Oyster Bay Herald 08-08-2025

Emergency training hits home Residents gather to learn how to survive disasters

By lUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

Around 75 North Shore residents attended a workshop at the Sea Cliff Fire Department on July 31 designed to help them prepare for any type of natural or man-made disaster.

The workshop was a collaboration between the State’s Citizen Preparedness Corps and Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, whose office has been hosting the workshop with the state for around five years

“I thought it was a very successful event and very effective. The feedback has been terrific,” she said. “A lot of what is discussed is common sense, but it makes you really think about things, and it reminds you of how important some things are.”

The Citizen Preparedness Corps, part of

the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, aims to give residents the tools and resources to prepare for any type of disaster or emergency, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to pre-disaster conditions. The course introduces responding to natural or humancaused disasters.

“Offering these programs to our constituents is a really helpful big thing that we do and collaborating with the state makes it easier,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I would hope that we continue to do it and educate as many people as we can.”

Workshop participants are taught to develop family emergency plans and the importance of maintaining emergency supplies. Each attendee received a free Citizen Preparedness Corps Response Starter Kit Continued on page 7

Diving into the water with Arda Agir

By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com

When Nevzat Arda Agir was 6, he played basketball and soccer, but swimming emerged as his favorite sport.

Now, two years after emigrating from Türkiye, Arda — who goes by his middle name — became the youngest Turkish swimmer to complete the 20 Bridges Manhattan Island Swim at 16.

N20 Bridges is a 28.5-mile circumnavigation of Manhattan. It is one-third of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming that includes the English Channel and Catalina Channel swims. The Locust Valley High School varsity swimmer — rising junior — has his sights set on completing in all three.

hours to his regimen.

Aside from the distance being a challenge, weather also played a role on the day of the swim around Manhattan.

“20 Bridges was hard because there (were) lots of waves,” Arda said. “The day that I did was a rainy day; (the) waves were (big) and strong. That was hard.” He added that he would swim in the event again.

o one can do it easily, and you have to never give up

MErIT AGIr father, Nevzat Arda Agir

“We are proud of him because of it,” said Merit Agir, Arda’s father.

While Arda was able to continue his regular training in preparation for the 20 Bridges swim, he also added longer ocean swims lasting four to six

Arda said that the event that ignited his love for open water swimming was the Bosphorus Cross Continental Swim, a roughly 4-mile swim between Europe and Asia off the coast of Istanbul.

“I looked at other (swims), other challenges,” he said, “and I found 20 Bridges, and I wanted to do it.”

Arda attributes his ability to stay focused during long swims to the amount of practice he does rather than any particular strategy. Sometimes when he gets bored during a long swim, the swimmer said he might sing a song in his head to stay

Continued on page 14

Stay Connected

Rep. Suozzi urges reversal of TPS termination plan

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

With the federal government set to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Hondurans living in the United States, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi joined labor unions and immigrant advocates on July 31 to urge the Department of Homeland Security to reverse its decision before the Sept. 8 deadline.

“I want to start by applauding President Trump for securing the border and for his efforts to deport criminals. I agree with those policies. But, now I believe it has gone too far,” said Rep. Suozzi. “I think we need to work together to find some form of compromise to move forward because what is happening now is bad for business, bad for law enforcement, and it is actually very inhumane and unfair to people. I believe it is un-American.”

said he has lived in the U.S. for over 25 years and has two U.S.-born children.

“It’s a terrifying thing for us,” he said. “We don’t know what is going to happen to our family, the businesses we own, or the community we serve.”

Alfredo, a restaurant owner with a 17-year-old son, said he has been in the U.S. for nearly three decades and has no criminal record.

“I have been living in this country and doing the right things, paying my taxes, being a good neighbor,” he said. “To be honest, I do not know what to do.”

Speaking at the 1199 SEIU headquarters in Hicksville, Suozzi said the loss of TPS protections would uproot families, destabilize small businesses, and harm local economies. Temporary Protected Status allows nationals from countries facing armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States. Honduras was designated for TPS in 1999 following the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.

“There are about 50,000 Hondurans in the United States of America who have Temporary Protected Status, many who live right here in my district,” Suozzi said. “They pay taxes. They raise their families here. And right now, they are terrified.”

Two TPS recipients living on Long Island joined the press conference by phone using aliases, citing concerns about retaliation. William, who owns two businesses and employs 20 workers,

According to the National Immigration Forum, TPS recipients from Honduras, El Salvador, and Haiti contribute a combined $4.5 billion in annual wages to the U.S. economy and an estimated $6.9 billion to Social Security and Medicare over a 10-year period.

Arlene Gannon, of Community Care and Home Health Services, said the impact of ending TPS would be significant. Of the company’s 2,000 employees, 800 are TPS holders.

“Once your TPS is revoked, you are no longer eligible to work,” Gannon said. “So not only will this economically devastate Long Island and Queens, but this will transpire across the country.”

Nadia Marin Molina, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, called the move to terminate TPS “arbitrary,” and said it contradicts the U.S. government’s original promise to provide safe haven.

“TPS holders have done this for decades,” she said. “The Trump Administration is breaking this promise for Honduras and many more countries.”

Suozzi and the participating organizations called on the federal government to reinstate TPS protections and allow Congress time to pursue longterm immigration reform.

O.B. resident wins big at Corvette car show

Car lovers gathered at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on July 26, 2025, for the Long Island Corvette Owners Association’s Vettes, Jets & Rockets Corvette Show, held in the museum’s parking lot.

Over two dozen pristine Corvettes were on display parked along with custom builds, high-performance models, restored and classic cars from across the region.

Oyster Bay’s Mannie Cappelo took first place at the with his head-turning 1955 Chevy Bel Air, featuring a picnic setup in the trunk and a miniature replica of the car spinning slowly under the hood on a device similar to a watch winder.

“It’s hard to win when Mannie is

here,” a spectator said.

Dressed as Marty McFly from “Back to the Future”, Mineola resident Chris Feehan drove off with second place with his restored DeLorean. Feehan said he spent about $50,000 on restoring the car.

He also completed the car with film’s prop such as a flux capacitor – what makes time travel. Lee Falkowski followed in third with his classic 1965 Corvette Stingray.

Spectators enjoyed the event for free and were encouraged to vote for their favorite vehicle, giving car owners a chance to take home a trophy.

–Stacy Driks

Book Review: “SuperAging”

by David Cravit and Larry Wolf

Subtitled “Getting Older Without Getting Old” this new book starts with the premise “... imagine bringing a whole lifetime of knowledge, experience, skills, talent, relationships, wisdom (and, let’s face it, money) to two or three more decades ahead of you in which to leverage all those assets into an ongoing wonderful experience.” With the Baby Boomer generation far outliving and “outhealthing” any prior generation, we are in the era of the “superager”, founded upon seven pillars.

Attitude: Believing in exciting new possibilities, optimism is a major life extender. Purposes and goals are a result of an active curiosity about the potential for the gift of these years. Practice a positive thinking booster program everyday. Search for “positivity apps” and get daily positive quotes. They work!

Awareness: Whereas older adults previously accepted the advice of professionals as gospel, today’s superagers are avid consumers of information. The challenge today is the approach to information gathering and the curating of the “informational torrent”. Tips and techniques for searching and filing your information are provided.

Activity: Keeping fit, mentally and physically delves into the nine components, arising out of the Blue Zones Project, for extending longevity — move naturally, have a purpose (worth an extra 7 years!), downshift, the 80% rule for eating, plant-based diet, moderate alcohol, faith-based community family, social networks.

Accomplishments: Viewing post-65 as a continued opportunity to grow and achieve goals, this section outlines myriad ways to continue personal growth. As the authors point out, “Accomplishment, promoted by longevity, produces even further longevity.”

Attachment: The health risks of loneliness are well documented. Superagers reach for more connection, often digitally. New adult communities are arising right on college campuses, creating exciting new intergenerational possibilities.

Avoidance: Avoiding ageism, especially against oneself, means challenging your own and society’s outdated views on aging — stereotypes as to what older adults look and act like.

Autonomy: The dazzling new array of living options, and various means for affording them are explored, including using the home as an asset. For more, visit superagingnews.com.

