clavin resigned.

The announcement was made at Hempstead Town Hall on Sept. 25, 50 days after Ferretti was appointed.

“This budget is the result of fiscal responsibility, bipartisan collaboration and a deep commitment to preserving the suburban quality of life that makes the Town of Hempstead so special,” he added.

The budget was crafted to provide relief to families struggling with inflation and rising costs, Ferretti said, without compromising essential town services.

He described unfunded state mandates totaling $15 million as a significant challenge to town finances. Those services and programs, which the state requires but doesn’t pay for, directly impact the town’s budget.

“I’m intently focused on preserving

our community’s suburban dream of an affordable quality of life,” Ferretti said.

“The town’s $576 million budget still manages to cut taxes while preserving vital services, investing in infrastructure and supporting residents of all ages.”

Joe Scianablo, the Democratic candidate for supervisor, agrees that Hempstead residents deserve lower taxes, but he contends that they also deserve more

transparency from the town.

“If Ferretti and his Republican allies truly wanted to save taxpayers’ money, the first thing they’d do is return the hefty raises they quietly gave themselves,” Scianablo wrote in a news release. “If you are going to set the fire and then claim credit for putting the fire out, then go the entire distance.”

Ferretti noted that 4 cents of every property tax dollar goes to the town, and

the rate is less than 1 cent per dollar for those living in incorporated villages. Town services include maintaining 1,200 miles of roadway; managing over 200 parks and recreational facilities; and providing sanitation services for 85,000 homes, clean water for over 121,000 customers and programs for more than 200,000 senior residents, as well as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, building permits, code enforcement, and much more.

Oceanside resident Danielle Asher said she was perplexed about how the town could cut taxes 18 percent now, after a substantial tax increase was implemented earlier this year.

“I need an explanation of how the problems were resolved that made them raise our taxes 12 percent in the first place,” Asher wrote on Facebook. “If the budget is remaining flat, then who is splitting the bill?”

Richard Schurin, of Island Park, shared those sentiments. “Their budgeting practice makes absolutely no financial sense and appears to be politically motivated,” Schurin posted on Facebook.

The 2026 town budget will be presented to the Town Board for possible adoption on Oct. 16. Public hearings are scheduled for that day, at 2:30 and 7 p.m., in the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington St., Hempstead.

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Students at Gan Chamesh, Chabad of the 5 Towns’ Early Childhood Center were immersed in various hands-on multi-sensory explorations on the first day.

Gan Chamesh, Chabad 5 Towns, ushers in the new school year

Teachers and staff at Gan Chamesh, Chabad of the 5 Towns’ Early Childhood Center were excited to open their doors and welcome their young students into the classrooms.

“The children quickly adjusted and are all immersed in various hands-on multi-sensory explorations to help them

learn about the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashana,” the school wrote in a news release. “We are looking forward to a year of continued social, emotional and academic growth. Happy New Year!”

— Melissa Berman

Wishing all my friends in the Jewish community a day of spiritual renewal and an easy, meaningful fast.

HERALD neighbors

Hewlett Harbor’s centennial celebration

The Village of Hewlett Harbor celebrated 100 years with a “fun-filled family event” at village hall, on Sept. 21.

Hewlett Harbor was incorporated as a village in 1925. “By becoming a village, Hewlett Harbor was able to manage its growth carefully, ensuring that it remained an exclusive, residential enclave,” according to HewlettHarbor.gov.

Strict zoning laws and development restrictions were put in place to preserve the village’s character. Its development was part of the broader growth of the “Five Towns” area, which includes Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere, Inwood, and Hewlett. These towns evolved as suburban communities for those commuting to New York City.

The celebration featured commemorative merchandise, a historical table, a DJ, bounce houses, cotton candy, popcorn, an ice cream truck and more.

Today, the village consists of 439 one-family homes, the Seawane Club and village hall. Hewlett Harbor covers approximately eight square miles.

—

Long Island’s best gather for Excellence in Healthcare awards

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Long Island is home to some of the nation’s most skilled medical practitioners, the best of whom were honored at the Herald’s fourth annual Long Island Excellence in Healthcare Awards.

The ceremony — at the Heritage Club at Bethpage on Sept. 17 — brought together almost 40 groups representing hospitals, researchers and independent practices.

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications and publisher of the Herald, began the gala evening by praising Long Island’s medical community for their unrivaled research and innovative programs and services.

“We’re here tonight to honor the doctors, nurses, hospital executives, educators, caregivers, and so many others who keep our families and our communities healthy, safe and informed,” he said. “Our honorees tonight are sources of both strength and inspiration, walking alongside us at some of the lowest and highest moments in life.”

Emmy award-winning investigative journalist Kristin Thorne, the creator of Hulu’s first true crime series “Missing,” emceed the ceremony.

Keynote speaker Dr. Purna Prasad, CEO of Vedi Robotics in Hicksville, led off the night’s awards segment preceding the distribution of honors.

“Our evolution in Vedi Robotics has made us who we are today,” he said. “We identified one problem that is always a challenge for healthcare: a deficit of workforce.”

During his tenure of 30 years at Stanford and Northwell, Prasad observed machine learning and artificial intelligence mature as a field of study. After two and a half years, his team produced a robotic platform that is ready for deployment; it can check in patients, process their paperwork and take their vitals.

“That whole concept of home-grown, state-of-the-art technology — you could say we are a flagship for that,” he said.

Vedi Robotics received the Trailblazers in Technology special award.

“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to bring a curated artificial intelligence into the arena that is only going to be beneficial,” Vedi Robotics COO John Power added.

A portion of ticket proceeds from the event will benefit the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Center at Stony Brook University. The LEND program, recipient of the Community Health Champions special award, provides interdisciplinary training to prepare the next generation — along with professionals, families and self-advocates — to lead in their fields as providers of high quality care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities.

“Our team truly excels, in an interdisciplinary fashion, to deliver health care for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families,” LEND Program Director Michelle Ballan said. “We offer hundreds of hours of training for people with disabilities and healthcare professionals to learn how to work effec-

tively with this group.”

Kerri Anne Scanlon, president of Northwell’s Glen Cove, Syosset and Plainview hospitals, received the Healthcare Visionary special award alongside CEOElect John D’Angelo; Northwell CEO Michael Dowling was honored with the Healthcare Legacy special award.

“I think the foundation of Northwell is really the incredible culture,” Scanlon said. “It’s a culture that truly invests in its employees. It’s a culture about worrying about someone as much as yourself, and then building that engagement so that we can give the best care to our patients.”

Carolyn Quinn, the director of Northwell Health’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center, received the Community Health Champions special award. The pediatric hospital was honored for providing outstanding long-term care for children.

“The team is just over the moon,” she said. “They are an amazing group of women, just an amazing group made up of three nurses and three certified holistic nurses and four Reiki Masters who are also certified and gifted in other holistic services. There’s quite a menu of services that we offer.”

