Uniondale Herald 09-18-2025

HERALD UNIONDALE

Baker/Herald photos

annual Woodworkers Show

Ken Wang’s totem poles, called wood spirits, and wooden dogs were made from tree branches he found in his backyard. Crafters use the term FOG: Found on Ground. Story, more photos, Page 10.

New leaders aim to bolster tech, literacy School district’s two appointments aimed at fostering creativity

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

Two new directors stepped into their roles at the Uniondale School District on Sept. 2 — each bringing more than a decade of experience and expectations of upgrading the district in the areas of instruction and innovation.

Rhonda Latty is now leading the district’s English Language Arts Department, replacing Ana Ritter, who retired while Dennis Pettas has been appointed director of Technology and Library Media Services, replacing Michelle PetersonDavis, an English teacher at the high school. Their appointments are part of the district’s efforts to strengthen academics and expand digital learning. Pettas, a Hicksville native, said his focus is to prepare students for a rapidly evolving digital world. He has worked in Long Island schools and higher education, beginning as an adjunct profes-

sor of music technology at Adelphi University from 2011 to 2016, and later serving in technology leadership roles at Long Beach Public Schools and Hofstra University from 2023 to 2024.

“As educational technology came to the forefront in the early 2000s, I hit it at the right time,” Pettas said. “I had both a technology mindset and a creative mindset. As technology has grown, I’ve grown and evolved with it.

“I found a niche supporting students and teachers, building programs, and integrating technology into classrooms,” he added.

This fall, he is launching a pilot program introducing artificial intelligence to students in the sixth through the 12th grades. These lessons will focus on ethics, responsible use and digital literacy — much like schools once did when search engines were new.

Pettas said he is reviewing platforms like Magic

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

After 15 years of fundraising, Terri Cancilla’s vision for a heated indoor pool has come to life.

Cancilla, executive director of Programs for Living, Understanding and Services for developmentally disabled adults — known as PLUS Group Homes — has long hoped that the agency’s first and largest facility, in Uniondale, would be the first to have an enclosed, yearround pool.

She described the pool as a vital outlet for PLUS residents, noting that some residents have previously exhibited violent behaviors, including punching holes in walls. Many are nonverbal, and cannot communicate their needs with speech, making structure and sensory regulation critical.

“We do take in very challenging individuals — we deliberately do that because other group homes don’t want them,” Cancilla said.

they’re

That dream became a reality this summer, when the pool quietly opened for its 54 clients’ use. The agency officially marked the project’s completion on Sept. 11, when it announced the new facility to the public during a grand opening celebration.

“Swimming is not only for entertainment — yes, it’s a lot of fun to swim and be in a pool — but the therapeutic benefits are phenomenal,” Cancilla said. “When we feel anxious or agitated or we feel frustrated, we turn to something we can do so we feel calmer.”

“Many of them do not have language — they’re not able to speak or communicate their needs. We are constantly working on improving all of that.”

Since the pool opened, the facility’s staff has noted a decrease in incidents of aggression among residents.

The pool is heated to a comfortable 85 degrees, and residents step out into a warm changing area.

“Some swim, some walk around the pool, and others just relax,” Cancilla said. “But everyone benefits. It reduces behavioral outbursts and helps

Continued on page 8

Reviving Hope: A Breakth rough Approach to Treating Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

"Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy treatments. I'm now in remission and blessed to still be here, but I was in so much pain. My feet and hands were constantly burning - a tingling sensation, almost like when your leg or arm falls asleep," shared Mary of Westbury.

Mary was suffering from Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy or CIPN. While chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, they are not exactly discriminating in what they destroy. The smaller nerves, specifically those in your hands and feet, are some of the first to be harmed. Those suffering from peripheral neuropathy have described this pain as “burning,” “tingling,” “like walking on sharp rocks,” or like Mary explained, that fuzzy, tingling pain you experience during paresthesia (the technical term for when a limb “falls asleep”).

"Standing all day was not just a challenge, it caused me physical agony. Keeping up with my busy schedule - forget about it. I couldn't even go for walks on the beach." Mary, like so many others, was prescribed Gabapentin to help with the pain and told there was nothing anyone could do. In their words: “There is no treatment for neuropathy.”

Fortunately for Mary, where Western medicine fails, Westbury Acupuncture tends to prove itself. Jae Won, National Board-Certified Acupuncturist, has been blending the timetested science of acupuncture with modern, medical technology to design a real solution for peripheral neuropathy that doesn’t involve invasive surgeries or prescription medications with uncomfortable side effects.

specific to Westbury Acupuncture and its network of certified providers, actually treat neuropathy versus attempting to mask its symptoms.

"Acupuncture is incredible at restoring blood flow and stimulating damaged nerves. It’s been used for centuries to treat peripheral neuropathy and similar conditions” tells Jae Won. “We take our treatments a step further by integrating ATP Resonance BioTherapy , which targets specific nerves in the body using microcurrent. ATP Resonance BioTherapy is akin to watering a plant. This treatment stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerves and provide them with the proper nutrients and energy they need to repair and recover.”

ATP Resonance BioTherapy was originally designed by NASA to speed up healing and recovery. “To have access to this kind of technology has been life changing for our

the incredibly compassionate Patient Care Technicians at Westbury Acupuncture. “We even have people asking if they can take the equipment home, so we’re working on developing some at-home options for our less mobile patients.”

After only four weeks of treatment, Mary is already seeing incredible improvement.

"I've taken the handicap placard off my rearview mirror and I'm finally back to walking on the beach. I can't wait to see how I feel at the end of my program! I used to think that the neuropathy pain was just the price I have to pay for still being alive. Jae Won has really given me hope for a better life!"

Jae Won L.Ac and the staff at Westbury Acupuncture have a 90% success rate in reversing peripheral neuropathy, and not just that caused by chemotherapy. They also have tremendous success in treating diabetic neuropathy and neuropathy of undetermined origin, otherwise known as idiopathic neuropathy.

suffer with neuropathy during her final years and it broke my heart when she was told there was nothing they could do. This condition is one of the main reasons I went into medicine. Since then, I’ve been on a quest to help people truly thrive in their golden years.”

The number of treatments needed to allow the nerves to fully recover will vary from person to person and can only be determined after a comprehensive consultation and detailed neurological evaluation.

If you or someone you love is suffering from peripheral neuropathy, call (516) 500-8281 to schedule.

For new patients, an initial consultation is complimentary. Simply visit www.WestburyAcupuncture.com for more information and to take advantage of this offer.

Back-to-school day brings new green building for Evergreen

Hempstead charter opens 85,000-square-foot mass timber facility

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

As student came back-to-school on Aug. 28, they had a groundbreaking twist for Evergreen Charter School. Junior and high school students became the first in the region to learn inside a five-story building made from mass timber — a construction material designed to rival steel and concrete while cutting carbon emissions.

After six years of planning, the Hempstead building is a facility that blends student-centered design with an environmentally conscious mission.

“We want to have our values, to provide students with that kind of inspiration and for them to live in an environment that represents those values,” said Gil Bernardino, who co-foundered the charter school with Sarah Brewster. He also serves as both the board president and board of trustees.

Bernardino is also the founder and the executive director of Circulo De La Hispanidad. The organization is committed to providing community programs and comprehensive human resources to the vulnerable families and individuals residing in underserved communities of Long Island.

The 85,000-square-foot facility, developed on 1.41 acres at 33 Laurel Ave., is one of the first mass timber school buildings on the East Coast, Bernardino said. It is also targeting LEED Platinum certification, the highest environmental rating for green buildings.

“This is a spectacular building, not because it’s new,” Bernardino said. “It’s because of things like respecting our planet.”

Designed by Hammad Ahsan the project architect for Martin Hopp Architect and built by Consigli Construction Co., uses cross-laminated timber, a netnegative carbon material that replaces steel and concrete. According to a school statement, the innovation significantly reduces the building’s carbon footprint without raising construction costs.

“There were three companies that we interviewed and we picked him because the way he presented himself,” Bernardino said. “He didn’t represent those big companies of architects.”

The project has already earned national recognition as one of the winners of the 2022 Softwood Lumber Board and U.S. Department of Agriculture Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net Zero.

While the building reflects Evergreen’s green mission, its layout also reflects input from those who will use it most. Assistant Principal Carlos Pumar said the design was shaped by both teachers and students.

Juniors and senior students from last year met with the school’s board and provided feedback on what they would like to have in the building. Based on that, Bernardino, included those ideas too for the building.

One of the many feedback was, how

can they improve the music department.

“That’s how we ended up with fea-

tures like soundproof music rooms, smaller class sizes, and spaces that really support how our students learn.”

