Dozens of residents visited Raynham Hall Museum on Oct. 22 for the opening of its next exhibit, “Road to Revolution,” focusing on Samuel Townsend, a father, public servant, revolutionary — and slave owner. Story, more photos, Page 3.
By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com
A $36,800 donation from the Oyster Bay Athletic Booster Club to paint the high school gymnasium drew debate during Tuesday’s meeting of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District Board of Education, with some residents questioning whether the project was an appropriate use of the club’s funds.
Former board Trustee Norah Windhausen, speaking during public comment, said the project should have been paid for using the district’s general fund rather than money raised by the nonprofit Booster Club, which she claimed is
intended to support students directly.
“Painting the gym is a capital improvement and should be paid for out of the general fund or from the reserves,” Windhausen, an Oyster Bay resident, said. “This is $36,000 that could potentially be used toward scholarships and make a difference in some of our students’ lives, but you would rather use it to paint the gym.”
Windhausen, who stepped down from the board last year, added that athletes in the district are often asked to send fundraising links to family and friends to raise money for the Booster Club, with the understanding that donations will go toward scholarships, equipment and team
By RoKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
One of Nassau County’s most ambitious infrastructure projects is poised to reshape Shore Road and Prospect Avenue into a safer, greener, and more accessible waterfront corridor connecting Glen Cove, Sea Cliff, and Glenwood Landing.
Stretching nearly four miles and with a projected cost of more than $14 million, the project includes redesigned intersections, designated bike lanes, new sidewalks and major stormwater upgrades that local leaders say will help the community thrive long into the future. The improvements were detailed in new design renderings and engineering updates that county officials presented in a comprehensive slideshow last week at Glen Cove City Hall.
I t’s going to make our area more like a residential community.
loRA CuSuMANo Glen Cove
“This project is one of the largest street-improvement projects that Nassau has had,” County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton told the Herald.
“Our traffic engineers and civic engineers have met multiple
times with the community to ensure the public is a true partner, and to explain each phase of the project.” She praised residents for their “input, as well as patience,” and said the longawaited work is expected to move from the planning stage to construction in 2027. According to DeRiggi-Whitton, the county will begin with drainage improvements, addressing some of the most floodprone locations along the shoreline. The slideshow demonstrated how aging and disjointed stormwater systems have contributed to street flooding and tidal backflow for decades, especially around Scudders Pond, near Tappen Beach, 14 The Blvd. in Sea Cliff and the stretch of Shore Road between Carpenter Avenue and Hammond Road in Glen Cove. To correct these conditions, the county will replace compromised outfall pipes — including one undersized 24-inch line that will be rebuilt at twice the diameter — and install stormwater treatment systems to cap-
Continued on page 2
The
ture debris before it enters coastal waters. At Scudders Pond, a timber baffle currently obstructing flow will be removed, new weir boards will be installed at the proper elevation, and four catch basins will be added along Littleworth Lane. The newly engineered drainage systems will be sized to handle a 10-year, 24-hour storm event, helping protect homes and roadways from flood damage.
Above ground, safety is the driving force behind an overhaul of the roadway layout. Sections of Shore Road that currently include two lanes in each direction will be reduced to one lane each way, with dedicated bike lanes on both sides and a new five-foot wide sidewalk. ADA-compliant curb ramps will be installed throughout the corridor.
A skewed and confusing intersection at Prospect Avenue and Glen Avenue/ Locust Place will be reconstructed at a more standard angle to enhance visibility and bus travel, and a new traffic signal will be installed at the Prospect Avenue entrance to Tappen Beach to safely accommodate pedestrians crossing there. County engineers also plan to install five overhead radar speed-awareness signs, to discourage aggressive driving and remind motorists that they are traveling through residential neighborhoods.
The county presentation further detailed streetscape upgrades — including decorative lighting, new trees, benches in designated areas, and a more defined parking lane — aimed at highlighting the waterfront while creating a pleasant experience for walkers, cyclists and families heading to parks and the beach.
For Shore Road Neighbors founder Lora Cusumano, who has advocated for these changes since 2018, the community’s persistence is finally paying off.
“This is one of the most transformative infrastructure projects in Nassau County,” Cusumano said, “not just because of its scale, but because of the
vision behind it.”
While residents were excited to see progress, Cusumano is realistic about the timeline. “Even myself, I was hoping that it was going to break ground for 2026, but it looks like it’s going to be more the beginning of 2027,” she said. “It’s going to make our area more like a residential community. It’s going to make it better for walkers and bikers to enjoy the beauty that we have. It’s a spectacular place to sit down on a park bench, walk, ride your bike.”
Daniel Flanzig, a Sea Cliff resident and the president of the New York Bicycling Coalition, who has been biking and running along the road for 12 years, said the upgrades would significantly improve comfort and safety. “These improvements are going to make this a much more walkable and bike-able area, because we’re going to increase the shoulder width in bike lanes,” Flanzig said. “We’ll have sidewalks on both sides of the street. And it will just make it a more enticing and safer place to bike and walk.”
He noted that narrowing the roadway will help reduce the speeding common among drivers using the route as a cut-through. “There’s a tendency for people who are using it as a cut-through to drive way too quickly, not realizing that their cut-through is our neighborhood, is our home,” Flanzig said. Residents will continue to shape certain elements as construction nears. Cusumano said that future meetings would give stakeholders the chance to weigh in on things like lighting styles and park seating. “Great design is worth the wait,” she said, emphasizing that the improvements represent far more than repaving — they will modernize the waterfront for generations to come.
DeRiggi-Whitton agreed. “We are looking forward to this project moving from the planning stage to the beginning of construction,” she said. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve Shore Road for the future.”
There is also text in the exhibit providing context about Townsend, from his beginnings as a merchant to having his home occupied during the American Revolution.
Dozens of Oyster Bay residents visited the opening of “Road to Revolution,” a new exhibit about Samuel Townsend at Raynham Hall Museum on Oct. 22.
Townsend, born in 1717, was a father, public servant, revolutionary — and enslaver. He built a merchant shipping business with his brother Jacob, he owned and operated more than five ships that sailed the Atlantic and the Caribbean seas, buying and selling goods and commodities.
“Samuel’s story, as well as the stories of those who worked for the Townsend family, reflects the complicated and often contradictory experiences during a period of turbulence and transformation in the American colonies,” the exhibit’s introduction read. The goal of the exhibit was to give residents a chance to “walk alongside Samuel Townsend and those around him as they navigated a world on the brink of revolution.”
The exhibit features several primary documents and sources from his life, including trading records, portraits and other records. It also features panels of text providing context about Townsend, from his beginnings as a successful entrepreneur and merchant to having his home occupied by the enemy during the American Revolution.
Townsend was also deeply entrenched in local and regional politics, serving, over time, as Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, and as a delegate in the New York Provincial Congress, a revolutionary body that organized militias and laid the groundwork for independence.
The event, which took place from 5:307:00 p.m. was free for the public and light refreshments were provided to attendees.
Raynham Hall Museum is a historic house museum that was once home to the Townsend family, including Robert Townsend, a key member of George
Raynham Hall Museum hosted an opening for its next exhibit: “Road to Revolution,” about Samuel Toonsend on Oct. 22.
Washington’s Culper Spy Ring during the Revolutionary War. The museum preserves the 1738 Townsend family home and interprets life in the 18th and 19th centuries through tours, educational programs, and special exhibits, often using augmented reality to bring history to life. It is listed as a national landmark and is owned by the Town of Oyster Bay, but operated by the Friends of Raynham Hall Museum.
–Luke Feeney
The event, which took place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. was free for the public and light refreshments were provided to attendees.
The exhibit features several primary documents and sources from his life, including trading records, portraits and other records.
By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
Daniel T. Smith, a retired school administrator from Massapequa Park, is running on the Democratic line for one of three contested seats on the Oyster Bay Town Board. Smith said he aims to bring a pragmatic, “science-driven” approach to town governance.
Smith, 56, spent most of his career in the Seaford School District, including 15 years as principal of Seaford Middle School. He said his work taught him how to unite people with opposing viewpoints.
families, emphasizing the need to balance growth with community needs.
Smith also supports shifting the town to councilmanic districts, where board members represent specific geographic areas rather than being elected at large.
“How can four board members from Massapequa out of seven dictate what’s important to someone in Greenvale?” he asked.
“Getting people who are not of the same mind to find common ground for the betterment of a common cause is what we should be doing,” he said.
Also running on the Democratic line are Ian D. Steinberg and Jyoti Anand, who did not respond to interview requests.
A key focus of Smith’s platform is housing. He wants to work with developers to convert blighted properties into affordable homes for seniors and young
He’s been vocal at recent school board meetings, speaking against policies requiring students to use restrooms based on their biological sex at birth. He has also opposed the Massapequa school district’s efforts to keep the “Chiefs” logo, referencing his own alma mater’s mascot change from Patriots to Seawolves.