LAW FIRM

News briefs

Free coupons for O.B. seniors this August

The Town of Oyster Bay and Nassau County are partnering to announce that income-eligible adults aged 60 and over can now receive free $25 coupon booklets from the New York State Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. These coupons can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at authorized farmers’ markets and farm stands.

“We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for our senior residents,” said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is an excellent initiative that helps seniors maintain a healthy diet while enjoying the fresh produce our local markets have to offer. It is important for us to provide opportunities that support the well-being of our older adults, and this program does just that by making nutritious food more accessible.”

The coupon distribution will take place on Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hicksville Community Center, located at 28 West Carl Street, Hicksville and Aug. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Massapequa Community Center, located at 214 North Albany Ave., North Massapequa. Coupons will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one booklet per person per year.

Coupons can be used at Deep Roots Farmers’ Market, located at 100 Garvies Point Road, Glen Cove, open Saturdays 9

a.m. to 1 p.m. (May 31 to Nov. 1), at the Country Fresh Farmingdale Farmers’ Market, located at Village Green, 316 Main Street, Farmingdale, open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (June 1 to Nov. 23), and at the Seaford Farmers’ Market, located at Seaford LIRR Parking Lot 3, Sunrise Hwy. & Washington St., open Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon (June 7 to Dec. 27).

“By participating in this program, our seniors can enjoy the benefits of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, while supporting the local economy,” added County Executive Bruce Blakeman. “I encourage all eligible seniors to take advantage of this wonderful program and experience the health benefits of fresh, locally sourced produce.”

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and Mobile Farm Stand are sponsored by the Nassau County Office for the Aging, the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

To find additional farmers’ markets participating in the coupon program, Agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets. For more information, call the Nassau County Office for the Aging at (516) 227-8900.

Church halfway towards fundraiser goal

The Hood African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, a historic landmark in Oyster Bay, has just over $10,500 to repair the building’s roof, as well as the roof of the parsonage (the home of the church minister, Rev. Linda B. Vanager.

The church, founded in 1848, in launched its Raise the Roof fundraiser in November of last year, with the goal of raising between $20,000 and $30,000 for repairs.

With the money raised, the congrega-

tion has been able to replace the church’s roof. Although the parsonage roof is still in need of repairs, Vanager and her congregation “are grateful for the donations we have received thus far,” Vanager wrote in a message thanking the public.

Anyone interested in supporting the church and helping them reach their goal can mail donations directly to the church at 11 Summit Street, Oyster Bay, NY 11771.

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Firefighters convention returns to Long Island

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

The Firefighters Association of the State of New York will host its 153rd Annual Convention Thursday through Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Long Island, in Hauppauge.

The event is expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees, including volunteer firefighters from across New York, vendors and dignitaries. It will mark the 15th time the association has held its convention on Long Island since the organization was founded in 1872.

“We are very happy for the return of the FASNY convention to the Long Island region,” the organization’s president, Eugene Perry, said. “We are proud to welcome firefighters and guests from across New York state back to our vibrant and historic convention.”

Organizers estimate that the three-day event will generate about $1.1 million in economic activity for Suffolk County, with nearly 1,500 hotel-room nights expected to be booked as well as dining, social events and other spending.

The association is partnering with Discover Long Island, the region’s official tourism agency, to support the convention.

“Our organization is committed to driving economic impact through tourism, and our dedicated sales team works year-round to bring major meetings and events like these to Long Island,” Discover Long Island’s interim CEO, Mitch Pally, said. “We are proud to host these dedicated individuals who serve communities across the state, and look forward to showcasing Suffolk County’s hospitality, natural beauty and distinctive appeal.”

The convention will open with the annual golf tournament at the Wind Watch Golf & Country Club, adjacent to the Hyatt Regency. Attendees will also take part in training sessions, FASNY’s annual meetings and ceremonies honoring outstanding service.

A highlight of the event will be a keynote address by Chief Patrick Kenny, author of “Taking the Cape Off: How to Lead Through Mental Illness, Unimagina-

ble Grief and Loss.” Kenny will speak on first responder mental health.

“I’ve heard him speak before, and his story is very moving,” Perry said. “Attendees should be ready with tissues.”

Other scheduled events include the annual Heroes Awards and a Friday-evening Tailgate for Heroes and scholarship fundraiser, featuring the Long Islandbased band Peat Moss and the Fertilizers.

Michael Barry, president of the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs Council and a 41-year member of the Medford Fire Department, said the convention is about more than celebration and tourism.

“We hope this event brings out people and they can understand the value of a volunteer fire service and all that it does,” Barry said. “It’s about compromise and sacrifice — giving up time from family to complete training and respond to calls, all to help your community.”

Perry agreed. “This year’s convention promises to be a meaningful celebration of service, tradition and unity,” he said. “We look forward to a memorable and successful event that honors firefighting and inspires the future of volunteer service.”

Perry added that the members of the FASNY board were pleased that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine recently approved legislation that gives volunteer firefighters preference for affordable housing in the county, which will enable many young recruits to stay on Long Island, make their homes here and continue their volunteer fire service.

FASNY represents approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel statewide. For more information about the convention, visit fasny.com/ events/2025-annual-convention.

Attendees applaud hands-on workshop

filled with helpful items to use during an emergency such as a radio, flashlight, batteries, freshwater packets, food packs, heavy-duty gloves, tarp, emergency blanket, water container, glow stick and whistle.

State National Guard, collaborating with experts from the Division’s Office of Emergency Management and Office of Fire Prevention and Control, led the training sessions. The workshops are held at venues such as armories, community centers and other locations statewide and are coordinated with local county emergency management staff.

The state was hit by 10 climate and weather disasters last year that each caused more than $1 billion in damage across the country, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The destruction faced by New York was a part of a larger national trend as The United States experienced 27 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2024 just one less than the record of 26 set in 2023, according to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. The total cost of these disasters exceeded $182.7 billion, the fourth highest on record.

The number of weather and climate disasters causing over a billion dollars in damage in the United States has risen from around three events annually during the 1980s to 19 events annually during the last 10 years, according to Climate Central; a nonprofit comprised of scientists and communicators researching and reporting the facts about the changing climate and its impacts on people’s lives.

“It is important to prepare our community and share knowledge that we’ve experienced in lessons learned,” Chief Joshua Carsons, one of the presenters, said. “So that they don’t have to go through those

things themselves and they could be better prepared.”

On the same night of the training, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for Long Island among other counties in the state after The National Weather Service warned of potential flash flooding for the New York metropolitan area. The New York Metropolitan area was hit with around 1.5-5 inches of rain, flooding Long Island Rail Road stations, subway sta -

tions, expressways, and streets.

Carsons admitted that he was concerned about the possibility of canceling the event due to the hazardous conditions but was adamant in his belief on the importance of the workshop. “I’m a servant leader,” he said. “In my humble opinion, if I have an opportunity to share and reach out to at least one person, it’s meaningful for me. So, I’m down with that.”

Response from attendees was extremely positive, with applause greeting the presenters as the workshop concluded. Lorraine Bane, a Sea Cliff resident for over 45 years, had attended a previous workshop hosted by the Citizen Preparedness Corps, but said she was glad she went to another one, explaining that they contain “important information,”

“I’m glad I have access to the slides because that would just help me remember the important things,” she said. “You can never predict when an emergency is going to happen. Most people are not prepared, and that’s when lives are lost.

Esther Ceedeno, a Glen Cove resident, praised the information shared during the workshop and said that she wanted “to learn more,” about preparing for an emergency. “It’s not just preparing for something that happens when I’m home,” she said. “But also, if I’m in transit. So, I need to be prepared if I’m in a restaurant, on a plane or if I’m working.”

The next workshop held by the Citizen’s Preparedness Corps in Nassau County will be at Westbury Memorial Public Library on Aug. 14 at 9 a.m. DeRiggiWhitton said that she is looking to host workshops in Glen Head and Glen Cove and is working towards securing a location for them.

“It’s a good reminder for everyone,” she said. “It gets you trained to have everything in one place.”

