South Shore Record 03-19-2026

RecoRD South Shore

High school DECA club captures top honors

Students head to Atlanta

The Hewlett-Woodmere school district hosted its annual Staff Volleyball Night at Hewlett High School.

Hewlett Elementary School teachers took home the big win of the March 4 event in the last 10 seconds of the game, capturing the top spot for the first time.

The previous winners of the volleyball tournament were Franklin Early Childhood Center. Staff from FECC, Hewlett, Hewlett High l, Ogden and Woodmere Middle School took part in the spirited event.

The evening brought staff from across the district together in school spirit, friendly competition and dominance on the court. Above, Hewlett-Woodmere staff and faculty from the district’s schools took part in the annual event.

Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

Submit a nomination of approximately 100 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?

Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.

Morton’s celebrates 95 years in business

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

For nearly a century, Morton’s Official Camp Outfitter has been a familiar stop for families preparing for summer — a place where campers pick out trunks, duffels and gear before heading off to sleep away camp.

This year, the Cedarhurst retailer is celebrating its 95th anniversary, marking three generations of family ownership and decades of connection with the community.

The business traces its roots to founder Morton Silverman, who established the store with a simple goal: provide families with quality camp gear at reasonable prices. Over time, that approach helped the store become a trusted destination for generations of customers.

“My father started it,” said Mel Silverman, Morton’s son. “I worked there to learn the business, and then Steven took over and learned to run it. Because of Steven, it’s been a very successful operation.”

In the early years, the store built its reputation on competitive pricing and customer service — a strategy that resonated with families in the Five Towns.

“The popularity came from the idea of selling things at lower prices,” Mel said. “The prices in the Five Towns were too high, so the idea was to run discounts. Big businesses do the same thing today, we just did it on a smaller scale.”

Over time, the business became a staple in the community, particularly for families preparing their children for summer camp.

Today, the store is run by Steven Silverman, the founder’s grandson, who represents the third generation guiding the family business.

“It means that I’m steering the ship,” Steven said. “Morton’s is a third-generation business, and I feel like I’ve taken it in a good direction and kept it relevant in the community.”

That sense of continuity began early for him. Like many family businesses, the next generation learned the ropes by working in the store from a young age.

“My grandfather and my father had a very strong work ethic,” Steven said. “They always felt it was our responsibil-

ity as kids to work in the business, even when we didn’t know what we were doing.”

After graduating from college, Steven initially pursued other opportunities, working in the computer systems and entertainment industries before returning to the family store. Joining the business full time meant working closely with his father, Jerry, something that occasionally led to spirited debates but also valuable lessons.

“My father had really good instincts,” Steven added. “He was very disciplined and very smart. I learned a lot from him, especially about maintaining quality and always carrying the best items for customers.”

Over the decades, Morton’s has built strong relationships with families

throughout the community. Many customers who once came in as campers now return as parents — and even grandparents — bringing their own children to prepare for summer.

“It’s almost like a family when you walk in,” Steven said. “We know our customers, we know their kids, and sometimes we know multiple generations of their families. That’s a good feeling.”

Former employee Chris McGrath, who lived in Inwood and graduated from Lawrence High School, worked there from 11th grade throughout law school.

“I worked for Morton himself and Steven’s father Jerry,” McGrath said. “My favorite part was working for a family. Steven’s father Jerry cared about you as much as he would any employee.”

McGrath said one of his fondest memories is Jerry telling him to go home and study for his math test even though the store was packed.

“What other boss would do that,” he said. “There was nobody like him. I attribute a lot of my success as a lawyer to working with him, he taught me how to work with people and was a great role model for anybody who worked there.”

For the Silverman family, reaching 95 years in business is both a milestone and a source of pride. “There’s a lot of pride in being part of something that’s lasted this long,” Mel said. “You feel, in your own way, that you’re part of something important.”

Residents in Atlantic Beach raise concerns over impaired driving

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

More than 31,000 impaired driving arrests were made across the state in 2024, highlighting the continued prevalence of drunk driving, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research. The ITSMR also found that of the over 3,400 crashes involving an impaired driver in New York State, 15 percent occurred on Long Island.

In Atlantic Beach, that risk became clear last December when a driver leaving a nearby holiday party collided with a car carrying a family of three. The driver, a 30-year-old Brentwood man, had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit of 0.08 percent and Delta-9-THC in his blood, according to Nassau County prosecutors. The crash forced an 11-yearold boy and his mother to be airlifted to Cohen Children’s Hospital. The father sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Accident reports and impaired driving arrests often fall on the desk of John Rofrano, a police officer at Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct. He addressed concerned residents at the village meeting on March 9, saying that the fight against drunk and impaired driving is an uphill one felt countywide.

“DWIs are happening at all hours of the day,” Rofrano said. “The police department is constantly trying to figure out the best solution.”

