Sea Cliff/Glen Head Herald 09-04-2025

Heading back to school

Helping children get ready for school NOSH Delivers! holds first ever Backpack Day giveaway

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Families from across the North Shore School District and beyond lined up at the Glen Cove Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Aug. 13 to take part in the first-ever Backpack Day by NOSH Delivers, an event that supplied nearly 500 children with new school bags filled with supplies.

The nonprofit food pantry partnered with the Glen Head Country Club Charitable Foundation, which donated the backpacks, and Supplies for Success to make the day possible. Dozens of volunteers handed out backpacks organized by grade level, from early elementary through high school, along with pens, pencils, notebooks and other essentials.

Christine Rice, president of the board at NOSH, said the country club’s generosity provided the foundation for the program.

“The Glen Head Country Club really provided the underpinnings, if you will, of this backpack

event,” Rice said. “It was an overwhelming success, and we gave out probably in the area, close to 500 backpacks.”

Families registered in advance to receive a backpack, but demand exceeded expectations. Rice added that the organization had families coming in as recent as the first day of the North Shore school year to grab a backpack.

Courtney Callahan, NOSH’s director of youth and community engagement and a co-founder of the pantry, organized the event after years of experience working with school supply drives

She described her inspiration coming from her time in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, where backpack giveaways were treated as community celebrations despite regional poverty.

“Families are really poor on the south side (of Chicago), and basically everyone needs help with backpacks and supplies,” Callahan said. “But it was done with such dignity and humanity…and

Pull up a seat at Sea Cliff’s longest table

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

The Love Your Neighbor Project, a Sea Cliff-based nonprofit, is hosting a potluck dinner in Sea Cliff’s Roslyn Park Sept. 13, at which residents will have the chance to fill their plates, make new acquaintances and play musical chairs.

More than 100 people have signed up for the Longest Table event, which will be presented by the LYNP and Lisa Harir, a Sea Cliff resident for over two decades.

Tpandemic, with the goal of gathering neighbors and sharing meals around tables in the middle of city blocks. It has since expanded to states throughout the country, including Connecticut, Massachusetts and California.

“I feel like I know a lot of people, but yet I don’t know a lot of people,” Harir, a food consultant, said. “There’s so many new people in town, and there’s so many people that aren’t going to the same places as I’m going.”

here’s no head, there’s no end, there’s just a community coming together in one space at one table.

“I love making potlucks,” the 66-year-old Harir said, adding that she has organized them since she was in college. “I always like to get a big group of people together — people get excited about creating their favorite dish or showing their creativity.”

Founder, Love Your Neighbor Project

The inspiration for the community potluck comes from the Longest Table, which began in New York City in 2022 after the

The dinner, from 4 to 8 p.m., is for those 21 and older, and tickets are $20 per seat. Attendees are asked to bring a dish that serves eight people.

The first hour and a half of the potluck will be dedicated to food, with salads, main courses, side dishes and desserts. Local disc jockey DJ Valentine will lead a game of musical chairs and the first ever longest table musical chairs winner will be

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Village Board talks CodeRed, chickens, at September meeting

The Sea Cliff Board of Trustees returned back to work after Labor Day Weekend and covered a variety of issues impacting the village during their Sept. 2 meeting. From emergency preparedness and backyard farming to youth programming. Here are three key takeaways from the meeting

CodeRed subscription renewed

The Village of Sea Cliff ratified a one-year agreement with OnSolve, LLC–a company that provides critical event management and mass notification software for enterprises, government agencies, and small to mid-sized businesses–to continue its use of the CodeRed emergency notification system. The service, costing $4,648.98 for a year, informs residents via text, phone, or email about urgent events, including severe weather alerts, road closures, and public safety notices. The board encouraged residents to register or update their contact information with the system to receive notifications. The Village also continues to explore additional tools and upgrades to enhance its overall emergency preparedness and public outreach efforts.

A chicken coop in the backyard

An application was submitted by Peter Ruff of 11 Carpenter Place requesting permission to raise six chickens on his property.

The Board formally reviewed this request during the meeting. Ruff explained his plans, including the size of the coop, the number of chickens and his conversations with surrounding neighbors to the board, who later voted in favor of the proposal.