RichnerLive Gala celebrates

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Herald Community Media held its first ever Health & Beauty Awards of Long Island Gala, presented by RichnerLive on July 16, people from across the Island flooded into the ballroom of The Heritage Club at Bethpage to get a glimpse of the beautiful honorees this year’s had to offer.

“This evening we celebrate the people and organizations shaping the future of health and beauty,” said Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Media, “Those whose innovation, leadership and dedication are making a lasting difference in our community.”

Regarding launching this new program, RichnerLIVE Executive Director Amy Amato shared, “This is a remarkable group of professionals who do more than just excel at what they do. They uplift, empower, and heal our community every single day. Whether helping someone feel beautiful, recover their strength, or simply feel seen and supported, this work touches lives in profound ways. It’s an honor to recognize that impact here tonight.”

Over 40 honorees were presented with awards in various categories pertaining to the health and beauty industry on Long Island, including Spa 505, Tranquility 3 Spa & Salt Cave and more.

Following the VIP cocktail hour which offered networking and a shopping and vendor experience for attendees, event emcees Krista Bennett DeMaio, founder of Pretty Local and Mae Caime, CEO and transformational architect of aMAEzing Midlife and Beyond kicked off the evening’s program and ceremony with a panel discussion on the industry.

Featured panelists included Dr. Luis Fandos, founder and CEO of Alluring Age Anti-Aging and Wellness Center, Dr. Helen Hsieh, founder and medical director of Vibrance 360, and Catherine Canadeo, CEO and founder of Health and Wellness Corp, who all also received awards later in the evening.

“With the new technology that we now have available, we can identify abnormal cellular processes that are going on,” Fandos said, “And by correcting those, any beauty treatments that you do will have a much longer lasting effect.”

Hsieh discussed common myths within the health and beauty industry. “More is not always better. Just the right amount is better than more. If you eat too much, it’s not good for you,” she said.

Canadeo mentioned the importance of addressing stress for one’s health. “It’s very important to be mindful of ourselves. We get distracted on a day to day basis and our emotional wellbeing is crucial. It is essential to glow from within,” she said.

Atul Bhatara, founder and CEO of Atul Skincare was amongst the honorees for the Achiever category. His skin-

care focuses on using safer ingredients in their products. Being born with cerebral palsy, he’s been able to defy the odds and be a voice for the disabled community.

“Throughout this journey, a lot of people didn’t believe in me. Don’t let somebody else’s opinion of you become your reality,” Bhatara said, “You control your own reality. Fear is false evidence appearing real, fear does not exist. It’s just something that comes up in your mind when you get overwhelmed.”

Constance Korol, CEO of Meta 180, received an award in Holistic Integrative Health. Her business centers around helping individuals dealing with issues from anxiety to physical ailments with a holistic approach both in-person and virtually. “Most of my clients, when I’m with them for some time, they’ll say ‘I just never knew that I could feel this way.’ That’s really the best part is seeing my clients grow,” Korol said.

Honoree, Dr. Linda Harkavy, was a recipient of the Science & Skin award. Harkavy is the president and medical director of Form & Function Aesthetics

and Wellness, which uses different devices and equipment to treat various physical issues. Harkavy said, “It’s a broad based aesthetic and wellness practice. The aesthetics came along with me because looking beautiful is a part of feeling great.”

These honorees were nominated not only by RichnerLive, but by people with-

in their communities as well. To see a complete list of the winners, visit RichnerLive.com/health-beautyawards/2025-honorees.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Maurer Foundation. For more information on the event or other events by RichnerLive, visit RichnerLive.com.

Health and Beauty innovators

Bringing world class dance to the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Dance Festival, hosted by New York Dance Theatre, marked its 5th annu al celebration on Aug. 2, , from 6 to 8 p.m. at Morgan Memorial Park in Glen Cove. This free, community‑focused event drew several hundred attendees and showcased 15 diverse acts—fea turing performers from prestigious companies such as Alvin Ailey, New York City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Broadway, and more. A highlight was the new Lindy Hop on the Beach workshop led by Jaime Shannon. The fes tival’s broader mission includes supporting dance education, raising community awareness, and providing resources to aspiring young art ists and at‑risk youth through free workshops and scholarships.

Parker Jewish Institute showcases healing power of music with Sur Sagar ensemble

Amusical ensemble at the Parker Jewish Institute brings harmony and wellness to residents and patients alike.

The ensemble is known as Sur Sagar, which means “Ocean of Melody” in Hindi. It features five women from the Institute’s long-term care residence at Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit. The Indian Cultural Unit is the first of its kind in the region, accommodating the rehabilitation, healthcare and cultural needs of older adults in New York’s growing Indian population.

At Parker, members of Sur Sagar come together in song to create something special. Beyond their enchanting melodies, Sur Sagar represents the therapeutic power of music in elder care. Music therapy can help reduce anxiety, improve cognitive function and provide a powerful outlet for emotional expression for older adults. While Parker’s residents and patients diligently participate in physical, occupational and speech therapies that nurture their bodies, these musical gatherings nourish their spirits, helping

them to feel at ease so that they can heal.

The enthusiasm and unity of Sur Sagar members illuminate the profound impact of culturally meaningful activities. As part of Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit, these sessions incorporate familiar melodies and rhythms that resonate deeply with residents, awakening cherished memories and creating moments of pure joy.

Sur Sagar embodies the essence of Parker’s Indian Cultural Unit. The unit fosters the understanding that healing and

care must address the physical being while also honoring cultural identity and nurturing the soul through art and expression.

About The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation<

The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation is headquartered in New Hyde Park, New York. The facility is a leading provider of Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care. At the

Parker Jewish Institute • (718) 289-2212

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

forefront of innovation in patient-centered health care and technology, the Institute is a leader in teaching and geriatric research. Parker Jewish Institute features its own medical team, and is nationally renowned as a skilled nursing facility, as well as a provider of community-based health care, encompassing Home Health Care, Medical House Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice. Parker Jewish Institute is also home to Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI), providing patients with safe, comfortable Hemodialysis treatments in a relaxed setting, as well as PRINE Health, a Vascular Center offering advanced vascular services. The Center and QLIRI further Parker’s ability to expand access to essential health-care services to adults in the greater New York metropolitan area. For more information, visit parkerinstitute. org or call (877) 727-5373.

Queens-Long Island Renal Institute offers Home Hemodialysis/ Certified Home Health Care available through Parker Jewish Institute

Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI), a 2025 Bests of Long Island winner and located at The Parker Jewish Institute, now offers a state-of-the-art Home Hemodialysis Program for people battling kidney disease. Those patients who also require Certified Home Health Care can access it conveniently through QLIRI’s affiliate, Parker Jewish Institute.

With QLIRI’s Home Hemodialysis Program, patients can transition from an in-center setting to receiving hemodialysis from the comfort of their home, using the Tablo Hemodialysis System. Enrolled patients are first trained by a registered nurse. The nurse provides step-by-step guidance four days a week over the course of four weeks, or longer if necessary. With this training, patients learn to use the system before transitioning to the convenience of home hemodialysis.

If needed, patients of Parker’s Certified Home Health Care Agency receive individualized nursing, medical, and rehabilitation services, so they can maintain maximum independence in the comfort of their homes. Home-care services can include skilled-nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; home-health aides; medical social services; medical supplies; and 24-hour telephone availability.

Call (718) 289-2600 with questions. To learn more about QLIRI’s Home Hemodialysis Program, visit qliri.org.

For more on Parker’s Certified Home Health Care, visit parkerinstitute.org.

Queens Long Island Renal Institute • 271-11 76th Ave., New Hyde Park • (718) 289-2600

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

Locust Valley swimmer laps Manhattan

on track.

As he has watched his son complete these swims, Agir said that he thinks Arda enjoys the freedom of being in open water and the difficulty of the distances.

“It’s a big challenge,” Agir said. “No one can do it easily, and you have to never give up. (It’s) not a 50 meter or 100 meter, and I think he liked it.”

Agir added that as a parent, watching Arda at 20 Bridges was its own challenge.

“I was in the boat, and it’s eight hours, 23 minutes,” he said. “And I was always ready to jump (in) the water to take him out. Yeah, it’s not easy, but it’s amazing. I’m proud of my son.”