For drunk drivers who choose to get behind the wheel, their actions before their arrest or accident are scrutinized.

Investigators examine where drivers were coming from, including whether they had been served at a bar or restaurant.

“Restaurants and bars that overserve are getting their end of violations,” Rofrano said. “The state comes in, the Town of Hempstead comes in. They will do their checks and issue violations.”

Residents questioned Rofrano about marijuana intervention and the steps taken when suspected drivers are pulled

over. Rofrano explained that officers must prove a driver was operating erratically or exhibiting clear signs of impairment, as the smell of marijuana alone is not enough to justify an to arrest. They then must be taken to the Central Testing Section at the county headquarters in Mineola for a blood test, which Rofrano said most people deny.

“It makes the charges difficult to stick,” Rofrano said of marijuana-related incidents. “We have an uphill battle with that.”

In response, many police officers

have been taking cannabis recognition courses offered by the United States Department of Justice, including Rofrano. “They’ve given us all the tools,” he said. “We are out there trying to find it.”

Another question posed by residents was whether their neighbors in Long Beach were doing enough to dissuade drunk driving. While Long Beach has its own police department, Rofrano said officers there do a good job preventing patrons from leaving bars while impaired and that their work benefits the safety of Atlantic Beach residents.

In a later interview with the Herald, Richard DePalma, commissioner of the Long Beach Police Department, said that there are many businesses from surrounding areas that serve alcohol. He noted that dozens of marinas, restaurants and beach clubs operate between Point Lookout and Far Rockaway, including Atlantic Beach.

“Impaired driving is an issue that goes far beyond Long Beach,” DePalma said. “To point the finger at Long Beach is disingenuous.”

To combat impaired driving, NCPD will increase its patrols leading into the summer months. The department will also add specialized checkpoints and decoy cars to deter impaired drivers. Rofrano reminded residents not to drive after drinking and encouraged them to call a friend, take a taxi or use a rideshare service instead.

HERALD EDitoRiAL

Inspire the next generation of leaders

In speeches and campaign platforms, public officials frequently speak about the importance of inspiring the next generation of civic leaders. Far fewer take the concrete step of bringing young people into the halls of government to see how democracy actually works.

When students are given the opportunity to witness the legislative process firsthand, ask questions of policymakers and engage with peers from across the state, civics education moves beyond textbooks and becomes real.

A trip to a legislative chamber or a youth summit in a state capital can transform abstract lessons about government into tangible experiences. Students see debates unfold, observe how laws are crafted and understand that decisions made in these rooms affect the lives of millions of people.

Exposing students firsthand to the responsibilities of public service helps them understand how decisions made in government affect their communities — and their own futures. These experiences also demonstrate that leadership isn’t reserved for a select few. Instead, it is something young people can aspire to through education, service and engagement. In a zoom-first world, it is critical that school districts budget for field trips that put students in the civic arena.

Programs that open the doors of government to students also provide something increasingly valuable in today’s civic climate: a sense of connection. When young people interact with elected officials and government staff, they learn that government is not some distant or

Peter King defends Trump’s hockey locker room remarks

To the Editor:

It is continually sad to read Peter King’s opinion pieces. His notions of patriotism, justice and morality are warped by his political fervor for President Trump and his administration — and it shows.

In last week’s op-ed, “A heart-stopping hockey victory was marred by politics,” by trying to bend the president’s boys-club remarks about the U.S. women’s hockey team into a “friendly jibe,” King showed just how behind the times he is. “Lighten up!” he wrote. Really? King went further. He tried to validate Trump’s fail-

mysterious institution. It is a system run by people who are accountable to the public, and whose work shapes the policies that affect schools, transportation, public safety and economic opportunity.

Across Long Island, many villages and towns have taken small but meaningful steps in this direction through “Mayor for a Day” or “Supervisor for a Day” programs. These initiatives give students a chance to shadow a local leader, attend meetings and get a brief but memorable glimpse into municipal government. For many students, the experience is their first real exposure to how decisions are made in their own communities.

Those programs are valuable, but they could go further. Municipal leaders might consider expanding them into broader outreach efforts that bring the experience directly into classrooms. A rotating “government road show,” in which mayors, supervisors, council members and department leaders visit schools in their communities, could reach far more students than a single-day shadowing opportunity.

By bringing government into schools — rather than just inviting a handful of students to visit government buildings — officials could spark interest among young people who might never otherwise consider public service. A conversation with a mayor or council member can demystify the process and show students that civic leadership begins with curiosity, participation and a willingness to serve.

We know that local institutions don’t always have the capacity to build these programs from scratch — and they don’t have to. We encourage

L E tt ER to t HE ED ito R

ure to acknowledge the women’s hockey team by pointing out that the women were favored to win anyway and had secured their third gold medal since 1998. So no big deal, I guess. Talk about disrespectful.

