Rockville Centre Herald 10-30-225

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

HERALD

far left, Sophia grunfield, Rory Zukerman and Malachi Burns-Sharoff.

South Side honors students for their musical excellence

By ALySSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Four South Side High School students have been named All-State musicians. Seniors Malachi Burns-Sharoff, Rory Zukerman and James Herard, all 17, and junior Sophia Grunfield, 16, will showcase their talents at the 2025 New York State School Music Association Winter Conference in Rochester in December.

Burns-Sharoff plays the keyboard percussion otherwise known as percussion mallet. “I originally played clarinet,” he said. “I got to middle school, and they needed someone to cover a mallet percussion, which has the same layout as a piano, and because I knew how piano worked, I got drafted for that. And

so I’ve just been doing that ever since. In high school I taught myself the other areas of percussion — snare drum, bass drum, timpani — so now I can cover all of them.”

Burns-Sharoff plans to double major in musical performance and either film studies or political science in college though he doesn’t know where yet. “I think it’s good to get into music because there’s a community around it, and I think it’s a very positive and inspiring community, and it … helps you better yourself,” he said.

Zukerman is a bass clarinetist. “I started playing clarinet in fourth grade,” he recalled. “That was the instrument I picked, and then when I got to middle school, I got the offer to do bass clarinet instead, and I Continued on page 11

MSSN hosts annual Soirée

Rockville Centre resident Jeffrey J. Feil is honored for his contributions

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Nearly 350 supporters gathered for Mount Sinai South Nassau’s annual Soirée Under the Stars gala earlier this month, raising nearly $900,000 to support the hospital’s efforts to expand cardiovascular services for residents of Nassau County’s South Shore.

WHeld at The Lannin in Eisenhower Park on Oct. 4, the event marked the launch of Bringing Heart Home, a $5 million, three-year philanthropic campaign to fund infrastructure and technology for the hospital’s cardiac surgical program. The effort will also support the expansion of interventional cardiology with an additional cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology lab and a new CT-angiography lab. Net proceeds from the gala, estimated at $734,000, will help fund the initiative.

e are grateful to all of those who attended, who donated and who made it happen.

WAyNE LIpToN Advisory

ral Heart of the Hospital award to longtime donor and Rockville Centre resident Jeffrey J. Feil. The hospital’s largest individual donor, Feil has pledged more than $17 million in recent years through personal contributions and the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust established by his late parents, Gertrude and Louis Feil. at the event, Anthony Cancellieri, co-chair of the hospital’s Advisory Board, announced an additional $1 million pledge from Feil to expand the hospital’s Physical Therapy Center, for patients recovering from surgery.

Board member

The evening included the presentation of MSSN’s inaugu-

“Jeffrey Feil continues to support Mount Sinai South Nassau because he believes in our mission to bring world-leading care directly to the South Shore, so patients and their families don’t have to travel to Manhattan or to the North Shore for advanced procedures,” Dr. Adhi Sharma, the hospital’s president, said. “We are deeply grateful to him and Continued on page 7

Local author unearths lost history of LI

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Local author Richard Panchyk shared stories of Long Island’s forgotten past during a talk at the Phillips House Museum, highlighting his latest book, “Lost Long Island,” and shedding light on the vanished landmarks and legacies of the region.

Panchyk’s presentation and novel dug deep into Long Island’s buried history, with a particular focus on once-thriving places that have since disappeared.

One of the major stories Panchyk shared was the once-dominant sport of polo on Long Island, centered at the Meadowbrook Club.

“Polo used to be the sport of Long Island,” he said. “It was a tremendously popular sport, and it was because of the Hempstead Plains.”

Panchyk detailed the scale of the events, which attracted thousands of spectators, including dignitaries like Teddy Roosevelt. “Traffic would be snarled. There would be 20,000-plus people at these matches sometimes,” he said.

The most famous player was Tommy Hitchcock Jr., dubbed “the Babe Ruth of polo.” He was even the inspiration for Tom Buchanan in “The Great Gatsby.”

The Meadowbrook Club closed in its original location in 1953, and the land has since been developed, with industrial buildings and gas stations sitting where thousands of people once used to gather for polo.

Another surprising layer of Long Island’s past Panchyk explored was its pivotal role in the early days of American auto racing. While few people associate the Island with professional racing today, it was once home to the groundbreaking Vanderbilt Cup races, organized by William K. Vanderbilt Jr.

Kelsie Radziski/Herald

Richard Panchyk, author of ‘Lost Long Island,’ spoke at the Phillips House Museum about the lesser known history of Long Island on Oct. 1.

The inaugural race in 1904 drew crowds from around the country and sped through local towns like Hicksville, Jericho and Hempstead, looping into Queens. With no racetracks in existence, cars competed on dusty, unpaved public roads at speeds that rarely exceeded 30 miles per hour.

“These cars were futuristic-looking for their time, but it was incredibly dangerous,” Panchyk explained.

“There were crashes, and sadly, both spectators and drivers lost their lives.”

To make racing safer, Vanderbilt helped construct the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1908 — the first road in America designed exclusively for automobiles. Stretching from Queens to Suffolk County, it later became a vital part of the Island’s development.

Today, remnants of the parkway can still be seen in places like Eisenhower Park, and one of its former toll houses now serves as the Garden City Chamber of Commerce. “You can still walk a few miles of the original route,” Panchyk said.

One of the most unique elements of lost Long Island history that Panchyk highlighted was Camp Mills, a massive military training base built in East Garden City in 1917.

“In the space of three years, it went from nothing to nothing,” he said. “But in between, it helped win a war.”

The camp trained more than 500,000 American soldiers for service in World War I before it was entirely dismantled by 1920. “They put up an entire city, practically overnight, and then it disappeared just as fast,” he said. No traces of it remain today.

The event also touched on the Island’s place in aviation history. Panchyk described how the Hempstead Plains served as a launchpad for aviation pioneers like Glenn Curtiss, Harriet Quimby and eventually Charles Lindbergh, who departed from Roosevelt Field in 1927 for his historic solo flight across the Atlantic.

Panchyk spoke at the Phillips House as part of the Long Island Authors Speaker Series. To learn more about the next speaker and future events through the Rockville Centre Historical Society, visit RVCHS.org. To learn more about Panchyk’s novels and past, visit Panchyk.com.

Faith meets force in police meet-and-greet

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Residents had the chance to meet local officers, explore police equipment and learn about careers in law enforcement during the annual National Faith and Blue Weekend event, aimed at strengthening community-police relationships.

“It’s an annual event where the police department partners with houses of worship in a collaborative manner or collaborative fashion, to have a collective event where the community can engage with the police in a positive way,” Detective Lieutenant James Pettenato said.

