Uniondale Herald 11-06-2025

HERALD UNIONDALE

Blakeman wins re-election; Ferretti takes supervisor seat

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

Bruce Blakeman secured another term as Nassau County executive on Tuesday night, defeating Democrat Seth Koslow, according to unofficial results. In his campaign, Blakeman focused on public safety, fiscal restraint and quality-oflife issues.

“I want to thank the men and women of Nassau County for giving us all your trust,” Blakeman said.

John Ferretti, who was appointed Town of Hempstead supervisor in August, was elected to serve a full term, defeating Democratic challenger Joseph Scianablo. Ferretti, of Levittown, ran on a platform that stressed cutting taxes, strengthening public safety and protecting the town’s suburban quality of life.

“Our position on the issues that face Hempstead residents, Nassau County residents — we’re on the right side of every

Republican County executive Bruce Blakeman was

on tuesday night, defeating his democratic challenger, Seth Koslow.

one of them,” Ferretti told Herald reporters Tuesday night.

County legislative races in both Districts 2 and 5 went to the Democrats. In the 2nd District, Viviana Russell secured a decisive victory over challenger Pepitz Blanchard, and thanked her supporters. Russell’s campaign focused on her

track record of re-development.

In the 5th District, Olena Nicks fended off Republican challenger Moshe Hill in a close race, reclaiming her seat with over 5,066 votes to Hill’s 3,852, according to unofficial results. Her campaign centered on community engagement and helping communities thrive.

ElEction RESUltS

UHS seniors learn lifesaving EMT skills

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

Uniondale High School

seniors Valentina Goris and Lisbeth Martinez Guerra already have their futures mapped out: Goris plans to become a pediatrician, and Martinez Guerra hopes to serve in law enforcement. Both are taking their first steps toward those goals in the school’s statecertified Emergency Medical Technician program, where they are training to become certified EMTs before they graduate.

PMartinez Guerra says she believes the skills she is learning will serve her well in the future.

“Police officers are first on the scene, and you never know what you’ll face,” she said. “Even the police academy teaches first-responder skills, but this program gives me a head start and extra training I can use anywhere.”

olice officers are first on the scene, and you never know what you’ll

face.

“I think that it’s an amazing program,” Goris, 17, said. “We don’t just prepare for certification — we also get a sneak peek of what college courses are like, with lectures and labs. I’ve learned so much about patient care and teamwork.”

LISBeTh MARTInez

GueRRA

Uniondale High School senior

Both students were hoping to get involved in the program — available only to seniors — ever since they first heard about it as freshmen, they said, and regularly mentioned it to their guidance counselors.

“I think it’s great for not only kids who want to go into medical field,” Goris said. “I know that in our class, not everyone has that passion, but they’re still joining, and they’re able to get that certification. That’s still possible for a volunteer opportunity.”

The course mirrors an adult EMT curriculum, blending classroom lectures with intensive lab sessions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management, patient transport and trauma care. Students learn to assemble oxygen tanks, insert airway adjuncts — devices used to maintain an open airway — and safely lift and move patients using

Continued on page 6

A 5K walk for breast cancer awareness News briefs

Academy Charter School came together once again for their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-Run earlier this month — an event that continues to grow each year, both in participation and impact.

According to fundraising team member this was the third year the event was held as an official walk, expanding from an inschool fundraiser into a full community effort. “We do a fundraising effort – before (four years ago) kids probably came to school with $2 or $3 so it was all in house,” the team said. “Then we decided to open it up to parents and other people outside so that we can make it bigger.”

Stu Goldman/Herald photos

Cheerleaders of Academy Charter School, Shiloh Phillips in purple with Alivia Clark,left, Laniyah Smith, Dominique, Amelia Murray and Aliana Morale cheering for their peers before the walk.

Island organizations that support cancer patients and their families.

More than 100 people attended this year’s event, surpassing last year’s turnout. While the final donation total is still being tallied, the donation team said, said the team’s goal is to raise at least $10,000 by the end of the month. Proceeds will benefit several Long

For the academy the cause is deeply personal. “One of my family members was diagnosed with breast cancer a year after we started this,” she said. “When something is closer to home you really kind of latch on to it a little bit more because it makes it seem more real.