Anne Petraro. founder and CEO of

The team is just over the moon.

CAROLyN QuiNN Director of Cohen Childrens’ Medical Center

Mending Hearts Counseling in Elmont, was honored with a Community Health Champions award for establishing an Article 31 MHOTRS clinic during the pandemic to aid underserved communities, specializing in brain care.

“I would love to change the face of mental health,” she said. “There’s so much stigma against it. And I guess by starting this agency, we’re kind of coming with a different approach, more of like a private practice feeling where everyone feels at home.”

Co-founders Linda Harkavy and Mitchell Goldstein of Form & Function Aesthetics and Wellness in East Meadow received the Power Couple special award.

“We’re focused on now, rather than disease management and crisis management, keeping people well and getting them well and having them enjoy their best lives,” Harkavy said. “We engage in wellness, not only body but mind.”

Their practice now offers Exomind, an advanced non-invasive brain therapy designed to help patients with depression, anxiety and OCD.

“We’ve been doing health care here in Long Island for 40 years, and it’s been our great pleasure helping so many people over these decades,” Goldstein said. “We’ve taken it now to the next level with state of the art medical care and devices to improve people’s longevity and wellness — Nassau County deserves that.”

The following individuals were each recipients of Excellence in Healthcare awards.

Alla Shenkman is the former medical

director of PM Pediatrics in Syosset. After 10 years in the role, she stepped down to return to work as a regular physician.

“It’s my passion,” Shenkman said. “I love it. PM Pediatrics is a great — probably largest — urgent care for pediatric patients in the country, and I’ve been there since day one. I certainly want to thank all my colleagues. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. It was a mutual effort to bring PM Pediatrics to where we are today.”

Howard Goodman, better known as the Long Island Weight Loss Doctor, is the recipient of numerous Herald honors: two Long Island Choice, one Long Island Health and Beauty, and now two Excellence in Healthcare awards.

“All these awards put us on the map,” he said.

Goodman uses all-natural methods to help patients reach their ideal weight while combating common internet misinformation.

“We’re fixing the damage that’s caused by these erroneous medications,” he said.

Brian Caberas is the COO of the People’s Arc of Suffolk, a nonprofit that provides services to people with disabilities across Suffolk County.

“We offer them residential alternatives and the ability to find jobs out in the community and a multitude of other services as well,” he said. “We want the People’s Arc of Suffolk to become the premier provider for people with disabilities.”

Sponsors of the event include Northwell Health, Episcopal Health Services, Henry Schein, Cohen Children’s Medical Center Northwell Health, The Speech Language Place, Brightview Senior Living, Stony Brook University LEND Center, Mending Hearts Counseling, Veda Robotics, LiveOnNY, People’s Arc of Suffolk, Long Island Nurses Honor Guard, PM Pediatric Care, Bellmore Dermatology, The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island, Harmony Healthcare Long Island and the New York Institute of Technology.

To view a complete list of honorees and photos, visit richnerlive.com/healthcare-awards/honorees.

Community Chest co-sponsors community fair

lage of Cedarhurst for being an incredible partner on providing wonderful family-friendly entertainment for the community,” Feldman added.

Cedarhurst Mayor Benjamin Weinstock said that the village is “proud to host the fair in our park” and that officials and residents look forward to it every year.

“In addition to providing a fun entertainment experience for our kids and their parents, we know that making the park available helps the JCC raise much needed funds for the many programs they run,” Weinstock wrote in an email. “My grandchildren love going and meeting friends for a day of wholesome fun.”

The village also helps the JCC plan the dates. “As we get closer we help coordinate security, traffic and parking related concerns,” Weinstock wrote. “When the fair is in operation the Village’s highway and public works staff covers the park to make sure that we have space to store and operate the rides and keep the grounds neat and orderly, and provide water and electric.”

Cal Nathan has been president of the Community Chest South Shore for 10 years. It is the oldest charitable organization in the Five Towns, and just celebrated 90 years.

“The JCC is our largest supported organization,” Nathan said.

Thousands of people from the Five Towns and the metropolitan area gathered last year in Andrew J. Parise Park, in Cedarhurst, to celebrate Sukkot at the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC’s annual Succos Fair.

What began as a Columbus Day weekend fair, turned into a three-day extravaganza that the entire community can enjoy when children in Yeshivas and Jewish day schools are off from school.

“It’s an amazing, wonderful fair that

Long Island Heroes Celebration

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025 | 8:00 A.M. TO 10:00 A.M. The Heritage Club at Bethpage

For more than 100 years the American Red Cross on Long Island has helped the community prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

Free activities for children at the annual Succos Fair include a petting zoo, arts and crafts, face painting and bounce houses.

Stacey and her team at the JCC run,” Nathan added. “We provide a large grant to offset the costs.”

His favorite part of the event, he said, is seeing thousands of families and children come together to enjoy family-friendly entertainment.

Event Co-chairs: James Quent, Greg Lavine, and Jennifer Solomon For tickets, sponsorships, journal ads and to learn more, please visit redcross.org/LIheroes The American Red Cross Heroes Celebration is the

“It’s challenging finding family entertainment that’s affordable,” Nathan said. “Living in the Five Towns is expensive, but being able to provide multi-day entertainment allows us to continue to support our mission of supporting the local community.”

SHOW US YOUR GAME DAY!

For a chance to win Islander Tickets

How do YOU watch Sunday football?

Whether you're decked out in team colors, surrounded by game day snacks, or have the ultimate fan cave setup –We want to see it all!

Upload photos of your Sunday football experience: your lucky jersey, famous wings, decorated living room, tailgate spread, or whatever makes your game day special.

The best photos will be featured in the Herald – and the WINNER will be chosen at random to win 2 tickets to an Islanders game!

Contest runs through midnight October 12, 2025

Ready, set, touchdown!

HERALD

ATTENTION STUDENTS:

THE HERALD IS HOLDING A CONTEST TO DESIGN HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER

THE WINNING DESIGNS WILL BE PRINTED AS HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP IN 12/4/25 & 12/11/25 ISSUES OF YOUR HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

CONTEST RULES:

Who can enter: There will be 2 categories: Students in grades k-5. Students in 6-12

One entry per student

Deadline: Entries must be received by 5 p.m.

Friday, October 31, 2025

Grand prize: Winners will have their design printed as wrapping paper in the Herald and will be featured in an article in their local Herald newspaper.

Entry format: Please use an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of unlined paper. All entries should have the student’s name, age, address, telephone number, email, grade and school printed on the back. Design can be reflective of all religious holidays. Entries will not be returned.

Mail or hand-deliver to:

Wrapping Paper Contest

Herald Community Newspapers 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530 OR Scan and email to: ekimbrell@liherald.com

(No Photos of Artwork Will Be Accepted).