King also called out those athletes who had the nerve to express their dismay and concern over our current administration’s actions and the climate it has created here. Every American athlete has a right to speak their mind. Our athletes travel and train at their own expense, typically requiring immeasurable sacrifice from their families. While chosen to represent our country, they are private citizens, not representatives of the state.

Unfortunately, King missed the point. Everyone was celebrating the men’s victory, just as they had celebrated the women’s win a few days earlier — until the lock-

students, municipalities and school districts to partner with established organizations that have proven track records of connecting young people to public service. Two we especially recommend are Civics Unplugged and Govern For America. CU equips high school students to work on government projects they care about, providing the skills, mentorship and connections to make that work transformative for communities. GFA places high-achieving earlycareer professionals in impactful, full-time state government roles — channeling elite talent where it can do the most good.

Government internships are crucial entrees into public service, too. Too often, however, these internships are unpaid. We need these positions and other entry-level jobs to pay a living wage; otherwise, the only young people who can take them are those from wealthy families, leading to further societal inequality as well as biases among policy creators who lack diverse lived experiences.

At a time when civic participation is often uneven and public trust in institutions is frequently tested, investing in meaningful engagement with young people is not simply educational — it is essential. The more these young people grow, the more our communities gain — and that cycle is the point.

If leaders truly want to inspire the next generation of public servants, they must do more than speak about civic engagement. They must open the doors of government and invite young people inside. Our children are ready to enter the arena.

Let them in.

er room antics. First of all, the FBI director was seen chugging beer, screaming and pouring beer over players’ heads like a sophomoric jock. Then Trump called and invited the team to the White House, and as an afterthought, said the women would have to be invited. And no one winced. No one stood up for the women’s team, which had beaten Canada just days before in overtime. As a matter of fact, they laughed.

The men’s win wasn’t marred by politics. It was marred by the leader of our country’s public disregard for a select group of Olympians, it was marred by the excuses made for his behavior, and it was marred by those who think it was no big deal.

Courtesy Gerard Petrocelli

H-W students win big at LISEF

Three students from G.W. Hewlett High School earned top honors at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, the regional competition that determines which students advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

Julia Igaunis placed first in the Plant Science category, while Valeria Paez Martinez earned third place in the same category. Ella Findling received third place in the Medicine and Health category.

With her first-place finish, Igaunis will advance as a finalist to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, scheduled for May 9 to15 in Phoenix. The international competition brings

together high school researchers from more than 70 countries and territories to present original scientific research.

In addition to earning first place, Igaunis received three special awards recognizing excellence in plant biology and STEM research. The honors were presented by the Office of Naval Research, the Society for In Vitro Biology and the GENIUS Olympiad.

School officials congratulated the students for their achievements and dedication to scientific research, and wished Igaunis success as she prepares to represent Hewlett-Woodmere at the international competition this spring.

— Melissa Berman

WEDNESDAY

MARCH 25 • 6:00-9:00PM

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

For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato,

Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x224

ACCOUNTING EXCELLENCE

DONNA M. DISCLAFANI

Partner Prager Metis CPAs

VANESSA M. GORDON

Principal, Nonprofit Practice Grassi Advisors

BANKING LEADERSHIP

CAROL A. ALLEN

President & CEO

People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union

LUCY ZHANG

FVP/Commercial Lender

Royal Business Bank

NICOLE A. STEFANAKOS

Senior VP, Commercial Banking Citizens

COMMUNITY IMPACT

GIOVANA BRACCHI

Executive Director

La Fuerza Community Development Corporation

KATHERINE FRITZ

President & CEO

Long Island Cares

LISA BURCH

President & CEO

EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies

LAUREN WAGNER

Executive Director Long Island Arts Alliance

PATRICIA CHARLEMAGNE, ED.D., J.D

Executive Director Girls, Inc.

SUZETTE GORDON

President & CEO

SCO Family of Services

VALENTINA JANEK

Founder & Host

Long Island Breakfast Club

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS

MEET THE 2026 AWARD WINNERS

CORPORATE & INDUSTRY

AGNES FALCONE

Controller Winter Bros.

ERIN NOURIJANIAN VP of Marketing UBS Arena

MELISSA MATASSA

Business Owner

GEICO Lynbrook & iSmash Farmingdale

MERLISA FAIRLEY, BS, PH. MBA COO Pronto of Long Island, Inc.

EDUCATION & YOUTH

ELLEN MORRIS TIEGERMAN, MD

Founder & CEO Tiegerman School and Tiegerman Community Services

JASMIN VARELA, MD

District Superintendent

Eastern Suffolk BOCES

ENTREPRENEURIAL

CHARLENE JACKSON, ESQ.