Pumas explained in the past they didn’t have a large enclosed room to practice in. And students were able to hear everything inside the classroom and out.

“Our band and orchestra can play without disrupting classes, and the students love it,” Pumar said.

The facility separates middle and high schoolers with dedicated cafeterias and common spaces. Seventh graders eat while eighth graders go outside for recess, then switch halfway through the period. “That way, everybody gets space and time, without overcrowding,” Pumar explained.

However, the high schoolers have their own cafeteria overlooking Manhattan.

Other highlights include a meditation room and a rooftop garden where students will grow fruits and vegetables. A connected kitchen will eventually allow classes to cook alongside Evergreen’s chefs.

Inside classrooms, the average student load for the middle school is 23 to 25, capped at 27. “We wanted to make sure every child gets the support and attention they need,” Pumar said.

Other things that teachers wanted the school to stand out was the art in the staircases. As students and faculty walk up several flights of stairs, there are hand-painted trees. Middle school art teacher, Erin Piersa began painting leaves and branches – with the students to help.

The building itself doubles as a teaching tool. Solar panels installed on the roof feed energy into batteries during the day. Excess power is directed back into the electrical grid. Large windows maximize natural light, while the exposed timber beams reinforce Evergreen’s sustainability message.

“This is a school for the future,” Bernardino said. “It’s about showing students what it means to live in harmony with the planet, not just telling them about it.”

Evergreen would become the first high school in New York State to achieve LEED Platinum, setting a precedent for other districts.

Evergreen currently operates four campuses across Hempstead. The new Laurel Avenue building houses grades seven through 12, while younger students attend other sites: kindergarten and first grade in one building, grades two through four in another, and fifth and sixth grade in a former Catholic school.

Funding for the new facility follows the charter school model: instead of paying rent on leased space, Evergreen now pays down a bank loan, the founder said.

The project embodies Evergreen’s mission of equity, opportunity and environmental responsibility.

“All children who have the opportunity — rich or poor, Black or white, immigrant or Spanish or not— have the right to an excellent education,” Bernardino said.

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Uniondale High cadets lead 9/11 remembrance in school

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

Around 9 a.m., Uniondale High School students paused to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 during a solemn ceremony last week, led by the school’s Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Nearly 80 cadets filled the auditorium at the same time the towers were struck in 2001, to give students a sense of what that morning felt like. Standing in uniform, the color guard presented arms during a moment of silence.

“This is something we do every year so we never forget,” said Maj. Anthony Telesca, who helps oversee Uniondale’s JROTC program. “It’s about honoring those who lost their lives and making sure our students understand why that day is remembered.”

Those who attended were not only from JROTC, but students if they were able to attend – if not it was livescreamed in classsrooms across the building. Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Principal Mark Brown and other administrators and teachers joined the students in remembrance.

This year’s ceremony included a video showing footage from the attack, which Telesca said was added to help younger generations understand the magnitude of the attacks.

“Reading about it is one thing, but actually seeing how that day transpired — the chaos, the devastation — is much more impactful for students,” he explained. “They weren’t alive to remember, so this gives them a way to understand what it really meant.”

“Reading and talking about that day and the significance of it. It’s great, but I feel like it doesn’t have the same impact on the young generation,” Telesca said. “As opposed to actually seeing how that day transpired and the significance of what it did to our country.

And Telesca was right. Students got emotional and it also prompted questions how the attacks changed the country. Some asked about airport security measures and why the U.S. went to war afterward. Telesca said those discussions are central to why the ceremony continues.

Aboutt 80 students from Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps stand in rememberance for those lives lost in 9/11.

solidarity presenting the color guard.

Telesca said he needed to explain the reason we take our shoes off in the airport is for a reason. It started after 9/11.

“I think they understand it was something that happened tragically in our nation,” he reflected back on the moment where his students watched the video in devastation.

“After seeing the video – the aftermath and the chaos that was brought upon and the devastation, I think it was impactful,” Telesca said. “Seeing the people run throughout the streets covered with smoke and debris falling everywhere.”

The program has led the remembrance ceremony as a tradition, but for Telesca this is his second year since he succeeded his predecessor. For the cadets, he said, it’s both a history lesson and a demonstration of discipline and respect.

“When the color guard said, ‘present arms’ during that moment of silence, they all saluted.”

Long Island Rail Road strike put on hold as talks continue

Unions request federal mediation in ongoing dispute with the MTA

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

A potential Long Island Rail Road strike that was looming on Sept. 18 has been paused for now after the five unions threatening to halt service announced they are requesting intervention from the Presidential Emergency Board.

The move means negotiations will continue under federal mediation, postponing any immediate threat of a strike.

The development comes amid mounting tension between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the five remaining unions that have yet to reach a contract agreement with the railroad. These unions represent more than half of the LIRR’s workforce, and their decision earlier this month to pursue a strike authorization alarmed the MTA and the commuters who depend on the system every day.

More than 270,000 daily riders would be affected by a walkout. While the latest action delays that possibility, the disputes over wages and work rules remain unresolved, leaving the long-term outlook uncertain.

A“Locomotive engineers make over $49 an hour currently. The average salary is over $160,000 a year, with top earners above $300,000,” Free said. “That’s largely the result of antiquated work rules that allow multiple days’ pay for one day of work. And now they want a bigger raise while keeping those rules in place.”

The BRS’s 809 members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike as talks stalled. About 600 BLET workers also approved a work stoppage.

“[The] Long Island Rail Road has not negotiated in good faith and has not been serious from the onset of bargaining,” said BRS Vice President of Commuters and Passengers Tim Tarrant in a Sept. 11 statement.

fter months of radio silence, these outlier unions have finally admitted that they weren’t serious about negotiating.

JoHN J. MCCAR tHy MTA chief of policy and external relations

During a Sept. 11 news conference at Penn Station, MTA President Rob Free said negotiations had broken down after the National Mediation Board expedited the release of the unions. That opened the door to a strike that could have begun at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 18.

The last LIRR strike occurred in 1994.

“We have attempted to negotiate in good faith with these five remaining labor organizations,” Free said. “A fair offer has been made and accepted by the majority of all the other represented employees at the Long Island Rail Road, including the largest union, SMART, and four others.”

The five unions still holding out include the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Transportation Communications Union. Collectively, they form the Long Island Rail Road Bargaining Coalition, representing 55 percent of the unionized workforce at the LIRR.

According to the MTA, its current proposal calls for a 9.5 percent wage increase over three years. But the unions are pushing for an additional 6.5 percent raise on top of the existing deal, without giving ground on work rules that management says are ‘outdated.’

“[The] LIRR’s on-time performance has never been better and it’s time for them to recognize their hard-working men and women by offering a fair contract that keeps up with the cost of living in New York.”

BRS General Chairman Mike Sullivan echoed the frustration.

“Our members will not stand for a contract that results in a loss of real wages, and we are prepared to use all means available to achieve a fair contract,” he said in the same statement.

While the Taylor Law prohibits public employees in New York from striking, LIRR workers are covered under the federal Railway Labor Act. That law allows for strikes under certain conditions, though it also provides a process for federal mediation—such as the Presidential Emergency Board request now underway.

The MTA has repeatedly stressed its desire to resolve the dispute without disruption and was preparing contingency plans in case of a walkout. The plan would have included limited shuttle bus service from three LIRR stations—Bellmore, Hicksville, and Ronkonkoma—running every 10 minutes during peak hours to subway connections in Queens.

Riders were also encouraged to use Nassau Inter-County Express buses for connections to Jamaica and Flushing.

“We couldn’t possibly replace the full service that LIRR runs every day, but we are trying our best to accommodate those essential workers in an effort to not leave anyone stranded,” said Shanifah Rieara, MTA senior adviser for communications and policy.

The MTA also announced that monthly ticket holders would be eligible for prorated refunds on strike days, subject to board approval.

The strike would have also affected the upcoming Ryder Cup, scheduled for Sept. 23–28 at Bethpage Black.

“Does the union really want to disrupt that and have that on their

are requesting federal mediation from the Presidential Emergency Board.

heads—that they caused Long Island to miss out on this huge economic boom?” Free asked.

With the gap between the MTA’s offer and the unions’ demands unre -

solved, the dispute is far from settled. The intervention may provide some breathing room, but the risk of a future work stoppage remains unless both sides can settle their differences.