Arda also participated in this year’s Swim Across America, a charity event where swimmers raise money for cancer research, on Saturday at Prybil Beach in Glen Cove.

Along with his father, mother and sister, Arda moved to the United States in 2023. The decision to relocate following the earthquake that struck Türkiye early that year was primarily Agir’s. They already had relatives in the United States and had visited often.

“We see how to live in New York and (the) United States,” Agir said. “We prefer to live here, but it’s not easy to change (your) country.”

arda a gir, a 16-year old from Locust Valley, swam the 28.5-mile 20 Bridges manhattan island Swim in only 8 hours and 23 minutes.

Now residing in Locust Valley, Arda also swims for the Long Island Express and St. Dominic’s Bayhawks, a Catholic Youth Organization team. Arda said that it was difficult to make friends at first, but as time has passed, it has gotten easier.

“It’s actually going well,” he said.

“And I’m happy about it.”

arda a gir is the youngest turkish person to complete the swim.

Swimming has also helped Arda make friends in his new home country. Practices have given him the opportunity to meet people and spend time with them consistently.

This year, Arda set a Locust Valley record, swimming the 200-yard individu-

al medley in 2 minutes and 17 seconds at the Nassau County championships in February. He is set to swim in the English Channel Relay next year on behalf of the United Kingdom The Alexa Trust, a nonprofit that supports parents with babies in neonatal care.

things to know MtA PRoPosED ChAngEs FoR RAils

LIRR tickets could rise by over four percent, expire quicker

By BRIAN KACHARABA

bkacharaba@liherald.com

On July 30, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority released a proposal outlining a series of fare and ticket changes for the Long Island Rail Road, as well as increases in bridge and tunnel tolls. If approved by the MTA this fall, the changes would take effect in January 2026. Here’s a breakdown:

LIRR ticket price increases

The MTA is proposing an average fare increase of 4.4 percent on one-way peak, monthly, and weekly tickets for most Long Island Rail Road routes.

An off-peak city ticket would be raised by 25 cents to $5.25 and a peak city trip will have the same increase at a cost of $7.25.

Monthly fares would be capped at $500.

If approved, this would mark the LIRR’s first fare hike since August 2023, when prices rose by 4.5 percent. Changes could take effect in January 2026.

Ticket activations

All one-way mobile tickets would automatically activate upon purchase and expire after four hours. Paper tickets would also expire four hours after purchase.

Currently, LIRR one-way and round-trip tickets are valid for 60 days from the date of purchase, and 10-trip tickets are valid for six months.

A new “Day Pass,” allowing unlimited travel, would replace the round-trip ticket. It would be valid from the time of purchase until 4 a.m. the following day.

Bridge and tunnel tolls

Tolls on MTA bridges and tunnels are expected to rise by 7.5 percent for E-ZPass users with Tolls by Mail.

This would increase the toll from $6.94 to $7.46 for crossings such as the RFK, Whitestone, Throgs Neck, and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges, as well as the Queens-Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels.

The Cross Bay and Marine Parkway bridges would go from $2.60 to $2.80.

Like the LIRR, the last hike for all nine bridges was in 2023.

Dems demand answers about NUMC matters

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau County Democrats are continuing to press Republican lawmakers for answers about Nassau University Medical Center, raising a long list of concerns that stretch back to the spring — before New York state officials initiated the takeover of the hospital and its parent organization, the Nassau Health Care Corporation.

Following a July 29 Newsday report that former health care executives charged a $1,400 Manhattan restaurant bill to the hospital in late May, Democratic Legislators Seth Koslow and Delia DeRiggiWhitton announced the referral of the allegations to local, state and federal prosecutors. Koslow is running for county executive, and DeRiggi-Whitton leads the legislature’s minority caucus.

Wminority.

State officials have filled their allotted seats, with Stuart Rabinowitz, former president of Hofstra University, being named the board chairman by Hochul. Dr. Richard Becker, a system executive from Northwell Health, was named interim president and chief executive by the board. Blakeman has not yet designated his appointees, having expressed his frustrations with the state’s overhaul in June.

“While Nassau’s only safety-net hospital was drowning in $1.4 billion worth of debt,” DeRiggi-Whitton said at a July 29 news conference in Mineola, “top executives were treating themselves to lavish lobster dinners, luxury hotels and first-class perks. NUMC exists to save lives. ”

e deserve a hospital that puts patients first — not lavish lifestyles for high paying executives.

The public hospital in East Meadow, according to a news release from the minority caucus, is $1.4 billion in debt. Interim leadership at NUMC, appointed over the last two months by state officials, have accused the hospital’s former president and chief executive Meg Ryan of authorizing $3.5 million in improper severance payments, including at least $1 million in excess of hospital policy. Ryan and her legal team have rebuffed the claims, with Ryan announcing her intent to sue NHCC alleging wrongful termination, lost wages and intentional reputational damage last month.

SEth KOSLOW

Nassau County legislator, District 5

“The payments she authorized were permissible under hospital policy and consistent with years of established practice by the CEOs who preceded her,” Alex Hartzband, an attorney with Grubin Law Group representing Ryan said in a release.

Ryan maintained that during her time as president and chief executive, the hospital system “expanded services, improved quality of care, and reduced expenses.”

“My top priority has always been giving people the best possible health care and protecting our dedicated employees,” she said.

Provisions in New York’s budget that passed in May allowed the state to begin taking over parts of the hospital system and changing its leadership structure. The move shifted control from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Democrats.

The restructured board includes six members appointed by the governor — including one recommended by the state Assembly speaker and state Senate president — two appointed by the Nassau County executive, two by the county Legislature’s majority, and one by its

“Every single dollar for every perk that was used and every impromptu payout that was spent of these executives are taxpayer dollars that should have been used to help the people of Nassau County,” Koslow said. “There are 300,000 residents that use the hospital every single year. Every single dollar spent on these lavish expenses could have been used to help those patients.”

In three certified correspondences sent on July 29 to the offices of Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, the minority caucus requested an investigation into the “lavish and questionable” spending by former NUMC executives; the allegations against Ryan and the “improper” payouts; and the “unexplained theft and recovery” of documents from former board chairman Matthew Bruderman’s home, shortly before his abrupt firing in April.

“We’re not going to stand for this,” Koslow said. “We believe it’s public corruption. That’s why we are referring these issues and these incidents for further and full investigations.

“These matters must be investigated for the sake of taxpayers, for the sake of this government and for the sake of our people in Nassau County,” he added.

“We deserve a hospital that puts patients first — not lavish lifestyles for high paying executives. This goes deeper than what we see today, and that’s why we’re calling on our state and federal officials to investigate this alongside our county district attorney’s office.”

In a Newsday story on the same matter, a spokesperson from the Nassau DA’s office stated the office has “previously initiated an investigation into NUMC mismanagement,” adding that it remains active and ongoing. The office confirmed the receipt of the minority caucus’s letter.

STEPPING OUT

Long Islander adds

By Iris Wiener

J“JOY” Off-Broadway

erome Vivona knew from a young age that he was meant to tell stories. From performing at his Bayville elementary school, to “West Side Story” and “Guys and Dolls” at North Shore High School, he found there was a freedom in theater that was especially unique.

An accomplished performer, writer, producer, director, and choreographer, Vivona (Broadway’s “Seussical,” “Kiss Me Kate”) returns to the New York stage, Off-Broadway, in “JOY: A New True Musical.” Running now through Aug. 17, it’s based on entrepreneur Joy Mangano. Vivona plays Judge Jeremiah Abernathy (an integral figure in Mangano’s life), and is also a standby for other roles.

Vivona is right at home with JOY, which is mostly set at Mangano’s childhood residence on Long Island. As a teenager, Vivona was an avid athlete working part-time at an East Norwich ski shop (where he once helped Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley), and initially decided to attend college on a soccer scholarship; however, thanks to the encouragement of his teachers, he found that the calling to be a dancer was stronger.

At age 17 he entered a Sea Cliff studio and said, “I want to be a professional dancer.” He trained privately for six to eight hours each day for six months until he had caught up with the more experienced dancers.