Winners will be notified by email or phone by November 14

HELPFUL HINTS

• Must use 8 1/2 x 11” unlined paper, copy paper or construction paper.

• Be creative & original.

• Use bright colors.

• Fill the entire page.

• Choose paint, crayon, chalk, markers, pens, or other creative materials.

• Remember your design will be used to make a real sheet of wrapping paper.

STEPPING OUT

Doing it ‘His Way’ with the Nassau Pops

By Karen Bloom

ANew York moment arrives on the Tilles Center stage when Maestro Louis Panacciuill and his orchestra return with their popular gala musical in support of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County. This year the orchestra welcomes back Tony Danza and his band as their guest performers.

The concert continues to feature the Nassau Pops signature blend of popular and classical music as well as an inspiring moment with Creation, the CP Nassau vocal team. This heartwarming tradition dellights both musicians, guest performers and the audience.

“This is one big lovefest,” says Panacciulli, the orchestra’s longtime musical director. I’m so glad to be back at Tilles Center during our 42nd season. So many wonderful people have crossed this stage. It’s always exciting to be here.”

The connection between the Nassau Pops and CP Nassau is special for Panacciulli and the orchestra. He credits his mother, Panacciulli who was a member of the CP auxiliary in Valley Stream, for this special connection.

“When we first started performing, we decided we wanted to do more than just play music. We wanted to do something meaningful,” he recalls.

“In the past we had done benefits for Special Olympics, pop concerts for hospitals. This came about one day when I was discussing with her the idea of doing a benefit concert for CP Nassau. I’m thrilled to carry on Mom’s legacy. Plus it means a lot to the musicians. We’re leaving something behind long after the notes have faded away.”

And he’s delighted to have Danza, who performed with the Nassau Pops in 2023, back to share the stage.

“Tony dances, plays the ukele, always tells a corny joke or two,” Panacciulli says. “He’s very engaging, a wonderful entertainer.”

This collaboration brings a unique twist to Danza’s acclaimed cabaret show, “Sinatra and Stories.” Combining his trademark wit, charm, storytelling, with a dash of soft

Yes:

‘The Fragile 2025 Tour’

Get ready to experience an unforgettable evening of Yes on the Paramount stage, featuring its existential prog masterworks and instrumental pyrotechnics. Throughout a prolific and enduring music career spanning 45 years and 20 studio albums, Yes has electrified audiences with daunting virtuosity, complex musical textures and powerful lead vocals. The band — currently comprising Steve Howe on guitars and vocals, Geoff Downes on keyboards, Jon Davison on vocals and acoustic guitar, Billy Sherwood on bass guitar and vocals, and Jay Schellen on drums — performs their iconic 1971 album “Fragile” in its entirety. “Fragile” holds a special place in Yes’s discography, as it propelled the band to headline status in the U.S.

Tony Danza stars in the return of the orchestra’s gala benefit concert

shoe, he offers up his take on the music of the legendary ‘Ol Blue Eyes, with whom Danza had a personal relationship. Some might not realize that Danza, who grew up on Long Island and attended Malverne High School, is a well-established song and dance man, in addition to his acting chops in television, film and on stage.

Throughout his 60-plus minute set, Danza blends personal anecdotes with Sinatra’s unforgettable tunes.

“He always has a big smile on his face. He’s certainly having a good time. And I guarantee the audience will as well,” Panacciulli says.

The tone is set from the moment the orchestra strikes up their first note.

“We like to start out with something hot and jazzy,” Panacciulli adds.

• Sunday, Oct. 19, 3 p.m.

• Tickets start at $30; available at npso.org/tickets or tillescenter.org

• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post Campus, Brookville

Certainly the addition of a sax section gets the vibe going, as the orchestra opens the show with a medley of Big Band tunes.

As always, the musicians are joined by Creation — the singing duo who participate in CP Nassau’s Life Options Program — in a heart-warming segment during the concert’s opening. Each has their moment in the spotlight. David Tindal sings Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration,” while Chris Wawrzonek does “Till There Was You” from the Broadway classic The Music Man.

Tindal and Wawrzonek have ‘grown up’ with the orchestra.

“I’m filled with such a sense of gratitude that I can affect two lives by giving them a chance to perform in front of a full orchestra and a large audience,” Panacciulli says. “We share something special, when we share music together. They’re wonderful people and the audience gives them standing ovations every time. It’s just nice to see how they’ve grown up. They’re always smiling and in good humor.”

And for Panacciulli, a Franklin Square resident, who has been at the helm of the Nassau Pops since 1984 (and is on Nassau Community College’s music faculty where he serves as band director) that surely is the concert’s defining moment.

“Creation is a byproduct the wonderful work that CP Nassau does. It does my heart good to help them and give back to the community through the gift of music.”

Panacciulli gratefully acknowledges Long Island-based credit union Jovia (formerly NEFCU), the gala’s title sponsor since 2012. Proceeds from every ticket sold are donated directly to CPNassau.

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m. $152.25, $129.75, $118.75, $108.75, $86.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Roomful of Blues

The renowned, horn powered, Grammy-nominated, houserocking “little big band” is ready to celebrate STEPPIN’ OUT!, their first new album in five years. With this album, Roomful of Blues brings something new to the table. After 19 releases with male singers, STEPPIN’ OUT! is the first to feature a female vocalist, the sublime D.D. Bastos. Her powerhouse, soul-stirring voice and her charismatic stage presence bring a whole new spirit to the Roomful sound. For over 50 years, this beloved, iconic and much honored band has been delivering wildly infectious, hard-swinging blues. Guided by guitarist-bandleader Chris Vachon since 19989, Roomful remains a defining musical force in the blues world, with their sound rooted in tradition, but their sights reaching far into the future.

Thursday, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. $38. My Father’s Place in Roslyn, 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. Tickets available at mfpproductions.com or (516) 5800887.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

OCT

4

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create with kids at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art when it resumes following the summer hiatus. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. $20, $10 child; members free.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Noon-3 p.m.

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

OCT 5

Splish Splash… Animal Bath

Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents” at the drop-in program. Join an animal educator in the Hive Studio’s in the Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animal “residents.” Observe animal bath time.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 1:30-2 p.m.

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

In concertl

Pianist Philip Edward Fisher returns to Adelphi University for an afternoon of music for solo piano. He performs three of Chopin’s works: Variations Brilliantes, Fantasie in F minor and Sonata No 2 in B-flat minor. The program also include Haydn’s Fantasia in C Major, along with works by Corigliano, Mompou and Scriabin. Fisher is widely recognized as a unique performer of refined style and exceptional versatility. Tickets start at $35, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees.

• Where: Adelphi University’s Westermann Stage, 1 South Ave., Garden City

• Time: 3 p.m.