Sea Cliff’s zoning laws and public health ordinances typically regulate the keeping of livestock within residential areas. Residents interested in learning more about village zoning are encouraged to participate in future zoning community meetings, including one scheduled for Sept. 29 at St. Luke’s Parish Hall.

Youth Activities Board sees new members and summer wrap-up

The Board officially appointed four new members to the Youth Activities Board (YAB): Jessica Fox, Marianela Marco, Nicole Ecker, and Johanna McAdams. Outgoing members Amie Sanborn, Jordan Loftus, Missy Koo, and Laura Ryniker were thanked for their service.

The main mission of the Youth Activities Board is to support and empower young people in the village by providing a safe space and opportunities to engage them in the life of their community while encouraging healthy decision-making.

In addition, the Board ratified a facility use request for YAB’s summer sendoff event, which took place on Aug. 16 at Roslyn Park. Residents can expect YAB to begin planning events for the fall season. Those interested in volunteering or getting involved should contact the Village Clerk’s office for upcoming opportunities.

North Shore students goes back to school

By LUKE FEENEY

lfeeney@liherald.com

Summer is over and school is back across Long Island and its North Shore was no exception.

Students across the North Shore School District returned to class on Sept. 2, greeted by administrators, faculty, and staff as the 2025–26 school year officially began. Students got the chance to catch up with their friends and meet their new teachers.

Glen Head, Glenwood Landing and Sea Cliff Elementary school principals Thomas Sheehan, Bridget Finder and Megan McCormack all greeted new and returning students at their respective schools.

In addition North Shore Middle School Principal Ryan O’Hara and North Shore High School Principal Eric Contreras joined teachers and staff in welcoming students back to campus.

District leadership, including Superintendent Dr. Chris Zublionis, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Carol Ann Smyth, and Assistant Superintendent for Business James Pappas, also visited school buildings to greet families and show support.

Key upcoming events include North Shore Middle School’s Back-to-School Night on Sept. 4, elementary schools’ on Sept. 11, and the high schools on Sept. 18.

Homecoming 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18. For more information, families are encouraged to visit the district website or contact their child’s school directly.

Administrators and staff from the district’s five schools welcomed back new and returning students with smiles as the 2025-2026 school year officially began.

District leadership, including Superintendent Dr. Chris Zublionis, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Carol Ann Smyth, and Assistant Superintendent for Business James Pappas, also visited school buildings to greet families and show support.

Please join attorney Michael Ettinger for a live webinar, “Four Advantages of Using Trusts,” on Wednesday September 10 at 6:30 p.m. Register in advance at trustlaw.com

Leaving a Vacation Home to Family

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

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

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

Sooner or later, one of the siblings dies and

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

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

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

LAW FIRM

Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com 100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offices in Huntington • Melville •

THE GREAT BOOK GURU

Climate conundrum

Dear Great Book Guru, I always feel September is the time of beginnings - the real New Year - certainly not January – such a middling time of year! Saying that, I am looking to start the year off with a very good book, something out of my comfort zone. Any thoughts?

Starting in September

Dear Starting in September, Charlotte McConaghy’s “Wild Dark Shore” might be a good book to start off your year.

ever experienced. The woman, Rowan, is saved by them and gradually we learn the secrets that each of the characters is hiding.

Set slightly in the future, this novel takes place in a very special place – a tiny island off Antarctica –Shearwater. Once a hub of scientific research, it is now deserted except for the Salt family, caretakers of what remains of the island after rising sea levels have almost destroyed it.

The five characters look into the future and see their lives off-island, surviving but living in a world coping with horrific climate changes. We learn of Dominic’s tragic losses and his attempts to make things better for his children. And, of course, throughout we have the mystery of Rowan’s strange arrival.

ANN DIPIETRO

The five points of view shift from chapter to chapter giving us a unique perspective into their lives. This plus the description of the incredibly beautiful flora and fauna in this disappearing piece of the world make for an extraordinarily compelling read – highly recommended.

The story opens with the Salts – Dominic and his three children - finding a woman washed ashore and near death after the worst storm the island has

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

NEWS BRIEFS

Help save a life by donating blood

With hospitals facing a nationwide blood shortage, the Town of Oyster Bay invites residents to attend a Blood Collection Drive on Sept. 16 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Hicksville Athletic Center, located at 167 S. Broadway in Hicksville.