JAYDEN MOYA

MALVERNE Senior SOCCER

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO tell Malverne/East Rockaway’s boys’ soccer team is coming off a winless 2024 campaign. To say the Rockin’ Mules have enjoyed an incredible start would be an understatement. Moya has been front and center of a club with four wins in its first five matches. He leads Nassau County in goals with 12 and has three or more games with at least a hat trick. He scored 5 times in wins over Valley Stream South and Clarke.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Sept. 19

Girls Soccer: Manhasset at Carey 3 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Mepham at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: South Side at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Oceanside 6

Football: South Side at Division 6 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at East Meadow 6:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Freeport at Baldwin 6:45 p.m.

Football: Long Beach at Glen Cove 7 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at C.S. Harbor 7 p.m.

Football: Lynbrook at Carle Place 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20

Football: Floral Park at Carey 11:00 a.m.

Boys Soccer: Lynbrook at Plainedge 12 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Elmont 12:30 p.m.

Football: V.S. North at Hewlett 1 p.m.

Football: Baldwin at Garden City 2 p.m.

Football: Roosevelt at Calhoun 2 p.m.

Football: Lawrence at East Rockaway

Football: Roslyn at Kennedy

Football: West Hempstead at Malverne

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

Football: Sewanhaka at V.S. South 2 p.m.

Football: MacArthur at Mepham 3 p.m.

Football: Port Washington at Freeport 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

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Uniondale on fiery start

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

Uniondale has reason to be optimistic, especially so given its start to the girls’ soccer season.

Coach Kevin Daly credits a dazzling 4-0 beginning as the key reason. The wins went like this: 6-0 over Hempstead, 5-0 over Roosevelt, 7-0 over Westbury, and 7-1 over Sewanhaka. Uniondale netted 25 goals while only conceding one across four games, which Daly called, “by far, the best start we’ve ever had.”

No unit gets more praise than the other as Daly called it an all-around team effort.

“The keeper is doing very well, we’ve got a good goalkeeper, Ashley Bonilla, a couple of good saves,” he said. “She hasn’t had a great deal to do but when she has had to deal with it, she’s got very good feet for a goalkeeper, she hasn’t panicked, positionally she’s been good on her line, so far so good.”

Daly was also quick to credit his defensive unit consisting of Emily Ramos-Turcios and Yolany Rivera, as they have taken a lot of pressure of the goalkeeper with their heavy press, as well as the fact the midfield squad also assists the back four if necessary.

“[Ramos-Turcios] is a senior, she probably plays since eighth grade I believe, she’s now an essential defender,” Daly said. “She’s fast, she’s aggressive, she heads the ball and there’s very little that gets past her. She’s doing a brilliant job, she’s probably the leader on defense this year.

“It’s [Rivera’s] first time

Shoot-out do your knee in? We’ve Got Specialists

of goals.

playing center of defense, she’s come in and she’s excellent,” he added. “Quick,

aggressive, so if Emily gets beaten, Yolany is usually the last line of defense and she’s

just done a really good job of clearing everything up.”

In the midfield, standouts like Sarah Chavez and Jazmin Flores have kept the area on point, fortifying the whole team’s offensive output.

“Those two are more on the defensive side of midfield, but Any battle that’s in the midfield, they’ve been winning the ball and then they bring it up to the attacking people,” Daly drew up.

As for the attacking half of the pitch, look no further than Briana Estrada: she alone is responsible for 8 of the 25 goals scored through the first four games. “She’s got a great start, she’s got great feet, so when the two [defensive midfielders] win the ball, they look for those kinds of players, and she has scored some amazing goals,” Daly explained. “She’s very composed in front of the goals, she hits the corners but she also has the ability to hit longer goals.”

As for the other 17 goals, 7 were scored by Brianna Marquez, a hat trick by Emely Orozco, Keishara Tulloch and Chavez each found the back of the net twice, and Jahnia Thompson, Kimberlyn Hernandez and Flores all banked solo shots.

It’s easy to get caught up in one’s success, so Daly is sure to remind the Knights it’s still early and that there’s more work to be done.

“Seeing some of the performances and the all-around improvement in all areas of the team, it has given us a little more confidence but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” Daly cautioned. “We’ve got some good teams to play.”

Connected

Leaders stress alignment, innovation in schools

School and Brisk, vetted under New York’s student privacy laws, with the goal of giving students the skills to use AI responsibly.

“We’re going to focus our library media specialists to work with classes in the libraries this year on the ethics of AI,” Pettas said. “Since we don’t yet have an adopted platform, we want to make sure we’re recognizing that it exists.”

Latty, who was born in Dominica, a sovereign island nation in the Caribbean, was raised in Queens before moving to West Hempstead. A former advisor of My Sister’s Keeper, a student leadership and empowerment group, she has also served on district committees, including one planning a Uniondale High School trip to Ghana next year.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education from Temple University, a master’s in school building leadership, and a doctorate in administration and supervision from St. John’s University.

Latty, who worked as an educator with the New York City Department of Education prior coming to Uniondale, said switching over to Uniondale was a culture shock.

“I worked in a middle school — Waterside School For Leadership — (where) one was very intimate. You knew every student,” she reflected. “When I moved to Uniondale, it was a much bigger school. You don’t necessarily know every student intimately and every teacher incidentally.”

Latty said her goal is to raise the district’s scores on state exams, while instilling students with a love of literacy, reading and writing. Supporting teachers, she added, is a key part of those objectives.

“To collaborate with teachers — I can provide any support that they need, whether it’s coaching and modeling or sharing resources to increase scores,” Latty said.

Uniondale students in the middle grades showed a wide discrepancy in scoring on the state’s 2021 English Language Arts exam. Fifty-four percent of sixth graders scored at or above proficiency, while 34 percent of seventh graders and 41 percent of eighth graders scored at that level. The statewide average that year was about 45 percent.

District leaders noted that standardized test results often reflect the demographics of a community. Roughly a quarter of Uniondale students are English language learners, which could hinder performance on state exams but also equip graduates with bilingual skills valued in the workplace.

To improve outcomes, Latty said she plans to collaborate with Michelle Davis, the district’s director of ELA in the elementary grades, on new curriculum initiatives. She noted that students often struggle most when transitioning from elementary to middle school and from middle to high school.

The district is placing an emphasis on vertical alignment to build skills from grade to grade, making the transitions

rhonda Latty, the uniondale school districtís new head of the english Language arts department, hopes to help students grow into stronger readers and writers, while supporting teachers with resources and collaboration.

dennis pettas, the new director of technology and library media services, said his goal is to give students the tools to use new technology responsibly, starting with lessons on digital ethics.

easier, and horizontal alignment, so teachers in the same grade cover the same material. That way, students who change schools or classes won’t lose instruction.

“We really want to see vertical and horizontal alignment across the English Department,” Latty said. “We are also focused on a writing initiative that spans from elementary through high school.”

Her long-term goal is to help Uniondale scholars grow into critical thinkers and writers.

“Each grade focuses on a different topic because it’s based on the curriculum,” she said of the reading initiative. “And as it goes on in higher grades, it will increase in rigor and increase in terms of the expectations that is necessary for the district.”

For the current semester, students will focus on narrated literacy, which will end around February. The second semester will ask students to engage in learning with a message and argument, with a heavy dose of research.

District leaders said the combined expertise of Pettas and Latty should help foster future success.

Local PLUS group home finally has a new pool

them process emotions in a safe way.”

The pool is 40 feet long, 20 feet wide and 4 feet deep. It is always monitored by a handful of staff as well as certified lifeguards. Residents with seizure disorders wear life vests.

“When they smile, we smile,” Cancilla added. “And they’re smiling a lot these days.”

The Uniondale PLUS home, which opened in 1986, is now one of seven across Long Island — and until now, it was the only one without a pool. Thanks to its spacious backyard, it now has one — and still has room for outdoor activities.

Local legislators celebrate the milestone

At the grand opening, Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé recalled her own local connection.

“I did grow up in Uniondale, so this holds a very special place in my heart,” she said. “And I’m just blown away by what you have done — and what I know you will continue to do.”

Mulé who grew up on Newton Avenue, near Uniondale Park, presented the agency with a legislative citation recognizing the opening and PLUS’s commitment to inclusive care.

Legislator Olena Nicks, a current Uniondale resident, also spoke at the ceremony. “This is truly beautiful,” Nicks said. “To see a place where our residents can have resources — and that we can do it for the greater good — is amazing.”

The project cost more than $200,000, and was funded entirely through small events, community donations and local sponsorships — including support from Ron Gold and Aine Durako, of Marketing Works, in New York a communications agency that continues to help with fundraising efforts.

One of the signature events was a bowl-a-thon, in which participants could sponsor a lane for $500. The next major fundraiser is a Casino Night, on Nov. 5, at Westbury Manor.

The journey to the pool’s completion wasn’t easy. Cancilla said that there were significant delays with earlier contractors. Eventually the agency turned to MF Carpenter Precision Corp., in Manorville led by Marvin Herrera, which finished the project in about six months.