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or call (516) 877-4000

OCT

6

Long Island Choral Society Auditions

Audition now and be part of something bigger, a bold, inclusive future for choral music. The Long Island Choral Society holds its final auditions for

OCT 16

Kate Kortum: The Music of ‘Wild Woman’

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library incorporate bookss, movement, and songs in an engaging and flexible environment.

• Where: 1125 Broadway

• Time: 5:15-5:45 p.m.

• Contact: hwpl.org

OCT

16

Little Learners

Art Lab

Each week in this engaging workshop, participants are introduced to handson materials, artmaking, and inspiration from artists and techniques. Young kids, ages 2-5, build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary, and support imaginations as they play, create and explore. This week create one-of-a-kind wave paintings with a sensory twist. $4 with museum admission.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-noon

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

OCT

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

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

Tilles Center’s Atrium becomes an intimate lounge, showcasing 23-year-old Kate Kortum, one of the most exciting breakout artists in the jazz world. Hailing from Houston, Texas, her warm, distinctive sound blends bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theater with captivating, storydriven lyrics. Her artistry bridges tradition and innovation, offering audiences a fresh, contemporary take on the jazz vocal legacy. Kortum discovered her passion for music at Houston’s legendary High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she studied flute and saxophone before ultimately falling in love with singing. She went on to earn a degree in jazz voice from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School, studying with some of the leading voices in modern jazz. Critics have praised her ability to revitalize jazz with authenticity and daring. “Wild Woman,” her sophomore album. featuresreimagined standards and originals that explore a woman’s relationship with complex emotions like obsession, promiscuity, self-pride, and hatred. She gives her audience a glimpse into the past, present, and future of jazz through her unique arrangements and improvisatory deliveries.

new members for their 96th season. The 2025-26 season includes Let’s Go to the Movies, a celebration of choral music in film, Schubert’s Mass in G as well as Handel’s Messiah and a variety of other musical performance opportunities throughout the coming year. Auditions are by appointment only. Whether you’re a lifelong singer or just finding your voice, you belong here! Visit lics.org for more.

• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City

• Contact: Schedule an audition by calling (516) 652-6878 or via e-mail at audition.info@lics.org

OCT 9

Delectable

chocolate

Hewlett-Woodmere

Public Library hosts a chocolate dipping class with Melinda Space> learn how to properly dip and decorate various treats. With a full demonstration, then create treats to take home. Space is limited and registration required.

• Where: 1125 Broadway

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: hwpl.org

OCT

10

Sculpture Stroll

Visit Nassau County Museum of Art for an hour for discovery and conversation. Explore a selection of sculptures sited across the museum property. Each stop on the tour delves into the choices, inspirations and material of the artists and their sculptures. Registration required. $20, $10 members.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 5-6 p.m.

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

Whimsical

OCT

11

Wizard School

Families are invited to Old Westbury Gardens for a wizarding adventure. It all begins the moment you’re sorted into one of the enchanted Nature Houses. Create your own wand, adding colors and decorations that reflect your style. Step into a magical herbology class, where you’ll discover the plants that inspire fantasy and design your own terrarium herb garden. Join wizard professors on a Wizard Quest through the gardens, solving riddles and uncovering

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

hidden icons along the way. Celebrate the spooky season with games, crafts, and enchanting surprises in the most magical way possible. For ages 5-10. Registration required. $18, $12 children.

• Where: The Barn at Orchard Hill, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

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

OCT

12

Fire Safety for Kids

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library hosts firefighters from the Hewlett Fire Department, in honor of fire prevention week. Firefighters will read a story and teach ages 3 and up about fire safety.

• Where: 1125 Broadway, Hewlett

• Time: 1-2 p.m.

• Contact: hwpl.org

The Story Club

OCT

15

A sensory-friendly storytelling program for adults over 18 with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. The session at

18

Artist Reception

Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library hosts a reception for artist Jack Banham.

• Where: 1125 Broadway

• Time: 2-3 p.m.

• Contact: hwpl.org

OCT

18

Rock Hall Country Fair

Rock Hall welcomes everyone to the Country Fair! Enjoy a weekend of entertainment, shows and fall fun! Visit with colonial historians, with harvest market, craft vendors and antique cars, kids craft area, pumpkin patch, and much more.

• Where: 199 Broadway, Lawrence

• Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 239-1157

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.

Rob FRled

Rob Frled, running his 11th Boston Marathon at 65

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Q: Tell me about yourself.

Frled: I grew up in Woodmere and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1979. I was a soccer and ice hockey player. In my senior year of high school, I was playing soccer as goalie and I came out to make a save and a player clipped me in the knee and I tore my ACL. I pretty much had a miserable end to my high school career of soccer. I always dreamed about playing college soccer and at the time I had a lot of rehab. I was in a cast for six weeks and I had to rehab by running to get back in shape. Fortunately, I did not need surgery.

Q: How did you get into running?

Frled: I got into running in a very unique way it changed my

life. I followed the yellow brick road and I’m probably one of the most unique people. One, because of my longevity in the sport as well as how I got into it and what transpired in my life. I realized I was pretty fast. In 1980, when I officially started running I ran a 2:38 marathon in New York City. It’s six-minute miles for 26 miles and I immediately became a celebrity. I was the fourth youngest finisher that year. I got a scholarship to run at Adelphi, I competed four year of college track and cross-country. After running 2:38 in NY, a few months later I ran my first Boston Marathon at 22 years old in 1983. I have since ran 10 Boston Marathons.

Q: How has running change your life?

Frled: I have been in four Maccabiah Games I represented the U.S and I won a Bronze

Marathon this past May, at 64 years old.

medal at Brazil in 1983, I ran in 1985 in Israel, 2013 in Israel as a Master’s Runner and in 2015 I went to Berlin where the Olympics site is. It was very unusual because I ran in Hitler’s Olympics location. Because of my running career, I became a Podiatrist. I felt this was a great path to go down because I enjoyed the sport. It’s all because of that day in September of 1979, everything changed that day and my life completely changed. Little did I know I fol-

lowed that one path of running and because of my running career, I ran in college and practiced 30 years of podiatry.

Q: Why did you take a hiatus from running?

Frled: I started running in 1980 and I stopped in 1987 after running my fifth Boston Marathon and never ran for 26 years, I quit. I was burnt out, I had done 10 marathons by 26 and had won 4 Boston’s in that time. I decided to move on with

my life and do my career. Later in life, I was playing a pick-up ice hockey game in 2013 and a player crashed into me. I injured my left hand, lost mobility in my index finger and I’m a lefty so I couldn’t practice anymore. I lost my career in Podiatry and I started running again, at 52 years old. In the last 12 years of running, I’ve run 6 Boston Marathon’s, 14 marathons in total and I’m still doing it.