CEO

Thompson Economic Development Services, LLC

JOANNA AUSTIN

CEO

31st State

LETY ALGERI

Founder & CEO Plant Up

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ANA LUDEMANN, MBA

VP / Wealth Management Financial Advisor

Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC

KATHERINE M. DEAN, CFP®, MBA

Financial Advisor

Opal Wealth Advisors

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

CARMINE PEÑA, DDS Endodontist

Peña Dentistry PLLC Practice Limited to Endodontics

CAROL GOMES CEO & COO

JANIS HOFFMAN, LCSW-R Co-Founder Mindful Therapy

JILL KOFLER, LMHC-D Co-Founder

Mindful Therapy

MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS

NOREEN CARRO

President LMN Printing of NY, Inc.

PUBLIC SERVICE

MARINA CORTESE, DAC, LAC, CMES, CCES, CSCS Founder MoveMed Rx

Stony Brook University Hospital TARA BUONOCORE-RUT President & CEO CenterLight Health System

VANESSA BAIRD-STREETER President & CEO Health & Welfare Council of Long Island

INSURANCE

EVELYN GELLAR

Managing Director Forest Hills Financial Group

LEGAL

BARBARA MARISSA MAISTRO Member

Bond Schoeneck & King

CHERYL L. FRATELLO, ESQ. Founding Attorney Fratello Law, P.C.

MEDIA EXCELLENCE

ASTRID CORDOBA President AVC Media

MOR GREENBERG Founder MOR Media Group

SKYE OSTREICHER, MPH, MA Founder & President In the Room Media & The Political Personality

MAEGAN FOX President Project Thank a Cop

REAL ESTATE

GINA COLETTI, PHD, ABR, SRES, RSPS President, Broker/Owner GC Advisory Group, Inc.

SUCI PADRO

Producing Sales Manager OwnIt Home Loans

TECHNOLOGY

LUCIA SULJIC

Vice President of Corporate Legal Canon U.S.A., Inc

RISING STARS UNDER 40

JILLIAN KASHUBA

Managing Associate Forest Hills Financial

JANNA RODRIGUEZ

President The Innovative Daycare Company

POWER TEAM AWARDS

DRIVE FORE SUCCESS

JAMIE FRANCHI

Director of Communications & Government Relations

SHERYL BURO

Deputy Executive Director & CFO

Long Island Contractors Association

STEPHANIE ROSADO

COO

REENA WALIA

Lead, Marketing and Growth Strategy

Always Compassionate Health

ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS

CENTERPIECE SPONSOR

SPONSORS

HHS earns top marks at DECA competition

Students from Hewlett High School’s DECA chapter earned top honors at the DECA State Career Development Conference in Rochester, qualifying eight students to compete at the organization’s international competition next month.

The students will represent Hewlett at the DECA International Career Development Conference, scheduled for April 25 to 29 in Atlanta. The event brings together top high school students from across the United States and several other countries to compete in business, marketing, finance, hospitality and entrepreneurship events.

Students from Hewlett High School’s DECA chapter earned top honors at the DECA State Career Development Conference in Rochester.

Several students earned high placements at the state conference to advance to the international competition.

In the Business Solutions Project category, Inon Azour and Aidan Khan placed first, while Darren Chen, Phillip Ginsburg and Jacob Yamen earned second place. In the Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research Project category, Giuliana Oliviero and Morgan Ruvinsky placed sixth, also qualifying for the international conference.

Ari Rechtweg also qualified for the international event through the Emerging Leaders Academy Aspire Series.

Two additional students were recognized among the top competitors in New

LEGAL NOTICE

York State. Eilon Bober-Tsafrir earned a top-10 placement in Role Play 2 of the Entrepreneurship Individual Series, while Layla Michel placed in the top 10 on the written test for the Marketing Team Decision Making Series.

School officials said the students demonstrated strong business knowledge and problem-solving skills as they applied marketing and entrepreneurship concepts to real-world scenarios during the competition.

The district also credited DECA advisors Molly Henck and Susan Hanlon for supporting the program and helping students develop leadership and career skills.

—

Melissa Berman

Public Notices

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW

MORTGAGE LOAN

TRUST 2005-7 MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-7, -againstROSEMARY GRODER, 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 January 21, 2026, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR HARBORVIEW MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2005-7 MORTGAGE LOAN PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-7 is the Plaintiff and ROSEMARY GRODER, 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 April 14, 2026 at

2:00PM, premises known as 207 POND CROSSING, LAWRENCE, NY 11559; and the following tax map identification: 40-182-310.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE, NASSAU COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 002588/2015. Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq.Referee. Robertson,

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Help Wanted

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business.

Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Antiques/Collectibles

Home Improvement

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. 158834

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

making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

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Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS

& PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in

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