The indoor pool at the Uniondale PLUS location was showcased at a grand opening on Sept. 11. The pool is heated to 85 degrees.

“Marvin stepped in and saved the project,” Cancilla said. “He really understood what we were trying to do.”

And the work isn’t done. Proper ventilation for the structure will require an additional $150,000. Temporary fans and dehumidifiers are in place, but Cancilla said the agency is actively fundraising to cover remaining costs — and to keep the facility sustainable year-round.

Maintenance, including cleaning and chemicals, is expected to cost $5,500 per year. The other recurring costs will include pool filters, which can cost up to $5,000; liners, which start at $1,000; and equipment such as skimmers and vacuums.

“We just installed a handrail for safety,” Cancilla said, adding of the home’s residents, “Our focus is health, safety and ensuring they have a good quality of life.”

PLUS’s vice president, Sally Baker, also voiced concern about the need for funding. “This is the first pool that will be available year-round,” she said. “It’s still not fully winterized, so that’s why we’re very concerned about raising money. We want this to work 365 days a year.”

Built on parents’ dream

PLUS Group Homes was founded in the 1980s by a group of parents who feared what might happen to their children once they could no longer care for them due to their age or their children’s ages. They needed professional help.

One of those parents, Philip Smith, still serves as the agency’s board president. During the ceremony, he sat next to his son, Jeff, one of the original residents.

Baker also has a son in residence in the Uniondale home and reflected on his verbal improvements.

“My son Stuart is sitting here beside me, and has really advanced in so many different ways,” she said. “One of the ways is in speech. He had very little speech, but … now he can speak, and tell us what he wants, what he thinks and where he wants to go.”

As Cancilla looked out over the newly completed pool, she reflected on the long journey — and what it represents. “This pool took 15 years to make happen,” she said. “But it was worth every effort. We did it for them.”

L.I. woodworkers showcase their finest handmade artistry

27th Annual event brings intricate craft and expert guidance to visitors from across Long Island

The 27th annual Woodworkers show returned to the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Sept. 13 and 14, drawing Uniondale residents and others from across Long Island to admire — and showcase — their finest handmade creations.

Organized by the Long Island Woodworkers, a group founded in 1991 to promote craftsmanship and community service, the event filled the museum atrium with artistry and more wood than one could imagine. The group welcomes members of all skill levels and donates handmade items to charities and civic organizations throughout New York state.

One of the featured guests was Chuck Bender, founder of the Acanthus Workshop and regarded as one of the top furniture makers in the country. He led seminars both days, offering demonstrations and advice to woodworking enthusiasts.

Those who displayed their work were able to enter one piece for judging.

Valley Stream’s Joe Maday entered a handmade dresser — standing about four feet tall — and earned first place in the

Furniture 2 category, as well as Best in Show.

“The actual construction took about eight months,” Maday said. “It’s a copy of an existing piece from the 1800s.”

It was replicated from the “The Furniture of Nathan Lumbard and His Circle”, inspired by the renowned 19th-century Massachusetts cabinetmaker. Maday used solid cherry for the frame and laminated cherry veneer for the drawer fronts.

Patti Lerner of Farmingdale won first place in the scrollwork and fretwork category for her intricate piece, Medieval Village, a Russian pattern with 11 layers cut from Baltic birch plywood.

“It took me 44 hours to cut it out, any directions that came with the pattern was fun to translate,” she said. “I saw the amount of layers and said, ‘Oh no, what did I get into.’”

Visitors also explored a hands-on toy workshop where kids and adults built simple wooden projects—keeping the craft alive for future generations.

–Stacy Driks

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News brief

Ryder Cup Youth Day is Sept. 25

The PGA of America will host Youth Day at the 2025 Ryder Cup on Sept. 25, at Bethpage Black, furthering its commitment to helping the game grow through PGA Jr. League and local youth initiatives.

PGA Jr. League players from the Metropolitan PGA Section and local high school students are invited to attend free of charge with a ticketed adult. Youth Day provides access to Ryder Cup practice rounds and the decisive Junior Ryder Cup singles matches, featuring the top 24 junior golfers from the U.S. and Europe.

Jeffrey Bessen/Herald Youth Day at the 2025 Ryder Cup is on Sept. 25. Above, volunteers Sara Blau and Andres Diez picked up their uniforms last month.

The Junior Ryder Cup, established in 1997, has launched the careers of some of golf’s biggest stars, including Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang and Rory McIlroy.

A select group of participants will also take part in Beyond the Green, a career exploration program led by the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The event will feature New York-based sports organizations and brands, with youth representatives from groups such as First Tee of Metropolitan New York, The Bridge Golf Foundation and 100 Black Men of New York. Youth Day attendees will also be invited to the Ryder Cup opening ceremony that evening.

As part of the PGA’s mission to

increase inclusion and participation, juniors ages 15 and under receive free admission on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Ryder Cup week with a ticketed adult (limit two juniors per adult). Tickets for juniors are available only at the Main Spectator Entrance on the day of play.

Additionally, PGA Jr. League Day at Ryder Cup Live will take place on Sept. 27, at Rockefeller Center. Players wearing their PGA Jr. League jerseys will enjoy a watch party, simulator competition, activities, prizes and raffles. For more, go to Bit.ly/3VaI8EN.

For more information, visit RyderCup.com.

–Jeffrey Bessen

STEPPING OUT

‘Love’ is all around us

Photos from the streets on view at Hofstra Museum

By Abbey Salvemini

Hofstra University Museum of Art opens its gallery to “Love Is The Message: Photography by Jamel Shabazz,” an inspiring exhibition honoring the decades-long creative output of the renowned street photographer. With his keen eye, Shabazz’s powerful images reflect pop culture, fashion and especially hip-hop, spanning the 1980s through today. The exhibit is on view in the Emily Lowe Gallery though Dec. 16.

Shabazzz’s striking black-and-white and color photography radiates joy and human connection, offering a deep sense of empathy and cultural pride. Alongside his photographs, visitors can also explore his personal collection of cameras, artwork and memorabilia.

“Jamel Shabazz is history, and it is a real gift that we are able to share this with our community,” Museum Director Sasha Giordano says.

As Giordano puts it, so thoroughly articulated in her forward in the exhibition catalogue: “Community is the heart of a museum.”

The exhibit was conceived with this spirit and curated by “Team Love,” a collective partnership composed of Shabazz; Robert Dupreme Eatman; Dr. Bilal Polson, principal of Northern Parkway School in Uniondale, Erik Sumner, art educator at Northern Parkway School; and the Hofstra University Museum of Art. Over two years, slowly and carefully, through meeting after meeting, the exhibition took shape from concept to fruition.

With Team Love’s valuable insights, “Love Is The Message”honors 50 years of Jamel Shabazz’s artistic achievement and is his first solo exhibition on Long Island — a fitting location as he is a longtime resident of Hempstead.

“Love Is the Message” explores how Shabazz’s work occupies a vital space at the intersection of art, activism and cultural storytelling. Deeply influenced by trailblazers like Gordon Parks, Shabazz embraces the camera not just as a creative tool, but as a means of witnessing everyday life within Black and Brown communities. Shabazz centers dignity, resilience, and beauty in his portraits by capturing not only how his subjects look, but how they live and love. His lens is one of empathy, inviting viewers not simply to observe but to feel and to witness the quiet strength of a

father holding his child, the joy in a group of friends dressed for a block party, or the pride in a young person striking a confident pose. In this way, Shabazz’s work does more than document; it cultivates understanding, mends division and illuminates the shared humanity that connects us all.

“Jamel wanted the team to put fourth an exhibition that showed love of community, friends, family and music,” Giordano explains.

As for Shabazz, he considers this retrospective a significant honor.

“When I look at the current situation of the country and the world, this exhibition is one of the most important shows of my life because we need love in the world right now,” he says. “I’m sharing my work to help inspire the next generation by using this universal global language of photography to create conversation.”

• Now through Dec. 16

• Programs require advance registration; call (516) 463-5672 to register

• Emily Lowe Gallery, behind Emily Lowe Hall, Hofstra University’s South Campus, Hempstead

Shabazz commutes to his day job daily but returns to his Hempstead studio, where he immerses himself in reflection and creativity.

“The Town of Hempstead offers me a space where I can get into deep thought and develop my ideas,” he says.

Among the many photographs and artifacts on view, Shabazz shares that a photograph of his mother holds especially deep meaning for him. Entitled “‘The Giver of Life,’ it’s the work of which he is most proud.

“I went out to Jones Beach with my mother and I caught an incredible photograph of her with bread in her hand as the seagull approaches her. She’s never experienced anything like that before.”