Officers set up interactive stations in the parking lot of St. Agnes Cathedral showcasing gear and equipment used in day-to-day law enforcement operations. A wide range of tools were on display to help residents better understand the department’s work.

“We bring all of the cool and exciting gadgets and gizmos over the police department now, and that way the community can see the police, see what we have, the tools of the trade,” Pettenato said. “It’s a positive atmosphere here, but if they need us when maybe things are not so positive, they’re comfortable to reach out.”

Beyond fostering dialogue, the event served as a career exploration opportunity for attendees of all ages.

“We have opportunities to learn about more jobs at the police department,” the officer added. “There are other lesser known jobs, such as a police medic, a police mechanic, school

crossing guard. We have the Explorer Youth Program, which is a co-ed youth program for young adults aged 14 to 21.”

Spot, the robot dog from Boston Dynamics, was one of the event’s standout attractions. The department primarily uses the robot for reconnaissance, as it is equipped with various cameras and a gripper arm similar to their bomb squad robot. However, Spot is limited in its lifting capacity, able to carry only about 30 pounds, making it better suited for light-duty tasks rather than heavy recovery operations.

The robot can also be outfitted with radiation detectors and five-gas meters, allowing it to be deployed into hazardous environments, such as warehouse spills or potential bomb threats, without putting officers at risk. While it can drag a person in emergencies, it is not ideal for full recovery situations due to its limited strength.

As one of the department’s newest tools, Spot is still being worked into the regular equipment rotation. The system is considered intuitive, though some personnel still prefer using the older robots or simply putting on a protective suit for certain situations. Despite this, Spot remains a crowd favorite at events like this one, where the technology can be showcased in a more approachable and engaging setting.

With families exploring patrol vehicles, robotics, and educational booths, the event brought an upbeat, approachable face to policing — and gave community members a deeper understanding of the tools and people who serve them.

South Side Middle School kids give back

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

South Side Middle School students made a difference with a variety of donations given to the Beacon House, a shelter and service agency for unhoused military veterans in Nassau and Suffolk counties, just ahead of Veteran’s Day in November.

The donation collection was a result of an extensive lesson on Sept. 11 that carried through the weeks to emphasize the impact of the attacks on the surrounding communities and show students how they can still help today.

“As Rockville Centre is a community that was heavily impacted by the catastrophe of September 11, the 7th grade ELA team commemorates the sacrifice of those lost by teaching the students about the events of the day and the acts of service that were inspired on that day,” Jennifer Monsour, a teacher at the school who spearheads the collection, said.

Students begin the lesson by watching a video titled “Spirit of Volunteerism: 9/11 and Beyond.” Monsour said the film shows “how some people impacted by the loss on Sept. 11 responded to the tragedy by turning their anguish into something more by helping others.”

The students also read about Monsour’s friend, firefighter Stephen Siller, “who gave his life that day in the South Tower and whose family turned their pain into the Tunnel to Towers foundation which provides funds for catastrophically injured servicemen and women, firefighters and police and their families.”

To connect the lesson to their own lives, students were asked to complete an act of service. Options include participating in the Tunnel to Towers 5K run, creating thank-you cards for veterans at the Beacon House, donating requested items to the shelter or design-

ing their own service project with teacher approval.

“We have an established relationship with the Beacon House, and each year we speak with them to ask what their specific needs are at the time of the donation drive,” Monsour said. “This year they were in need of paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, coffee, shelf-stable milk and creamer, coffee makers and coffee cups so that is what the kids brought in.”

Monsour said many students participated in the Tunnel to Towers run in New York City, while others “ran bake sales to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers foundation.”

The goal of the assignment, Monsour said, is to explore the question: “How can one event inspire people to become agents of service who help to improve their community?”

“The Middle School cultivates a culture of kindness and service,” Monsour added. “The MYP program has a community service component that the 8th graders fulfill every year and this project helps set the groundwork for things they might like to do the following year.”

The lesson, which has been taught for about seven years, continues to inspire students to honor both the heroes of Sept. 11 and “the everyday heroes who make a difference in our lives today,” Monsour said.

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Crime watCh

arrest

On Oct. 23 at 6:18 am, Christopher Y. Na, age 35 of Vernon Boulevard in Astoria, NY, was arrested in the vicinity of Cedar Avenue after an investigation into his suspicious behavior resulted in the discovery of eight active bench warrants. Additionally, Na was found to be in possession of three different controlled substances.

COmmerCiaL burgLary

On Oct. 23 at 5:35 am, the manager of Rockville Centre Smoke ‘n Vape on North Village Avenue reported that an unknown subject broke through the front door with a hammer and stole the cash register before fleeing.

FataL aided

On Oct. 20 at 6:34 am, a North Centre Avenue resident was discovered deceased in her residence

On Oct. 20 at 3:05 pm, a Windsor Avenue resident was discovered deceased in her residence.

On Oct. 25 at 3:41 am, a male walking on the train tracks east of the LIRR station was struck and killed by an eastbound train. MTA police arrived on scene and took over the investigation.

LarCeny

On Oct. 21 at 5:27 pm, a North Village Avenue resident reported that tools were stolen from the toolbox of his truck while it was parked in the vicinity of Tap Room.

Leaving the sCene

On Oct. 23 at 7:53 am, a Hendrickson Avenue resident reported being involved in a motor vehicle accident on Merrick Road and the other motorist fled the scene.

LOst prOperty

On Oct. 20 at 11:25 am, a Cash Lane resident reported losing her handicap parking permit.

On Oct. 23 at 9:00 am, a Jefferson Avenue resident reported his motorcycle license plate was missing.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

Fire watCh

The Rockville Centre Fire Department is always looking for help in serving our community. If you live here or in any one of the adjacent communities and are interested in joining or just

October 19 – October 26

General Alarms – 5

Still Alarms – 7

Rescue – 12

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 58

Mutual Aid Fire – 1

Mutual Aid Rescue – 0

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 1

Total – 84

have questions, please visit any firehouse on Sunday mornings and speak with one of the officers or call (516) 6789320. For emergencies dial 911 or (516) 766-0400.

Year To Date

General Alarms – 383

Still Alarms – 245 Rescue – 151

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 1946

Mutual Aid Fire – 64

Mutual Aid Rescue – 1

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 8

Total – 2798

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HERALD spotlight

RVC Little League closes out its fall season

Lister Field played host to the Rockville Centre Little League as four teams — Team Dunphy, Team Nilsen, Team Lam and Team Schwartz — played two games on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Team Nilsen and Team Schwartz matched up against each other, while Team Dunphy and Team Lam played in the second game of the day.