“I worked very hard, and with the studio’s tutelage I ended up at the Joffrey Ballet School,” says Vivona. “[Afterwards,] I was very fortunate to tour with ballet companies.”

His life took another incredible turn when, at 23, he first met Jerome Robbins, for whom he was about to audition for “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.”

“He took a liking to me and I took private rehearsal sessions with him in which I learned all of the ‘West Side Story’ choreography. Working with him and his believing in me was a seminal part of my career.”

Vivona went on to tour with Robbins’ show nationally and internationally, which was followed by a turn in the Paris production of “West Story,” where he met his wife, performer and dancer Michelle Vivona. It wasn’t long before he made his Broadway debut in “Guys and Dolls.”

“JOY” entered his life through the connections and friends he’s made through the years.

Jerome Vivona’s commanding presence is well suited to his latest project.

“My relationships are what brought me back and my friends having a belief that I would be the right fit. I’m really thrilled that [director] Lorin Latarro and choreographer Joshua Bergasse gave me the opportunity because the show is beautiful, powerful and uplifting.”

As he puts it: ‘JOY’ is about the dynamics of a family and how that can change your trajectory in life if you let it. It’s a powerful story about one woman who found herself in a situation where she had her back up against a wall, and she was able to create this mop that allowed her to change her family’s life and the lives of countless others. It really is ‘joy,’ and I think that what we need right now is a story that makes us feel good about humanity.”

As the only native Long Islander in “JOY,” Vivona helped with the authenticity of the actors’ dialect.

“During rehearsals we had a dialect coach who was going to play a recording for the actors to help with their speech,” Vivona says. “Instead … I was the reference for them. Whenever Betsy [Wolfe, who plays Mangano] said, ‘How do you say this?’ they would look for me and ask how to say ‘mop’ or ‘car door.’ They even asked me to record my mom saying a couple of things.”

Vivona also spoke with the production team about local towns, mascots and street names.

“Any time there was something that didn’t ring true to Long Island, I would mention it,” he says. “It feels like home [on stage], and it feels good to be representing Long Island in a show about Long Island and someone as successful as Joy. I’m proud to be telling her story.”

At 58, Vivona stands by the same values he held true when he was raising his children, who graduated from the East Meadow School District.

“I’ve always taught them that you should follow your dreams and believe in what your impact can be,” he says.“This show has taught me that I can continue to believe in myself and that being on stage telling a story is what I’m all about.

When Vivona is not performing, he and Michelle can be found in Mineola, where they own and operate American Theatre Dance Workshop, an award-winning conservatory-type performing arts school.

With new projects on the horizon, Vivona surely wouldn’t mind seeing “JOY” head to Broadway.

“I don’t think you leave the theater without a smile on your face and maybe a tear in your eye.”

“JOY: A New True Musical” is at the Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th St., New York. Tickets are available at joythemusical.com or by calling (833) 274-8497.

‘My

Son The Waiter’

Brad Zimmerman celebrates the 10th anniversary of his hit comedy “My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, with a sequel; “My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy & Still Not Famous! His long journey to follow his show biz dream and his parents who suffered through it continues with plenty of laughter along way. Brad moved to New York and “temporarily” waited tables for 29 years, while pursuing his career as an actor. After many years, he finally got a role on the Sopranos and work as a comedian opening for Joan Rivers, George Carlin and Brad Garrett. He tells of his pursuit, along with stories about his childhood, family, and misbegotten love life with warmth, wit, self-deprecating humor, and wicked charm. Zimmerman also examines the trials and tribulations of waiting on tables — particularly for someone not exactly invested in that career, and with little tolerance for persnickety diners.

Friday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. Through Aug. 24. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org.

‘The Rocketman Show’

Remember when rock was young? You will when you blast off into the stratosphere with this electrifying tribute to the Rocketman himself. With a nostalgic setlist, this is a must-see for Elton John fans — of all generations. Rus Anderson, Elton John’s official body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch, recreates an early Elton concert complete with flamboyant costumes actually worn by Elton himself. Elton’s greatest hits, wildest outfits and outrageous stage antics come to life again as Anderson brings you the magic and live persona of a young Elton like no other. He storms around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock ‘n roller. This is a detailedv version of Elton John’s ‘70s shows that’s not to be missed. Anderson’s painstaking attention to detail includes wearing Elton’s iconic boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski tuxedo from ‘84.

Friday, Aug 8, 8 p.m. $82, $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

Aug 7

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

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Ongoing

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

Little

Learners’

Aug

8

Forest Animals

Planting Fields Little Learners series continues with a wild adventure for the little ones to explore animals that live in the forest. The journey begins with a fun and engaging story all about creatures that call the woods their home. Then, explore what happens to the forest after dark — who wakes up, who goes to sleep and how the nighttime world comes to life. After that, get creative with a craft to take home. For ages 2-5. Registration required. $15 per child.

• Where: Education Center, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay

• Time: 10-11 p.m.

• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210 call (631) 691-1111

Mindful Morning

View Nassau County Museum of Art’s galleries in a small group session. Take time to observe, question and reflect without hurry, distraction, or judgment. Explore one or two works of art in the galleries, with intention as you focus on color, texture, form and personal connections during the series of three sessions. Join for as many sessions as you like. Each will be a different

The Midtown Men

also Aug 20

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Aug 12

Town Board Meeting

The Oyster Bay Town Board meets to discuss important issues and will vote on resolutions impacting the community.

• Where: Town Board Hearing Room, 54 Audrey Ave.

• Time: 10 a.m.

• Contact: (516) 624-6380

Set with Radio Land Boomer Band

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Former stars of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning jukebox musical “Jersey Boys,” reunited as The Midtown Men, are back with their ‘60s vibe at Eisenhower Park. During their time in the mega-hit musical, these talented artists — Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer — shared the stage for over 1,000 performances. The highoctane musical tour de force that took the Jersey Boys phenomenon to Broadway and beyond, is now rocking the stage as a concert. These Broadway veterans, with their powerhouse band, are realizing the dream they brought to life as the iconic Four Seasons. The dynamic foursome now celebrates the music that defined the 1960s. The Midtown Men is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers, making them the first vocal group ever formed by the principal cast of a high-profile Broadway show. Not only have they continued to win over audiences of all ages in nearly 2,000 live shows, their selftitled debut album, The Midtown Men: Sixties Hits was met with critical acclaim and garnered five star album reviews across iTunes and was followed by their first radio single “All Alone On Christmas” with producer Steven Van Zandt and members of Springsteen’s E Street Band. Aug 16

opportunity to enjoy art together. Program is capped at 12 people. $20 per session, $10 members. Registration required.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 10-11 a.m., also Aug. 22

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

Aug

9

Summer grooves

The Town of Oyster Bay free summer concert series continues with Dr. K’s Motown Revue at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. Bring blankets, chairs and coolers. Performances are subject to change and will be held weather permitting.

• Where: 25 W. End Ave., Oyster Bay

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 797-7925 or oysterbaytown.com/summer

House, guests will experience an unforgettable night in a setting like no other. Get ready for freeflowing cocktails, delicious dinner, dancing under the stars, and mesmerizing entertainment. Dress in white for this joyous celebration of summer! All proceeds benefit the natural and historic gem that is the Sands Point Preserve and the Conservancy’s work to maintain and uphold it as a beloved community resource. General admission is $190, premium tickets are $350.

• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point

• Time: 6:30 p.m.

• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or contact Melanie Dunbar at melanie.dunbar@ sandspointpreserve.org or call (516) 570-2236

Ecotherapy Walk

Surrounded by vibrant wildflowers, with an expansive view of the Long Island Sound and a backdrop of the sun setting on Hempstead

Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for a calming stroll with certified guide Linda. Ecotherapy, also known as Forest Therapy or Forest Bathing, is not simply hiking in the woods, or a walk on a beach. The focus of Ecotherapy is on connection and relationship, allowing the heart to open to the beauty of the natural world, and at the same time,

understand our belonging in that world. Registration required. $49 per session, $135 for series of 3; $44 per session, $120 for series of 3, members.

• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point

• Time: 6-8 p.m.

• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901

Unbox A-Saurus for Us!