“Blood supplies are critically needed for local hospitals to meet the demand and continue saving lives,” Imbroto wrote in a statement. “Together, we can give the gift of life though a simple blood donation.”

Appointments are preferred for the town’s blood drive. To qualify as a donor, a person must be between the ages of 17 and 75 years old (16 with parental permission and 76 or older with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have

donated blood within the last 56 days. Anyone who received a tattoo within the past three months is ineligible to donate.

“It’s quick, easy, and safe to donate a single pint of blood which can save up to three lives,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino wrote in a statement. “Donating blood at the Hicksville Athletic Center, is an incredible way for all of us to pitch in and give back, to help ease the burden of our Healthcare Heroes as they continue to provide lifesaving efforts.”

For additional information regarding the town’s blood drive, contact (516) 6246380. To make an appointment to donate at this Blood Drive, sign up today at OysterBayTown.com/blooddrive.

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Potluck aims to unite neighbors with food, fun

declared, according to Jaime Teich, founder of LYNP. Jaime Teich, founder of the Love Your Neighbor Project, said that the initial idea for the event was an adult version of musical chairs. After speaking with Harir at the beginning of the summer, however, Teich realized that it made sense to combine the events.

“We might not share the same background, the same experiences, the same traditions, the same religion, the same political beliefs,” she said, adding that the potluck would be in keeping with the nonprofit’s values, and its goals of bringing people together and being “a community even when we may not see eye to eye.”

While the sense of community will be similar to a typical Longest Table gathering, Teich explained that the musical chairs, random table assignments and the age restriction will make it unique. Longest Tables are typically open to those of all ages, but, she said, due to safety concerns that the game might create for a mixed crowd of kids and adults, it “didn’t seem like it would be the best scenario.”

Julie Tortorici, a Sea Cliff resident for seven years, was interested in attending the potluck from the moment she heard about it through word of mouth and social media.

“Everyone can get so caught up in their own lives and their own situations,” Tortorici said, adding that “having a group that champions gathering in all different forms is just something that we’re lacking.”

Tortorici said she planned on attending with some friends and her 82-year-old mother, Grace Tortorici, whom she lives with. “I don’t know yet what they’re planning on making,” she said, “but they’re really looking forward to it.”

She added that she was “such a fan of what Jaime

and her whole group have done,” praising other events hosted by LYNP such as its annual Porchfest, a walking concert throughout Sea Cliff, and its decadethemed prom nights

The organization, founded in 2020 and funded through its annual “All You Need Is Love” Prom event, aims to bolster community connections on the North Shore by hosting community events and offering opportunities such as annual scholarships for students at North Shore High School.

Teich said she hopes the event can have a substantial impact on the people who take part. Finding com-

More than 100 people have signed up for the Love Your Neighbor Project’s Longest Table event at Roslyn Park in Sea Cliff.

mon ground by having actual conversations instead of leading with judgments, having something fun to do that they didn’t have to plan, and a sense of community are some of the ways in which she believes the potluck can succeed.

“I’m really hoping that we’ll get a lot of laughter out of that,” Teich said, adding that she was looking forward to having people share one large community table. “The idea of that feels so powerful to me,” she said, “There’s no head, there’s no end, there’s just a community coming together in one space at one table.”

Hofstra eyes big final season for Nuttall

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senior midfielder Aleksei Armas has

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

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

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

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

“He’s got such a great presence about

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

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

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

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

your knee

NIMBYs, YIMBYs and the great divide

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

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

Fourth in a series on housing on Long Island.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the flip side . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He recalled an older man at a Sayville

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

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

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

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

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

Why some support new development

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

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

tion.

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

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

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

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

Debating the pros and cons of new housing

new residents who are invested in the community.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marge CoNgeLLo President, Central Bellmore Homeowners Association

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

Converting vacant homes into affordable housing,

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

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

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

NIMBYism vs. YIMBYism on Long Island

NIMBY (Not In My Backyard)

■ Oppose apartment projects as too extensive

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

■ Fear suburban character will be lost

■ Skeptical of accessory dwelling units

■ Support quality of life over rapid growth

YIMBY (Yes, In My Backyard)

■ Welcome new housing, including affordable units

■ Say opponents dominate public hearings while younger renters are absent

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

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

■ Advocate reusing vacant “zombie homes” as affordable housing

500 backpacks donated to local families

I thought ‘Wow, this is exactly what it’s all about.’”