Beyond that moment, his eye offers his special perspective on the world around us.

“My objective was to contribute to the preservation of culture for this generation. It is my hope that the younger generations can look at my work and get a glimpse of the style and culture of back in the day. I want young people to understand the importance of love and see the power of photography,” he adds.

As always, related programming enhances the viewing experience. Upcoming on Oct. 1, 6-7:30 p.m., join Giordano for an exhibition tour. She’ll discuss the community collaboration that shaped the exhibit, offering insight into the artist’s creative process and the legacy of love reflected in the work.

Meet the man behind the camera at “Love Is the Message: A Conversation with Jamel Shabazz,” on Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-noon. He’ll talk about his creative process, personal influence and the impact of his work documenting everyday life in Black and urban communities. It’s followed by an audience Q&A session.

The events schedule also includes “Feel the Love – Experience the Photography of Jamel Shabazz with a Heart Meditation,” on Nov. 6. Denise Peterson, of Denise Peterson Yoga, brings mindfulness and meditation techniques to the art experience.

NYC Ska Orchestra

The NYC Ska Orchestra blends the exuberant musical layers of the jazz era with Jamaican roots music. The top-notch musicians, led by arranger-trumpeter-vocalist Kevin Batchelor, deliver a lively concert that surely will lead you to want to get up out of your seat and dance. This 20-piece big band features star turns from celebrated octogenarian percussionist/vocalist Larry McDonald and master drummer Carl Wright. Alongside a powerhouse collective of instrumental artists from the reggae recording scene, band members have performed with Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Toots & the Maytals. Together they play a non-stop selection of lush original compositions and arrangements of songs from the richly historic and culturally iconic Jamaican musical styles of 1950s and ’60s ska, mento, rocksteady and jazz.

Friday, Sept 26. 8 p.m. $42, $37 members. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Soulful notes with Vincent Ingala

Contemporary jazz saxophonist/ multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala and his electrifying band bring their funky grooves to the Madison Theatre. Declared by Jazziz Magazine as “one of the most exciting artists to emerge this past decade,” Ingala remains an unstoppable, creative force in urban contemporary jazz. His career includes10 #1 Billboard hits, 23 Top 10 singles, with more to come from his latest release and eighth album, “Escape With Me.” Ingala’s unique dual ability to electrify fans while connecting emotionally with them has made him one of the genre’s most popular talents on the scene today. He draws the audience in; becoming part of an exciting musical experience that bridges the gap between the music of his father’s R&B, funk and soul collection ( which he was heavily immersed in) and Ingala’s well executed horn lines.

Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

Library exhibit

Uniondale Public Library showcases the creative work of Patti Schust, a fabric artist whose intricate quilted pieces blend craftsmanship with storytelling. Schust, a Uniondale High School alumna and longtime Merrick resident, presents a collection of her textile art that highlights both her technical skill and her personal journey as an artist.

• Where: 400 Uniondale Ave.

• Time: Library hours vary

• Contact: uniondalelibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220

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 entertainment-related 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

Parti-gras at the park

Poison frontman Bret Michaels and former Eagles member Don Felder bring their spirited concert to Eisenhower Park. Rock on to fan favorite tunes.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

OCT

4

‘…We will rock you’

Get ready to sing along — Queen-mania is back on Long Island. Almost Queen, the acclaimed tribute band, is set to return to the Paramount stage, bringing with them the soaring vocals, electrifying guitar riffs, and theatrical flair that defined one of rock’s most legendary groups. Almost Queen isn’t just another cover band. Their performances are carefully crafted to honor the spirit of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor while delivering a concert experience that feels fresh and alive. The lineup features Joseph Russo as the dynamic and charismatic Mercury, Steve Leonard as guitar virtuoso May, Randy Gregg as bassist Deacon, and John Cappadona as drummer Taylor. Together, they recreate Queen’s iconic sound with impeccable four-part harmonies, precise musical interludes, and the kind of stage energy that pulls audiences to their feet. Attention to detail sets the band apart. From authentic costumes to faithful renditions of classic hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Somebody to Love,” the band captures both the power and the playfulness of Queen’s original shows. Their devotion to accuracy — paired with undeniable chemistry on stage — has earned them a loyal following that grows with every tour. $108.75, $98.25, $76.25, $64.75, $54.25, $48.75.

adventure. The jazz artists are late for Gatsby’s big bash and lost in the gardens! Hunt for jazz players hidden in the landscape. Check off your findings then and return to Westbury House for a special prize.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Gatsby in the Gardens: Art Deco Perspectives

Experience the glamour and bold design of the Roaring Twenties through contemporary artwork inspired by the opulence of Long Island’s Gold Coast. This juried exhibition at Light Court Hallway celebrates the era’s iconic fashion, architectureand luxury in true Art Deco style.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

them, crawl through them or team up to make dream designs come true. Back by popular demand these giant, lightweight blocks turn playtime into extraordinary adventures. Construct castles, mazes, fantastical creatures or secret hideaways in this incredible exhibit experience. Imagination Playground blue blocks provide a blank canvas for children to express their creativity and bring their ideas to life. Giant and lightweight, these blocks encourage handson exploration and problemsolving, collaboration and spatial awareness. Through Nov. 2.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

Foxtrot Like Gatsby

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

history of the early days of the foxtrot. No partner is needed and no experience is necessary!

• Where: Barn at Orchard Hill, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: Noon-1 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Family Fun Day

Dance INN

The INN hosts its second annual Dance “INN,” a community dance party and fundraiser at the Mary Brennan INN soup kitchen.All ages are welcome, and families and groups are encouraged to attend. With food, refreshments, and music by DJ Full Splitz. The dance party also offers a community service opportunity for students. Sponsorships are available, and registration is open now. $25 per person, $15 for children 10 and under.

• Where: 100 Madison Ave., Hempstead

• Time: 4-7 p.m.

• Contact: nwhite@the-inn.org

SEPT

23

Understanding Social Security

Christian LaPeter of Equity Services, Inc. leads a seminar at Uniondale Library. Obtain informed decisions about when to begin collecting Social Security benefits, offering guidance on timing, options, and strategies to maximize lifetime income.

• Where: 400 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale

• Time: 8:30 p.m.

• Contact: uniondalelibrary.org or call (516) 489-2220

SEPT

24

SEPT 22 Gatsby’s Swingin’ Scavenger Hunt

Old Westbury Garden’s Gatsby Weekend celebration the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby,” continues with a family

Block Party With Imagination Playground

Get the kids ready to join in an oversized “block” party at Long Island Children’s Museum! Stack

You can dance like Daisy and Gatsby! Join dance historian and teacher Susan de Guardiola at Old Westbury Gardens to learn to dance a simple 1920s-style foxtrot — the lively original foxtrot as it was danced before modern ballroom style! This beginner-friendly class will teach you a simple 1920s-style foxtrot interspersed with a lighthearted

Enjoy a high-energy day filled with hands-on activities for all ages at Cradle of Aviation Museum. Bounce houses, face painting, raffles, giveaways, and more will keep families entertained. Meet local schools, after-school programs, and community resources offering everything from STEM and STEAM activities to parenting tips and educational tools. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or just looking for a fun day out, there’s something for everyone.

• Where: Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City

• Time: Noon-3 p.m.

• Contact: cradleofaviation.org or call (516) 572-4111

Seasonal Sprouts

Bring the family to Old Westbury Gardens for fun, fresh air and fall beauty. Ages 4-10 can enjoy an educational outdoor tour through the vibrant autumn gardens, filled with colorful leaves, exploration, and nature-themed activities. This guided experience is designed just for kids, sparking curiosity about the changing seasons while encouraging handson discovery in the great outdoors. Registration required. $18, $10 children.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 11 a.m.-noon

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

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.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY LIMOSA, LLC, Plaintiff against ANGELA LATTA, et al

Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered April 16, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 711 Park Avenue, Uniondale, New York 11553. Sec 50 Block 418 Lot 16. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $586,278.38 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 009001/2015.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Jane Shrenkel, Esq., Referee File # LHFJN017 155384

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016

SC6 TITLE TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST MICHAEL CARROLL, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 22, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public

auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 617 Wellelein Road, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 36, Block: 140, Lot: 19. Approximate amount of judgment $700,140.60 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #011317/2011. Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee Tromberg, Miller, Morris & Partners, PLLC 39 Broadway, Suite 1250 New York, NY 10006 25-001120 86452 155343

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO:

609477/2023

D/O/F: 06/15/2023

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Premises Address: 749 Barry Place, Uniondale, New York 11553

Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the property is situated.