2,

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

Notice is hereby give that in accordance with Town Law Section 181-a(1)and pursuant to General Municipal Law Section 35, (2a) the fiscal affairs of the Inwood Fire District of the Town of Hempstead, for the period beginning on January 1, 2024 and ending on December 31, 2024, have been examined by the Independent Certified Public Accounting firm of Craig, Fitzsimmons &Meyer, LLPSmithtown, NY. A copy of their independent audit report has been filed with the New York Office of the State Comptroller where it is available as a public record for the inspection by all interested persons. 156064

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE INWOOD FIRE DISTRICT, INWOOD, NEW YORK, 11096. There will be a General Meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Inwood Fire District as follows:

Time: 7:00 P.M..

Date:Thursday, October 9, 2025

Place:DISTRICT OFFICE

Melissa Rivelli, District Secretary 156063

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2026 BUDGET

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the proposed budget of the Atlantic Beach Fire District of the Town of Hempstead, State of New York, will be presented to the Board of Fire Commissioners for its consideration.

A Public Hearing will be held at 6 PM at the Atlantic Beach Fire District HQ, One Rescue Road, A/K/A Bridge Access Road, Atlantic Beach, New York on the 21st day of October 2025.

TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE, that a copy of the proposed budget is available with the Village Clerk at the Atlantic Beach Village Hall, 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach, New York and Fire District Secretary, One Rescue Road, Atlantic Beach, New York where it may be inspected during the office hours 9 AM to 3 PM. Monday to Friday. By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners Atlantic Beach Fire District

Arnold M. Geller

Commissioner/District

Secretary

Dated: Atlantic Beach, New York

September 8, 2025 156066

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 2026

WHEREAS, on the 18th day of September, 2025, pursuant to Sections 105 and 181 of the Town Law, the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District confirmed that the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing will be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2026 on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 commencing at 6:45 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598, and WHEREAS, the Board of Fire Commissioners is required to adopt a proposed budget at least 21 days before Tuesday, October 21, 2025, so that it is available for public inspection prior to the budget hearing.

NOW, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District has adopted a proposed Annual Fire District Budget for 2026 as of this date for purposes of discussion and review at the Budget Hearing to be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 and a copy of the proposed budget is available at the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead and at the office of the Woodmere Fire District Secretary at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598 where it may be inspected by any interested person during office hours. In addition, copies of the proposed budget will be available on the night of the said hearing.

NOW, therefore, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District will hold the Annual Fire District Budget Hearing to be conducted with reference to the Annual Fire District Budget for fiscal year 2026 on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 commencing at 6:45 p.m. at the Fire

District Building located at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the aforesaid budget will be presented to the residents and taxpayers of the Woodmere Fire District and to the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Woodmere Fire District, for their respective consideration at this public hearing and for the purpose of considering the said budget and hearing all persons interested in the subject concerning same on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 commencing at 6:45 p.m. at the Fire District Building located at 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, New York 11598.

Dated: September 18, 2025 Woodmere, New York BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD ATTEST: DAVID HALLER WOODMERE FIRE DISTRICT SECRETARY 156068

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED

VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Village of Cedarhurst will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 8:00 pm in Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York regarding the granting of a cable television franchise agreement renewal by and between the Cedarhurst and Verizon New York Inc.

A copy of the cable television franchise agreement renewal is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Village Clerk’s Office, at 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York. At such public hearing all persons will be given an opportunity to be heard. Written and oral statements will be taken at that time. Time limitations may be imposed for each oral statement as necessary.

Dated: Cedarhurst, New York

September 26, 2025

By Order of the Mayor, Benjamin Weinstock

and Board of Trustees

Jacob Plaut Village Administrator 156067

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED

VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

LEGAL NOTICE

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hewlett Harbor will meet in both public and via Zoom on October 9, 2025, at 7PM, Eastern Standard Time, for the purpose of holding the Village’s regular monthly meeting.

All residents wishing to attend via Zoom can visit www.hewlettharbor.go v for instructions. Residents wishing to speak via Zoom or in person must notify the Village Clerk in advance.

Dated: September 24, 2025 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LISA JAMES VILLAGE CLERK 156062

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a Public Hearing to consider the amendment of Section 17-29 (Repairs not Requiring Permits); and under SEQRA Regulations, to determine whether the proposed use would constitute a significant negative impact on the environment; said Public Hearing will be held at 7PM on October 9, 2025 at the Village Hall, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, New York.

All interested persons will be heard during the Public Hearing at the time and place aforementioned.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LISA JAMES, VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR

HEWLETT HARBOR, NEW YORK

DATED: 156060

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a Public Hearing to consider the amendment of Section 145-75 (A) and (C) (Penalties for Offenses); and under

SEQRA Regulations, to determine whether the proposed use would constitute a significant negative impact on the environment; said Public Hearing will be held at 7PM on October 9, 2025 at the Village Hall, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, New York.

All interested persons will be heard during the Public Hearing at the time and place aforementioned.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LISA JAMES, VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR HEWLETT HARBOR, NE DATED: 156061

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a public hearing at Village Hall on Wednesday October 8, 2025 at 7:00PM. A ZOOM link to the meeting is available on our website at www.hewlettharbor.go v. All interested parties will be given the opportunity to be heard on the following applications for variance relief: Schandel & Felix Meshman - 1013

Seawnae Drive Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557Applicant is proposing to a new one-story rear addition. The applicant is requesting relief from Village Zoning Code. Zoning Code: 145-19 States the maximum permitted lot coverage in residential “BX” district is 25%. Applicant is proposing 57.41%.

Nathan & Loreen Cayzer-270 Pepperidge Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557- Applicant is proposing to construct a 1st and 2nd story addition to the existing dwelling. The applicants are requesting relief from the Village Zoning Codes.

Zoning Code:145-19. States the maximum permitted lot coverage in residential “B”District is 30% Applicant is proposing 34%.

Zoning Code: 145-19. States that side yard setbacks require minimum 15-feet from any part of the dwelling to the property line. Applicants are requesting 10.3 feet off the north property line. Applicants asking for relief of 4.9’

Zoning Code: 145-2. States the height sky plane setback is a series of theoretical drawn incline planes which no part of the dwelling shall pass thru. The applicants are requesting to build beyond the sky plane.

Hillel Abramov-1330

Schencks Lane Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 (Continuation)Applicant is seeking to install a sports court structure in the rear of the property. Zoning Code; 145-19. States the maximum permitted lot coverage in a residential “A “District is 25%. Applicant is proposing 36%.

Meital Rosso-1117 Harbor Road Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 (Continuation)-

Applicant is seeking to make amendment to original previous approved plans

Zoning Code; 17-28 Amendment of application or plan.