She said she wanted to bring that same sense of celebration and dignity to Glen Cove and surrounding areas.

“We respect and love and serve all the children of NOSH. They mean so much to us and we feed them right, supplementally, right, we feed them. But there’s so much more to our relationship with our NOSH families and the backpack seemed so obvious,” Callahan said.

Over 100 volunteers helped throughout the day with setup, distribution, and crafts tables. Children not only received backpacks but also participated in activities designed to give them a chance to give back. After collecting their supplies, many decorated KFIP Bags, paper bags filled with healthy snacks for other families named in honor of NOSH’s Kids Food Independence Program.

Tempathy can do.”

Families served by NOSH come from Glen Cove, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Locust Valley and Bayville. Rice and Callahan shared the importance of helping families shoulder the cost of school supplies at a time when food, rent and other essentials are already difficult to afford due to inflation.

“I would say it was the ultimate gratitude,” Rice said. “There’s nothing more than see a big smile on your child’s face and kind of a relief for yourself that you don’t have to go to the store to try to find the funds in order to cover those things.”

his is what love does for kids.

COURTNEY CALLAHAN Director of youth and community engagement, NOSH Delivers!

“They make them look beautiful and inviting and fun,” Rice said. “Even the parents were so happy that we gave their children an opportunity to do something like this, to kind of say as a thank you and what they could do for another child.”

Callahan said the day carried personal meaning for her as well. During setup, she took a moment to reflect on the scope of the effort.

“I walked and I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It was like incredibly significant, and it just dawned on me what a lot of people full of compassion and

“Backpack Day” is expected to become an annual tradition. Both Rice and Callahan emphasized that the program fits into NOSH’s larger mission of supporting families facing food insecurity while also finding new ways to ease the pressures they face.

“It’s an overwhelming success that we want to do it again just to continue to extend help to the community beyond food, but to really embrace them as important people in the community,” Rice said.

Callahan echoed the importance of building dignity into every aspect of NOSH’s work. She added that she and the other members of NOSH were “so blessed to be able to work with all these families, to have friendships with these families.”

“This is what love does for kids,” she said. “I just love being a part of this community, and I’m glad that NOSH can do our part for (these children’s) life and education.”

Program gives them a second chance in life

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Nassau Community College recently hosted the first graduation of Rebound on the Road, a program led by former NBA star Jayson Williams that helps people recovering from addiction and incarceration earn commercial driver’s licenses and start new careers.

The initiative came to Long Island last fall after Nassau County officials approached the college about providing space for Williams’ nonprofit to expand.

“The county executive reached out to me and asked if the college would like to participate,” Jerry Kornbluth, NCC’s vice president of community and government relations said. “We were just providing space for him. We gave him three parking lots for the trucks, a classroom, and office space for staff, including a psychologist and psychiatrist.”

Williams, a standout at St. John’s University and former New Jersey Net, developed the program after serving 27 months in prison. Drawing on his recovery journey and his

father’s ties to the trucking industry, he launched Rebound on the Road in Florida before expanding to Nassau.

He said that while playing in the NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden was a career highlight, the work he is doing now carries a deeper meaning. Helping people who need a second chance, he explained, has given him a greater sense of peace and purpose.

“Helping people that you know probably can never, ever repay you is one of the best feelings you can ever have,” Williams said. “I tell people all the time, they ask what gives me peace these days, and I say, when people can depend on me.”

Earlier this month, 12 participants completed NCC’s first eight-week cohort. The program ran seven days a week, and all graduates secured full-time jobs immediately after finishing, with starting salaries of about $75,000.

“They all had their families there, and it was extremely emotional to watch how appreciative they were,” Kornbluth said. “For the first time, possibly in their lives, they saw their child turning around and becoming a

productive member of society.”

The program extends beyond CDL training. Each day begins with greetings and a “word of the day” discussion. Participants are expected to respect classmates, maintain attendance, and follow staff guidance from professionals including a psychologist and psychiatrist. Those who miss classes are removed from the cohort but may try again later.