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2021-GS3, Plaintiff, -againstUnknown heirs at law of KIM HUGHES, her next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent

inquiry be ascertained; DISTRICT COURT OF NASSAU COUNTY, P.T.R.C., INC., LVNV FUNDING LLC, SHANYCE HUGHES AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF KIM HUGHES, CHARLES HUGHES, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF KIM HUGHES, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Rhonda E. Fischer, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered August 13, 2025 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office. THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on August 22, 2022, in Liber 46805, Page 418, covering premises k/a 749 Barry Place, Uniondale, NY 11553 a/k/a Section 50, Block 361, Lot 5.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a

copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

(1) that debt collectors, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., are prohibited from engaging in abusive, deceptive, an unfair debt collection efforts, including, but not limited to: i. the use or threat of violence; ii. the use of obscene or profane language; and iii. repeated phone calls made with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass.

(2) If a creditor or debt collector receives a money judgment against you in court, state and federal laws may prevent the following types of income from being taken to pay the debt: 1.Supplemental security income, (SSI); 2.Social security; 3.Public assistance (welfare); 4.Spousal support, maintenance (alimony) or child support; 5.Unemployment benefits; 6.Disability benefits; 7.Workers’ compensation benefits;

8.Public or private pensions; 9.Veterans’ benefits; 10.Federal student loans, federal student grants, and federal work study funds; and 11.Ninety percent of your wages or salary earned in the last sixty days.

TO THE DEFENDANTS:

The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

TO THE DEFENDANTS:

If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.

Dated: Sandy J. Stolar, Esq. Margolin, Weinreb & Nierer, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 575 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 224 Syosset, New York 11791

516-921-3838 #102500 155299

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST David A. Nobrega; Joylyn A. Nobrega; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 8, 2015, amended November 3, 2022, 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 October 9, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1298 Birch Street, Uniondale, NY 11553-2008. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section 50 Block 572 Lot 0015. Approximate amount of judgment $248,768.87 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold

subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 004891/2014. Foreclosure auction will be held “Rain or Shine”.

Janine T Lynam, 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: August 14, 2025 155534

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. EQUINNE LLC, Plaintiff -against- RACHEL AUGUSTIN, NATHALIE AUGUSTIN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered herein and dated July 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on October 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at the Village of Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Friske Place, distant 55 feet southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of Fiske Place with the southerly side of Robin Wood Avenue; being a plot 100 feet by 45 feet by 100 feet by 45 feet. Section: 36 Block: 115 Lot: 169, 170 and 268. Said premises known as 7 FISKE PLACE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553 Approximate amount of lien $239,992.80 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 609970/2022. ELLEN DURST, ESQ., Referee Scott A. Rosenberg, P.C. Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 151 Tanners Pond Road, Garden City, New York 11530 {* UNIONDALE*} 155456

LEGAL NOTICE

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-4CB, MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-4CB, Plaintiffagainst- CLAUDIA UMANA, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 30, 2025 and entered on August 4, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on October 7, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Section 36 Block 121 Lot(s) 421- 422. Said premises known as 160 ARGYLE AVENUE, UNIONDALE, NY 11553 Approximate amount of lien $776,773.48 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 008008/2015.

JOSEPH COVELLO, ESQ., Referee Pincus & Tarab Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 {* UNIONDALE*} 155442

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2021-A, Plaintiff, vs. CARLOS H. MARTINEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 11, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as premises

known as 124 Lawrence Street, Uniondale a/k/a Hempstead, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 44, Block 66 and Lot 19. Approximate amount of judgment is $543,602.36 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615119/2023. Cash will not be accepted. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 155675

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, -againstBAYO DIBASSY, 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 June 18, 2025, wherein BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is the Plaintiff and BAYO DIBASSY, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 15, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 331 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575; tax map identification 36-160-180; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN ROOSEVELT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 613774/2023. Joseph Trotti, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for

Public Notices

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. 155685

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2006-2, ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-2, -againstANA MENDEZ, 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 July 11, 2025, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2006-2, ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-2 is the Plaintiff and ANA MENDEZ, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 9, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 32 3RD AVENUE, WESTBURY, NY 11590; tax map identification 11-110-138; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 603094/2021. Christine M. Grillo, Esq., as 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. 155687

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, -againstJEANINE L. SALLEY, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN SALLEY JR, 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 July 31, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and JEANINE L. SALLEY, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN SALLEY JR, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 14, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 771 NEW STREET, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; tax map identification 50-016-265; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT UNIONDALE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606762/2023. Scott H. Siller, Esq., as 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. 155681

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU LONGBRIDGE FINANCIAL, LLC, -againstNIANETTE JACKSON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY A. WASHINGTON, 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 July 28, 2025, wherein LONGBRIDGE FINANCIAL, LLC is the Plaintiff and NIANETTE JACKSON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PEGGY A. WASHINGTON, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, NORTH SIDE STEPS, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 15, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 42 MARGARET DRIVE, ROOSEVELT, NY 11575; tax map identification 55-550-16; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED AT ROOSEVELT (UNINCORPORATED AREA) IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 603289/2023. Lisa Segal Poczik, Esq., as 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. 155683

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking On Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 30th day of September 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations:

BELLMORE

MADISON AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 40 feet north of the north curbline of Beltagh Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-420/25)

ELMONT

MARSHALL STREETsouth side, starting at a point 48 feet west of the west curbline of Covert Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-418/25)

LEVITTOWN

COTTON LANE - east side, starting at a point opposite the southwest curbline of Surrey Lane, south for a distance of 27 feet.

(TH-417/25)

ROOSEVELT

RONALD PLACE - west side, starting at a point 63 feet south of the south curbline of East Fulton Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-425/25)

UNIONDALE

LAWRENCE STREETeast side, starting at a point 95 feet south of a point opposite the southwest curbline of Shady Street, south for a distance of 21 feet.

(TH-436/25) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:

Nassau County remembers Sept. 11 in Eisenhower Park

Nassau County paused to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, as hundreds gathered at Eisenhower Park last week for the 24th anniversary of the attacks. The annual memorial service, held at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, combined music, reflection and solemn tributes against the backdrop of the county’s lakeside memorial.

The ceremony featured remarks from county leaders, including Executive Bruce Blakeman, as well as par -

ents who lost children in the attacks. Chris Macchio, an internationally recognized tenor, led the audience in musical performances that underscored the evening’s tone of remembrance.

At the heart of the memorial are two semi-transparent aluminum towers symbolizing the fallen World Trade Center, alongside the inscribed names of 344 Nassau County residents who perished that day.

— Jordan Vallone

Public Notices

LEVITTOWN PARKER AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 212 feet south of the south curbline of Coleridge Street, south for a distance of 24 feet.

(TH-466/03 - 11/18/03)

(TH-410/25) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 16, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 155757

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee, on behalf of the registered holders of First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage PassThrough Certificates,

Series 2004-FF8, Plaintiff AGAINST Ana Yanez a/k/a Ana M. Yanez a/k/a Ana Maritza Yanez, Juan Yanez a/k/a Juan A. Yanez, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 17, 2016, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 17, 2025 at 2:00 pm, premises known as 950 Ditmas Avenue, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale (unincorporated) in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 50., Block: 452, Lot: 7. Approximate amount of judgment $401,125.43 plus

interest and costs. Premises wi ll be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #010573/2014. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Roger H. Hausch, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-067521-F00 87073 155751

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST ROMUALDO BONILLA, EMMA BONILLA, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 159 Ruxton Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 50 Block: 13 Lot(s): 4, 5, & 6. Approximate amount of judgment $498,740.87 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604141/2020. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Esq., Referee Tromberg, Miller, Morris & Partners, PLLC 39 Broadway, Suite 1250 New York, NY 10006 25-000436 86580 155743

Projct Engneer I (Bellport, NY): Rview & anlyze blueprnts & d

Constrctn Mgmt or rel & 1 yr exp as Projct Engneer, Civl Engneer, or rel psition. Alterntively, emplyr also accpts Bach or equiv in Civl Engnerng, Constrctn Mgmt or rel & 2 yrs exp as Projct Engneer, Civl Engneer, or rel psition. Salr y: $100,131/yr Mail resume to: HR, Integrated Structures Corp., 4 Pinehurst Dr, Bellport, NY 11713.

Constrctn Mgmt or rel & 1 yr exp as Projct Engneer, Civl Engneer, or rel psition. Alterntively, emplyr also accpts Bach or equiv in Civl Engnerng, Constrctn Mgmt or rel & 2 yrs exp as Projct Engneer, Civl Engneer, or rel psition. Salry: $100,131/yr. Mail resume to: HR, Integrated Structures Corp., 4 Pinehurst Dr, Bellport, NY 11713.