As this was the last Saturday game of the fall season, the “winners” earned bragging rights after facing off with their friends in a pair of fun-filled games as a send off while they await the spring season.

The RVC Little League fall season was 10 games and got under way after Labor Day.

These games offered the kids an opportunity to experience the love they have for baseball.

This season offers more of a laid back version of the spring with none of the playoffs but all of the baseball fun.

With multiple elementary schools throughout the district, these games allow kids to connect with peers from across the village they might not necessarily have the opportunity to become acquainted with.

Similar to many other Little League, RVC divides its teams into different age brackets such as Baseball Mort Geller for 7and 8-year-old; the Minors for 9-year-olds; American for 10-year-olds. The National has the 11- and 12-year-olds; and the Juniors are 13- and 14-year-olds.

In softball there are the Munchkins for 5- and 6-year olds; Machine pitch for 7- and 8-year-olds; the Minors, where the players start pitching, is for 9- and 10-year-olds, the Majors for 11- and 12-year-olds and the Juniors are 13- and 14-years-old.

There is also an additional baseball group for 6-year olds to learn the game called Little Sluggers.

As the baseball equipment is packed away until spring, the players might take part in the winter sports, but real baseball fans are most likely thinking along the lines of old time St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Rogers Hornsby: “People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

For more about the league, go to RVCLittleLeague.org.

–Alyssa R. Griffin

MSSN gala raises $900K for cardiac care

his family. He embodies the spirit of the Heart of the Hospital award.”

Philip Shuman, vice president of the Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, was named the 2025 Soirée honoree. Debbie Jonason, assistant nurse manager of cardiac catheterization, and Arthur Golbert, senior cardiac rehabilitation exercise physiologist, received the hospital’s Mary Pearson and Cupola awards, respectively.

“The work and dedication of Ms. Jonason, Mr. Golbert, and Mr. Shuman represents the team spirit of our staff and stakeholders who come together every day to make this hospital better so we can best serve our patients,” Sharma said. “They inspire the staff and supporters of Mount Sinai South Nassau.”

The annual Soirée is the hospital’s largest fundraising event. Advisory Board members Wayne Lipton and Steven Gold co-chaired the event, leading a committee comprising 40 civic, community and business leaders.

“Once again, the community came together on a beautiful night to celebrate the accomplishments of Mount Sinai South Nassau and to look to the future and support the mission of the hospital,” Lipton said. “We are grateful to all of those who attended, who donated and who made it happen.”

“We are so grateful for the generosity of our supporters,” Gold added, “who

philip Shuman, vice president of the Whiting-turner Contracting Company, debbie Jonason, assistant nurse manager

catheterization, and arthur golbert, senior cardiac rehabilitation exercise physiologist, were honored at the

show up year after year to support our local hospital, which in recent years has been transformed into a regional leader in the health care field.”

Major sponsors of the Soirée includ-

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ed the Lee and Jeffrey Feil Family Foundation, Terri and Steven Gold, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s medical staff, Long Island Thoracic PLLC and Flagstar Bank.

For more information about the Bringing Heart Home campaign, contact the hospital’s Development Office, at (516) 377-5360, or visit SouthNassauLifeSaver.org.

Ferretti looks to build ‘tax cutter’ reputation

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

John Ferretti says the purpose of serving in local government is to make a difference in people’s lives every day — something he hopes to continue if he is elected to a full term as Hempstead town supervisor.

Ferretti, of Levittown, said he was proud of his record as a Nassau County legislator, where he opposed tax increases and supported responsible budgeting. In seven and a half years in the Legislature, he helped reduce county taxes by $70 million and block $150 million in proposed hikes. His top priority, he said, is ensuring that the community he grew up in remains affordable for families.

“My track record as an elected official is very clear,” Ferretti said, “I am a tax cutter, and that’s the way to keep residents able to continue to live in the homes that they grew up in, like myself.”

Ferretti, a Republican, was appointed town supervisor on Aug. 5 following Don Clavin’s resignation. Since he took office, the town passed a 2026 budget that cuts property taxes by $5 million. Ferretti said it is the responsibility of local officials to do everything possible to help residents afford to stay in the communities where they grew up.

His appointment was not without controversy. His Democratic opponent, Joseph Scianablo, filed a lawsuit claiming that Ferretti and the town board violated the state’s Open Meetings Law, which requires 24 hours’ public notice for resolutions scheduled at meetings. In response, the board reappointed Ferretti at its Sept. 16 meeting — a move town officials said was necessary to protect taxpayers from the lawsuit. On Oct. 9, State Supreme Court Justice Gary Carlton ruled that the Aug. 5 appointment had violated the law, finding

Tim Baker/Herald

John Ferretti, who was appointed Hempstead town supervisor in August, says he wants to continue serving residents by keeping taxes low, supporting law enforcement and protecting the town’s quality of life.

that plans had been made before the meeting.

Ferretti emphasized that his appointment was not nullified. He said he could not comment on the pending litigation, but remained confident that the town would prevail in the case.

As supervisor, Ferretti said, he wants to prioritize public safety. He noted that during his time in the County Legislature, he supported measures to provide law enforcement with the tools they need, and led the

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD SUPERVISOR

effort to reopen police precincts that had been closed. He also co-sponsored the Mask Transparency Act, which bans wearing face coverings in public to conceal identities.

Ferretti said he wanted police to be fully funded, and given the opportunity to put criminals behind bars. He said that he was against public safety reforms, such as bail reform and “Raise the Age” laws.

In response to Scianablo’s claims that he lacks transparency, Ferretti said he demonstrated openness in the budget process by publishing the preliminary budget several days before the Sept. 30 deadline and posting subsequent amendments online with more than 24 hours’ notice — a step not legally required and not customarily taken prior to his administration, he said.

“Every opportunity we have had since Aug. 5 to be transparent, we have taken that opportunity,” he said.

Ferretti said he supports protecting the town’s suburban quality of life, and opposes state efforts to allow high-rise apartments or change local zoning laws. He added that while Scianablo has called his appointment an advantage in the race, it’s only an advantage if he proves himself through his work.

“I believe that so far, from Aug. 5 until today,” Ferretti said, “my record has been pretty flawless.”

Scianablo: Hempstead needs accountability

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

Democrat Joseph Scianablo, a Marine combat veteran, former NYPD officer and prosecutor, is running for Town of Hempstead supervisor on a platform of restoring transparency, lowering taxes and holding local government accountable.

Scianablo, of Garden City, said he is running because of what he views as a lack of transparency from the current Town Board. He noted that families across the town are feeling the strain of rising costs — from a 12 percent property tax hike to increases in water, power and fuel bills.