“It’s not just about teaching

folks how to drive tractor-trailers,” Kornbluth said. “There’s a religious component, a mental health component, and tremendous camaraderie within the group.”

Williams’ personal history makes him a powerful role model, Kornbluth added.

“He doesn’t put himself above the students. He’s been there, and they can relate to him,” he said. “Even though they’re not traditional students,

participants are on a college campus, and that gives them a sense of connection. This is another example of Nassau Community College opening its doors to provide support.”

The college hopes to expand the program statewide through the SUNY community college system, calling it “a strong engine for workforce and economic development.”

The next class is scheduled to begin in September.

Massapequa hosts Wrexham soccer camp

By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wrexham coach Josh Evans spoke to kids

at Massapequa’s John J. Burns Park.

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

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

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

6:00-9:00PM

The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York

TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT richnerlive.com/ healthcare-awards or scan here

Executive

MEET THE 2025 AWARD WINNERS *

LORI ANDRADE

Executive Vice President

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

POWER COUPLE AWARD

LINDA HARKAVY, MD

Founder, CEO and Medical Director

Form & Function Aesthetics and Wellness

MITCHELL GOLDSTEIN, MD

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD

The Casey Skudin 343 Fund

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MICHAEL J. DOWLING

President & CEO Northwell Health

HEALTHCARE VISIONARIES AWARD

JOHN K. D’ANGELO, MD, FACEP CEO-elect Northwell Health

KERRI ANNE SCANLON, MSN, RN, FAAN

SVP & President

Glen Cove, Plainview, and Syosset Hospitals Northwell Health

LEONARD ACHAN, RN, MA, ANP

President & CEO LiveOnNY

KIMON BEKELIS, MD, FAANS, FACS, FAHA

Director

The Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island

DONALD T. MORRISH, MD, MMM CEO

Episcopal Health Services

DYNAMIC DUO AWARD

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President & CEO

Health and Welfare Council of Long Island

Orthopedic Surgeon and Co-Founder Form & Function Aesthetics and Wellness

COMMUNITY HEALTH CHAMPIONS

INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC CENTER TEAM

Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Northwell Health

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Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities

Stony Brook University

EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE HONOREES

LON HECHT

CEO

CARE2U

JESSICA COLON BOHANNON

Founder & Board President

Long Island Nurses Honor Guard, Inc.

KAREN BOORSHTEIN

President & CEO

Family Service League

JORDAN BRODSKY, MD, FACR

Rheumatologist

Rheumatology Consultants

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COO

People’s Arc of Suffolk

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Clinic Director, Family Treatment and Recovery Centers Family & Children’s Association (FCA)

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Founder & CEO, Innovation Healthy Market | Author & Nutrition Expert

Innovation Weight Loss and Healthy Market

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Weight Loss Doctor

The Long Island Weight Loss Doctor

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Founding Pediatrician

Concierge Pediatrics

ANNE Y. F. LIN ’84P, ’86PHARM.D., FNAP

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St. John’s University

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Lead Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Harmony Healthcare Long Island

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SVP & General Counsel

Henry Schein

KAREN PAIGE, MBA, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, CPXP, OCN

EVP & COO

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DIMITRIA PAPADOPOULOS, MD

Founder Bellmore Dermatology

SAMANTHA RENIERIS, MS, CCC-SLP, TSSLD

Speech-Language Pathologist

The Speech Language Place

BERNADETTE RILEY, MD, D.O., M.S., FACOFP, DABFM

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New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

ALLA SHENKMAN, MD

Medical Director of Syosset

PM Pediatric Care

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Director of Wellness

Sayville Brightview Senior Living

Volunteers will see Ryder Cup up close

By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Making sure that all the volunteers’ uniforms were the correct size on Aug. 23 was a priority for the PGA of America, which is coordinating the competition.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark said of the course’s tufted grass.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Shake It Off’ to close out the summer in E.P.

Nassau County residents — and Long Islanders from all over — didn’t have to travel far to listen to the music of Taylor Swift.

The pop and musical icon spent over a year dazzling audiences worldwide on her Eras Tour, but on Aug. 21 in Eisenhower Park, fans got to experience her stardom through the cover group, Let’s Sing Taylor.