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A reader offers a correction on P.T. boats

A reader from Bellmore, Steven Vella, wrote to question my recent column in which I addressed bomb shelters and the related specific construction of P.T. boats (“In today’s world, bomb shelters are part of the conversation,” July 24-30).

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I stated that gunite concrete has some of the highest construction strength, at over 6,000 pounds per square inch, and that swimming pools and “P.T. boats are as strong as steel, and when all of the layers of steel reinforcement rods are contoured into the shape of a boat hull, the ships prove capable, as they did in World War II, of catching exploding torpedoes and absorbing the impact.” P.T. stands for patrol torpedo, and P.T. boats were meant to be lighter, swifter craft for short-range reconnaissance and rapid deployment of torpedoes to attack enemy ships. Vella, a World War II buff, pointed out that he was only aware, through a relative who worked for the Elco Boat Company, in Bayonne, New Jersey — a major builder of P.T. boats for the U.S. Navy — that “the keel is a 70-foot-long piece of 6 x 6 Alaskan spruce. The stem is of American oak. The frames (ribs) are of African mahogany. Sides and bottom of the hull are double-planked mahogany with canvas laid in marine glue in between the diagonally spaced planking.” I misstated that the steel-rod-reinforced construction was used for P.T. boats, when it was actually used for slower-moving landing craft, such as the type used at the beach landing at Normandy, and for barges shipping supplies. The slower-moving craft needed to be heavily reinforced because they were, presumably, easier targets.

Unlike today, where we can instantly find information on almost any topic using our cellphones, I sat in my Methods and Materials classes in architecture school, 50 years ago, and listened to professors explain the physical and chemical properties as well as the applied uses of materials in construction, without the ability to research or fact-check. I never forgot the story related to us about the strength of the concrete, the application to Navy vessels and the story of torpedoes being trapped without exploding, in the sides of some boat hulls. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to confirm the type of concrete used, or that the boats in which the cement and steel reinforcement were applied weren’t P.T. boats, back then.

The concrete type was still steel-reinforced, but it was fero-cement, and not gunite. Gunite is cement that is sprayed using a high-pressure gun, often referred to as a cannon, and the mix is semi-dry cement and sand. The actual concrete hulls that the Navy engineers came up with were made of handapplied cement over steel reinforcing rods. Concrete and steel are used together in many different configurations, because concrete is extraordinarily strong in compression and highly resistant to crushing, and steel is highly tensile or flexible. When applied together, the combination provides great resistance to impacts, such as bombs. So thank you, Steven, for your noteworthy question.

© 2025 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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opinions

On the stump and on the field, the pressure builds

We’re just past the midway point of September, the month that traditionally signifies key flashpoints in two very competitive American pastimes: Major League Baseball and American politics.

Before MLB initiated division play and wild cards, there were just two leagues, the National and American, and the team with the best record in each league at the close of the regular season, at the end of September, made it to the World Series. That made the league pennant races do-or-die. Sudden death. No “postseason” or second chances.

There were years in which the pennant race had as much drama and tension as the World Series. In 1951, for instance, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants finished the regular season in a dead heat, necessitating a three-game playoff, which the Giants won on Bobby Thompson’s three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 — the fabled “shot heard

around the world.” That was one of the most famous moments in baseball history, and the fact that the Giants went on to lose the World Series to the Yankees is barely a footnote.

Now there six divisions, and 12 teams qualify for the postseason, taking away the suddendeath aspect. The flip side of the coin is that with more teams in the hunt and more games to be played, there’s sustained fan interest almost to November. That’s especially welcome news for New York fans this year, since neither the Yankees nor the Mets will win their division, but both are good position to be wild card teams.

TLabor Day. Voters are back from vacation or home from the beach. All that went before was but a prelude to the nine-week race that won’t end until late on election night, Nov. 4.

This campaign run to the finish is both a sprint and a marathon. Having run for elective office 19 times, I can tell you that a campaign is both exhilarating and exhausting. A candidate who has run a serious race should have nothing left at the end.

he candidates and the playoff contenders head down the stretch.

And the postseason is a brand new ball game. Last season, the Mets won postseason series over the Brewers and the Phillies, both of which had finished ahead of the Mets in the regular season. The Mets then pushed the Dodgers to six games before finally succumbing, falling short of the World Series by just two games. This year’s September challenge for the Mets is to make sure they nab a wild card slot so they can go on to October, where anything can happen.

Much like baseball, the American political season begins in earnest after

BThis is especially true in Nassau County, where there are few easy races. I assure you that despite Bruce Blakeman’s excellent record as county executive, with Nassau being rated the safest county in the United States and no tax increases, he is not taking his re-election for granted. Yes, polls show that Blakeman has a solid lead over his challenger, Democratic County Legislator Seth Koslow, but he also knows there are 100,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in Nassau County.

Blakeman remembers just four years ago, when he was the challenger and incumbent County Executive Laura Curran was the frontrunner, clearly leading in the polls. But Blakeman waged a strong, hard-fought campaign,

and on election night in November 2021, he was victorious.

Similarly, in the race for county district attorney that same year, Democratic State Sen. Todd Kaminsky was the clear favorite over career prosecutor Anne Donnelly, a Republican. The consensus among political insiders was that Kaminsky would use the D.A.’s office as a steppingstone to state attorney general, and then governor. But Donnelly ran as a strict law-and-order candidate, opposed to the so-called “bail reform” legislation supported by Kaminsky. Election night saw a landslide win for Donnelly.

While national and statewide races get the most media attention, it’s county and town races that are closest to, and most intense for, voters. There are no flyover candidates or Rose Garden campaigns. The candidates are right there in our communities, at local events. We see them up close, and get to know who they are and what they stand for. And the issues are ones that affect us directly: safe streets and neighborhoods, support for our police, preventing tax increases and creating jobs. All of it leading to Nov 4, Election Day, the World Series of politics.

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

The battle of egos in the Big Apple

eing a former elected official, I am asked frequent questions about political matters. Some are about national developments or personalities, but lately, almost all are about New York City’s mayoral contest. For most of this year, many people, city and suburban voters, have been transfixed by fear about the possibility that a total unknown, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, could become the city’s first socialist mayor.

My initial comments have been intended for city dwellers who failed to show up at the June Democratic primary and are now brooding about the potential of having someone so controversial and unqualified running a city of more than 8 million people. I remind them that the city primary elections now use a ranked-choice voting system, which favors unknown candidates, who may have little funding but know how to run a campaign. Mamdani was able to raise a substantial amount of money through

small donations, and ran a professional campaign that is now the envy of the political establishment. The first political shockwave was on primary night, when, early in the evening, it became evident that he would be the clear winner. He won so handily that his opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, made an early concession speech.

UBy the time the sun was up the following day, my telephone was ringing off the hook. While the summer months are usually la-la time, the inquiries continued on a daily basis. In August I switched my responses from “I don’t know” to “Let’s see who will run against Mamdani,” hoping that Mayor Eric Adams, Cuomo and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa, would agree on one independent challenger who could give Mamdani a real contest.

have massive egos, there has been a lot of pushback, though Adams has appeared to leave the door open to “a challenge where my country calls me.”

nless there’s a show of humility, New York City will be led by a political novice.

The “country” Adams is referring to is President Trump, who has made it clear that he doesn’t want Mamdani to win. Even though having a socialist mayor would give Republicans a great issue against traditional Democrats, the president is a New Yorker at heart and has many interests to protect if the city were to take a downturn. It’s possible that Adams will be enticed to drop out, and that may have happened by the time this appears, but even then the picture would still be cloudy if Curtis Sliwa stays in the race.

is hard-nosed, and the winner will be Mamdani.

There is another facet to this New York City battle. Few city elections have ever attracted national attention, but this one is attracting national and even international poll watchers. The Republican Party would love for Mamdani to win, so they could label all Democrats socialist sympathizers. Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani over the weekend, but many other major Democratic officeholders have yet to take a position on the race. The few who have were almost forced to act, because their party base is made up of all factions, which include socialist backers.

But now the September clock is ticking, and there is daily buzz about who will stay in the race and who will drop out. Behind the scenes, prominent conservatives, such as the philanthropist Ronald Lauder and the supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis, have been trying to get either Adams or Sliwa, or both, to drop out. But because both men

A recent Siena Research/NY Times poll concluded that if the only candidates in the race were Cuomo and Mamdani, Mamdani would win 48 percent of the vote, and Cuomo 44 percent. But those figures may not take into account how, in a race that tight, voters in all political parties might coalesce around Cuomo because of their fear of the Democratic designee. I expect that on Election Day it will be a three-person contest, because Sliwa

The November date of destiny is coming at us quickly. There are an impressive number of young voters in the city who have been smitten by Mamdani’s pledge of free buses, rent freezes and public grocery stores. But they don’t pay the real estate taxes and support the infrastructure that make New York the most important city in the world. And if the political novice gets elected, all of New York City and state will suffer.