Dr. Patricia Osiris visits with young paleontologists-intraining at Long Island Children’s Museum’s new stage production. This interactive theatrical experience invites visitors to join the eccentric paleontologist (a.k.a. “Dr. Patti”) as she attempts to reveal a neverbefore-seen dinosaur specimen — if only she can figure out how to open the crate it’s locked in. Along the way, the audience becomes key players in solving problems, sparking laughter and exploring the world of dinosaurs in a lighthearted “scientific” comedy that blends imagination and learning. $5 with museum admission, $10 theater only.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.;

Visit Sands Point Preserve for a yacht rock experience. Back in a big way, yacht rock is winning hearts across generations, from Boomers to Gen Z! Whether you’re reliving the soundtrack of your youth or discovering these smooth grooves for the first time, the songs in Radio Land Boomer Band’s setlist are timeless classics that everyone knows and loves. Expect an evening full of irresistible melodies, tight harmonies, and feel-good vibes. From danceable hits to iconic sing-alongs, their music brings together audiences of all ages — from kindergartners to grandparents — in a celebration of unforgettable tunes. Bring a picnic dinner, snack or beverage or enjoy the food truck options. Admission is $35 per car in advance; $50 per car day of concert. Purchase tickets online.

• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point

• Time: Gates open 6 p.m.; concert starts at 6:30 p.m.

• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901

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.

LEGAL NOTICE

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL

SUMMONS-SUPREME

COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAUBANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST

COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS

MANAGEMENT SERIES

I TRUST, Plaintiff,against- NASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC

ADMINISTRATOR, AS LIMITED

ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE RAMONA HARPER AKA

CATHERINE R. HARPER AKA CATHERINE HARPER; MELVIN HARPER NKA

EBESWAMB MBAKA, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE

RAMONA HARPER AKA

CATHERINE R. HARPER AKA CATHERINE

Twin trouble

the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable R. Bruce Cozzens, Jr., J.S.C.

Dated: July 1, 2025

HARPER, if he be living and if he be dead, the respective heirs-at-law, next-of-kin, distributes, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or inheritance, lien or otherwise any right, title or interest in or to the real property described in the complaint; NATHALIA SELTMAN AKA

NATHALIA BANKS, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE

RAMONA HARPER AKA

CATHERINE R. HARPER

AKA CATHERINE HARPER; DORIAN PEREZ, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE RAMONA

HARPER AKA

CATHERINE R. HARPER

AKA CATHERINE HARPER; KATHRYN

RAMONA HARPER, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CATHERINE

RAMONA HARPER AKA

CATHERINE R. HARPER

AKA CATHERINE HARPER; VERONICA S. HARPER, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN HARPER, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE

ESTATE OF RAMONA HARPER AKA

CATHERINE R. HARPER

AKA CATHERINE HARPER; ANY AND ALL KNOWN OR

UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF JOHN HARPER; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACTING ON BEHALF OF DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; DISCOVER BANK; BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO FIA CARD SERVICES, N.A.; EBONY HAMM AS JOHN DOE #1, Defendants - Index No. 006294/2013

Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Nassau County. To the above named DefendantsYOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Second Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated July 1, 2025. NOTICE-YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOMEIf you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to

Dear Great Book Guru, We were swapping recent favorites when someone mentioned a new book about twins, time travel, and multiple endings - sort of like the Choose Your Own Adventure novel series. Have you heard of it?

Lover of Matt’s Deli

Dear Lover of Matt’s Deli,

I am a huge fan of Matt’s too. “The Catch” by Yrsa Daley-Ward is an interesting mix of all the elements you mention and more. The story opens in the present with Clara, a celebrity author, recounting the huge success of her latest novel, “Evidence.” The next chapter introduces us to her twin sister, Dempsey, who is struggling as a data entry clerk living in a shabby London apartment. We learn the women were orphaned as infants when their mother drowned herself in the Thames River

Filed: July 8, 2025. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 65 1st Street, Locust Valley, NY 11560. Dated: March 23, 2025 Filed: July 9, 2025 Greenspoon Marder LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Monica G. Christie, Esq., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105 P: (212) 524-5000 F: (212) 524-5050 No Service by fax) Service purposes only: Trade Centre South 100 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 P: (888) 491-1120 F: (954) 343-6982 154738

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that an On-Premise Restaurant Full Liquor License, NYS Application ID: NA-0340-25-119447 has been applied for by Zozo’s On The Bay Inc serving beer, wine, cider and liquor to be sold at retail for on premises consumption in a restaurant, for the premises located at 424 Bayville Ave Bayville NY 11079 154809

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, STORMFIELD CAPITAL FUNDING I, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. 63 MILL RIVER ROAD, LLC

A/K/A 63 MILL RIVER ROAD LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order for Reformation, Confirming Referee’s Report of Amount Due and for Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale

duly entered on June 16, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 3, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 63 Mill River Road, Upper Brookville, NY 11771 a/k/a 63 Mill River Road, Glen Head, NY 11545. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Upper Brookville, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 24, Block B and Lot 893, as well as all personal property of Borrower as identified in that certain Consolidation, Extension, Spreader and Modification Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2022, and recorded on January 2, 2023 in Book M, Volume 46996, Page 950, and that certain Building Loan Mortgage, Assignment of Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of November 15, 2022, and recorded on January 20, 2023, in Book M, Volume 47021, Page 307, and excluding any funds held by Plaintiff in any reserve, escrow, or suspense fund and excluding any funds held by Plaintiff in any cash management account. Approximate amount of judgment is $2,578,897.79 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #621084/2023.

Melvyn Roth, Esq., Referee Polsinelli PC, Aaron P. Davis, Esq., 600 Third Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attorneys for Plaintiff 154801

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSF9 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST DON FORCHELLI, III; NICOLE MARIE FORCHELLI; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 3, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public

auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 79 Capitol Heights Road, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Oyster Bay, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau. State of New York, Section: 24 Block: B Lot: 32. Approximate amount of judgment $712,992.43 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #000595/2017. Janine T. Lynam, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 21 -000569 86380 154784

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY, Plaintiff AGAINST GLENN A. SPELLMAN AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF WESSIE V. SPELLMAN WHO WAS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF GEORGE HENRY SPELLMAN, GEORGE H. SPELLMAN, III AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF WESSIE V. SPELLMAN WHO WAS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF GEORGE HENRY SPELLMAN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant

thirty years ago. Adopted into two very different families – Clara to a wealthy, upper class couple and Dempsey to a mean-spirited difficult city councilorthe women have been estranged for many years. On the day of their thirtieth birthday, Clara sees a woman she insists is their mother shoplifting a Rolex watch. Even more bizarrely, the woman looks about thirty years old. Clara rushes to share this information with Dempsey who is skeptical at best. Soon the woman, named Serena, has insinuated herself into their lives and things become more and more sinister. Along the way, we meet a myriad of colorful characters from the past and present as the sisters struggle to find out who Serena is and what happened thirty years ago. A puzzling but compelling read… recommended.

Would you like to ask for a book suggestion? Contact her at annmdipietro@gmail.com.

Public Notices Public Notices

to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 19, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 28 Cross Street, Locust Valley, NY 11560. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Locust Valley, in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, and State of New York, Section 30, Block 7, Lot 139 & 141. Approximate amount of judgment $355,697 .69 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604609/2019. Michele Bencivinni, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 17-002006 86402 154786

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR GREENPOINT MORTGAGE FUNDING TRUST 2005-HE1 ASSET-BACKED NOTES, SERIES 2005-HE1, Plaintiff, Against VITO A. RICCIARDI; Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 06/09/2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501, on 9/9/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 144 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley, NY 11560, and described as follows: All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Locust Valley, in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Section 30 Block 66 Lot 452

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $6,772.30 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 614242/2022 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

PETER LEVY, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 7/9/2025 File

NOTICE

NOTICE JERICHO WATER DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR 2026 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to Town Law §215, a public hearing will be held at District Headquarters located at 125 Convent Road, Syosset, Long Island, New York, on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 9:00 am for the purpose of conducting a hearing on the proposed revenues and expenditures of the District for the 2026 fiscal year. A copy of the proposed revenue and expenditures will be made available to the public at District headquarters prior to the hearing date. NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A public meeting will also be held at the time and place noticed above wherein the District will conduct such regular and other business which is properly brought before the Board of Commissioners. By Order of the Board of Water Commissioners of the Jericho Water District.