Let’s Sing Taylor is a live band experience that serves as a tribute to Swift’s music. The group delivers lively and faithful covers of Swift’s extensive catalog, providing fans — known as Swifties — with an immersive and communal experience celebrating her work. The group has been performing at various venues across the country, bringing the magic of Swift’s songs to life with energetic performances that resonate with her audience.

The concert was part of Nassau County’s summer concert series at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre. Fans came dressed head-to-toe in outfits representing all of Swift’s “eras” — symbolizing her different albums and musical styles throughout the years.

Whether fans were there to sing along to her classic country hits or dance to her pop repertoire, there was something for everyone to enjoy. For more on the cover group, and to catch their next show close to home, visit LetsSingTaylor.com.

–Jordan

Vallone

Nassau unveils new strategic police unit

By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com

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

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

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

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

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

The new response team will serve as another arm

of one of the largest police departments in the state.

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

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

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

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

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

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

STEPPING OUT

From to table

By Karen Bloom

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

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

Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad

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

• 1/3 cup Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

• 1 tablespoon ground cumin

• 1 large garlic clove, crushed

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

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

Corn Salad

• 4 ears corn on the cob, shucked

• 2 large tomatoes, chopped

• 1 small red onion, diced

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

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

End-of-summer dining al fresco

Hoisin Garlic Drumsticks with Tomato-Corn Salad

Foreigner

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

• 8 chicken drumsticks, about 2 pounds total

• Kosher salt, to taste

• Ground black pepper, to taste

• 1/2 cup hoisin garlic sauce or hoisin barbecue sauce

• 3 ears corn

• 1 pound tomatoes, cut into small dice

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• Thinly sliced basil leaves, for garnish

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

Marinate at least 30 minutes, up to four hours.

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

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

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

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

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

Mediterranean Vegetables

• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (seasoned)

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 1 teaspoon salt, plus extra, to taste

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

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

• 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic, minced

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

• 1 cup fresh green pepper strips

• 1 cup fresh red pepper strips

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

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

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

Heat grill to 375 F.

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

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

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

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

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

Maren Morris

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

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

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

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

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Ongoing

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

SEPT

5

First Friday: Beyond The Bird Blinds

Planting Fields State Park is home to hundreds of birds. Come see for yourself. After a brief lesson on birds and birding from the North Shore Audubon Society, participants will explore the woodland trails from the Meadow District to the Costich and Wedell Gardens and Bird Sanctuary to search for and observe birds. Receive the exclusive invitation to enter the Posh Bird Blind, an installment from the first Catalyst project, the Great Bird Blind Debate with Mark Dion and David Brooks, where you’ll learn more about the Coes and their love of birding from Sustainability Coordinator, Rebecca Slagle. Free standing photography welcome. Tour the woodland trails from the Meadow District to the Costich and Wedell Gardens and Bird Sanctuary. Come prepared with your own binoculars. Registration required. $20 per person.

• Where: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay

• Time: 3-5 p.m.

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

SEPT 17

The Australian Pink Floyd Show

• Time: 4-8 p.m.

• Contact: goodness@lynp.org

SEPT

17

Sea Cliff poets meet Sea Cliff poets are returning from summer break. Sea Cliff Arts Council hosts their next session. Those interested in attending should bring 15 copies, no more than a page long, about some aspect of Hempstead Harbor.

• Where: 86 Roslyn Ave., Sea Cliff

• Time: 5-6 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 305-0230 or victoria@vbbllc.com

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

part of the Sea Cliff Beach Friday night summer music series.

• Where: 494 Prospect Ave., Sea Cliff

• Time: 7-10 p.m.

• Contact: info@seacliff-ny.gov

SEPT

Sea Cliff Triathlon

6

Athletes of all skill levels are welcome to participate in the inaugural Sea Cliff Super Sprint Triathlon. The competition consists of a 400-meter swim, a six mile bike ride throughout the village and a 2 mile sprint against the backdrop of Hempstead Harbor

• Where: 494 Prospect Ave., Sea Cliff

• Time: 6:30-10:30 a.m.

• Contact: DFlanzig@Flanziglaw. com

Art Talk

Join John Grande when he visits Nassau County Museum of Art. The New York-based artist reflects upon modern and contemporary culture with his constructed paintings, sculptures, and murals while carefully utilizing techniques SEPT

and traditions as far-reaching those of Old Master painters, 19th-century artists to 20thcentury advertising and Pop Art. His subjects are diverse, often readily recognizable and at times quite humorous: from glamorous Hollywood stars to the art world itself and the grittier subjects of street art. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students, members free. Limited seating. Registration required.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 3 p.m.