“I’m still breathing—it’s OK,” he said.
Smith also backs environmental initiatives and greater transparency in local government.
“No decision should ever be made in private and without input,” he said.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Anyone can increase their intelligence, resulting in better choices and decisionmaking. All you need are a few simple tools such as those provided below.
Keep in mind that the bar to knowledge is not ignorance - it is thinking you already know. Being humble, and keeping an open mind, will serve you well in this endeavor.
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Ifind if I eat while I’m working, my ideas magically flow much more quickly. So, if I need to force myself to sit down and finish a writing assignment, I travel with my laptop from one café to the next and eat while I’m typing. If you relate to this in one way or another, there’s a trick: You can’t eat a tremendous amount in just one restaurant because you’ll be too full to travel to the next one and finish your work. This month, I managed to finish a writing project in one day by traveling to three new cafes and one favorite reopening diner. Here’s the way I made it work:
Sweet Harbor Coffee (1353 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn)
I carried my laptop into this new, Brooklyn-style, welcoming café and ordered my usual breakfast tea from a delicious list of beverages including coffee, tea, cappuccinos, lattes and more. At the counter, I noticed gourmet quality scones, croissants, muffins and cookies. I paired my tea with a thick chocolate chip cookie, sat down at a table with a view of the Village of Roslyn, and took bites as I typed. When I was ready to take a break, I got up and drove to:
Karmic Grind—a second location (69 Pine Hollow Rd., Oyster Bay)
smoothies plus grab and go sandwiches and salads will also be offered. I plopped down at a table with my laptop and overnight oats and continued writing and biting. When it was time for another break, I traveled to:
Greenvale Townhouse Restaurant (149 Glen Cove Ave., Greenvale)
Following a kitchen fire last March, this popular diner had to close for six months. It has just reopened! All the marvelous mouthfuls I cherished have returned to the menu. To name a few, I was delighted to say hello to the Oreo pancakes, teriyaki and Mexican burgers, spinach pies, and the countless salads, entrees and omelets. Since I hadn’t finished my writing assignment and knew I’d need to move on at some point, I ordered an omelet without the bread and potatoes. I continued working, and when I needed one more break, I drove to:
Curcio Bakery & Café (10 Cedar Swamp Rd., Glen Cove)
Since I love the Karmic Grind café in Locust Valley, I was excited to try this new second location in Oyster Bay. My favorite foods from the original location lined the shelves. I was so happy to see the overnight oats; the King Street Brooklyn Bakery muffins, scones, bundt cakes and cookies; the avocado toast along with other breakfast sandwiches; and creative snacks. The shop owner mentioned, in a few weeks,
This new Italian bakery/café is an amazing addition to our neighborhood. You can grab goodies to go or sit at a table and munch on foods ranging from Italian-style croissants filled with Nutella or Italian pastry cream, to waffles Dubai, to bite-sized morsels of mini cakes, to chocolate pudding pie, to pizza, to breakfast egg dishes galore, and more. I’m obsessed with Linzer tarts, so I ordered one filled with pistachio cream. I took one bite, closed my eyes, and swooned, “Mmmmm.” As I swallowed the last crumb, I also finished my writing project: this column.
See you next month!
“We are continuously faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems” — Lee Iacocca
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“Each problem that I solved became a rule, which served afterwards to solve other problems” — Descartes
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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
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, November 14, 2025
Requirements: 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:
(No Photos of Artwork Will Be Accepted).
Winners will be notified by email or phone by November 21
• Must use 8 1/2 x 11” unlined paper, copy paper or construction paper.
• Be creative & original.
• Use bright colors.
• Fill the entire page.
Tim Baker/Herald
Stuart Richner, CEO of the Long Island Herald, left, with Phyllis Quinlan, director of Holistic Services Administration at Cohen Children’s Medical Center; Amy Amato, executive director of RichnerLIVE; and Sofia Agoritsas, vice president of operations at the medical center.
Herald Community Media and RichnerLIVE presented a $2,000 donation to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the charity beneficiary of the Herald Women’s Executive Summit on Sept. 9 at the Crescent Beach Club.
The medical center is home to Long Island’s first Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program and a nationally recognized team of specialists. This year the hospital earned its third con-
secutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, underscoring its mission to help families raise stronger, healthier kids.
Phyllis Quinlan, the medical center’s director of Holistic Services Administration, noted, “We are on track to offer over 5,000 15-minute holistic services to the CCMC staff, parents/family caregivers, and admitted pediatric patients in 2025.”
apparel. “Nowhere did it say they will be providing capital improvements to any buildings or structures,” she said.
District Superintendent Francesco Ianni responded that the donation was an offer from the Booster Club to enhance the gym’s appearance in a way the district’s maintenance staff could not manage on its own.
“The painting of the gymnasium in its entirety cannot be done with the manpower that we have, and it cannot be done in a short period of time,” Ianni said. “The paint that the booster club is providing … is not just a regular paint. It’s decal — it’s a line that goes around with the purple and gold. So it’s very specific, and I believe that will enhance the entire gymnasium.”
Ianni explained that the work could not be completed during the school year by the district’s custodial staff because it would require closing the gym for an extended period. He also emphasized that the project was coordinated with district leadership.
Still, several attendees questioned both the funding source and the process by which the Booster Club made the donation.
The club’s president, Adam Samodulski, sought to clear up what he described as a misunderstanding. “We came to the administration as the booster board,” Samodulski said. “Quite
frankly, we thought the gym needed an upgrade as far as the way it looked aesthetically. As parents, we go to other schools, we see that their gyms look quite snazzy, branded very well, and we thought our gym needed an upgrade.”
The idea, he said, had been discussed by the club for several years before it was brought to the administration. “We were just trying to snazz up the place a little bit,” he said. “We thought the kids would really enjoy it, the parents, the community.”
Following public comments, board trustees discussed the donation before voting on whether to accept it. Some expressed their appreciation for the club’s support but agreed with residents’ claims that such expenses should be covered by district funds.
“I think painting the gym, adding that detail to the gym, affects all students,” Trustee John Paul Kopacz said. “But if it can be done with our school district money from other resources, that would give the Booster Club an
opportunity to pursue other donations closer, more directly to the students.”
Others said that because the Booster Club had come up with the idea of funding the project, it wasn’t the board’s place to decide how the club chose to spend its money. Trustee James Rickard defended the donation as a positive enhancement of the school environment.
“If there’s something that the Booster Club believes will bring pride and school spirit, I think there’s nothing better than school spirit,” Rickard said. “We appreciate these nonprofits coming in and enhancing our students’ education and spirit.”
Other trustees echoed those sentiments, thanking both the Booster Club and the district PTAs for their ongoing financial and volunteer support.
Before the final vote, Samodulski reassured the board and the attendees that the donation would not detract from the club’s mission.
“No one is going to go without any requests that (have) been made of the Booster Club,” he said. “We’ve fulfilled 99 percent of them. This generous donation is just an extension of the kind of school that we want to be part of, the kind of environment we’re trying to raise our kids in.”
The board ultimately voted to accept the donation, as part of its new business resolutions.
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Bruce Blakeman has had four years to make his mark as Nassau County executive — and he believes he has delivered. From boosting public safety to cutting taxes and protecting the county’s quality of life, his administration has stayed focused on core priorities. Blakeman, 70, spent his early political career in various offices in the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County. He was the commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2001 to 2009, and was appointed to the Hempstead Town Board in 2015. Blakeman challenged then County Executive Laura Curran in 2021, and won.
As he seeks a second term, Blakeman told Herald reporters at a roundtable: “Now I have a record to run on.”
He acknowledged Las Vegas Sands’ withdrawal from its proposed casino project at the Nassau Hub, noting that alternative development plans are now progressing under a “Plan B” strategy. That alternate plan, Blakeman said, includes entertainment, residential, retail and hospitality components. Sands is now working with local developers to refine the new proposal, interviewing and vetting potential options, and Blakeman said he hoped to have information to present to the public in early January.
He expressed pride in the county’s partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the first of its kind in the U.S. — which is using a portion of the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow to hold detainees.
“I think the general public is very happy,” he said. “It’s made us a much safer county.”
In regard to the state’s takeover of Nassau University Medical Center, also in East Meadow, Blakeman said
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is seeking re-election, touted his successes over the past four years. From public safety to quality of life, he believes he has delivered what he promised for Nassau County.
that in recent years, New York’s leadership has eliminated the hospital’s funding. It was headed in the right direction, he said, under its previous leadership, eliminating its financial deficit and maintaining its commitment to treating underserved populations.
He said he believed the state’s actions suggest an intent to either close the hospital or repurpose it as a mental health facility. “I think it’s nefarious,” he said, “and I think that it’s deleterious to the health of the community.”
Blakeman expressed support for his civilian deputy force, which he said is not a “militia.” Under state law, he said, county executives have the right to declare emergencies and deputize people for service.