What they hope is to bring awareness to their students and communtiy.

— Stacy Driks

Thank You, Veterans

SHA student earns second place at debate

The Sacred Heart Academy community is celebrating sophomore Aya Belkharraz Idris, who earned second place in the Extemporaneous category at the Speech Tournament hosted at Sacred Heart Academy on Oct. 11.

Idris competed against students from top schools including Kellenberg Memorial – in Uniondale – Chaminade, Syosset, Roslyn, , and Half Hollow Hills.

The Extemporaneous event challenges students to prepare, memorize, and deliver a speech on an unexpected topic related to the economy — all within 30 minutes. Idris performance demonstrated exceptional composure, intelligence, and rhetorical skill, earning her a half qualification toward the national competition in Washington, D.C., next May.

The October tournament marked the first home event of the season, featuring strong participation from freshmen and sophomores and underscor -

Date:

ing the continued growth of the all girls Catholic high schools nationally recognized Speech and Debate team.

Sacred Heart Academy, which fosters academic excellence and leadership for girls in grades 9–12, will host its next home tournament on March 28.

“I am extremely proud of the hard work the girls are putting in - they meet with me during their lunch and study hall periods to practice, in addition to our after-school practices, and they are eager to help one another.” said Stephanie Cutrona, English teacher and Speech and Debate team coach.

“We are so proud of Aya for earning second place! These competitions do more than celebrate talent—they help our young women find their voices, grow in confidence, and learn the power of thoughtful communication.” Principal Maria Hecht said.

Annual Lung Force Walk on edge of funding goal

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

The American Lung Association’s New York chapter hosted its 3rd annual Lung Force Walk Long Island on Oct. 25 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, uniting hundreds of participants in the fight against lung cancer and chronic diseases.

The ALA is a nationwide charity that focuses on preventing respiratory ailments and supporting both patients and researchers during the ongoing battle against cancer.

This year’s fundraiser collected $142,000 to support lifesaving lung cancer research, early detection programs, and public awareness initiatives, coming close to its $150,000 goal.

Lungforce Walk Committee Chair Nicole Sturiano championed the event, motivated by how lung health issues affected her family. In 2015, Sturiano’s sister, Jeanine Pucci, died after a long battle with lung cancer. Now, Sturiano and her family walk every year under a team

“Me and my family, we keep the team going, and we’ve been involved ever since,” she said. “It’s keeping my sister’s spirit alive.

“She was battling stage four lung cancer, and she took the time and made it her mission to be involved and bring awareness to lung cancer and the need for research and new drugs and programs, all while going through treatment herself. So, if she can do it, I’m going to continue doing that.”

According to the ALA, someone is diagnosed with a lung disease about every two minutes. Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States, even after the national survival rate improved by more than 44 percent over the past decade.

This year’s walk was sponsored by Catholic Health as well as radio partners 106.1 BLI and WBAB 102.3. Two physicians from Catholic Health’s Good Samaritan University Hospital, Dr. Ashish Sangal and Dr. Sharad Chandrika, were honored for their work in the advancement of lung care during the ceremony.

Sangal is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist, and active across multiple medical expertise groups across the country.

“This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about lung cancer,” he said. “As a medical oncologist, I stand before our patients and witness their courage, their resilience, from countless individuals and families who face lung cancer.”

With lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths around the world, supporting further research is of grave importance, Sangal said.

The funds raised will support the Association’s mission to defeat lung cancer, projects to improve air quality, and reduce the burden of lung disease and tobacco-related illnesses on community members.

“We always seek opportunities

where, if we can try to detect them early with newer therapies and treatments, we can save lives,” he explained.

Chandrika is an interventional pulmonary specialist, specializing in minimally invasive procedures and early cancer treatment. She attended the walk with her colleagues and her family to support the cause.

“We know that early detection saves lives,” Chandrika said, “the goal is to reach out to people, meet with them, increase our visibility, and tell them that screening is the right thing to do.

“It has to go beyond just education. We have to show our presence there and engage with the community.”

The walk brought together families, friends, and company teams to rally in support of the health and wellbeing of people afflicted with lung-related medical problems.