Following the Aug. 5 appointment of his Republican opponent, John Ferretti, as town supervisor, Scianablo filed a lawsuit alleging that Ferretti and the board violated the state’s Open Meetings Law, which requires 24 hours’ public notice for resolutions scheduled at meetings. On Oct. 9, State Supreme Court Justice Gary Carlton ruled that the appointment had violated the law, but the decision did not nullify Ferretti’s appointment.

The violation, Scianablo said reflected a disregard for basic laws meant to ensure accountability. He added that he was frustrated with government waste and the misuse of taxpayer money. “This is what’s wrong with our local government,” he said. “It reeks of corruption. It reeks of waste, fraud and abuse. The people deserve better.”

Scianablo said he wants to restore integrity by getting the town’s finances in order with operational and financial audits. He also aims to make local government more accessible to working families by holding more Town Board meetings in the evening.

Jeffrey Bessen/Herald

Democrat Joe Scianablo, a Marine veteran and a former NYPD officer, is running for supervisor focused on transparency, fiscal accountability and expanded services for residents, veterans and domestic violence survivors.

“We all want the same thing from our government, and that’s what you’re going to get from me,” he said. “Your voices are going to be heard and you’re going to be governed fairly, and the people are going to be put first.”

If elected, Scianablo said, he would focus in his first 100 days on converting all town streetlights to LED fixtures to save an estimated $1 million annually, imple-

menting zero-based budgeting to ensure that every dollar is justified, and exploring shared services with neighboring towns to reduce duplicate costs.

His platform emphasizes what he calls “commonsense solutions,” including proactive infrastructure maintenance, performance-based funding and energy efficiency upgrades. He added that communities such as Hempstead, Uniondale, Roosevelt, and especially Baldwin have been calling for long-overdue development.

Improving public safety and supporting veterans, Scianablo said, would also be key priorities. Drawing on his law enforcement background, he hoped to strengthen trust between communities and public safety agencies. “I’m excited to see what we could do to make sure we bridge that divide between community and policing,” he said.

Scianablo said he also wants to support residents affected by domestic violence by partnering with nonprofits, law enforcement, and the Nassau County district attorney’s office. He has criticized the closure of the Safe Center LI, a Nassau-based facility for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors that closed in March, and pledged to expand related services through collaboration with the county and community partners.

“There is no one-stop shopping for survivors, victims and children to domestic violence,” Scianablo said. “We need to continue with that approach.”

He emphasized that he wants to serve as a supervisor who is accountable to the people of the Town of Hempstead.

“We are all seeking a government that is accountable for the people,” he said. “We are all seeking a government that’s transparent for the people. We are all on the same team here.”

Families came out with their Halloween spirit to march in the parade.

Halloween festivities held at the REC center

A spooky afternoon filled with costumes, games and festive activities were all part of the Halloween Parade and Party at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center in Rockville Centre.

The Oct. 26 parade took place around the REC Center’s brand new Veterans Park where families lined up in their favorite costumes to get the party started.

Each ticket allowed kids to each receive pretzels, drinks, a goodie bag and more. Children got to bust out their best dance moves to their favorite frightfilled songs. DJ Pace got the music blasting for the whole family to get in on the fun.

The community event brought out local families for a day filled with fright, fun, and Family-oriented Halloween-themed excitement, which left many who came out excited for the return next year.

–Alyssa R. Griffin

Rubin is a Scholar-Artist award winner

said I would. So I’ve been playing bass clarinet since sixth grade. Everything is the same. Bass clarinet usually has one lower note it can go to, but other than that, they’re just an octave apart.”

With plans to study music education, Zukerman has a long list of potential colleges. “Music is a very healthy pathway and outlet,” he said, “and I just feel like everyone should include music in their lives.”

Taking a different approach to music, Grunfield will be featured in NYSSMA’s Electronic Music Composer Showcase. “I use Logic Pro (digital audio workstation), and it’s mostly electronic,” she explained. “I didn’t use any acoustic instruments to compose it,” she added, referring to her audition piece. “I think I was just messing around with the keyboard a bit, and then trying different sounds, layered stuff, and it turned into a whole thing.”

Though she is only a junior, Grunfield plans to pursue a career in studio composition or songwriting, with her first choice of school being the Berklee College of Music in Manhattan.

Tuation of that.”

“Attending the All-State Conference is a transformative experience,” Kathleen Mark, the district’s director of the arts, said. “Performing with the top high school musicians from across the state often cements future career goals for these students, and allows them to connect with like-minded peers and meet faculty from some of the country’s top collegiate music programs.”

his is the first time one of our students has been recognized as a ScholarArtist, and we’re thrilled with Ellie’s success.

KaThleen MarK Director of the arts, Rockville Centre School District

Herard is an All-State vocalist, singing tenor. “It started when I was in elementary school — we had a choral class that we went to,” he said. “And so when I went to middle school, instead of doing band or orchestra, I joined chorus and I kept doing that.”

Herard hopes to study musical theater in college. “I’ve always loved being in shows … and being in choirs and stuff,” he said. “I’ve loved music ever since I was a little kid, and so being in choir is like a contin-

Senior Elanor “Ellie” Rubin, 16, was honored for her musical gifts in a different way. She received Long Island Arts Alliance’s Scholar-Artist award, one of 20 honorees across Long Island, for her talents in musical theater.

“I had a monologue and a song, and I remember being really excited, but also nervous, because it’s hard to put all the love you have for something in a one-minute recording,” Rubin said. “I’m really grateful that it came through the way it did.”

“This is the first time one of our students has been recognized as a ScholarArtist, and we are thrilled with Ellie’s success,” Mark said. “She is also a member of our IB Music program and our SSHS Chamber Singers.”

Rubin is planning on pursuing musical theater in college, and is looking into acting programs as well. “I’d really like to thank my friends and family for always being there for me, and supporting me as an artist, and really seeing me and encouraging me to do what I do,” she said. “I love telling stories, and they’ve encouraged me to keep doing that.”

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 TH AT 9:30 A.M.

Discover a Divine Educational Journey at St. Agnes Cathedral School At St. Agnes Cathedral School we believe that every child is a precious gift from God. We cordially invite you to experience the essence of our exceptional academic program at our upcoming Kindergarten open house.

� Nurturing Environment: Our school embraces the fundamental values of love, compassion, and respect, fostering a nurturing environment where children can flourish and develop their unique talents and capabilities.

� Rigorous Academic Program: Enriched with the wisdom of faith, and modern teaching techniques, our curriculum ensures that each child receives a comprehensive education that challenges his/her intellect and encourages a love for learning.

� Spiritual Growth: Alongside a robust academic curriculum, we prioritize spiritual development, guiding children to understand the importance of faith, hope, and charity, laying the foundation for a life rooted in virtues and values.