Applicant is seeking a layout change of the original drawing and reduction of surface lot coverage Dan Pulatani-1069

Channel Drive Hewlett Harbor,NY 11557 (Continuation)Applicant is seeking to make amendment to the original previous plans Zoning Code; 17-28 Amendment of application or plan. Applicant is seeking a layout change of the original drawing BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

DR. JULIO NOVELLO, CHAIRMAN ZONING BOARD

Peter Lynch - Building Superintendent Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York September 18, 2025 155956

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court County of Nassau The Bank of New York Mellon fka The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders, CWALT, Inc., Alternative Loan Trust 2007-12T1 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-12T1, Plaintiff AGAINST Sarwar H. Riaz, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on August 4, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM premises known as 721 Park Lane, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 39, BLOCK: 292, LOT: 116. Approximate amount of judgment is $947,543.00 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000334/2016. For sale inform ation, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Francesco Tini, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 87235 155871

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 1, 2006 SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2006-HE1 MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE1, Plaintiff, AGAINST AZEEM ALI, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on December 19, 2024. , the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM premises known as 541 11th Street, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Woodmere, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 0039, Block 00290-00 and Lot 00054. Approximate amount of judgment $1,966,318.02 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #001877/2013. Paul L. Meli, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 155938

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This custom built brick Colonial home invites you in through a grand foyer, leading to a gracious living room and formal dining room, with beautiful hardwood floors throughout. The huge gourmet kitchen with Caesarstone countertops and stainless steel appliances adjoins a sunlit breakfast room, while off to the side is the casual den with a fireplace, and a half bath. Upstairs you'll find a fabulous primary en-suite, with closets galore &

and a

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The challenges of building next to open water

Q. We were given two options for building a new building next to a saltwater bay where there are great views. The first option is to build a wood building with siding, and the second is to build a metal building that comes in a kind of kit form, with the option to have the company selling the parts also assemble the building. Which type would you recommend, considering the salt spray we will get, and will we need helical piles in the ground? We were told that we could just build on a 6-inch concrete slab.

A. If you remember the story of the three little pigs, you’ll also remember the big, bad wolf, who huffed and puffed … Salt spray is just one of the natural issues you’re dealing with. If you’re concerned about possible rust, verify with the company engineering the metal system that the building will be subjected to salt.

If the steel components are galvanized, zinc-coated, anodized or stainless steel — that is, treated to resist salt — then the best choice is the steel system, for many reasons. Consider all the elements your building must resist, not just salt. Wind, water and weight settlement are also factors that any professional building designer, either an architect or engineer, would examine as well.

A wood building, by the standards of state building codes, would still require metal connections to hold places where wood parts are joined to meet wind-resistance requirements. Wood-to-steel connections aren’t as strong as steel-to-steel connections, generally, due to the reactions of the dissimilar materials. Those reactions include internal expansion and contraction that can loosen wood fibers, warping, twisting and the loss of fiber strength due to changes in moisture of the fibers. The fibers loosen as they expand with moisture, so metal screws or nails can pull out in extreme conditions.

Metal-to-metal will hold together better, because the reactions are similar in metal-to-metal connections. In similar expansion and contraction, the screw connections will stay connected. After virtually every tornado and hurricane disaster, investigators uncover evidence that steel-to-steel connectors held together, while wood connections often failed.

As for the foundation, consider that a helical pile is like a screwed-down fastener and a tree root system combined. Whoever told you that a building next to an open body of water need only be attached to a concrete slab was misleading and uninformed about the power of any large body of water in motion. Just by researching the height of ocean surges on your smartphone, you can educate yourself to the fact that the ocean height rose as much as 32 feet and moved inland at levels between 12 and 15 feet in Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Once the surge contacts land, it can reduce to 7 feet from that greater surge and spill inland, reducing in height to where some people experienced 3 to 4 feet while others saw only ankle-deep water. Good luck!

© 2025 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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Trump meets with the king and mixes it up at the U.N.

president Trump’s state visit to Great Britain and his meetings with foreign leaders at the United Nations General Assembly emphasized the continued significance of personal diplomacy in international affairs.

Trump’s royal welcome by King Charles III at Windsor Castle demonstrated the lasting relationship between the United States and Great Britain. (I say this as an Irish-American who severely criticized British policy in Ireland in the years before the signing of the historic Good Friday Agreement in 1998.) The reality is that beyond a common language, Americans and Brits share common values emanating from the Magna Carta. British leaders have demonstrated firmness and strength at key moments in our history.

Winston Churchill stood alone, defending Western civilization against Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in the dark early days of World War II, and then, in the postwar years, alerted the U.S. and the world to the growing menace of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union’s Iron Curtain.

Margaret Thatcher allied with Presi-

dent Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II to bring down the Soviet empire.

Tony Blair stood with President George W. Bush and America in the aftermath of 9/11. I observed Blair behind the scenes during the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement, and was struck by his extraordinary courage and leadership. That British leadership continues today, as Britain provides weapons to Ukraine and deploys RAF fighter jets to Poland to help the nations resisting Russian aggression.

The state dinner Charles hosted for Trump was more than pomp and ceremony. It was a dramatic affirmation of the special relationship between our nations. This show of unity was particularly vital when totalitarian states — Russia, China and North Korea— threaten world security. In his remarks, Charles urged the U.S. and Great Britain to stand strong against Russian aggression in Ukraine, as we did against Hitler. (My wife, Rosemary, and I met then Prince Charles in Washington in 2011. He was very engaging and down to earth.)

ing, friendly relationship. Their meeting certainly appeared to go well, with Starmer emphasizing the importance of the U.S. and Europe standing with Ukraine.

By all accounts, the president’s visit to Great Britain was a solid success.

F for the General Assembly, a classic performance on the world stage.

The following week, he was in New York for the annual opening of the U.N. General Assembly. Trump was the first major leader to speak, and it was a classic Trump performance brought to the world stage. He began by mercilessly critiquing the U.N. for being consistently ineffective, exemplified that morning by the malfunctioning of an escalator and his teleprompter.

al concessions to Putin).

Just hours after his General Assembly speech — which went three times longer than his allotted time — Trump met with Zelensky, and went beyond just criticizing Russia and Putin. He made a full reversal. Informed by a key adviser, Gen. Keith Kellogg, how weak Russia was after having suffered more than a million casualties, taken control of only 1 percent of Ukraine and with its economy in shambles, Trump hailed Ukraine’s courage and fighting ability. With allied support, he said, Ukraine could win the war and regain its lost territory, and that NATO countries should shoot down Russian planes that violate their air space.

I have supported Ukraine from the start, not just because its position is just, but because it’s in America’s national interest for Russia’s aggression to be stopped.

The following day, Trump met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Though Starmer is a member of the Labor Party and has a number of policy and ideological differences with Trump, the two are known to have a good work-

Not content to assail the organization itself, Trump verbally attacked countries individually and continents collectively. He was particularly critical of Russia and its dictator, Vladimir Putin, for its continued attacks on Ukraine, especially its innocent civilians. Significantly, one country that was spared Trump’s caustic criticism was Ukraine (in stark contrast with Trump’s White House encounter earlier this year with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he criticized for continuing to wage what Trump thought was a futile battle against Russia, because Ukraine had “no cards” left to play and would have to make territori-

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s failure to stop Hitler at Munich because it was a “faraway” war led to World War II and millions of deaths, including more than 400,000 Americans. I believe that Trump’s visit with our closest ally was a reminder of the necessity to follow Churchill’s example, stand with Europe against Russian imperialism and not let the tragic failures of appeasement and isolationism be repeated.