Over the past decade, the group has been able to increase their “investments and lung cancer research grants by 340 percent,” said Emily Amitin, development director of the ALA in New York.

Since then, “the Lung Force movement has since expanded to encompass all lung diseases and be a rallying cry for lung health across the country,” she added.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The ALA encourages donations throughout the rest of the month to reach their funding goals. So far, the charity has raised over $32 million for grants and research since 2014.

For more information about the ALA and similar events, visit LungForce.org/ LongIsland or call 1-800-586-4872.

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

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

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

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Crime watCh A Queens resident pleads guilty to sex trafficking in local hotels

An Astoria man accused of trafficking women at hotels in Uniondale and Garden City pleaded guilty on Oct. 27 to sex trafficking and promoting prostitution in Nassau County.

Jorge Ramos, 55, an undocumented immigrant, faces a sentence of one to three years in prison after admitting that he coerced a woman into working for him in prostitution, threatening to release a private video if she refused, according to law enforcement officials.

Prosecutors said Ramos brought women to area hotels, including the Marriott in Uniondale and the Hyatt Place in Garden City, to engage in sex work. He was arrested on Feb. 20 in Garden City after investigators observed him transporting two women to the Hyatt Place Hotel.

tronic devices. Ramos is expected to forfeit a 2011 Acura and 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander.

Donnelly recommended a sentence of three to nine years in prison and that Ramos be registered as a sex offender. However, he is expected to be sentenced to one to three years on Dec. 11. The arrest followed a joint investigation by the FBI Long Island Human Trafficking Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Nassau County Police Department’s Narcotics Vice Squad.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Ramos trafficked one victim between Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, 2023, at his home in Astoria and the Uniondale Marriott.

Search warrants executed on the day of his arrest at his home and in two vehicles turned up multiple phones and elec-

LarCeny

Prince Marcelin, 22, from Uniondale was arrested for shoplifting at a Target on Oct. 2.

A victim reported an unknown mail

“Sex trafficking can happen anywhere and to anyone, even in popular chain hotels in Nassau County neighborhoods. Jorge Ramos exploited these victims and threatened one of the women into compliance to keep her working for him in a life of prostitution,” Donnelly said in a news release.

“Thanks to extensive surveillance and undercover work by our law enforcement partners, this predator was arrested and brought to justice for what he did to these women,” she added.

—

Stacy Driks

subject remove a FedEx package from 895 Uniondale Ave., on Oct. 6.

A victim reported an unknown male subject remove assorted items from a Walmart in Uniondale on Oct. 8.

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

Academic Explorers joins the first ever child care summit

By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com

Academic Explorers founder Danielle Paige says the first-ever Stronger Together Summit was an eye-opener for her. She found various new ways to connect families to resources they may not know exist.

Held at the Long Island Marriott, the summit drew more than 180 participants, including educators, childcare providers and families, for workshops and panels focused on improving access to resources and early education. The two-day event aimed at strengthening Long Island’s early childhood systems.

The conference Dr. Dina Leiser, as the keynote speaker. Leiser is the program director and team lead of early childhood systems at Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau in the division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems.

Academic Explorers, a child day care center with locations in Uniondale, Merrick, Roosevelt and Old Westbury, values the importance of community, and Paige attended not knowing what to expect, but left feeling inspired after meeting new people and learning from one another.

“One of the breakout sessions we were discussing ways that we can bring more awareness of what resources are available to families of children,” Paige said. “There is not a

lot of that going on right now – it was a great brainstorming session of think -

ing of different ideas that we can try to push.”

She cited “Help Me Grow,” a statewide initiative that connects parents to early-intervention services, as one example. Academic Explorers already uses developmental screenings like Ages and Stages Questionnaires to identify concerns and refer families to the program — something she wishes more centers would adopt.

“While we might not be experts in early intervention services or therapists that’s not where our expertise usually lies as child care providers –that’s not what we do,” she added. “But we can have partnerships with other agencies who are those experts like Help Me Grow.