� Creative Expression: Through various art, music, and creative activities, we encourage fostering a well-rounded education that embraces the arts as an integral part of personal growth.

� Community Engagement: Our school community is a tight-knit family. We believe in the strength of a supportive community to help children thrive and grow

� State-of-the-Art Facilities: Our STEM Center includes a science lab, STEM lab, Maker Space, and Art Room. Our modern facilities and classrooms are designed to create an engaging and stimulating learning environment, fostering curiosity and innovation among our young learners.

Four years in, Blakeman points to successes

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.”

NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

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.”

Koslow is focused on transparency and unity

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.”

Hewitt Fair delivers heartfelt memories

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

The annual Hewitt Fair, a longtime tradition and the largest fundraiser organized by the Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School PTA, drew big crowds, community support and heartfelt moments during its most successful event to date.

The biggest fundraiser the PTA puts on each year, all proceeds from the fair directly support the PTA’s student programming, most significantly the Arts in Motion program, which provides enriching arts experiences for Hewitt students. The program includes off-site field trips to theatrical performances as well as in-school programming such as immersive storytelling workshops.

This year, the PTA added new community-minded features, including business sponsorship opportunities that came with signage at the event and promotion on flyers throughout the area. Katie Murphy and Cait Heller, co-presidents of the PTA, said the goal was to incorporate local businesses and give back to them.

The Oct. 4 fair also featured longtime favorite attractions including a petting zoo, a trackless train and handbuilt games created by local families — many passed down over the years. Local DJ Dina once again provided music and entertainment, engaging students and families throughout the day.

The 2025 fair also carried a deeper meaning, with a special tribute to beloved former head custodian Brian Doris, who passed away unexpectedly this past May. For many years, Murphy and Heller said, Doris played a behind-the-scenes yet essential role in the success of the fair — from dawn set-up to end-of-day breakdown.

They named the grill in honor of Doris and will be making a donation to Backyard Players & Friends in his honor. Kinfolk Corner Market, a local business, catered

the grill and donated all food and services, with all proceeds benefiting the PTA. Murphy and Heller both shared the success of the event, said it was a “meaningful and special tribute to him.”

Doris’ daughter, a teacher at Watson Elementary, and his two granddaughters attended the fair and saw the memorial banner displayed at the grill bearing his name.

In addition to Kinfolk Corner Market, many local businesses sponsored the event or donated raffle items. Sponsors included Jeannine’s Gifts, Polka Dot Pound Cake, Caffe on Park, Emilie Shapiro Jewelry, Move Better with Melissa Barrett PT, Sportset Kids, Dee’s Nursery, Curated Concierge Co., Nicole Hoenig Interiors, Tease Beauty Bar, Creative Concierge (Michelle James Wettstein), McDonald Landscape, Made by Elle Ashlei and Marc Sacco Agency – Allstate.

Raffle donors also included Rogue Cycles, Barre by Mary, Energy Fitness, Core and Co., RVC Soccer Club, Elite Island Cheer, Bay Crane and UBS Arena.

Murphy and Heller also credited Hewitt Principal Anna McGovern for her continued support of the PTA, saying that in her second year at Hewitt she has been “extremely supportive of the PTA, allowing us to grow our seasoned events and try out new events and fundraisers,” going above and beyond.

Helen Kerner, a fourth-grade parent, PTA member and Special Education Partners representative, chaired the fair. Kerner also introduced the “Take a Break Table,” a quiet space with sensory bins, coloring and playdough for students who may feel overwhelmed during the fair.

Reflecting on the day, Murphy and Heller said this year’s event not only met its fundraising goals but also reinforced the deep ties between the school, its families and the greater Rockville Centre community.

GENERAL ELECTION Candidates

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.

November 04, 2025

NASSAU COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Rockville centRe

County Executive

Ejecutivo del Condado

DEM,MOD Seth I. Koslow REP,CON Bruce A. Blakeman

District Attorney

Fiscal del Distrito

DEM, MOD Nicole Aloise

Comptroller

Controlador del Condado

DEM, MOD Wayne H. Wink, Jr.

County Clerk

Secretario

DEM, MOD Joylette E. Williams

REP, CON Anne T. Donnelly

County

REP, CON Elaine R. Phillips

Justice

REP, CON Maureen C. O’Connell

Hempstead Supervisor

Supervisor

DEM, MOD Joe Scianablo

Surrogate

REP, CON

John R. Ferretti

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Clients know everything will be taken care of when working with Nancy. She has extensive knowledge of the local market, provides the nest marketing homes of all values and continually produces results for her clients in this changing economy.

ELECTIon’25

actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to reflect all the districts within the communities covered edition of the Herald. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the Herald may be found at under the Elections ’25 tab. For election results after the polls close Tuesday night, go to LIHerald.com

Hempstead Council Member

Dorothy L. Goosby REP, CON Jean-Baptiste Carelus

Hempstead Town Clerk

Secretario Municipal

MOD Yveline L. Dalmacy REP, CON Kate Murray

County Legislator

Legislador del Condado Distrito 1

REP, CON M. Davis C harlene Jackson Thompson

Justice of the Supreme Court

la Corte Suprema

REP, CON Kenny

Mark A. Cuthbertson

Margaret C. Reilly

Joseph C. Pastoressa

Surrogate Court Judge

Tribunal Sucesorio

David P. Sullivan

County Court Judge

Nancy Nicotra Bednar Donald X. Clavin, Jr.

Family Court Judge

Robert G. Bogle Howard E. Sturim

District Court Judge

Steven A. Pilewski

James W. Malone

Carl J. Copertino

Bronwyn M. Black-Kelly

A run for The Mary Ruchalski Foundation

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Two runners are fighting to cure pediatric cancer by lacing up their sneakers in honor of The Mary Ruchalski Foundation at the 2025 NYC Marathon on Nov. 2.

Rory Harms, 27, is preparing for what will be her first full-length marathon. “I ran the Hamptons half a couple years ago, and then I ran the Brooklyn half in May, but I’ve never done the full before,” she said.

Harms has been training for the upcoming race since June, increasing her mileage each week to prepare for the full-length. “I’ll go from five to seven miles earlier in the week, middle of the week, and then I build up to a longer run by the end of the week,” she said. “I’ve been running in the park a lot lately, in Central Park, and making sure to include hills in my runs.”

She has a goal of crossing the finish line in under 4 hours. “The Hamptons half I did in a little over two hours, and then the Brooklyn I did in 1:55,” Harms said. “I’m excited about the course, I’m excited to see all different parts of the city, but also just having my family there, that’s what I’m really looking forward to.”