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

There are many reasons not to embrace Mamdani

Over the past few weeks, Democrats have been having a slugfest over the question of the obligation of party officials to endorse the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. The debate was triggered by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to endorse Mamdani. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs angrily pledged that he would not support Mamdani, in an obvious break with the governor. So who’s right and who’s wrong?

power in the House of Representatives. A state chair’s endorsement of a controversial mayoral candidate could reverberate around the state. and beyond.

First of all, to quote my parents, it’s a free country. You’re entitled to endorse whomever you want, and Jacobs has the right to break from Hochul. She has yet to explain why she endorsed Mamdani, but I have no doubt that she has her own bona fide reasons to do so.

And Jacobs has a lot of reasons to disagree with her endorsement. Next year there will be dozens of congressional races that will decide the balance of

The more I’ve thought about Mamdani’s candidacy, the more I’m convinced that there are lots of reasons why some Democrats will rightly shun him. He made a decision to run for mayor after analyzing the field of potential opponents, and had the backing of the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America. He had the endorsements of other socialist and progressive groups that have the ability to organize voterturnout operations and have helped elected a number of members of the State Assembly. They’re especially effective when moderate Democrats are sound asleep.

Tmedia and old-time get-out-the-vote operations to win the nomination. He had a story to tell right out of the socialist playbook.

He focused on the high cost of living in the city, and pledged free bus rides, a rent freeze and public grocery stores. While these promises aren’t realistic, they appealed to thousands of young voters, many of whom had never voted in a primary.

he failure of some prominent Democrats to endorse him is no surprise.

Mamdani saw that his Democratic rivals would likely be former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams. Both had a ton of political problems that would affect their chances — indeed, Adams suspended his campaign on Sunday — and that gave Mamdani a clear field to tell his story, and utilize social

Another facet of the campaign is that the vast majority of moderate voters don’t vote in city primaries. They show up in November for the general election, but don’t understand that the primaries determine who the candidates will be in November. It’s no surprise that all of these factors combined to help Mamdani win a decisive victory, which stunned Democratic elected leaders as well as party officials. While they privately conceded that Mamdani won fair and square, they simply couldn’t believe that a socialist might be the next mayor. Aside from the fact that Mamdani wasn’t a moderate candidate, once the primary was over, the media began exploring his views on Israel, and focused on his

Muslim background. He had made numerous controversial statements on the war in Gaza. In the past he has also advocating defunding the police. Post-primary, he has backtracked on a number of previous positions, including that one, but he has failed to satisfy his critics, and he has made other controversial statements that have kept the political pot boiling. In my political lifetime I have often noted that retractions only make things worse, and that the public rarely changes its views after the first missteps.

So the failure of some prominent Democrats to endorse Mamdani is no surprise. Embracing him could be fatal for a moderate member of the party. Other than having won its primary, Mamdani isn’t a traditional Democrat, and there’s no reason to believe that he would act like one come next January. He will temper his past comments now, but he is rumored to be selecting lots of people who are pleasing to him and the socialist movement. In the past, I’ve gone against my party on some major occasions. If I were still in office, I wouldn’t endorse Mamdani, either.

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.

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Protecting Long Island from invasive species

asilent invasion is making its way across Long Island. From beetles boring through forests to aggressive weeds choking native plants, invasive species pose an urgent and growing threat to the natural beauty, the economy and the very identity of our region.

HERALD

As these pests encroach on farmland, damaged crops mean higher food prices and struggling farms. Infested woodlands mean fewer tourists and diminished property values. And the loss of treasured natural spaces — from forests and meadows to backyards and parks — erodes the very character of Long Island.

The recent detection of the redbay ambrosia beetle in Suffolk County, likely imported accidentally from Asia and bringing with it a tree-killing fungus, only increases the volume of our collective wake-up call. The question before us is simple: Will we act now to defend our communities, or will we watch as our landscapes steadily degrade and our land-based livelihoods slowly unravel?

Invasive species aren’t a new problem, but their spread has accelerated dramatically in recent decades. Increased global trade, climate change and urbanization have opened doors for pests and plants that don’t belong here, allowing them to thrive in places where native species have no natural defenses. The result is widespread ecological disruption.

In Nassau County, we already know the damage invaders can do. The spotted lanternfly, a deceptively attractive insect with mottled wings, feeds on more than

letters

70 species of plants. Its favorite targets include vineyards, orchards and hardwood forests — ecosystems that support industries that have helped Long Island grow. Left unchecked, lanternfly infestations can cripple agriculture and rob us of the fall foliage many tourists come here to see.

The plant kingdom has its own wellknown adversaries. Japanese knotweed, with its bamboo-like stalks and dense root systems, is nearly impossible to eradicate once it takes hold. It smothers native plants, leaving wildlife without food or shelter, and even undermines human infrastructure, pushing up through sidewalks, driveways and foundations. Its spread is a quiet but relentless reminder that invasive species are as much an economic challenge as an ecological one.

And then there’s the southern pine beetle — a small insect with an outsized appetite that can be found across the Island. This pest can wipe out acres of pine forest, reducing green woodlands to brown arboreal graveyards. The loss is not only aesthetic; forests are essential for carbon storage, stormwater absorption and wildlife habitat.

Together, these threats underscore a sobering reality: Invasive species weaken biodiversity, strain local economies and diminish our quality of life. Each unchecked outbreak increases the costs borne by everyone from homeowners to landscapers to farmers, while also endangering industries like agriculture and tourism that are the backbone of Nassau and Suffolk’s economies.

Evaluate candidates by their actions, not their slogans

To the Editor:

As a longtime subscriber to and advertiser in the Nassau Herald, I found it quite interesting to see the full-page ad placed by Seth Koslow, candidate for Nassau County executive, and Joseph Scianablo, candidate for Hempstead town supervisor, on Page 2 of last week’s issue. They were promoting a “Five Towns Community Town Hall” on Sept. 29 to discuss overdevelopment and local concerns, yet in the same breath they explicitly stated that “photography and recording of any kind will be prohibited.”

If this isn’t the definition of irony, I don’t know what is. How can candidates campaign with slogans like Accountability. Transparency. Community First, while simultaneously shutting down public transparency at their own event?