“I created nothing more than a database of people who are willing to serve, who will be willing to train without getting paid,” he said. Most are military veterans or former law enforcement, he added, and will undergo firearms training in accordance with state law.
He also defended the county’s transgender sport ban, which prevents transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams at county-run parks and facilities. The bill, he said, received highly publicized support from Caitlin Jenner.
Blakeman also highlighted rising home values, the hiring of 600 new law enforcement officers, and seven Wall Street credit rating upgrades over the past four years — indicators, he said, of a structurally sound and fiscally responsible county budget.
Blakeman acknowledged that there is a need to address housing affordability for young people and senior citizens, but added that he disagreed with the state’s attempts to supersede local control.
“We’re densely populated, and we don’t have the land, and the public doesn’t want the density,” he said. “That’s why people move to the suburbs, and out of an urban environment.”
By JORDAN VALLONE
jvallone@liherald.com
Seth Koslow wears many hats — husband, dad, attorney and legislator in Nassau’ County’s 5th District. This year the Democrat has taken on a new challenge: running for county executive against incumbent Bruce Blakeman. His campaign has focused on values like transparency, common-sense policies and bipartisan communication.
Koslow, 43, grew up in Baldwin, and now lives in Merrick with his wife, three children and their rescue dog, Coco. After college he worked in a variety of sales jobs before returning to law school. He started his career as a prosecutor in the Queens district attorney’s office, and now has his own law practice.
In 2023, he won an open seat in the 5th District, which encompasses Merrick, Freeport and parts of North Bellmore. When the opportunity arose for him to run for county executive, he decided to take it.
“The same way I wanted to make a difference in my district,” he told Herald reporters at a roundtable interview, “I want to make a difference in the county.”
Koslow was critical of the Blakeman administration’s communication with the Legislature’s minority caucus, and he pointed to the Nassau University Medical Center as a “perfect example” of where the county lacks transparency. The public hospital in East Meadow, which serves all patients regardless of their ability to pay for medical care, was taken over by New York state earlier this year.
“Instead of actually working with the state to save the hospital, (Blakeman) fought with them, and now we lost control,” Koslow said.
He said he had similar concerns about the Nassau
Tim Baker/Herald
County Legislator Seth Koslow is Bruce Blakeman’s Democratic challenger for the county executive seat. He was critical of the county’s lack of transparency and bipartisan communication.
County Correctional Center, also in East Meadow. The county agreed to a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is using a portion of the jail to hold detainees. In September, a Honduran national in custody at the jail died, roughly 18 hours after he was detained.
“We don’t know what’s going on with the buildings at the jail, whether ICE is using buildings indepen -
dently,” Koslow said. “It’s a lack of transparency — it’s a lack of planning for the county.”
With Las Vegas Sands officially stepping away from its casino proposal at the Nassau Coliseum site, Koslow said that while he doesn’t have a real estate background, he is open to partnering with others to find the best path forward for the Nassau Hub. He outlined a vision that includes a convention center, a hotel and housing, elements he believes would support revenue generation, boost tourism and promote development.
Koslow was very critical of Nassau County’s “militia” — a unit of armed volunteer residents that, he said, makes the county “less safe” and raises chain-ofcommand and liability issues. Koslow said that the Nassau County Police Department does a great job, describing them as “well-trained” and “very responsive,” and he couldn’t picture a situation in which armed volunteers would be necessary.
He also disagreed with the county’s transgender sport ban, which prevents transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams at countyrun parks and facilities.
“Let the (local) leagues handle it,” he said. “It’s not a county issue.”
Koslow said that the county needs to return to a “traditional” separation of the branches of government. If elected, he said, he would let legislators “do their jobs.”
“If I don’t necessarily like a law they pass, I have the right not to sign,” he said. “But that also gives me some leverage to negotiate.”
Local government, he said, has to work to support the people. “We’re talking about life and death here,” Koslow said. “We’re talking about your safety. We can’t play games in local politics.”
Compiled by Herald staff
Destin Guerrier 9, Uniondale
I love going shopping for my costume! I want to be a Minecraft character this year.
Courtesy Ebony Guerrier
Delilah Mandell 6, Atlantic Beach
I like eating candy, picking candy from people and dressing up!
Melissa Berman/Herald
Stella Madero Massapequa
Seeing the kids dress up and enjoy it. I love giving kids their candy and seeing the excitement on their faces.
Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
After a spirit week of tropicalthemed hallway decorating, costumes and pep rallies, the Locust Valley Central School District community packed the bleachers at Fred Smith Field and cheered their Falcons on to a critical 35-6 win over the East Rockaway Rocks on Oct. 25.
The Falcons, wearing their brand-new black uniforms, were led by running back Aidan Russo’s 210 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense shook off a first drive score by the Rocks, pitching a shutout in the final three quarters. The Falcons’ captains were also joined at the coin toss by K-7 district students who won a jersey design contest.
The new Falcons uniform, which debuted on Oct. 10, was a project involving the team’s senior captains, Falcon Pride Booster Club and the Valley Sports store on Forest Avenue. Every year, the team works with Falcon Pride on fundraising efforts to enhance the team experience. This year, the Falcons dreamt big, hoping to add an alternate uniform in addition to their usual green and white.
With evening home games now a reality with the addition of lights at the field, the team was eager to add a look that resembles the vastness of night. The team captains and head coach Michael Gilbert
The high school cheerleading team performed at halftime.
designed the stealth black look and went to Valley Sports to make it a reality. The team is excited to pass down these uniforms to future Falcons.
Throughout the game and at halftime, the high school and middle school squad, kick line team and the pep band, helped keep the energy high, making for a terrific game day atmosphere.
–Will Sheeline
The Locust Valley High School varsity football team took the field for their homecoming game.
Ejecutivo del Condado
Amendment to Allow Olympic Sports Complex In Essex County on State Forest Preserve Land. Allows skiing and related trail facilities on state forest preserve land. The site is 1,039 acres. Requires State to add 2,500 acres of new forest land in Adirondack Park. A yes vote authorizes new ski trails and related facilities in the Adirondack forest preserve. A no vote does not authorize this use.
Enmienda para Permitir Complejo Olímpico de Deportes En el Condado de Essex en Tierra de Reserva Forestal Estatal. Permite el esquí e instalaciones relacionadas de pistas en tierra de reserva forestal estatal. El sitio es de 1,039 acres. Requiere que el Estado añade 2,500 acres de nueva tierra forestal en el Parque Adirondack. Un voto afirmativo autoriza nuevas pistas de esquí e instalaciones relacionadas en la reserva forestal Adirondack. Un voto negativo no autoriza este uso.
Seth I. Koslow
Fiscal del Distrito
MOD Nicole Aloise
Controlador del Condado
Wayne H. Wink, Jr.
MOD Joylette E. Williams
Bruce A. Blakeman
C. Sochet
actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to reflect all the districts
the communities covered edition of the Herald. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the
may be found at under the Elections ’25 tab. For election results after the polls
Juez
Kaur
Anand Thomas P. Hand D. Steinberg
County Legislator
Karen Bhatia
la Corte Suprema
Mark A. Cuthbertson
Margaret C. Reilly
Joseph C. Pastoressa
Steven A. Pilewski
James W. Malone Carl J. Copertino
Bronwyn M. Black-Kelly
Juez
E. Pipia
A. Saladino
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
The Northwinds Symphonic Band will continue its annual tradition of honoring America’s veterans with a free concert on Nov. 9, at 3 p.m. at the Wunsch Arts Center in Glen Cove, featuring a patriotic program and a special tribute to U.S. Army veteran Scott Whitting.
The performance, titled “A Tribute to Our Veterans,” will take place under the direction of Conductors Helen P. Bauer and Brandon Bromsey. Bauer said that although the concert is always a salute to military service, the music itself changes each year to keep the event meaningful.
“First of all, we play a different repertoire at each concert,” Bauer said. “It will be different music, except for the patriotic ones that everybody wants to hear, like ‘God Bless America’ and ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever.’ We try to have an interesting mix of music.”
This year’s selections include “March of the Women Marines,” composed in 1943 for the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, and the “Armed Forces Medley,” which acknowledges each branch of the U.S. military. Other highlights include “The Light Eternal,” written in honor of four World War II chaplains who sacrificed their lives, and stirring American classics “Variations on ‘America’” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Broadway vocalist Karen Murphy
and tenor Joe Stroppel will also join the ensemble, contributing their voices to music by revered American composers Harold Arlen and Irving Berlin.
Planning the performance requires months of preparation. Bauer said selecting the repertoire alone takes several hours before the ensemble even begins rehearsals. The band began preparing for the show in mid-September and continues to rehearse weekly.
“Celebratory,” Bauer said of the concert’s atmosphere. “Celebrating our veterans and the wonderful things that they do, and also an afternoon of enjoy-
ing beautiful music.We program a wide variety of music which takes the listener to many different emotional places, and that’s what a concert should do.”