So far Harms has surpassed her goal of $4,500 and hit over $5,200 for the foundation. “In RVC, the Mary Ruchalski Foundation has become a driving force, not only raising awareness for pediatric cancer, but also spreading positivity and kindness,” she said. “This is such a testament to who Mary was. It is also a testament to the Ruchalski family, who have created such an inspiring and impactful organization, keeping Mary’s memory alive, along with spreading hope and funding aid for those in need.”

Originally from Rockville Centre, Harms has lived in the Upper East Side of NYC for the past 2-3 years where she moved with her sister. “When I was home on Long Island, sometimes I would run to the beach,” she said. “So it’s nice doing that, just being outside. So that’s what I like about it a lot, too.” Along with Harms is another firsttime full-length marathon runner, John Hunter. Hunter is ready to achieve a lifelong goal of his to run a marathon, and he’s doing it with purpose. “I knew that if I was going to run, it had to be for The Mary Ruchalski Foundation,” he said. “Running for Mary gives my life goal of completing a marathon so much more meaning.”

For Hunter, The Mary Ruchalski Foundation hits closer to home as the Ruchalskis are connected to him as part of his wife’s side of the family. “I wouldn’t run it for anyone else, if I’m being honest, I would have pushed it, because it does mean so much to me, and it’s when I’m running, when I’m training all of these things, in the back of my mind that pushes me through

John Hunter

John Hunter and his son, Wesley Hunter (1), at the Hamptons half marathon in September.

this,” he said. “It puts everything, all this training and all the stuff that you have to do to complete a marathon. It really puts into perspective what Mary went through and what all these other kids are going through, this should be easy enough for me to do this type of thing in her memory.”

Despite this being his first full run, Hunter has run a half marathon previously this year in NYC. To prepare for the full-length, he has gotten a coach to train with. “I would say it’s a lot of early mornings, a lot of long miles, but at the same time, it’s a good commitment to do something like this over an extended period of time,” he said.

“Over the course of four months, it’s on a weekly basis, it increases mileage, and then a few weeks ago was the highest point, and then it kind of decreases up until the actual race.”

Hunter grew up in Rockville Centre and recently moved back around two years ago. He has an end time goal of under 4 hours and has currently raised $3,500 out of his goal of $4,500.

The Mary Ruchalski Foundation has been chosen as an Official Charity Partner for the New York Road Runners. The foundation raises money to find a cure for pediatric cancers like Mary Ruchalski’s, who died in 2018 at 12 years old.

For more information on the runner for The Mary Ruchalski Foundation, visit TheMaryRuchalskiFoundation. org/NYRR-Charity-Partner

HERALD

ATTENTION STUDENTS:

THE HERALD IS HOLDING A CONTEST TO DESIGN HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER

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

CONTEST RULES:

Who can enter: There will be 2 categories:

Students in grades k-5. Students in 6-12

One entry per student

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

Friday, 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

Creative Tips

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

• Be creative & original.

• Use bright colors.

• Fill the entire page.

SANDWICH KINGS

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 supports Cohen Children’s 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.”

STEPPING OUT

Director Cindy Rosenthal steps up to the challenge of this rarely performed play, based on a story from Chaucer.

A tale of eternal friendship

Hofstra’s Shakespeare Festival takes on ‘The Two Noble Kinsmen’

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.”

Adam Glaser

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.

Orchestre National de France

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

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

Spooky Fest

Spooky Fest is back at the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, through the month. Celebrate the season with Halloween for all. Be scared if you dare or enjoy not-so-spooky thrills with the younger folks.

• Where: 1450 Tanglewood Road, Rockville Centre

• Time: 6-9:30 p.m., through Nov. 1

• Contact: cstl.org or (516) 764-0045

NOV 1

Dia de Muertos Nichos

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to experience Dia de Muertos, the vibrant holiday that is widely celebrated in Mexico. Learn about nicho, the beautifully adorned frames are a popular form of folk art of the region and are often used on ofrendas to memorialize someone special. Make one to take home at the drop-in program. For ages 3+.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

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

Long Island Turkey Trot

Step into November with the Long Island Turkey Trot 5K.

• Where: Eisenhower Park, Parking Field 2

• Time: 9 a.m.

• Contact: EliteFeats. com/25LITurkeyTrot

Wine Tasting and Holiday Food Pairings

Enjoy a curated selection of wines for tasting and sharing insights, hosted by St. Agnes Knights for Columbus Council #2548 in support of the Knights of Columbus of Ukraine. Esteemed Past Grand Knight Ed Lambert has curated this exceptional tasting experience. $30 per person.

• Where: St. Agnes Parish Center, 29 Quealy Place.

• Time: 7-9 p.m.

• Contact: Ed Lambert at (516) 445-7125 for ticket purchase

NOV 2

Splish Splash… Animal Bath

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

Ted Nash’s ‘Presidential Suite’

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.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 1:30-2 p.m.

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

Village meeting

3

- The History and Development of the Psychedelic Rock Poster.”

The psychedelic rock poster had a brief but colorful life from 1966 to 1970. Originating out of San Francisco in a utopian period where it was thought that peace and love could change the world, these posters advertised the rock “dance concerts” and reflected the very psychedelic and idealistic world around them. Breaking all the rules of graphic design and advertising, the psychedelic rock posters sought to be as illegible as possible, to force competing colors together to create a vibratory effect, and appropriated images from all eras of history, Seating is limited. Registration required. $20, $15 seniors, members free.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 3 p.m.

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

NOV

Civic Association meeting

• 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: South Side High School, 140 Shepherd St.

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 255-8957

Little Learners Art Lab

The Village of Rockville Centre Board of Trustees holds their next meeting.

• Where : Village Hall, 1 College Place

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: RVCNY.gov NOV

NOV

5

Author Speaker Series

Art Mattson, local researcher and Lynbrook Village Historian, discusses the story of two tall ships that sank off the coast of East Rockaway and Long Beach in the 1800s at Phillips House Museum.

• Where : 28 Hempstead Ave.

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: RVCHS.org

Board of Education meets RVC UFSD holds its monthly meeting. Stay informed on district matters.

Each week in this engaging workshop, participants are introduced to hands-on materials, artmaking, and inspiration from artists and techniques. Young kids, ages 2-5, build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary, and support imaginations as they play, create and explore. This week decorate a sea-themed frame. $4 with museum admission.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-noon

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

NOV

8

‘Once Upon A Song!’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance. In this spirited show books in a library are brought to life in song and dance. A cast of 40 keeps the action moving along, with a live band and and a special appearance by Steve Mitchell as Elvis. The singers and dancers perform current hits, oldies and

tunes from the Broadway stage, with a tribute to Woodstock and “Wicked.” With refreshments and post-show dancing until 1 A.M. Seating is night-club style at round tables. $30 per person, available in advance or at the door. Refreshments provided; guests can bring in your own food (just no pork or shellfish).