JAMES ASMUS

Secretary Dated: Syosset, New York August 8, 2025 154990

opinions

Enough with our obsession with conspiracies

politics has always been marked by conspiracy theories. There was the theory that President Franklin Roosevelt had prior knowledge of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but allowed it to happen to force the United States to enter World War II. In the 1950s, the founder of the John Birch Society wrote a manifesto concluding that President Dwight Eisenhower was a Soviet agent. More recently, there was the Sept. 11 “truther” theory that the administration of President George W. Bush had advanced notice of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and might have actually planned them.

Today, with social media and artificial intelligence, conspiracy theories are more rampant than ever. What allows these theories to thrive is that, by their very nature, they are inherently difficult, if not impossible, to disprove. They are based on assorted often unrelated facts, rumors, conjecture and speculation.

The ongoing furor over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case is a classic example of a conspiracy theory run amok and creating a conspiracy on top of itself. For years the Trump camp peddled rumors that the Biden administration was hiding FBI files to protect prominent Democrats who were involved in the Epstein scandal, and that Epstein’s jail-cell suicide was actually an inside-job murder. Once in office, however, with complete access to all Justice Department and FBI files and records, Trump administration officials had to announce that they could find nothing irregular: There was no secret list of names, and Epstein had in fact committed suicide.

no one was more surprised when Donald Trump was elected than Vladimir Putin.

The illogic of all this was, of course, that if the “files” did incriminate Trump, why didn’t the Biden administration disclose that when it had full access to the Epstein records? If congressional Democrats are so dedicated to transparency and so concerned about full disclosure, why did they do and say nothing when they were in control? And why would candidate Trump have made an issue of Epstein if he thought it would remotely incriminate him? Hopefully the Trump camp will learn that trafficking in unverified conspiracy theories is not only wrong, but it can come back to bite them.

below ground in the Capitol. There wasn’t one bit of evidence connecting the Trump campaign to Russia. There was, of course, the salacious and thoroughly discredited “Steele dossier,” which was in fact a political opposition memo prepared for Hillary Clinton’s campaign and based on false information from a former Russian spy. Yes, Russia had attempted to interfere in the 2016 campaign, as it always has. But Russia’s intention was to weaken Hillary Clinton’s expected presidency.

This caused apocalyptic shrieks of outrage from the fringes of MAGA world, led by the likes of Tucker Carlson. Now Trump officials were being accused by the president’s own supporters of likely collusion with myriad coconspirators such as former President Joe Biden, Israel and Mossad. The Democrats also feigned outrage, insisting that Trump must be covering his own guilt.

To me, the most baseless — and insidious — theory was the false narrative that there was Russian collusion with the Trump campaign during the 2016 election. The main propagators of this “Russia hoax” were former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. I was on the Intelligence Committee during this saga, and sat through endless months of testimony in a secure committee room three floors

No one was more surprised when Donald Trump was elected than Russian President Vladimir Putin. It’s only now, with much of this information declassified, that I can discuss details that I learned at the time. This hoax was a true threat to democracy, undermining a duly elected president and tying down his administration with intrusive investigations for more than half of his first term of office.

It’s time for Americans to ignore the conspiracy nuts on all sides and address the real and serious issues that confront our nation.

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

Buyer’s remorse is no consolation for the

losers

Have you ever heard of the term “buyer’s remorse”? It’s been a while since I’ve heard those words, but lately I’ve been hearing them from some of my friends who are Republican members of Congress when they refer to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. He wanted it passed by July Fourth, and he got his way. Now that it is law, some of the Republicans who voted for it are confessing to me that maybe it went a little too far in cutting agencies and programs.

Having served in the State Legislature, I can understand what happens when a member is confronted with having to support a bill that’s nearly a thousand pages long. You may know about some of the provisions, but it’s impossible to know every section when you only have a few hours before the final vote. One of the reasons why these bills are crafted to be so thick is

because leadership knows that some parts of them couldn’t pass if they were presented as single bills. My friends in Congress aren’t alone in their misgivings about the Big Beautiful Bill. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley agonized for weeks over its deep Medicaid cuts, because hundreds of thousands of his state’s voters rely on Medicaid to survive. Hawley was agonizing on behalf of those hardworking citizens who don’t deserve to lose their benefits. Despite wringing his hands and suffering sleepless nights, he voted for the bill when it reached the Senate.

B ut what happens when all these program cuts are the hot topic next year?

Hawley must have had buyer’s remorse, because a few weeks after the bill became law, he introduced his own bill, which would restore many of the Medicaid cuts. Obviously Hawley’s upset was hypocritical, because you don’t vote for such far-reaching cuts and then introduce a bill restoring them. This was a good example of the lack of conscience surrounding the actions that were taken.

some parts of the bill that are worthy of support, but mixing the good with the bad results in mostly bad for the needy and good for the people who won’t have any sleepless nights about the tragedies that will happen on the other end of the income spectrum. Few House members who voted for the bill will suffer at the ballot box. Many serve in districts that would elect Attila the Hun if he were nominated for the seat.

Two more cases in point are Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Both went public with their concerns about the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food assistance to more than 40 million people nationally. For days on end, the two senators expressed their concerns about their constituents losing access to food stamps that are a life-or-death necessity. But when push came to shove, they both voted for the cuts.

The SNAP program has for years been a target of conservatives who maintain that it and other safety-net programs like it are abused and unnecessary. And there is no doubt that some SNAP beneficiaries have used food stamps to buy beer instead of milk and bread. But the vast majority of people who get food stamps are the aged or have disabilities, and who meet the tests for approval. In the months and years ahead, it will be no consolation to those who lose their benefits that their representatives in Congress voted in favor of the Big Beautiful Bill and then had pangs of guilt about its impact.

There is also no doubt that there are

The problem for fair-minded House and Senate members is that the program cuts are not a secret, and will be publicized extensively next year at election time. The latest national polls show that the legislation has high negative numbers, which won’t fade from the minds of the people who are the victims of the cuts, or many other voters.

I was surprised that about a half-dozen members of Congress from New York and surrounding states expressed their unhappiness in the Big Beautiful Bill to me. Sadly, however, their buyer’s remorse may be too little, too late come November 2026.

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.

Established 1899

Incorporating the

luke Feeney

2

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web:

HERALD

tSupport your local volunteer firefighters

he Firefighters Association of the State of New York will hold its 153rd annual convention in Hauppauge from Thursday to Saturday. While the event is an opportunity to celebrate the service and sacrifice of New York’s 80,000 volunteer firefighters, it is also a moment for reflection — a chance to confront the urgent challenges facing fire protection services in our communities.

Volunteer fire departments have long been essential to public safety across the state, which has more than 1,600 of them. On Long Island alone there are nearly 180 volunteer departments, which respond to emergencies of every kind, from house fires and highway accidents to natural disasters and medical calls. And they do it all without pay. It’s no exaggeration to say that these volunteers — and the emergency medical technicians and paramedics who work alongside them — are among the most selfless public servants we have.

Yet despite their critical importance, these departments face steep recruitment and retention challenges. The number of active volunteer firefighters in New York state has declined markedly in recent decades, from roughly 120,000 in the early 2000s, even as call volumes have nearly doubled over the past 30 years, from 750,000 to 1.4 million annually, according to state figures, and training demands continue to rise due to expanded safety regulations.

Balancing work, family and extensive training is no small feat, especially for volunteers. The result is that many departments are stretched thin, struggling to maintain robust crews and

letters

We need more open-minded politicians like

To the Editor:

Tom Suozzi

ensure timely responses to emergencies.

That’s where the state firefighters association steps in — and why its convention deserves more than ceremonial attention. For over 150 years, the organization has served as the voice and support system for volunteer fire service statewide.

FASNY advocates for funding, offers educational resources and legal guidance, provides mental health support, and promotes recruitment campaigns such as Is There a Fire In You?, which encourages everyday New Yorkers to consider joining their local department.