In addition to honoring all veterans, the band will spotlight Major Scott Whitting, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran of the Vietnam War who received the Soldier’s Medal and the Bronze Star. Whitting later served in the New York Guard and has long been active as a lifetime member of the Glenwood Fire Company and through other civic roles.
Whitting’s dedication to service will be further recognized in February, when
he receives the Tribute & Honor Foundation’s Legacy Award at its annual gala. The organization, along with The Herald and other local partners, is sponsoring the Nov. 9 concert.
Whitting’s daughter, Carolyn Wilson, said that although her father has become quieter with age, his humor remains a defining part of who he is. “As he’s gotten older, he’s definitely very quiet and introspective, but it’s still there,” she said.
Born in Glen Cove, Whitting grew up in Sea Cliff, where his family operated the original funeral home on Sea Cliff Avenue. He continued the family tradition, while staying deeply committed to local organizations including Kiwanis, the American Legion, and the Glenwood Fire Department.
Wilson said her father volunteered for the Army, becoming a Green Beret medic and a combat paratrooper who worked closely with indigenous communities during his deployment. “He will tell everybody that his fake name is Scott and his real name is Geronimo,” she added.
Whitting turns 83 on Nov. 28.
The Herald is among the event’s community sponsors, supporting the concert’s mission to honor local veterans. Wunsch Arts Center is located at Robert Finley Middle School, 1 Forest Ave., Glen Cove. The venue is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call (516) 3754957 or email helenpbauer@gmail.com
Director Cindy Rosenthal steps up to the challenge of this rarely performed play, based on a story from Chaucer.
By Abbey Salvemini
Shakespeare’s final — and perhaps most overlooked — play steps into the spotlight as “The Two Noble Kinsmen” arrives on Hofstra University’s celebrated Globe stage. Now in its 77th year, the annual Shakespeare Festival invites audiences to experience a production that follows the intense journey of two noble cousins, Palamon and Arcite, whose unbreakable bond is shattered when they fall in love with the same woman.
As the headline production, this tragicomedy sets the tone for a rich, two-week long festival season that includes “What Fools!,” a whimsical, one-hour version of A “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” ideal for children; also Hofstra Collegium Musicum’s concert of Elizabethan and Jacobean music inspired by Shakespeare’s era. Together, these performances promise a dynamic festival experience for audiences of all ages.
Directed by drama professor Dr. Cindy Rosenthal, the production brings to life a powerful story about friendship, competition and the messy realities of love. Whether you’re a Shakespeare devotee or new to his catalogue, this rarely-performed play offers a fresh, thought-provoking look at the Bard.
According to Rosenthal, the decision to produce “The Two Noble Kinsmen” is rooted in its relative obscurity — and its potential. She acknowledges that among her fellow theater historians, not many have studied the play or seen it performed.
“In that there is opportunity,” she says.“We may be the one production of this play that our audience members see. The question is: How can we best present this under-illuminated text by the greatest writer in the history of civilization? Let’s make the most of whatever ways we think it has value and interest. That’s the job.”
She recognizes that taking on the play is a learning curve for both herself and her students. Still, the opportunity to present something rare and meaningful made it worth the challenge.
“We would be able to offer something to our
• Now through Nov. 2
• Tickets are $15, members of the Hofstra community may receive up to two free tickets
• Visit hofstra.universitytickets. com to purchse tickets; more festival information at events. hofstra.edu
• John Cranford Adams Playhouse, South Campus, Hempstead.
audiences that they don’t get to see — and very likely won’t see again in their lifetime.”
She’s particularly interested in exploring the play’s layered emotional dynamics and how they speak to today’s audiences. The staging doesn’t shy away from the text’s “queer sensibility,” which runs throughout, making it an integral part of the storytelling.
This play “absolutely brings forward the value and the strength of same-sex relationships,” Rosenthal says, describing the work (that Shakespeare co-wrote with John Fletcher) as a significant reflection of today’s lineage of queer love.
Hofstra’s Globe stage — considered the most authentic recreation of Shakespeare’s original stage in North America — adds a unique dimension to the production. Rosenthal refers to the stage as “a real phenomenon.”
While she has directed for previous Shakespeare festivals at Hofstra, this is her first time with the Globe replica.
“Performing on the Globe stage makes it feel like we are part of history. It’s a beautiful achievement. Just being able to engage with the set is another part of the experience I look forward to sharing with the students and our audience,” she says.
Guiding her student actors on a play that few had encountered before was both a challenge and a joy for Rosenthal. Among the aspects most interesting to all involved is how the play celebrates love, both heterosexual and queer.
“It does that all the way through the text, both with women and men. Scholars have studied and written about the queer sensibility that permeates this play. I’m excited and the students are excited to explore and bring life to the relationships among the characters,” she adds.
Anthony Avalos, of Roosevelt, is among Rosenthal’s young cast who fully embraces his director’s enthusiasm. Avalos, who does the roles of both a soldier and a knight, declared that his appreciation for the play grew with every reading of it.
“When I actually saw everyone molding these characters, that’s when I really fell in love with the story,” he says.
Rosenthal’s visual approach is designed to blend tradition with fresh interpretation.
“We want to find a way to bridge the gap and to resonate with our own community,” she notes.
Costume choices, for example, were guided by the characters’ journeys and how those stories can connect with audiences today — incorporating playful, contemporary touches into the overall aesthetic.
Rosenthal recalls visiting Hofstra’s Globe to see a performance of “Hamlet,” on a school trip as a student at Jericho High School, The experience, she says, led her to realize just how much she loved and admired both the show and Shakespeare’s language.
“It’s an amazing full-circle moment for me.”
For those who may not know the play — or Shakespeare at all — she invites them to approach it with curiosity, offering a simple message: “Have an open mind.”
The always-enthralling South Shore Symphony invites ghosts and goblins of all ages to its first Halloween Spooktacular at its longtime Madison Theatre home. Music Director and Conductor Adam Glaser leads his musicians — all decked out in costumes — in orchestral favorites. The audience is encouraged to join in the fun by wearing costumes, but are also welcome, of course, to “come as you are.” The spirited program includes six most popular and accessible works. In fact, nearly all of them will be familiar given their usage in movies, television shows and cartoons. For instance, many will instantly recognize the concert’s opening, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice: by French composer Paul Dukas. This piece was the “soundtrack” for the beloved segment in Disney’s “Fantasia.” during which Mickey Mouse plays the role of the apprentice who begins practicing his boss’ magic tricks.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. $35, $30 seniors, $10 students. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 3234444.
Music Director Cristian Macelaru guides the Orchestre National de France on its first U.S. tour in nearly 10 years at Tilles Center, during their brief three-concert tour. Joined by pianist-extraordinaire Daniil Trifonov the orchestra performs repertoires that lie at the core of its identity: Maurice Ravel (to commemorate the 150th anniversary of his birth), Elsa Barraine and Camille SaintSaëns. This masterful program brings the listener on a picturesque journey from start to finish. The programming of Elsa Barraine’s Symphony No. 2 with its gumptous string lines that compliment the playfulness of the work’s structure sits beautifully in the program with Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloé.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
Ghost Walk and Dance Party
Raynham Hall Museum presents Oyster Bay’s Annual Halloween Ghost Walk & Dance Party. Ghouls and goblins of all ages are invited to dress up in costume and enjoy ghostly entertainment, a DJ, food and drink for purchase, and more. The museum is also looking for additional volunteers to help carry their ghostly puppets. Anyone interested in helping can contact info@raynhamhallmuseum.org.
• Where: Oyster Bay High School, 150 E Main St, Oyster Bay
• Time: 5:45-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 922-6808
Converse, collaborate and create with kids at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. 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.
Ted Nash’s Big Band brings the Grammy Award-winning “Presidential Suite” to the Tilles Center stage. This fascinating program pairs historic speeches by figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, and others with bold, jazz-driven orchestrations. With Nash’s thoughtful direction and expressive playing, the hard swinging band offers a powerful and resonant performance that bridges history, music and the spirit of swing. Each movement is tied to a different speech by world leaders, giving the words new resonance through music. Presidential Suite is considered Nash’s most significant work. Inspired by great political speeches of the 20th century dealing with the theme of freedom, it is rich with social and political awareness. It involved a very creative approach; Nash transcribed the speeches for their actual musical pitches and created themes, placing them into contexts that embraced the speakers and the location and era of the speeches. A longtime member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Nash has spent 25 years blending intellect, emotion and bold creativity through his compositions. Acclaimed as one of the most innovative voices in modern jazz, he’s known for his boundless creativity as an arranger and performer. Nash leads multiple innovative projects while remaining at the forefront of the jazz scene with a demanding touring schedule as a core member of the JLCO. From pushing boundaries with the Jazz Composers Collective — of which he’s a co-founder — to appearing on “best-of” lists in the New York Times, The New Yorker and Billboard, Nash continues to redefine what jazz can be. He has that uncanny ability to mix freedom with substance, blues with intellect and risk-taking with clarity.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337 Film Screening
Fall leaf peeping
4
Young explorers aged 6-8 can visit the North Shore Land Alliance, where they will learn about the secret world of trees, admire their vibrant fall colors, and jump into a huge leaf pile. Advance registration is required.