• Where: Temple B’nai Torah, 2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh

• Time: 7:30 p.m., also Nov. 15

• Contact: licabaret@aol.com or (516) 946-7207

Flip Your Lid

NOV

9

Families are invited to commemorate America Recycles Day at Long Island Children’s Museum by upcycling mason jar lids into beautiful works of art, at the drop-in program. Free with museum admission. For ages 3+.

• Where : Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 1-3 p.m.

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

The Rockville Centre Civic Association is changing it up this month with a Happy Hour meeting.

• Where: North Village Tavern, 40 N. Village Ave.

• Time: 7-9 p.m.

• Contact: RockvilleCentreCivic.org

NOV

15

11 Village of Rockville Centre 5K and 1 Mile Family Fun Run

Enjoy an energetic Saturday run with family and friends. Register online.

• Where: Front Street, between N. Village and Centre avenues

• Time: 8:30 a.m.

• Contact: RVCNY.us

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.

Show Off Your Little Fans!

Snap a photo of your “Little Fan“ in their favorite football, hockey or any sports gear or outfit and enter our Little Fans Photo Contest!

Whether it’s your pet in a jersey or child in their favorite team’s colors, we want to see how you get into the sport spirit!

Scan the QR code to submit your photo today for a chance to win a pair of New York Islanders tickets to a game this season and be featured in your Long Island Herald.

Contest Ends 11/20/25

Public Notices

of

1. Publication Title: ROCKVILLE CENTRE

2. Publication No. 7466. 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2025.

4. Issue Frequency: Weekly.

5. No. of Issues Published Annually 52.

6. Annual Subscription Price: $50.

7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 2 ENDO BLVD, GARDEN CITY, NY 11530

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: KELSIE RADZISKI, 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, Mortgagees, and Other

LEGAL NOTICE

AUDIT REPORT

Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of the Rockville Centre Union Free School District for the period beginning on July 1, 2024 and ending on June 30, 2025, have been examined by EFPR Group LLC and that the report of the external auditor has been filed in my office and posted on the district’s website where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons.

Pursuant to section thirty-five of the General Municipal Law and section twenty-one sixteen-a (3) (c) of the Education Law, the governing board of the Rockville Centre Union Free School District

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: ROCKIVLLE CENTRE HERALD.

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, 5000; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 4500. 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, 40; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 23 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 1248; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1103 (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, 941; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1077 (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 0;

shall prepare a written response to the examination performed by the external Auditor, EFPR Group LLC, and file any such response in my office as a public record for inspection by all interested persons not later than January 28, 2026.

Rockville Centre Union Free School District Rockville Centre, New York

By: Marylou Celiberti, District Clerk 156507

LEGAL NOTICE

FIRE INSPECTION

Notice is hereby given that the annual fire inspection for the 2025/26 school year of the school buildings of the Rockville Centre Union Free School District has been

Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 0. c. Total Paid Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 2229; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 2203. 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, 942; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue

Published Nearest to Filing Date, 938 (2)Free or Nominal In-County as Stated on Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 220; 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, 250; 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, 1412; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue

Published Nearest to Filing Date, 1438. f. Total Distribution:

completed and the report thereof is available at the Administrative Offices of the Rockville Centre School District, 128 Shepherd Street, Rockville Centre, NY 11570-2298 for inspection by all interested persons. Dated: October 22, 2025 Rockville Centre, NY BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

MARYLOU CELIBERTI, DISTRICT CLERK 156506

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of School District Public Hearing, District-Wide Safety Plan Update Rockville Centre UFSD

Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 3641; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue

Published Nearest to Filing Date, 3641. g. Copies Not Distributed: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 1359; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 859 h. Total: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 5000; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date, 4500.

i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months, 61.22%; Actual No. Copies of Single Issue

Published Nearest to Filing Date, 60.51%.

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).

1322416

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Commons Room at South Side High School, 140 Shepherd Street, Rockville Centre, NY at which time and place the Board of Education of the Rockville Centre Union Free School District will consider the update to the District-Wide Safety Plan. The Public Hearing shall be held at the time and place stated herein. The proposed Plan is available on the District website.

Rockville Centre Union Free School District Rockville Centre, New York By: Marylou Celiberti, District Clerk 156505

Pribil Foundation hosts annual fundraiser

Rockville Centre came together for the Ken Pribil Jr. Foundation’s annual fall cocktail fundraiser at Centre Station, celebrating nearly two decades of giving in memory of a beloved young man whose legacy continues to inspire.

The lively evening, supported by local businesses and community members, featured raffles, auctions, and live performances, all in support of the foundation’s dual mission: to fund angiosarcoma cancer research and to provide scholarships to graduating seniors from South Side High School.

This year’s Oct. 11 event held special meaning, as the foundation marked a milestone earlier in the year of more than $100,000 donated since its founding in 2006. The nonprofit has awarded 11 research grants and has presented 29 scholarships to date.

At the center of this work is the memory of Ken Pribil Jr., an accomplished student, athlete, and avid reader whose life was cut short by angiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the lining of blood and lymph vessels. Diagnosed at 19, Ken passed away just seven months later in 2006. His family and friends remember him as a thoughtful and wise young man,

deeply engaged in his community and devoted to helping others.

His family and friends to carry on his ideals of education, compassion and service created the foundation that bears his name that same year. Though the organization faced a brief pause during the pandemic, it has since resumed in-person fundraising events, once again bringing the community together to advance research and recognize outstanding young people.

At this year’s event, the foundation proudly recognized James Loud and Leah Delegianis as the 26th and 27th recipients of the Ken Pribil Jr. Scholarship Award. Both students were honored for their dedication to education, athletics and community service, values that reflect the spirit Ken embodied.

With continued support from local residents and donors, the Ken Pribil Jr. Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to fund vital cancer research and to encourage the next generation of leaders who, like Ken, strive to make a difference.

For more information, visit KenPribilJr.org.

–Kelsie Radziski

News brief

Watson kids kick off reading exploration

Watson Elementary kicked off its yearlong initiative, Everyone Has A Story, with an Evening of Conversation and Connection on Oct. 21. The event marked the beginning of a schoolwide exploration into the power of storytelling and spoken communication. Throughout the evening, students of all grade levels participated in interactive activities designed to encourage open dialogue, thoughtful questioning, and constructive discussion. The school gym was transformed into a “music lab,” where families and students con-

nected through musical expression. The program underscores Watson’s commitment to fostering meaningful human connections in an increasingly digital world. The initiative will continue throughout the year with visits from professional songwriter Brian Chevalier and storyteller Heather Forest, who will guide the Watson community in discovering, shaping, and sharing their own stories.