The Hauppauge convention will bring together more than 1,000 firefighters, instructors and leaders. Discussions will focus not just on tactics and technology, but on issues such as firefighters’ mental health, peer support programs and the evolving needs of a modern volunteer force. These conversations matter. They have real-world implications for the safety of firefighters and the resilience of the communities they serve.

Mental health, in particular, is an area that demands greater attention. Of course firefighting is dangerous, but it is also emotionally taxing. Volunteers often respond to traumatic events involving neighbors and loved ones — a severe house fire that kills or injures its occupants, or a disaster like Hurricane Sandy. Without proper support systems in place, these experiences can take a huge toll on emergency responders. FASNY has made great strides in breaking down the stigma around mental health care in the fire service, but continuing community awareness of the

Re U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s op-ed, “Why I care about immigration — and why all of us should,” in last week’s issue: Suozzi voiced a clear understanding of the immigration issues and called, once again, for a bipartisan solution to a problem that impacts everyone in this country. He has taken this bipartisan stand on many issues for as long as I’ve been following him, including his previous time in Congress.

I, and many others, are re-energized that Mr. Suozzi returned to Congress. Yes, I would have loved to have him replace Kathy Hochul as our governor, but he can, hopefully, do so much more good if he can generate a following in Congress for more bipartisan solutions to the problems we face.

I consider myself one of those independent voters who try to see both sides of an issue. There are times when I agree with the Democratic platform, such as on

challenges these men and women face is crucial as well.

How can you show support for these selfless volunteers?

First, get to know your local department. Attend an open house. Follow its social media accounts. Volunteer departments rely on community awareness to grow their ranks and raise funds.

Second, support the volunteers’ fundraising efforts. Many departments operate on limited budgets, depending heavily on donations and local drives to raise the money to pay for essential equipment. Whether it’s from a resident or a business, a contribution — financial or in-kind — can go a long way toward ensuring their readiness.

Third, talk to young people about the value of volunteerism. FASNY’s Junior Firefighter programs are an excellent way to introduce teens to public service and give them a sense of civic responsibility.

Finally, consider whether you might have “the fire in you.” Even if running into burning buildings isn’t for you, departments have many support roles — from administrative help to public education — for which willing hands are always needed. Simply stop in at a local firehouse or call them to learn more.

Volunteer firefighting is a tradition rooted in community, courage and compassion. As Long Island continues to grow, the need for well-supported fire departments becomes more urgent. The FASNY convention is a timely reminder that while these men and women may serve without pay, they should never serve without appreciation, resources or help.

opinions

Honoring 250 years of the U.S. Postal Service

most people who are familiar with Independence hall, in Philadelphia, know — at least — that important decisions were made there during the American Revolution. The beginning of our nation can be traced back to the debates and discussions there of a small group of men risking their lives to start and lead a rebellion against the British crown.

One of the most important meetings of the Second continental congress occurred in that hall on July 26, 1775, against a dramatic backdrop of thunderstorms, nearly a year before the Declaration of Independence and just weeks after the Battle of Bunker hill. The city was hearing shocking reports from Boston, which was being held by British forces attempting to tamp down the American rebellion by force, largely against the will of its citizens. The topic was the urgent need to establish secure and reliable communications

with the continental Army and among the colonies.

Following debate, the congress agreed to, among other points:

■ Appoint a postmaster general, with an office in Philadelphia, a $1,000 salary, $340 for a secretary and comptroller and the power to appoint deputies — local postmasters.

■ Establish a line of posts from Maine to Savannah, Georgia, with cross posts as needed.

■ Establish postage rates, to be 20 percent less than charged by the British post.

tindependence, they had their eyes on the future, methodically creating infrastructure, attuned to the mundane matters of payments and administration. They were intent on transforming their world.

he first — unanimous — choice for postmaster general? Ben Franklin.

The congress then elected a postmaster general “for one year, and until another is appointed by a future congress.” The unanimous choice was Benjamin Franklin.

After creating the Postal Service, the congress called it a day and adjourned.

Despite the personal danger — the first postmasters were risking their lives to enable the flow of information — those leaders of the day were supremely optimistic about building a nation and its institutions. Even amid the stresses and tumult of their war for

Letters

gun control, where we have absurdly allowed guns to proliferate across our nation into the hands of criminals and, worse, the mentally ill who are the predominant perpetrators of mass shootings.

And there are times I agree with Republican stands, including the recent government spending cuts, which the bipartisan Government Accountability Office has been touting for years. No, I don’t condone all of the cuts, and I’m hopeful that some will be restored as a clearer picture of what is being done comes into focus.

But the overspending that we have allowed our federal government to do for the past 50 years, under both Democratic and Republican presidents, is absurd. We need to get past the anger at President Trump, who can easily infuriate even Republicans with his outlandish rhetoric, and see that much of what he is doing will benefit the majority of people.

We need to look at the math, and whether it adds up or dilutes the benefits to all of us. I’m not convinced that Trump has done that, but shaking things up and making cuts is long overdue.

And last, I would like Suozzi to run for president in 2028. The Democrats do not have a viable candidate right now, so let me be one of the first, for whatever it’s worth, to endorse Suozzi. We need someone like him, with a vision of bringing both sides of the political spec-

trum to the table.

If you look at the history of our elections over the past 75 years, you’ll see that fringe candidates don’t win presidential elections, no matter on which side of the aisle they sit. On the other hand, some of our most effective presidents were those like John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, who fostered bipartisan politics.

RIchARD S. KAhN Glen Cove

How about some new ideas, Jerry?

To the Editor:

Jerry Kremer’s column in the July 24-30 issue, “It’s long past time to shut down the cellphone,” highlighted exactly what is wrong with the Democratic Party today. Mr. Kremer spend the first half of his op-ed bemoaning current politics — in particular, the devastating “One Big Beautiful Bill,” especially for the most vulnerable among us — but offered no hint of a remedy. If he is illequipped to lead or advise the next generation of voters, perhaps he should step aside and allow someone who can.

Instead, Kremer spent the second half of his column belittling a dynamic young Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, who has energized voters with policy ideas that address the real

When the United States became a nation, a free press and the unhindered flow of ideas and commerce was enabled by a universally accessible Postal Service. In those early, formative years, the service was part of the bedrock of America’s economy and its democracy — and it has been ever since.

In the following decades, as postal roads traversed the country, commerce flourished on a national basis, literacy expanded dramatically and the free press created a highly informed nation. As America industrialized and cities grew and railroads crossed the nation, people became more mobile. The great connector, and sometimes the only connector, was the Postal Service.

The demands of the public evolved as the nation did. Americans in cities began getting mail delivered to their homes and businesses, and then rural

areas — secure, affordable, universal service across a far-flung nation.

The 20th century saw the Postal Service essentially shape America’s airline industry, automate on a massive scale, and connect Americans to one another on a scale unmatched in the world.

With the perspective of 250 years, we can see that the service helped our nation grow economically; it strengthened our democracy by ensuring the uncensored and unrestricted flow of communications and personal expression; and it bound the nation together. Every mail delivery today is a living reminder that our democracy, our commercial success and our unity as a nation were all shaped by the constant presence of the Postal Service in our daily lives.

And so, on the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service, perhaps as you visit your mailbox, please give a thought to those far-sighted founders in Philadelphia. They would no doubt be amazed and gratified to know that their ideals and aspirations are carried forward every day by the 630,000 men and women of the service who live, work and serve in every community in America.

Stephen Kochersperger is the historian of the United States Postal Service.

Framework by Tim Baker

needs of New Yorkers — many of whom are the prime targets of the cuts that so distress Kremer. If Mamdani is inexperienced, our veteran Democrats should be throwing their weight behind him and offering support and expertise.

I cannot fathom why institutional Democrats such as Kremer would prefer Andrew cuomo, a sexual predator, or Eric Adams, an indicted alleged

criminal, over a, yes, young, but moral, galvanizing upstart. Younger Democrats do not want corrupt, lecherous and unrepentant leaders, and we do not want complacency. If Kremer can’t see that, perhaps he should shut down his phone and put down his pen.

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