• Where: Wawapek Preserve, 3 Mowbray Lane N., Cold Spring Harbor
• Time: 1-2 p.m.
• Contact: northshorelandalliance.org
‘Build A Better Garden’
Join Friends of the Bay for their November speaker series with Agatha Martello, president of More Than Gardens landscape design at Oyster BayEast Norwich Public Library. Learn about how regenerative gardening and landscaping practices can help restore a yard and the environment.
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County invites all to a special screening of Tatami, followed by a panel discussion and dessert reception. This extraordinary film, directed by Zar Amir and starring Arienne Mandi, delivers a gripping portrayal of integrity under pressure, human resilience, and the strength to stand up for what’s right. $30, $10 students.
• Where : Manhasset Cinemas, 430 Plandome Road, Manhasset
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: hmtcli.org or (516) 571-8040
5 Monthly meditation
• Where: 89 E Main St.
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: friendsofthebay.org
Sands Point Preserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for an evening of nature-based mindfulness and meditation with Hildur Palsdottir, first Thursday monthly. Classes are held in the beautiful rooms of the Preserve’s mansions, or in the Hempstead House Garden when weather permits. Explore techniques specifically aimed at stress reduction. Hildur adapts ancient Buddhist teachings to modern applications for calming the mind.
With transformative practices you will access wisdom and clarity to live a more compassionate life. In addition to facilitating these monthly groups, Hildur offers support with establishing a home meditation practice. No feeling is final. $17 per class.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 6-8 p.m., also Dec. 4
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
First Fridays: Trailblazers: A Habitat and History Hike
Visit Planting Fields park for a guided walking tour through some stunning landscapes Experience the vibrant colors of autumn foliage as you traverse picturesque trails, immersing yourself in the serene beauty of the season. Sustainability Coordinator Rebecca Slagle, will share insights into the ecological significance of the forest and the rich history of the land. This is more than just a leisurely walk; it is an opportunity to appreciate the natural world and understand its intricate balance while enjoying the fall scenery of Planting Fields. $20 per person.
unique chamber music series at Hempstead House, themed “Autumn’s Graceful Waltz.” In a graceful waltz of time, with leaves falling and the light filtering through the trees, like a dream of contentment, autumn is a dance of graceful transition in a masterpiece of color and light. The sonic flavor of Shakuhachi takes everyone to Japan, reminding and transporting all to autumns of the past, where times were slower and rituals of our communities were celebrated. The program features music from the Medieval period to today, performed by duoJalal ensemble-in-residence featuring Kathryn Lockwood, viola and Yousif Sheronick, percussion, with violinists Miho Saegusa and Ben Russell,, cellist Raman Ramakrishnan and Zac Zinger on Shakuhachi With wine reception following. $56, $45 members.
• Where : Hempstead House, 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
• Where: Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
• Where: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 10-11 a.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
Planting Fields Little Learners series continues with an autumn adventure. Start by reading a story all about fall and the trees that make it so beautiful. Then, kids create a festive fall leaf wreath to bring the season home. Afterward, head outside to explore the grounds and search for real fall leaves in every shape, size, and color. It’s a joyful way to welcome autumn through storytelling, creativity, and outdoor exploration! For ages 2-5. Registration required. $15 per child.
• Where: Education Center, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 10-11 a.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
In concert
NOV 9
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the latest edition of its
NOV
Owl Prowl Sands Point Preserve welcomes all to a fascinating evening with these creatures of the night. Learn how to identify owls by sight and sound, and attract these beneficial birds to your own backyard. Then head out to the woods for a very quiet guided night walk in search of owls and other nighttime wildlife. A presenter from the teaches everyone how to develop your night vision – flashlights are not needed! Spaces are limited and registration required.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point.
• Time: 7:30-9 p.m. adults only; also Nov. 14, 7-8:30 p.m., families with children 8+
• 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.
Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12 Not applicable.
13. Publication Title: OYSTER BAY GUARDIAN.
Months, 0; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530.
9 Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor. Publisher: Richner Communications, Inc., Stuart Richner, 2 ENDO BLVD, GARDEN CITY, NY 11530. Editor: WILL SHEELINE 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530. Managing Editor: JEFF BESSEN, 2 ENDO BLVD, GARDEN CITY, NY 11530.
10. Owner: Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530; Clifford Richner, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530; Stuart Richner, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, Nassau County, NY 11530.
11. Known Bondholders,
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORMATION of VAP SUNNYSIDE LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 09/25/2025. Office location: Nassau Co. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to P.O. Box 285, Syosset, NY 11791. Purpose: any lawful purpose 156087
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Francine Slade a/k/a
14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: SEPTEMBER 25, 2025. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total No. Copies: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 4200; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 3700. b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 33; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 32 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 1149; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1096 1061(3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, and Counter Sales, and Other Non-USPS Paid
Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 981; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 784 (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12
Francine A. Slade; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 22, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 12, 2025, at 2:00PM, premises known as 6 Hidden Pond f/k/a part of 206 Brookville Road, Muttontown, NY 11545. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 16 Block B Lot
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0. c. Total Paid Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 2163 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1912 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution( by Mail and Outside the Mail) : (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 755; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 757 (2)Free or Nominal In-County as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies
Mailed at Other classes Mailed Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0. (4) Free or Nominal Rate
Distribution Outside the Mail: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 600; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 500 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 1355; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1257. f. Total Distribution:
1761 formerly part of Lot 1544. Approximate amount of judgment $3,135,146.69 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 011213/2010. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
John P. Clarke, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: September 24, 2025 156184
Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 3518 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 3169 g. Copies Not Distributed: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 682; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 531. h. Total: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 4200; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 3700. i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 61.48 Actual No. Copies of Single Issue
Published Nearest to Filing Date, 60.33%.
16. This Statement of Ownership will be printed in the October 30, 2025, issue of this publication.
17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner Stuart Richner, Owner; Date: October 1, 2025. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material information requested on the form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties). 1322426
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BROUGHAM FUND I TRUST, Plaintiff against ANNABELLA GELBARD, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered August 22, 2025, I will sell at
public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 5 Carol Lane, Glen Head a/k/a Upper Brookville, NY 11545.
Sec 18 Block A Lot 980. 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, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $882,978.90 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608863/2023.
During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Frank Scalera, Esq., Referee File # NY201700000151-1 156177
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of Sale
Supreme Court: Nassau County Point 62 LLC v Carol Gordon et al. Defts Index 605518/2022 Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale filed and entered September 12, 2023 I
will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr. Mineola NY 11501 on November 20, 2025 at 2:00 pm premises known as School District 306 a/k/a BA-6, Section 66, Block 124 Lot 61, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of New York Sold subject to the terms of sale and filed judgment of foreclosure. Bank Checks Only, must be payable to the Referee for 25% of Bid Price, No Cash Accepted. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health and safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Ronald J Ferraro, Esq., Referee 156349
LEGAL NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
JERICHO WATER DISTRICT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that SEALED PROPOSALS for: THE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF WATER SUPPLY PARTS CONTRACT NO. G7-26 will be received by the JERICHO WATER DISTRICT in the Conference Room at 125 Convent Road, Syosset, New York 11791, no later than 9:00 A.M., Prevailing Time on Friday, November 21st, 2025, at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud. Specifications, Proposal and Contract Documents may be examined at the office of the Jericho Water District, 125 Convent Road, Syosset, NY 11791, (516) 921-8280, on and after Friday, October 31st, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M.
Complete digital sets of Bidding Documents and specifications will be available on or after Friday, October 31st, 2025, by emailing jwdinfo@jerichowater. org. The Owner will not be responsible for full or partial sets of the Contract Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the issuing office. All bidders must
obtain a set of the Contract Documents and All Addenda. Each Bidder must complete and submit with their bid the “Iranian Investment Activities Certification” provided in the Bid Form in compliance with General Municipal Law 103-g, Iranian Energy Sector Divestment. Each Bidder must complete and submit with their Bid the “Certification of Compliance with New York State Labor Law Section Two Hundred One-G” provided in the Bid Form regarding the implementation of a written policy addressing sexual harassment prevention in the workplace. Each Bidder is also required to comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of Sections 290-301 of the Executive Law of the State of New York. No bid may be withdrawn until after the expiration of fortyfive (45) calendar days after the date of the opening of the bids. Any withdrawal of a bid must be in writing and actually delivered to the District.
The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive any informality and to accept such bid, in its opinion, is in the best interest of the District.
A public meeting may also be held at the time and place noted above wherein the District will conduct such regular and other business which is properly brought before the Board of Commissioners.
Note: All questions must be submitted, in writing, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14th, 2025. Questions must be sent via email to Peter Logan at plogan@jerichowater.o rg and PJ Ranaldo at pjranaldo@jerichowate r.org.
BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
JERICHO WATER DISTRICT
JAMES ASMUS
SECRETARY
DATED: October 31st, 2025 156551
LEGAL NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
JERICHO WATER DISTRICT WATER SERVICE
GOOSENECK
REPLACEMENT
CONTRACT NO. C7-25
Sealed Bids for Contract No. C7-25 for Water Service Gooseneck Replacement will be received by the Jericho Water District office, located at 125 Convent Road, Syosset, New York until 9:00 a.m. (Local Time), on Friday, November 21, 2025, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.
The scope of work in this on-call contract includes furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and incidentals as necessary for the removal and replacement of water services and associated site restoration throughout the Jericho Water District as needed and as directed by the District. The Contract Documents, consisting of Advertisement for Bids, Instructions to Bidders, Bidder’s Checklist, Bid, Bid Bond, Statement of Surety’s Intent, Agreement, General Conditions, Supplementary Conditions, Payment Bond, Performance Bond, Maintenance Bond, Drawings, Specifications and Addenda may be examined at the following locations: Jericho Water District 125 Convent Road Syosset, NY 11791 D&B Engineers and Architects, D.P.C. 330 Crossways Park Drive Woodbury, NY 11797-2015
Complete digital sets of Bidding Documents, drawings and specifications, will be available on Friday, October 31, 2025 and may be obtained online as a download at the following website: dbea.biddyhq.com under ‘public projects’. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of the Contract Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the issuing office. All bidders must obtain a set of the Contract Documents and All Addenda. Complete sets of Bidding Documents, Drawings and Specifications, may be obtained from REVplans, 28 Church Street, Warwick, New York 10990, Tel: 1 877-272-0216, as a download upon payment of a $100.00
non-refundable bid fee.
Any bidder requiring hard copies of the documents shall make arrangements directly with REV and pay for all reproduction, packaging and shipping costs.
Each Bid must be accompanied by a certified or bank cashier’s check made payable to OWNER, or a Bid Bond issued by a surety licensed to conduct business in the state where the Project is located and having a Best Rating of A- or better from A.M. Best Company and named in the current list of “Companies Holding Certificates of Authority as Sureties on Federal Bonds and as Acceptable Reinsuring Companies” as published in Circular 570 (amended) by the Financial Management Service, Surety Bond Branch, U.S. Department of the Treasury, in an amount not less than five percent of the amount of the Bid submitted.
The list may be ordered from the Government Printing Office Bookstore, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 110, New York, NY 10278, (212) 264-3825.
Each Bidder must complete and submit with their bid the “Iranian Investment Activities Certification” provided in the Bid Form in compliance with General Municipal Law 103-g, Iranian Energy Sector Divestment.
Each Bidder must complete and submit with their Bid the “Certification of Compliance with New York State Labor Law
Section Two Hundred One-G” provided in the Bid Form regarding the implementation of a written policy addressing sexual harassment prevention in the workplace.
The Bidder to whom the OWNER proposes to award the Contract will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds and the necessary insurance certificates as prescribed in the General Conditions and the Supplementary Conditions upon the execution of the Agreement within ten (10) days of the Notice of Award.
Bidders are required to execute a non-collusive bidding certification required by Section 103-d of the General Municipal Law of the
State of New York.
The attention of Bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to the conditions of employment to be observed and the minimum wage rates to be paid under the contracts. All contractors and their subcontractors must be registered with the NYS Bureau of Public Work and Prevailing Wage Enforcement prior to submitting a bid and evidence of registration submitted with the bid.
Bidders are also required to comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of Sections 290-301 of the Executive Law of the State of New York.
The OWNER reserves the right to reject any or all of the Bids received, to readvertise for Bids, to abandon the project, to waive any or all informalities in any Bid received and to accept any proposal which the OWNER decides to be for the best interest of the OWNER.
Note: All questions must be submitted, in writing, to Frank Merklin, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Questions must be sent via email to fmerklin@db-eng.com.
Board of Commissioners
Jericho Water District Date: October 31, 2025
By: James Asmus, Secretary 156552
LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
INC. VILLAGE OF LAUREL HOLLOW -BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing and meeting will be held by and before the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Inc. Village of Laurel Hollow, Nassau County, New York, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. at the Village Hall, 1492 Laurel Hollow Road, Laurel Hollow, NY to consider the following:
ZV1-2025: The public hearing on the application of Charles Towers to maintain a detached garage at 1230 Moore’s Hill Road, Laurel Hollow, NY where the proposed structure does not comply with the following section of the Laurel Hollow Zoning Code:
1.An accessory building
or structure having a building area of more than 500 square feet up to 1,000 square feet shall be set back at least 50 feet from every lot line not abutting a street according to Section 145-5 B. (2) of The Laurel Hollow Zoning Code. The 216 square foot garage is proposed to be maintained with a 33.9 foot set back from the rear yard property line. This property is designated as Section 26 Block C Lot 2096 on the Land and Tax Map of Nassau County.
ZV6-2025: The public hearing on the application of Christopher Stoddard on behalf of Bradley Igel to expand existing residence, install a second curb-cut, increase prior nonconforming lot coverage, and increase prior-non-conforming combined area of accessory buildings and structures at 20 Vista Drive, Laurel Hollow, NY where the proposed structures do not comply with the following sections of the Laurel Hollow Zoning Code:
1.According to Section 145-5 A. (1) (b) of the Laurel Hollow Zoning Code, the combined area of all accessory buildings and structures, excluding the principal building, shall not exceed 10% of the lot area (8,716 square feet). The existing combined area of all accessory buildings on site is 15.54% (13,545 square feet, which exists without the benefit of having received a prior variance) and the applicant proposes to increase the combined area of all accessory structures to 15.56% (13,560 square feet).
2.According to Section 145-5 A. (1) (d) of the Laurel Hollow Zoning Code, the total surface coverage shall not exceed 20% of the lot area (17,431 square feet). The existing surface coverage is 27.26% (23,930 square feet, which exists without the benefit of having received a prior variance) and the applicant proposes to increase the surface coverage to 29.27% (25,508 square feet).
3.According to Section 145-5 D. (4) of the Laurel Hollow Zoning Code, the maximum floor area ratio shall be .09 (7,944.2 square feet). The proposed residence has a floor
area ratio of .095 (8,309.4 square feet). This property is designated as Section 25 Block 64 Lot 14 on the Land and Tax Map of Nassau County. By Order of the Board of Zoning Appeals Russell Mohr, Chairman October 20, 2025 156550
LEGAL NOTICE
INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF LAUREL HOLLOW
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Laurel Hollow shall, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter, conduct a public hearings relative to the following:
“Introductory Local Law F-2025, a local law to amend Section 38-6, PENALTIES AND OFFENSES within Chapter 38 entitled Dogs Said public hearings shall be held at the Village Hall, 1492 Laurel Hollow Road, Laurel Hollow, New York. Copies of said local law will be available for review at the Village Hall during normal business hours.
By Order of the Board of Trustees Cathryn Hillmann Clerk-Treasurer Dated:October 22, 2025 156549
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPPLEMENTAL CITATION
SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY
By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO:Nicole Karis, Estate of Nancy Barry
A petition having been duly filed by Public Administrator of Nassau County, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York 11501, United States. YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on December 3, 2025 at 9:30 o’clock in the fore noon of that day, why the Petition To Deposit with the Nassau County Treasurer by the Public Administrator of Nassau County, a copy of which has been
Dear Great Book Guru, Is there any time more beautiful in Sea Cliff than autumn?
The light is perfectly diffused, the homes are bathed in magical colors, and the streets are abuzz with excitement- fairs, festivals, socials… Do you have a good book for me to read that captures this season?
Fall Fanatic
Dear Fall Fanatic,
While I’m not sure this book captures all the joys of Fall, it is a great book and not to be missed: “Clean” by Alia Trabucco Zeran, an international prize-winning Chilean author.
ing up to the death. Estela goes back and forth over the nine years of her employment - the birth of the child, the marital difficulties of the parents, the child’s mysterious behavior, the indiscretions of the adults, and the many familial secrets that she has uncovered. We also learn about her mother, her early life in a remote rural village, and her overwhelming desire to return home.
The story is told in the first person by Estela, a young housekeeper who was hired nine years before. Her employersreferred to only as Senor and Senorahave one child and we learn on the first page the child has died, and Estela is being questioned about the events lead-
Throughout, we see the class differences that impact Estela’s daily existence plus the power her employers exert over her. She is a decidedly unreliable narrator, but our sympathies lie with her as we try to solve the mysterious death that is at the heart of this novel. A troubling but highly recommended read.
Would you like to ask the Great Book Guru for a book suggestion? Contact her at annmdipietro@gmail.com.