–Kelsie Radziski

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A house makes the scary sounds of the season

Q. Our home seemed very normal when we first moved in, but little by little, things began to happen that we couldn’t explain. Doors would open and close, floors creaked with nobody in the room, a particular wall “sweats” one day a year, and we keep hearing a low moaning sound followed by tapping coming from our den. We’ve had a handyman come and try to assess some of the door squeaks and things, but is any of what I described normal, or could some of it truly be a sign of something unexplainable?

A. When things go bump in the night, you can’t always run to your mummy. It seems we humans have always had a fascination with death, and our minds create endless possible scenarios.

The first two things I was taught in architecture school were that we need to always be concerned about water and movement. How water affects our lives as a gas, liquid or solid is fascinating, and maybe a little spooky. Materials like the center of a tree trunk, when exposed, sanded and coated, become reactive to humidity we can’t easily see, which causes the wood to re-swell. The fibers in wood were once a set of feeding tubes, drawing water from the roots to the leaves, before someone came along and cut the tree down, stripped, sliced and kiln-dried it. Nature is super and natural, so it’s no wonder that it seems supernatural for wood to want to regain its former capability, and creak and moan as it delightfully regains its former life. Some things can’t be explained easily, like why someone doesn’t check to see that a door is hung correctly, to be plum in the horizontal and vertical, so that the slightest breeze or pressure change makes it seem to move on its own. When heated or cooled water moves through a metal pipe (more so than through a plastic pipe), it expands or contracts it. If the pipe hangers holding it in the floor structure or the holes it snakes through are only the size of the pipe, the materials push and pull against each other, making banging and tapping sounds or, in some cases, squealing sounds.

I’ve often explained that homes are, in many ways, just like other living things, possessing a nervous system (their electric wiring), a skeleton, a skin and the ability to breathe in and out. Even though your home may have “good bones,” it still gets creaky and expands and contracts with the heat and cool cycles, when it’s hit with the hot sun and cool winds. Every day, your home lifts itself out of the ground, expands outward toward the sun and then, as you lie in bed in the darkness, you hear the materials all move past each other as they contract, settling in for the night, just like you.

Just remember, if you don’t pay your exorcism bill when it comes due, you run the risk of being repossessed!

Stuff HERALD

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Trump has written first chapter of a new Mideast history

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-

Presidents make mistakes, but

Long 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.

N ot many news items jolt Long Islanders, but George Santos’s pardon did.

The first recorded act of American governmental discretion was the amnes-

tries 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.

this one was a doozy

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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When disaster strikes, the Red Cross responds

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

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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.

TONY GIAMETTA Oceanside

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.

opinions Fighting for those who fought for us

nassau County is home to more than 30,000 veterans, each with a story of service, sacrifice and commitment to our nation. As a state senator, I consider it my solemn duty to ensure that these heroes have access to the benefits, services and support they have earned. With Veterans Day approaching, I’m proud to report that in my first legislative session in Albany, I introduced a bill to protect veterans from fraud, and voted for legislation and a budget that keeps the welfare of veterans top of mind. Those who served deserve to be treated with respect, but all too often, predatory actors seek to take advantage of them. To help safeguard New York’s veterans, I worked with my colleague Assemblyman Steve Stern, chairman of the Assembly’s Veterans Affairs Committee, to introduce a bill designed to protect veterans from fraud. The legislation garnered bipartisan support and unanimously passed the Senate as well as the Assembly. We hope Gov. Kathy Hochul will soon sign it.

The bill offers a comprehensive set of protections, including the creation of a

new misdemeanor for unlawfully soliciting or receiving compensation from veterans for assistance with benefits claims, with a penalty of up to $10,000 for violations. Additionally, the bill would establish a Veterans Services Fund financed by those penalties. Finally, it would require the Department of Veterans Services to establish a public outreach program to educate veterans about fraud.

wThe Senate’s work on veterans’ issues didn’t end there. Nassau County veterans were part of broader legislative wins passed in Albany this year, laws that make their everyday life more affordable and secure. We passed legislation allowing property tax exemptions for active-duty service members deployed to combat zones, which will help ease the financial strain on military families. We’re also fighting to ensure that vets are connected with job placement and educational benefits, including a bill to allow unused Veterans Tuition Awards to be transferred to their spouses, children or survivors.

buildings. We look forward to working toward its passage next session. A simple gesture, this bill would send a powerful message that veterans are seen and honored by New York state.

e’re committed to honoring veterans with the dignity they deserve.

This year’s budget also reflects the respect our state holds for those who have served. As a longtime advocate of robust mental health services, I was pleased to vote for a spending plan that supports mental health care and suicide prevention for Long Island’s veterans. It contains $1 million in additional funding to expand suicide-prevention initiatives, for a total of $3 million. Further, it adds $350,000 for the Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative, which ensures that the community and primary-care professionals working with our veterans are equipped to recognize trauma and other mental health issues unique to veterans and their families.

in veterans’ legal services, because accessing benefits or resolving legal issues shouldn’t require jumping through hoops. Nassau veterans benefit directly from statewide funding that includes $220,000 for the New York State Defenders Association-Veterans Defense Program Long Island Expansion, ensuring that more veterans will have skilled advocates in courtrooms across our region. For many veterans, servicerelated trauma like PTSD and traumatic brain injury can lead to involvement with the criminal justice system. The Veterans Defense Program helps ensure that this is considered during legal proceedings.

The budget also contains $120,000 for the Legal Service of Long Island Veterans Rights Project, which aids with a wide range of legal issues affecting veterans. And $125,000 is allocated for the Touro University Law Center Veterans and Service Members’ Rights Clinic, which offers veterans and active-duty service members free legal assistance.

We’re committed to honoring veterans with the dignity they deserve. Once again working in conjunction with Assemblyman Stern, I introduced legislation in the Senate to create designated Purple Heart parking spaces at state

Letters

Sharing memories of Woodmere with Randi

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

Sharing memories of grandparents with Jordan

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

Nassau County received $192,400 in funding for the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, a transformative initiative that connects veterans through shared experiences, social activities and community service. This program has proved to be a lifeline for veterans who struggle with isolation, PTSD or the often difficult return to civilian life.

We’ve also made critical investments

Nassau’s veterans have always shown up for their country, and I’m proud to help our state show up for them in return. Whether it’s increasing access to services, preventing veteran suicide, protecting against fraud or improving job and educational opportunities, New York will continue to support these heroes.

Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.

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