Organized by a coalition of regional organizations — including Docs for Tots, Choice for All, the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk, and Help Me Grow NYS — the event combines three former major conferences into one. This is the first time leaders across health, education and child development convened under one roof for early childhood systems-building on Long Island.

“The Stronger Together Summit creates a huge opportunity to meet families where they are and ask, ‘What can we do better to make sure every child on Long Island can thrive,’” said co-organizer Jacob Dixon prior to the event.

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Pearse African American Museum rededicated

By REINE BETHANY

Special to the Herald

On Oct X surrounded by local dignitaries, elected officials, and clergy, rededicated the Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County.

Saturday’s rededication followed a sixweek refreshment of the museum’s windows, doors, and interior that cost $135,000. The rooms and doorways have been made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, a $1 million check, originally sponsored by Legislator (now State Senator) Siela Bynoe.

All the visitors then entered a rearranged museum lobby full of light, with a spacious plexiglass reception desk.

Stepping into the largest gallery, the visitors saw walls newly hung with the colorful, bold paintings of NigerianAmerican artist Toluwalope Ayorinde —”Tolu” for short.

Creative Tips

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

• Be creative & original.

• Use bright colors.

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The crowning point of the rededication ceremony was the unveiling of Tolu’s large portrait of both Pearses, evoking gasps and applause.

Tolu, who moved into West Hempstead two years ago after a career teaching high school art and displaying his works in Brooklyn, had created the double portrait at the request of Dr. Regina Williams.

“When Regina contacted me, she said, would you be willing to share your work here?” Tolu said, smiling at the portrait. “And I said, of course!”

Williams is a trustee on the Roosevelt Board of Education, and has been appointed to oversee the African American Museum by Darcy Belyea, commissioner of the county Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums.

“We have a wall display dedicated to Joysetta,” Williams said, nodding toward

a permanent mounting of photos and awards honoring Joysetta on the far wall of the gallery. “My vision for today was of doing something for the two of them together. I want to reeducate the public to remind them of the life of the Pearses.”

The Pearses’ name has been associated with civil rights leadership in the area ever since Julius became Freeport’s first black policeman in 1961. They founded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee in 1981, two years before King’s birthday became a national holiday. They operated a private investigative firm called Jul-Joy Associates in Freeport until 2002.

Joysetta became a certified genealogist in 1986. The couple started The African American Genealogical Society soon after, enabling black people to establish their ancestry.

In 1998, the couple established a TAAGS office in the 28-year-old African American Museum, making it the only museum on Long Island with a genealogical center.

Meanwhile, they helped develop award-winning museum displays that emphasized the cultural and scholarly achievements of America’s black population, without neglecting their lengthy battle for freedom.

From 2012 until her death in 2021 at age 82, Joysetta was the museum director, a volunteer position. The Pearses opened the museum’s doors to educational activities and community events, while continuing the much-demanded services of TAAGS.

Julius died in December 2024, age 91.

“I worked with the Pearses for 20 years,” said Susan Jaycox, president of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island and the museum’s current genealogist-inresidence. “I feel like this rededication will bring the museum some positive attention. I love what has been done to fix the place up.”

things to know about DiwaiLi

The holiday of Diwali, celebrated around the world

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is celebrated by millions of people around the world, especially in South Asia. It marks the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. While rooted in religion, it also has strong cultural and social traditions. This year, it was celebrated on Oct. 20. — Angelina Zingariello

n

Diwali is celebrated over five distinct days

Diwali isn’t a one-day festival; it spans five days, each with its own meaning.

It usually begins with Dhanteras, a day for cleaning and shopping, followed by Naraka Chaturdashi, when homes are decorated. The third day is the main Diwali day, when people worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and light oil lamps or candles to invite good fortune. The fourth day, Govardhan Puja, often involves symbolic offerings to honor prosperity. The fifth, Bhai Dooj, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. The entire celebration is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, usually falling between mid-October and mid-November. Families decorate with rangoli, exchange sweets and enjoy fireworks. Even though practices vary across India and other countries, the theme of light overcoming darkness remains central throughout all five days.

n Diwali is observed by more than one religion

Though Diwali is most commonly associated with Hinduism, it’s also a major festival for Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, each with different historical reasons for observing it.