If Mr. Koslow and Mr. Scianablo are truly committed to openness and community involvement, they should welcome cameras, recordings and a public record of their statements. Otherwise, you have to question what they

The earlier an invasive species is detected, the greater the chance of stopping it before it becomes a living feature of the landscape. Funding for local monitoring programs isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Public education is equally critical. Residents are often the first line of defense against invasive species. With the right tools and training, they can help identify and report harmful insects and plants before they spread out of control. Imagine how much better off we’d be if every homeowner could recognize lanternflies and every gardener knew how to prevent knotweed from hitching a ride in soil or mulch.

State and local governments, environmental nonprofits, research institutions and industry leaders must work together to create a unified strategy. Protecting Long Island’s agriculture, landscaping and tourism sectors requires pooling resources, sharing knowledge and mobilizing communities. A fragmented, haphazard response will only give invasive species more opportunities to occupy new territory.

By investing in prevention, monitoring and education today, we have the power to preserve our island’s future. The rising tide of invasive species is controllable — but only if we act decisively. Long Islanders have always taken pride in protecting our shoreline, parks and communities. Now we must extend that vigilance to these less visible, but no less dangerous, invaders among us. Our environment, economy and way of life depend on it.

don’t want voters to see or hear. It’s also worth noting that Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead remain historically strong Republican areas. For Democratic candidates

to have even a remote chance of gaining traction here, they will need to build trust through true transparency — not scripted town halls with closed doors to public accountability.

My grief for my late grandma is love imploding

my 2025 began in a way that no one wants their new year to kick off: I got the flu. I woke up the first Monday of the year with a 103-degree fever, body aches that were almost unmanageable and a headache so intense I could barely keep my eyes open.

The one thing that made me smile that day was a text from my sweet grandma, a nurse, who wrote, “Hang in there. Eat some nice warm soup and toast. Comfort food.”

Grandmas always know best.

In my dreary state, I decided to kick-start my annual reading goal of at least 50 books. I opened up “Sandwich,” by Catherine Newman, a witty tale of a family that has spent nearly every summer on Cape Cod, told from the perspective of its matriarch, Rocky. The book explores love, lost dreams, hope and more, offering a well-rounded glimpse into the many life stages we all experience.

When I read, I highlight lines that leave an impression on me, either by writing them down or using a tool on my Kindle. “Sandwich” was filled with them. I noted several things, but the one I kept thinking about in the days and weeks after I finished reading it was this: “Maybe grief is love imploding. Or maybe it’s love expanding.”

Like everyone, I’ve experienced grief for different things, for different people, but I hadn’t truly encountered its profound weight — the type of grief that makes it hard to breathe.

iCatholic, she was devoted to her church, its people and myriad ministries.

t’s hard to put into words how much those final chats with her meant to me.

My grandma died unexpectedly on May 4, at age 85. She took excellent care of herself, and besides a few minor incidents in her later years, she was generally in great shape. All it took was a brief, serious illness that led to sepsis and eventually organ failure. Her last few days were filled with moments I fear I’ll never be able to comprehend. She was an exceptional woman, as most grandmothers are. She had seven children, 10 grandchildren, and family and friends galore in her neighborhood of Middle Village, Queens. A devout

Letters

I urge my fellow residents to look carefully at actions, not slogans, when evaluating candidates this election season.

MICHAEL DIACK Woodmere

Editors’ note: The Five Towns Community Town Hall was postponed.

The fight against smoking isn’t over

To the Editor:

As partners in the New York State Tobacco Control Program, Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free NY and the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island work together to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use and support a healthier, tobacco-free Long Island.

Since the inception of the state’s comprehensive Tobacco Control Program 25 years ago, cigarette smoking among adults in the state has dropped dramatically, from 23.2 percent in 2001 to 9.3 percent in 2023. Nassau and Suffolk counties have achieved two of the five lowest smoking rates in the state. There has also been a striking decrease in youth smoking since 2000, when 27.1 percent of high school youth reported cigarette use. The latest data show a 92 percent drop, to just 2.1 percent. Nonetheless, the tobacco industry

The last day I saw her was April 19, the day before Easter. It was exceptionally warm — over 80 degrees in Queens — and we had lunch and a long chat about baseball. A tried-and-true Yankees fan, she reminded me that she never rooted against the Mets, unless they were playing the Yankees. That day, she told me her favorite Met was Francisco Lindor — who had hit a walkoff home run the night before, much to her delight. I guess we Yankees fans know a thing or two about good shortstops.

It’s hard to put into words how much those final conversations mean to me. I never could’ve imagined that the next time I saw her would be our last moments together.

As I write this, I feel that overpowering sense of grief. This year didn’t start off the way I wanted it too, and really, it hasn’t gotten much better. There have been good moments, of course, but there have been a lot of sad ones, too.

It’s funny, though: As I think about

“Sandwich” — a book I decided to read maybe an hour or so after Grandma sent me well-wishes for the new year — I realize I can feel this way because before grief, there was love.

What I’m feeling is love imploding. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the experiences I’ve endured this year, but I’m grateful that Grandma loved us so deeply that her absence leaves me with such a profound sense of loss, which is really just a testament to the type of person she was. All of us would be lucky to be loved so deeply, so consistently, by someone like her.

They say time heals all wounds, but I don’t always think that’s fair. The hurt I’ve felt these past few months may fade, but there will always be this void in my heart that only she could fill. I’ll wait forever, I hope, to see her again.

As her love expands in her absence, I hope to carry it with me everywhere — through every book I read, every milestone I reach and every ordinary day in between. If grief is love imploding, then maybe what follows is love reshaping itself, reminding me that she’s still here, in everything I do.

Jordan Vallone is deputy managing editor of Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? Jvallone@liherald.com.

continues to harm New Yorkers. Industry documents reveal how tobacco companies have deliberately marketed menthol cigarettes to specific populations, including LGBTQ, Black and Hispanic communities, for decades. Data from the Adult Tobacco Survey highlight these disparities: Menthol cigarette use was highest among adults who identify as Black or African American (88 percent) and those who identify as Hispanic (70 percent).

The use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches is on the rise, especially among youth. Vaping exposes users to serious health risks such as heart disease, lung cancer, asthma attacks and long-term effects from toxic metals. Nicotine can harm the developing brains of adolescents, and nearly one in five high school students in our state report vaping. Adding to the concern, social media have begun promoting pouches as a cheaper alternative to weight-loss drugs.

The closing of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health puts years of progress at risk. Without this support, states will have a harder time keeping prevention and quit-smoking programs strong. These programs have helped countless families in New York and around the country live healthier lives. The cuts will hit vulnerable communities the hardest.

Here in New York, funding cuts have led to the layoff of more than a dozen key members of the state’s tobacco con-

trol program. This could weaken our free State Quitline services, reduce support for the Health Systems program and limit several other vital tobacco-control initiatives.

It’s imperative that we continue to employ comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to prevent and reduce tobac-

co product use and nicotine addiction. The decline in cigarette smoking is worth celebrating, but there is still more work to be done.