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

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tOur disagreements must stop at debate

he United States has long prided itself on being a nation in which political differences are aired by way of ballots, not bullets. In recent years, however, violence has too often invaded our public square, shattering lives, feeding a general atmosphere of fear and distrust, and undermining the democratic ideals we claim to cherish.

As we count down to Election Day on Nov. 4, we must recommit to the principle that civil political discourse — not intimidation, assault or bloodshed — is the only legitimate path forward.

Consider the troubling list of recent events. On Jan. 6, 2021, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, brutally attacking police officers in an effort to halt the peaceful transfer of power to then President-elect Joseph Biden, a Democrat. Five people died in the rioting. Since then, President Trump, a Republican, has survived two assassination attempts.

In 2022, Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was bludgeoned with a hammer in the Pelosis’ home in San Francisco. In April of this year, a man attempted to burn down the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a fellow Democrat.

In June, Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, was killed in a targeted attack at her home, along with

letters

Blakeman has a narrow definition of ‘safe’

To the Editor:

Re County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s op-ed last week, “Protecting our kids and keeping Nassau County safe”: Blakeman’s myopia ought not be ours. Though the Nassau County Police Department is top-notch in both competence and compensation, “safety” is a far broader sentiment than armed personnel.

With the most foreclosures in the metropolitan region, Nassau is not a safe place for those who can’t keep up with the Joneses. Our growing population of residents dependent on food bank services, absentee landlords and gig work surely appreciate our police, but don’t feel safe from economic predation. And neither drivers nor pedestrians are especially safe in Nassau, and the roadways themselves would win no awards.

Our famed police are no comfort to anyone viewed through ICE-eyes as dusky, dusty or dawdling. We are not yet saved from Nassau’s dual-action dysfunctional property-tax regime, its failed bus patrol tax, its Nassau University Medical Center mess nor wasteful

her husband, Mark Hortman. In a separate incident, Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were wounded, allegedly by the same gunman.

On Sept. 10, one day before our national commemoration of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk shook the nation.

All of these acts, though politically motivated in different ways, shared a tragic theme: a rejection of reasoned debate in favor of violence. The perpetrators’ actions defied both justice and ethics. Political leaders, regardless of party, must unequivocally denounce violence not only when it is directed at their allies, but also when it strikes their adversaries.

The answers to bitter disagreements can be found instead in the very foundation of American law: our Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, association and petition. These rights were spelled out so that individuals and groups could argue, persuade and organize without fear of reprisal.

Violence, by contrast, seeks to silence opponents permanently. It is not an expression of political conviction but rather a repudiation of it — an attempt to destroy debate rather than contribute to it. That is why every civilized society criminalizes assault, murder and terrorism. To resort to such methods is not

only to break the law but also to tear at the moral fabric that holds communities together.

Violence corrodes democracy itself. When citizens and leaders live under constant threat, they retreat from public engagement. Ordinary people withdraw from activism. Elected officials alter decisions out of fear for their families’ safety. Journalists censor themselves to avoid becoming targets. These chilling effects shrink the civic space, and create an atmosphere of suspicion and anger.

The way forward requires a cultural shift that emphasizes respect, empathy and resilience even in the face of profound disagreements. Everyone from students to business executives to politicians to the media should refuse to share disinformation, avoid demonizing those with whom we have differing opinions and welcome calm, reasoned argument that can change minds more effectively than threats ever could.

Passionate debate is fine. Disagreement is natural in a diverse society, and progress often emerges from that vigorous discussion. In stark contrast, every time a political leader is targeted, every time a citizen is attacked for his or her beliefs, the American experiment itself is weakened.

At this point in our country’s history, the stakes could not be higher. We must choose civility over cruelty, and persuasion over violence.

opinions Affordability can’t just be a talking point

as most Long Islanders know, affordability, at its heart, is about what families experience every day. It’s a child starting the school day with a full stomach, a parent relieved of crushing child care costs, a college student able to pursue a career without sinking into debt. This is the kind of state New Yorkers deserve, one where families can live with dignity and plan with confidence.

That’s why I have worked to put affordability at the center of my priorities.

As the academic year begins, I’m reminded of the past, when parents couldn’t afford to provide lunch or give their children lunch money each day. No parent should have to carry that stress, and no child should sit in class hungry. Alongside my colleagues in the Senate, I fought to secure $340 million in the state budget to make breakfast and lunch free for every student in New York, regardless of their family’s income, so all

young scholars can eat with dignity.

Affordability also means giving young children the strongest possible start without risking the family’s financial security. That’s why I voted in favor of $1.2 billion in universal pre-kindergarten funding to continue our efforts to prepare children for their education and nurture their social, emotional and academic skills. I also collaborated with my fellow senators for the allocation of $112 million for afterschool programs, which bolster academic programming and offer enrichment opportunities. This saves families thousands on child care costs, while building the foundation children need to thrive.

even preparing children for the return to school can be a source of major worry.

In that same vein, I fought for new and increased aid to school districts across Senate District 6 totaling $53.2 million, minimizing the need to raise residents’ property taxes. These funds help cover academic activities, transportation, supportive services and more, making sure that all students have the tools they need to succeed.

Worries about affordability also show up in everyday moments like getting

Letters

BLAKEMAN signage. Nassau’s water safety is in question. Discoveries of buried chemical toxins and depleted shorelines threaten real estate, and the police cannot arrest viruses. Nassau has enough police, but not enough security.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Honoring veterans through service and support

To the Editor:

On Sept. 12, the day after 9/11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, PSEG Long Island, National Grid and the nonprofit General Needs came together to host the first-ever Veteran Warm Up event, serving more than 100 local veterans. At this drive-through event, veterans received bedding, pillows, heaters, LED light bulbs and information about financial and energy-efficiency programs designed to help them keep warm when the weather gets colder. Why would PSEG Long Island step into this role? The answer is simple: because veterans are our neighbors, and many are among the most vulnerable members of our communities. Long Island is home to one of the

children ready for the return to school. This summer I worked with a variety of community partners and stakeholders to offer backpack giveaway events throughout the district. At one such event, in partnership with Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks and North Hempstead Councilman Robert Troiano, along with the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, we gave away more than 800 backpacks filled with school supplies to students from the district.

These initiatives, aimed at easing the financial burden on parents as the academic year begins, do more than help families prepare. They also send a message that members of our community are willing to extend a helping hand to one another.

The need for affordable education doesn’t end in childhood, which is why my fellow senators and I invested $47 million statewide to make community college free for students ages 25 to 55 who are pursuing high-demand careers such as teaching, engineering and nursing.

Affordability and sustainability can and should go hand in hand. The rising

cost of water and its finite existence led me to sponsor Senate Bill S.4988, and secure $150,000 in the state budget to launch a rebate program in Nassau and Suffolk counties for families who install smart-irrigation devices. These systems save water, reduce bills and help protect the environment that we’ll pass on to the next generation.

When it comes to health care, the high cost of prescription drugs has put necessary medications out of reach for too many New Yorkers. To address this concern, the Senate passed the New York Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act, offering a practical solution by empowering the state to partner in the production of generic drugs specifically to drive down prices. This bill targets highcost and at-risk medications like insulin, ensuring affordability and availability.

Affordability can’t simply be a talking point. It must be embodied in legislation and budget allocations. Whether it’s fighting for free meals, expanding pre-K, making college accessible or supporting families with basic school supplies, I will continue to advocate for programming and policies that make life more affordable for everyone.

Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.

Framework by Tim Baker

largest populations of veterans in the country, and too many of them face challenges related to housing, health and employment. At PSEG Long Island, we believe our responsibility goes beyond keeping the lights on — we have a duty to support the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

That’s why, year after year, our employee-volunteers give their time, energy and compassion at events that provide direct aid to veterans and other neighbors in need. Collaborating with organizations like General Needs amplifies that impact, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most.

This commitment to community is an extension of our mission: to provide safe, reliable energy while also strengthening the fabric of the neighborhoods we call home. By supporting veterans, we honor their service and sacrifices while building a culture of understanding and respect that benefits us all.

The Veteran Warm Up event is just one example of how PSEG Long Island strives to live out its values of safety, security and service. We do this because it’s the right thing to do — for our veterans and for our communities.

DAVID LYONS Interim president and chief operating officer, PSEG Long Island

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