Hindus often celebrate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, a symbol of good triumphing over evil.

For Jains, Diwali marks the liberation, or moksha, of Lord Mahavira, their 24th spiritual teacher. Sikhs commemorate Bandi Chhor Divas, when Guru Hargobind Ji was released from imprisonment along with 52 other men. Some Buddhists, particularly in Nepal, observe Diwali as part of their Tihar festival, honoring gods, animals and ancestors. While the stories differ, all share the themes of freedom, justice, light and spiritual awakening. This makes Diwali a unifying moment for multiple faiths, not just one.

n Diwali is a social, cultural and economic event

Beyond its religious origins, Diwali plays a major cultural and economic role, especially in places with large South Asian communities. Homes are cleaned and decorated with flowers, lights and colorful rangoli patterns to welcome prosperity. Families dress in new clothes and prepare or exchange homemade sweets like ladoo and barfi. Fireworks and sparklers are common, especially on the main Diwali night. Markets see a sharp rise in shopping, from gold and clothing to electronics and gifts, making it one of the biggest retail seasons in India. In Uniondale, Hempstead and other parts of the U.S., local communities organize Diwali events, cultural shows and dance performances to keep traditions alive. Whether religious or not, the festival becomes a time for family, food and shared joy, reflecting values anyone can appreciate.

L.I. Association hosts WNBA’s Caitlin Clark

By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com

Caitlin Clark, the star point guard for the Indiana Fever, became the alltime leading scorer in NCAA Division I basketball, was selected first overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, was the league’s 2024 Rookie of the Year and has drawn thousands of new fans to women’s basketball.

On Oct. 29, hundreds of Long Island business leaders and basketball fans attended the Long Island Association’s annual fall luncheon to see Clark speak with LIA President and CEO Matt Cohen.

The LIA is nonprofit association working to ensure Long Island’s economic vitality. The luncheon usually highlights political or business leaders, but this year Clark, 23, spoke about her career and nonprofit work. It was her first visit to Long Island, but she is no stranger to New York, having made a number of TV appearances and played the 2024 WNBA champion New York Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“Honestly New York is one of my favorite places to come and play,” she said. “The crowd they have is really fun, their fan base is absolutely incredible and they’ve got a great team.”

As a junior at the University of Iowa, Clark became known for “the Caitlin Clark effect” — a dramatic increase in

popularity and revenue for women’s basketball that continued when she turned pro.

“I just love basketball,” she said. “I love the grind of getting better. No matter what we achieved or what I achieved personally, I always wanted to get back in the gym and get better at it.”

She emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive

people who care about both your success and your well-being. “I’ve been very fortunate over the course of my career to be surrounded by a lot of really great teammates, coaches and a great support system that’s allowed me to do a lot of cool things,” she said. Clark has sponsorships from Gatorade and Nike, and collaborates with Stanley. Her college marketing degree,

she said, has helped her navigate business decisions. “The biggest thing for me is working with brands that align with who I am,” she said. “Everything has my fingerprints on it. Everything we put out there I’m super proud of.”

Clark touched on her work with the Caitlin Clark Foundation, a nonprofit focused on youth empowerment through education, nutrition and sports. “It’s honestly my favorite part of what I get to do,” she said. The foundation organizes a large backpack giveaway, supports Central Iowa’s Boys and Girls club, and works to install new basketball courts in Des Moines and Indianapolis.

“Basketball was never my end-all beall,” Clark said. “Its still that way for me. It’s just what I love to do. Its crazy to think that this is my job.”

She did not comment on negotiations between the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association on a new collective bargaining agreement after players opted out of the agreement. It was set to expire on Oct. 31, but both sides agreed to a 30-day extension for talks to continue. Players are concerned about pay, benefits and overall conditions in the league as the sport continues to grow.

For her part, Clark hopes to continue her career in Indianapolis and eventually help the Fever win a WNBA championship.

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Cradle of Aviation mixes “spooky” with “science”

Families celebrated Halloween a little longer at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City during its annual Spooky Science Weekend, held Nov. 1–2.

Visitors of all ages arrived in costume to enjoy hands-on science activities with a Halloween twist. Children searched for hidden gremlins in the museum’s galleries, designed and launched paper airplanes, and took

home trick-or-treat goodie bags.