Thousands of oyster shells were collected during the weekend of the Oyster Festival, which will be recycled through the Town of Oyster Bay’s Shell Recycling Program. The shells, amounting to roughly 3,500 pounds, are transported by town aqua culturists to a curing facility, where they will remain for several months prior to being strategically returned to the harbor to assist in the
growth of new shellfish.
Shells provide an excellent source of habitat for young shellfish to grow and mature, offering protection from weather conditions and predators.
Any restaurant owner interested in partnering with the town on the Shell Recycling Program can visit OysterBayTown.com/shellrecycling for more information.
served herewith, as Administrator of the Estate of Rosemary Barry, should not be granted.
[X] Further relief sought (if any): Nicole Karis’s distributive share in the amount of $ 79,121.29, plus applicable interest, and Nancy Barry’s distributive share in the amount of $ 79,121.29, plus applicable interest, less $75.00 representing the Court’s mandatory fee to file the Petition and less related administration costs in this proceeding, be deposited with the Nassau County Treasurer pursuant to SCPA § 2223.
Dated, Attested, and
Sealed, HON. Rhonda E. Fischer Rhonda E. Fischer, Acting Surrogate October 23, 2025 (Seal) s/ Debra Keller Leimbach
Chief Clerk
Richard T. Kerins, Esq. Print Name of Attorney Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC Firm Name (516) 538-1111 Telephone 254 Nassau Boulevard South, Garden City South, New York 11530
Address
NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to
appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney 156553
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE FOR FORMATION of a limited liability company (LLC). The name of the limited liability company is LV ROSS III, LLC. The date of filing of the articles of organization with the Department of State was September 16, 2025. The County in New York in which
the office of the company is located is Nassau. The Secretary of State has been designated as agent of the company upon whom process may be served, and the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the company served upon him or her to The LLC, 2 Morris Lane, Oyster Bay Cove, New York 11771. The business purpose of the company is to engage in any and all business activities permitted under the laws of the State of New York. 155960
president Trump’s achievement of reaching an agreement to end the two-year war in Gaza is a truly historic moment. It is a tribute to Trump’s leadership, and to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s determination to stand firm against an amalgam of critics ranging from the simply misinformed to virulent anti-Israel and/or antisemitic voices.
The return of the hostages who are still alive and the enactment of a ceasefire are critical and monumental. Even more significant in the quest for a lasting peace is how the major Arab nations, and a leading nonArab Muslim country like Turkey, have lined up against Hamas. Trump capped off the significance of the moment by delivering a fiery speech to the Israeli Knesset before jetting to Egypt for a Gaza agreement signing ceremony with the Arab leaders and President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.
Just months ago, all this would have been deemed improbable, if not impossible. But as important as these monumental steps are, they are only first
steps. Much difficult work remains for Trump’s overall plan to succeed.
Who will carry out the weapons inspections to ensure that Hamas has fully disarmed? How and when will a transition government for Gaza, without Hamas, be formed?
Which of the nations will provide the troops for the peacekeeping force that will maintain the agreement? How much will it cost to rebuild Gaza? All of these questions are real, but should not be allowed to derail the agreement, which has provided the greatest opportunity for real peace since Israel’s creation as a nation state in 1948.
But any reluctance to remain fully engaged will incentivize Hamas.
ist organization is fanatical and suicidal, and will take whatever disruptive action it can. If it refuses to show evidence of complete disarmament, the United States must support the Israel Defense Forces going in to forcibly take away Hamas’s weapons. If Arab nations don’t provide the necessary troops for the international peacekeeping force, Trump must do what he does best, and bring to bear whatever pressure is required for them to live up to their obligations.
Trump will have to stand strong behind the agreement that he formulated and brought to fruition. It is clearly in America’s national interest to make it work. The president will have to resist the anti-Israel/antisemitic attacks and the isolationist rants from uninformed elements in his MAGA base. Any reluctance to remain fully engaged will incentivize Hamas and lead to the crumbling of Arab nations’ support for the agreement.
Now that we are so fully engaged, the United States cannot afford to back away. Hamas realizes that if this agreement survives, Hamas won’t. The terror-
As for bringing together a Hamas-free transition entity, the United States must work with Israel and other key regional countries to have our intelligence agencies coordinate an effective vetting process to ensure that Hamas does not infiltrate the transitional governing body that must be created. Trump would be well advised to work with Britain’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair throughout this process, and make use of his proven diplomatic and peacekeeping abilities. Rebuilding Gaza is essential. Gaza is wrecked, much of it reduced to rubble. Rebuilding it seems insurmountable. But so did rebuilding Germany and Japan after World War II. The United States realized that it was in our national and economic interests to have those coun-
Ltries rebuilt and stabilized, and formulated the Marshall Plan to coordinate the rebuilding of Germany. In Japan, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was given the power to create a democratic government and a free economy. With American leadership, these two nations created strong democratic societies while rebuilding their countries with vibrant economies. None of this came easy. President Harry Truman had to fight off resistance from isolationists and remnants of the discredited America First movement, which had kept the United States from being fully prepared for World War II. Truman was able to effectuate this by coordinating efforts with national security-minded Republicans to rebuild Europe and establish NATO, which, over the course of four decades, deterred Soviet aggression, overwhelmed the Russian economy and led to the collapse of the Communist government there, the disintegration of the Iron Curtain and the liberation or Eastern Europe’s captive nations. Today’s isolationists have no sense of history, and naively claim that “nation building” must be disregarded. Trump must stand firm behind his Gaza agreement and solidify his position in history as a true peacemaker.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
one was a doozy
ong Island is a populous region. It is estimated to have a combined two-county population of just under 3 million people. The island boasts many famous names, including Billy Joel and Billy Crystal. One name that keeps cropping up, not in the category of highly respected people, is that of former U.S. Rep. George Santos a wellknown regional figure for all the wrong reasons. In August 2024 Santos pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and identify theft. In April he was sentenced to seven years in a federal prison — and Long Islanders were able to turn their attention to other, more serious matters. That was so until two Fridays ago, when President Trump announced in a Truth Social post that he was issuing a commutation of Santos’s sentence. Sadly, within hours, Santos was freed from prison after having served less than three months.
There aren’t many news items that
can jolt Long Islanders, but that commutation hit many like a ton of bricks. For the better part of 2024, the media had had a field day with Santos. While he had been a member of Congress, representing the Island’s North Shore, friends from as far away as Florida and California flooded my phone with inquiries about whether I knew Santos, and what he was like. Other than being familiar with his name and the allegations, I was glad that our paths never crossed.
During my many years on earth I have heard of hundreds of pardons and commutations, issued by presidents and governors, but very few have stunned me like this one. I can cite name after name of people who have benefited from this variety of kindness. Presidents of both parties have pardoned or commuted the sentences of such famous names as the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, and Patty Hearst. Any American with a knowledge of history knows of President Gerald Ford’s pardon of the disgraced President Richard Nixon. The first recorded act of American governmental discretion was the amnes-
N ot many news items jolt Long Islanders, but George Santos’s pardon did.
ty issued to participants in the Whiskey Rebellion in the early 1790s. George Washington granted relief to those who were convicted. Bill Clinton pardoned financier Marc Rich and Roger Clinton, his half- brother. President Biden issued a blanket pardon of a number of members of his family. To date, Trump has pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than a dozen present or former public officials.
So what’s the big deal about George Santos? No figure from our region has been the subject of so much public scorn from so many people in both political parties. Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman and County Chair Joe Cairo both called for Santos’s expulsion from Congress. Wellknown Democrats including Congress members Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen asked for similar action.
Regrettably, Santos has become the poster boy for conduct that we have never experienced in our fairly closeknit community. His exaggerations about his record, when he presented himself to the Island’s voters, are now part of our political folklore. He claimed so many false things about his life that
there are too many to recite in one column. But his mistruths eventually caught up with him, and he wound up being sentenced to federal prison. Santos’s release following his presidential gift continued to attract political scorn from Republican Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota, who were among those who had called for his expulsion from the House. Since he was released, he has claimed that he would consider becoming a “prison reform” advocate. Absent proof in the future, his post-prison remarks very much resemble his original exaggerations.
Those of us who live in the political world are very cognizant of the quality of the people who sign their sworn oath of office and promise to abide by the Constitution of our republic. We ask that they be true to us in order to gain our trust. They sometimes stray from their path, but most of them toe the line and don’t ignore their pledge to America.
Santos was a big disappointment, and all of Long Island regrets the leniency he was given that he didn’t deserve.
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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Copyright
When disaster strikes — from Amityville to Alaska — the American Red Cross answers the call. It’s one of the most recognized humanitarian organizations in the world, yet its reach is often most powerful in our own neighborhoods.
On Long Island, the Red Cross stands as a beacon of compassion and readiness, providing aid when emergencies leave families shattered and communities reeling.
The Red Cross exists to meet human need, fast. Whether it’s a house fire in Baldwin, flooding in Freeport or a snowstorm that knocks out power across Nassau and Suffolk counties, the American Red Cross on Long Island mobilizes within hours to provide food, blankets and shelter. The organization’s volunteers are often the first to arrive and the last to leave. They help displaced families find stability, deliver health services and connect victims with longer-term recovery resources.