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

SEPT

8

Board of Trustees meet

Sea Cliff Board of Trustees holds its monthly meeting to discuss village issues.

• Where: 300 Sea Cliff Ave., Sea Cliff

• Time: 6 p.m.

• Contact: info@seacliff-ny.gov

SEPT

9

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

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

butterfly adventure. Start off with story time all about butterflies: their bright colors, fluttery wings, and magical transformations! Next dive into a creative butterfly craft, using bright colors and patterns to design beautiful, winged friends. Then, explore the fascinating life cycle of a butterfly through a fun and engaging hands-on activity. Little learners discover that, from egg to caterpillar, chrysalis to butterfly, every animal goes through a life cycle. It’s a playful blend of art and science that encourages curiosity about the natural world. For ages 2-5. Registration required. $15 per child.

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

• Time: 10-11 a.m.

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

SEPT 13 Little Learners’ Butterflies

Planting Fields Little Learners series continues with a

LYNP Longest Table

Love Your Neighbor Project hosts a neighborhood potluck. Ages 21 and older. $20. Registration is required by Sept. 7.

• Where: 17-99 West Roslyn Park Drive, Sea Cliff

‘Ceaselessly into the past: ‘The Great Gatsby Tour and Talk’ Explore Sands Point Preserve’s Hempstead House, one of the grand Gold Coast mansions that provided the inspirational backdrop for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” on a guide tour. Then, instructors from The Story Round lead a table discussion on the novel’s lasting impact on the North Shore and Port Washington. $25, $20 members.

• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point

• Time: 6:30-8 p.m.

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

SEPT

18

Board of Education meeting

The North Shore Board of Education meets. Stay informed on district issues.

• Where: 505 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Head

• Time: 7:45 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 277-7801

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.

Ending concert series on a high note

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

The 66th season of the Morgan Park Summer Music Festival came to a close on Aug. 31, marking another summer of music, community, and tradition along the Glen Cove waterfront. The free concert series, held every Sunday evening in July and August at Morgan Memorial Park, once again drew thousands of residents and visitors from across Long Island and beyond.

For many in attendance, the final concert was a reminder of why the festival has become one of Glen Cove’s most beloved traditions. Lauren Mosery, visiting her in-laws from Manhattan, experienced the event for the first time. Sitting on the grass as the sun dipped over the harbor, she reflected on the atmosphere. “I’m loving it,” she said. “It was so pretty, with a beautiful sunset. The bands were great. It was a wonderful family affair.”

The summer’s lineup offered a wide range of performances designed to appeal to all ages and tastes. From the Massapequa Philharmonic performing Gershwin and Bernstein, to a tribute night dedicated to Taylor Swift that drew large numbers of young people, to concerts featuring Broadway, soul, country, and Latin music, each weekend brought something new. “We had a lot of great concerts,” said festival chairman Tom Suozzi. “People really loved the Glen Cove Night, the Country Night, and the Soul Night. The Massapequa Philharmonic was really well received, and the Taylor Swift concert was a highlight. Everything this year was great.” Suozzi explained that the committee behind the festival carefully reviews each season once it concludes. “We meet at the beginning of the fall with the whole committee, review how we did, rank each concert, and then start talking about next year,” he said. During the winter, the concert selection committee gathers to propose ideas and build a program that balances genres and appeals to a diverse audience.

The festival, founded in 1959 by Suozzi’s parents, Joseph and Marguerite, has grown from a single concert

into a full summer series. It has thrived thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of donors. A major sponsorship from the Terian family, who contributed $1 million to help sustain the event, continues to provide stability. “We try to live off the interest on the money we have saved,” Suozzi said. “The idea is to keep this going forever. We raise money each year and combine it with what we have invested to keep the concerts alive.”

For longtime residents like Evelyn Kandel, a former U.S. Marine sergeant and one-time Nassau County poet laureate, the concerts were an easy walk from home and a highlight of the summer. “I loved coming to the events,” she said, noting the convenience of living just blocks away.