One of the most popular activities was the “Spooky Shrinky Dinks” station, where kids created Halloween-inspired keepsakes for a small additional fee.

The weekend event offered a mix of learning and lighthearted fun, giving young explorers a chance to celebrate science — and the Halloween spirit — all at once.

— Stacy Driks

Focusing on

Get Ready for the Holidays: Protect Yourself With Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines

As you get ready for the holidays, remember this: While vaccine recommendations may be debated these days, one fact remains unchanged—the flu and COVID-19 can still be deadly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the flu caused nearly 130,000 deaths and the hospitalization of about 1 million people between October 2024 and May 2025. Additionally, the CDC estimates that COVID-19 has been responsible for approximately 540,000 hospitalizations and up to 63,000 deaths since October 2024.

“You should always consult your physician for individual medical advice. The respiratory virus season is upon us, and if you’re eligible and haven’t been vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu, now is a good time to get immunized,” advised Aaron E. Glatt, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine and Chief of Infectious Diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Vaxmobile is offering a free COVID-19 and flu vaccine program. For the 2025–2026 flu season, the CDC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and New York State Department of Health recommend trivalent flu vaccines containing strains for influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and an influenza B/Victoria lineage virus. The A(H3N2) component was updated from the previous season. It is recommended that everyone six months and older receive a flu vaccine annually to prevent illness and complications.

For those 65 and older, an enhanced version of the flu vaccine is recommended.

In September, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed

MountSinaiSouthNassau’sCommunityEducationandVaxmobileteamare providingfluandCOVIDvaccinesinacommunitynearyou.Checkthe hospital’sFacebookpage(www.facebook.com/mountsinaisouthnassau)for dates and locations.

an executive order (which has been extended) declaring an emergency that overrides recent federal actions restricting vaccine access. The order ensures that all New Yorkers can receive the updated 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine without a prescription.

The New York State Department of Health recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for all children aged six months to 23 months, adults 65 years or older, and people at high risk for severe outcomes, such as pregnant women, lactating women, and the immunocompromised. It is also recommended that children and teens ages 2-18 years old get the vaccine if they are at high risk, live in a long-term care facility, have never been immunized with

a COVID-19 vaccine, or live with people who are at high risk for severe COVID-19. It is also recommended for adults ages 19-64 who have elevated risk factors for severe COVID-19, those at the highest risk of exposure, and those who live with others at the highest risk.

“Individuals who are especially vulnerable and have not recently had COVID-19 and/or received the 2024 COVID-19 vaccine should get the new vaccine for enhanced protection,” said Dr. Glatt.

The CDC says it is safe to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines simultaneously, during your visit to the doctor or pharmacy. Getting the vaccines is as simple as calling your doctor, visiting your local drugstore, or scheduling an appointment with Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Vaxmobile.

A common reaction after getting the flu and/or COVID-19 vaccine is a sore and tender shoulder, which is caused by the needle hitting the deltoid muscle and/or your body’s natural response to the vaccine. This usually goes away in a short while and doesn’t represent a long-term risk.

To schedule an appointment to get a flu or COVID-19 vaccine or both, go to www.southnassau.org/sn/vaxmobile; for more information, call Community Education at (516) 377-5333.

One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 • 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) • www.mountsinai.org/southnassau

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Holiday stress?

It doesn’t have to get you down this time around

‘Tis the season to experience joy, wonder, gratitude, togetherness, and for many massive amounts of holiday stress. Whether it’s feeling pressure to pull off a picture-perfect Thanksgiving dinner or being overwhelmed by the constant whirlwind of social commitments and to-dos in the days leading up to holidays and New Year’s, holiday stress can often get in the way of what’s supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year.”

The holidays often brings unwelcome guests stress and depression. And it’s no wonder. It’s a period that often present a dizzying array of demands cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning and entertaining. If the holidays sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed and out of control, you’re not alone. The holiday season is fraught with stress for many, whose holidays never quite seemed to be a picture-perfect Currier & Ives scenario.