Beyond disaster relief, the Red Cross supports hospital networks and local blood drives, trains residents in lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, and educates communities about home safety. Perhaps its most impactful local program is the Sound the Alarm campaign, in which free smoke alarms are installed in homes
across Long Island. These simple devices have saved hundreds of lives nationwide and dozens here at home — tangible proof that prevention is just as important as emergency response.
The organization’s effectiveness stems from its people. Across Nassau and Suffolk, the Red Cross is powered by volunteers from all walks of life — doctors who lend their expertise in medical emergencies, retired police officers who bring calm to chaos and educators who teach safety preparedness in schools.
Among them is Jennifer Keane, athletic director and trainer in the Wantagh School District. Keane was one of the Long Island chapter’s heroes for helping to save the life of referee Joe Gaskin at a Nassau County boys’ basketball finals game in March. With a medical team administering CPR and Keane using an automated external defibrillator, they revived Gaskin after he collapsed. Keane stayed by his side, reassuring him and helping to calm him as he regained consciousness.
The results speak for themselves. Every year the American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters nationwide. In the Greater New York region that includes Long Island, the organization responds to roughly 2,300 emergencies each year, from building collapses to home fires to flooding.
The shutdown is ‘malpractice’ by both parties
To the Editor:
Re U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s op-ed in last week’s issue, “How does this shutdown finally end?”: The question should be, How was this made to happen from the beginning? We have military personnel serving and not getting paid. We have air traffic controllers and other federal employees working and not getting paid. Yet we have a Congress not working and getting paid.
Are they truly representing the people, or their party affiliations and their own selfish interests?
When leverage is discussed, it isn’t about the people affected, but the perception of which party thinks it has the upper hand. We have politicians who, when they were the majority party, were for continuing resolutions, and now, because they are the minority party, are against them. How much damage of people’s personal lives are they willing to hold out for?
There are issues that should be discussed, but shutting down the government isn’t the way to go about it. This is not only an embarrassment, but a disgraceful malpractice committed by both parties toward the citizens of this country.
Thanks to those smoke alarm installations, the Red Cross has prevented tragedies before they could happen.
These outcomes ripple far beyond the crises at hand. Each act of service strengthens community resilience, teaching residents how to prepare for the next emergency and ensuring that no one faces it alone. The Red Cross model proves that organized compassion, backed by training and teamwork, can turn heartbreak into hope.
The success of that mission depends on all of us. You don’t need a medical degree or a uniform to make a difference. You can join a disaster response team, train to install smoke alarms, or simply contribute funds to support relief efforts. Every dollar, every hour volunteered helps save lives and restore dignity to those in need.
When a crisis strikes, the Red Cross shows that humanity’s greatest strength lies in our willingness to help. On Long Island, it’s not just an organization; it’s a community of neighbors ready to act. In moments of disaster, the Red Cross doesn’t just respond. It reminds us who we are — a region, and a nation, defined by generosity, courage and the unyielding belief that no one should face tragedy alone.
To learn more or to become a Long Island volunteer, call (516) 747-3500, or go to RedCross.org.
election season is a fitting time to take stock — not only of what our leaders have and have not done, but also of what we have tolerated from them, and from ourselves.
Truth be told, there’s an unease in the air — not just about elections or economics, but about something deeper: the slow erosion of trust, the hardening of contempt, the growing sense that truth itself has become negotiable. These aren’t the hallmarks of a confident democracy. They’re the early shadows of something dangerous. When people hear the word “totalitarian,” they imagine parades and police states, not school boards or town councils. But the most enduring form of authoritarianism doesn’t arrive with tanks; it creeps in through the corrosion of truth-telling, respect and shared responsibility. Totalitarianism, in its embryonic stage, works to silence disagreement, to treat opponents as enemies, to bend institutions toward personal or partisan ends. It begins when loyalty to a leader becomes more prized than integrity, and when public life becomes less about dialogue than domination.
That, increasingly, is the shadow stretching across our civic landscape. We are losing the antibodies that protect us from tyranny.
At the federal level, we’ve seen the guardrails of restraint weaken. Laws once thought firm are now bent to accommodate personal power. Agencies created to serve the public are recast as instruments of political loyalty. Facts — about elections, pandemics or climate — are recast as matters of opinion. At the state level, officials redraw district maps to predetermine election outcomes, Boards of Education decide which books and histories may be taught. The civic contract — our shared assumption that good-faith debate is possible — is fraying.
iruption scandal fades because “they all do it.” Cynicism replaces vigilance. And soon the line between disappointment and danger blurs.
t begins when loyalty to a leader becomes more prized that integrity.
The response to this drift isn’t louder slogans or angrier partisanship. It’s reclaiming the daily practices of citizenship. Voting is one, but only one. Equally vital are reading beyond sources that simply echo what we already believe, defending the legitimacy of local journalism and supporting honest education even when it challenges our comfort. It means expecting integrity from leaders — not because they share our ideology, but because they serve the public.
anism is no friend to those, either. Where power consolidates, corruption follows. Unpredictable governance and politicized law breed instability. Investors and entrepreneurs, like citizens, rely on the predictability of fair rules. When those rules are warped by loyalty or fear, commerce and civic peace both suffer.
The defense of democratic institutions isn’t a liberal or conservative cause; it’s a stability cause. It is in everyone’s self-interest to preserve the conditions in which disagreement remains peaceful, contracts remain reliable and the law applies equally.
Even in our towns and neighborhoods, the tone has changed. School board meetings devolve into shouting matches. Civic volunteers are harassed. Journalists and teachers second-guess whether candor is worth the backlash. Citizens withdraw, exhausted, convinced that their voices no longer matter.
History teaches that authoritarianism rarely arrives announced. It spreads through small acts of indifference. A lie goes unchallenged because correcting it seems tedious. A cruel remark passes as “just politics.” A cor-
To the Editor:
I loved Randi Kreiss’s column last week, “Returning to autumn in New York, 2025.” I grew up in Woodmere myself. We lived off West Broadway, on a little dead-end street called Crestwood Road. The street contains some seven houses. Four guys, including me, who grew up there still get together for lunch now and then.
I graduated from George W. Hewlett High School in 1957, and remember Woodmere Dock and the rowboat rentals. I remember it as Simon’s dock. Thanks for the memories, Randi!
KEN WALKER
Amityville
To the Editor:
Thanks to Jordan Vallone for her recent column, “My grief for my late grandma is love imploding.” I’m now 79 years young, but still miss my Harry and Nanny, my Bronx maternal grandparents. That bond is unbreakable. Thanks to what they gave me, I now have a similar bond with my youngest grandson, Jackson, 5. One way to honor the departed loved ones is to pass the love on. This makes the days with the little guy very special. So I hope Vallone enjoys and rejoices in the memories of her grandmother. Such wonderful relationships make the world a better place.
RICK HERMAN Lido Beach
That same principle applies to law enforcement and border security. A nation must protect its citizens, but it must also protect its character. The rule of law loses its legitimacy when it is enforced with cruelty or indifference to human dignity.
We can also reclaim the moral vocabulary that once anchored our public life — words like decency, fairness, humility and truth. These aren’t partisan terms; they are the language of citizenship. They’re the quiet, everyday antidotes to authoritarian temptation.
Some people hear warnings about democracy’s decline and shrug. They prefer to focus on tangible things: business, markets, growth. Yet authoritari-
Ordinary citizenship takes courage — the courage to insist on truth when it’s inconvenient, to practice civility when it’s unfashionable, to defend fairness even when it costs us something. The survival of democracy has always depended on the willingness of ordinary people to do the unglamorous work of maintaining it.
The future of this country won’t be decided by the loudest voices; it will be decided by those who keep faith with the idea of shared citizenship. The health of our democracy doesn’t depend on who holds office next year; it depends on whether we still believe, collectively, that truth and decency are worth defending.
Michael Blitz is professor emeritus of interdisciplinary studies at the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Liz Luciano & Jean Marie Stalzer of The Luciano Stalzer Team
We are excited to share that we have rejoined Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty. This move marks a new chapter for us, partnering with a brokerage that reflects our commitment to innovation and exceptional service at every price point.
Daniel Gale’s Sotheby’s International Realty’s elevated marketing, powerful brand, and extensive resources allow us to serve our clients at an even higher level while continuing to deliver the personalized attention you’ve always known us for.
As trusted North Shore real estate advisors, we bring local expertise, proven results, and a team advantage, offering thoughtful guidance every step of the way. Backed by Daniel Gale’s trusted network and international reach, we’re proud to help our clients achieve their real estate goals with confidence.
Thank you for joining us on this exciting new journey.
c.516.641.4420
elizabethluciano@danielgale.com
c.516.509.7564
jeanmariestalzer@danielgale.com