Beyond entertainment, the festival represented something deeper for the community. Suozzi said the gatherings gave people a chance to step away from social media and spend time together. “So many people came all summer long. They didn’t have to spend a bunch of money or drive into the city. They could just come to their hometown with a picnic and be with friends and family. It was a great community event.”

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE WAMU MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2004-AR13, -againstHARRY E. HUNT, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 26, 2018, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE WAMU MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2004-AR13 is the Plaintiff and HARRY E. HUNT, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME

COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on September 23, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 16 THE BOULEVARD, SEA CLIFF, NY 11579; and the following tax map identification: 21-A-31. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT SEA CLIFF, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 010293/2015.

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

DIRECTIVES. 155190

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, NA, successor to The Bank of New York Trust Company, NA, as trustee, for the Chase Mortgage Finance Trust Multi-Class Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-S3, Plaintiff AGAINST Horace Patrick; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered May 10, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on

September 25, 2025, at 2:30PM, premises known as 2502 Cedar Swamp Road, Glen Head, NY 11545. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section: 17. Block: 14 Lot: 1. Approximate amount of judgment $1,785,886.15 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 601382/2018. Willis Carman, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: July 29, 2025 For sale information, please visit Servicelinkauction.com or call (866) 539-4173 86671 155339

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

OPINIONS

College football just ain’t what it used to be

Besides the excellent education I was fortunate to receive at Notre Dame Law School, and the interesting people I had the opportunity to meet, and the lasting friendships I forged during those years, there was the added benefit of watching up close as the Fighting Irish won the 1966 college football national championship. As an IrishCatholic kid from Sunnyside, Queens, that was as good as it could get. In Catholic neighborhoods in those days, Notre Dame football personified IrishAmerica’s acceptance into the American mainstream. Beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the mid-1950s, Notre Dame won more national championships and had more All-Americans than any other college football team. But by the time I got there, the famed Golden Dome had lost its luster. During eight long seasons under three head coaches from 1956 to 1963, Notre Dame lost more games than it won. The prevailing wisdom was that its academic standards precluded it from becoming a major college football power again.

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

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

ship-clinching victory over USC.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now Trump wants to put lipstick on this pig

’ve been thinking about President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which Congress passed in July. Recently Trump stated that it was time to call the legislation something else. But what do you call a bill that is highly unpopular with the public and is set to do much damage? Shakespeare said it best in “Romeo and Juliet,” when he wrote, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” So Shakespeare might have agreed that no matter what you call this bill, it will have the same impact on the American public. To begin with, when you pass a thousand-page piece of legislation, it will have good parts and bad parts. Members of the majority party in Congress are forced to vote for the entire bill, and they don’t have the luxury of stripping out the bad from the good. So they have to live with the results.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2

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

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

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

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

LETTERS

Young Professionals Network collects school supplies

To the Editor:

verance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

McCarthy recalled a student living in a shelter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OPINIONS

The Republicans have allowed NUMC to fall apart

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LETTERS

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

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

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

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

In the Legislature where I currently

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

FRAMEWORK

serve, Republicans have co-signed Blakeman every step of the way with disastrous results. True leadership would have been pushing for the county to invest $30 million of the opioid lawsuit settlement funds into expanding the hospital’s in-patient drug detox and treatment facilities. In doing so, they could have delivered much-needed treatment resources to families in crisis, helped to get opioid funds off the county books and into the hands of lifesaving agencies, and sent a message to the state demonstrating a heightened commitment to the hospital’s future. Instead, they failed to exercise their duty and responsibility as a coequal branch of government and sat on their hands as Blakeman allowed NUMC to fall apart with Meg Ryan as its CEO. Such a disastrous and self-serving track record creates a perfect storm in which oversight is curtailed, chaos thrives and corruption can run rampant — and it creates an inflection point. We can either remain silent and co-sign Blakeman’s exploitation of NUMC — or be independent watchdogs, follow the facts and get this essential public resource back on the right track for the benefit of every Nassau County resident.

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

Island

THERESA REGNANTE President and CEO, United Way of Long

Long Island is breaking tourism records

To the Editor:

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

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

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

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

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

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

MITCH PALLY, INTERIM PRESIDENT/CEO SHARON WYMAN, COO Discover Long Island