A 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 89 percent of U.S. adults feel stressed during the holiday season, with 41 percent reporting higher stress levels compared to other times of the year. This can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. The reasons given include lack of time, financial pressure, gift-giving, and

family gatherings.

If the Grinch has stolen your spirit and good intentions, take steps to reclaim your ho-ho-ho and stay happy and healthy.

Keep up healthy habits

Make a pact with yourself during the holidays. For example, decide that you’ll move more and do something active every day over the next three weeks. Take it a step further, and pledge to start the day with a healthy breakfast, limit the sweets and get at least seven hours of sleep each night. If you don’t completely give up your healthy habits, you won’t feel like you have to start over once the holidays are over.

Beware of seasonal sweets

The holidays often dish up extra helpings of less-than-healthy treats. Try preparing healthy snacks that are ready to eat when the urge to snack strikes. If you’re hosting a holiday party, challenge yourself to make delicious and healthier options.

Stay active

Instead of beating yourself up about missing a workout, sprinkle some healthy activities into your daily routine. For example, if the weather isn’t too frightful and you’re working from home, hope on your

✓ Personalized Solutions: No one-size-fits-all here – only customized solutions that work for you.

✓ Trusted Expertise: We are your go-to partners for hearing health, using the latest in hearing technology and care.

✓ Ongoing Support: Hearing needs can change, and we are with you every step of the way on your hearing journey.

bike during a lunch break. If dinner is going to be a feast, opt for a light lunch, then take a vigorous walk.

And keep the family moving. When the kids are home from school, squeeze in some active chores and trips to the park.

But not too active

Give yourself the gift of peace. If you need some down time to recharge, declare a “me-treat” and do something that relaxes you. Try yoga, meditation or spending time in nature.

Be realistic

The holidays don’t have to be perfect or as we remember them from childhood.

As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones.

For example, if your adult children or other relatives can’t come to your home, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos. Or meet virtually. Even though your holiday plans may still be different than in years past, you can still hold onto what matters most enjoying family and loved ones.

HEALTH MEMO

Health impacts of untreated hearing loss

Hearing loss is a progressive degenerative disorder that significantly compromises the neural integrity of the auditory system, and the brain. As a result, the most common symptoms of hearing loss that result from this neural dysfunction are:

√ Difficulty following a conversation in background noise

√ Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in your ears)

√ Hearing people speak but not understanding everything they say (i.e. a loss of clarity)

Consider how untreated hearing loss affects everyone involved.

Aging, social Isolation and loneliness: Hearing loss is experienced by 50% of individuals 60-70; 66% of individuals 70-80; and nearly 80% of individuals over 80.

Falls: Untreated hearing loss increases the risk of falling by 140%.

Cardiovascular disease: Hearing loss is 54% more common in those who have cardiovascular disease.

Diabetes: Hearing loss is two times as common in people with diabetes.

Cognitive decline and dementia: Untreated hearing loss increases your risk of dementia by 200500%.

In the past decade, science has helped clinicians and their patients understand the connections of hearing loss to overall health care. We now understand that diabetes can affect hearing, as well as cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. We also know that nutrition and diet can impact hearing.

Perhaps the most alarming statistic is that hearing loss can increase the risk of developing cognitive decline, memory loss and dementia by as much as 200-500%. This study, led by Dr. Frank Lin at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, has highlighted the importance of maintaining healthy hearing to maintain a healthy brain.

If you are noticing any of the symptoms of hearing loss, or if your family is encouraging you to seek assistance with your hearing, then it is time to take your first step to have a hearing test and learn about treatment options.

Billy Joel exhibit closes after two-year run

‘A Piano Man’s Journey,’ at L.I. Music and Entertainment HOF, ends with collectors’ presentation

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

A special presentation at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame on Oct. 25 marked the closing of the Billy Joel exhibit and highlighted the important role that collectors played in bringing it to life.

Among those sharing their stories were collectors Paul Fierro and Eric Fellen, who contributed memorabilia and offered items for door prizes and a silent auction to support the museum.

“I’m excited to be here and talk about our experiences throughout the years collecting,” Fierro said, “but when people ask what’s the best, I always say the best is the people that I’ve met along the way, the friends I’ve made over the past 50 years doing this.”

After their presentation, Fellen and Fierro passed around pieces from their collections to a room full of devoted fans, and answered questions.

“Billy Joel, My Life: A Piano Man’s Journey” ran for nearly two years, drawing many repeat visitors — including Lisa and Donnie Wallace, of Massapequa Park. “Billy Joel has been my all-time favorite for 50 years now,” Lisa said. “I saw him 22 times during his residency and probably 30 times overall.”

Melissa Heche, an audiologist who

has performed with Richie Cannata, attended with friends, and said that Joel’s music was the “heartbeat” of their childhoods. “He became a role model too, pulling us into all different kinds of music,” Heche recalled.

Regina DeMarco, of Woodbury, attended with friends she met on a Billy Joel Facebook fan page. “I’ve made a lot of friends through Billy Joel,” DeMarco said. “We’re a tight group and we love Billy’s music. Some of the people in our

NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!

group come as far away as England, Australia and Chile.”

JoAnn Laverdure traveled from New Hampshire for the final days of the exhibit. “I was planning on coming at the beginning of the month because I knew that it was closing, and then I saw the post for the 2 p.m. presentation and just changed my plans,” she said. “I just adore him, and I think the exhibit is marvelous.”

The exhibit was designed by Kevin

O’Callaghan, who described its closing as emotional. “It was an exhibition I was very proud of,” O’Callaghan said. “My relationship dealing with Billy Joel I will never forget; it was a wonderful experience.”

O’Callaghan is now preparing something new for the hall — this time stepping away from music and into television. His next project, scheduled to open Nov. 28, celebrates 30 years of the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Titled “Everybody Loves Raymond: Celebrating 30 Years,” the exhibit will include the 70-foot-wide set built for the show’s upcoming anniversary special on CBS. This marks the first time the set will be on public display.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this new exhibit,” O’Callaghan said. “The fact that we’re taking television history, the actual set from ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ — the actual set that we looked at many times on TV, and we have it here for people to walk on and enjoy — it’s an immersive experience. It’s a wonderful exhibition, and a wonderful journey back to a better time, when we all enjoyed watching real family comedy.”

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is at 97 Main St. in Stony Brook. For more details, go to limusichalloffame.org.

STEPPING OUT

Decades of holiday joy

Sacred Heart Academy welcomes the season with ‘The Nutcracker’

By Abbey Salvemini

As we prepare for the festive season ahead, one cherished tradition is already spreading holiday cheer: Sacred Heart Academy’s beloved production of “The Nutcracker.” Now in its 35th year, the all-girls, student-run performance returns to delight audiences with its timeless magic, graceful choreography and heartfelt community spirit.

Proudly recognized as the first “Nutcracker” to take the stage on Long Island this year — two weeks before Thanksgiving — Sacred Heart’s production is more than a performance; it’s a celebration of artistry and empowerment. Every element — from choreography to marketing to stage management — is handled by students, creating an experience that’s as much about leadership as it is about ballet. The young creative team is guided by the steady hand of Rockville Centre’s Annie Melia, a 2008 alumna, now in her third year as director of the production. Many alumnae have gone on to shine as Rockettes, Juilliard-trained dancers and educators, proving that the spirit of the beloved holiday classic extends far beyond the stage.

“As the leader of the production, I’ve learned that creating a supportive and organized environment helps everyone perform their best,” says Sienna Squadrito, a senior from Atlantic Beach who serves as the production co-president, choreographed the Waltz of the Flowers. “I tried to pull choreography that reflected the whole theme of the show.”

Her goal is that audiences sense the passion and countless hours each dancer has put in to make the movements shine.

Oceanside senior Angelina Sabatino, vice president, who choreographed several scenes, takes on the role of the dazzling Dew Drop Fairy. She relates that the energy of an all-girls cast creates an atmosphere of empowerment and camaraderie.

“Being a part of ‘Nutcracker’ has such a positive energy and allows us to grow as dancers and leaders,” she says.

Stepping into the role of the Dew Drop Fairy has been both exhilarating and deeply meaningful; the highlight for her.

“Dewdrop is one of my favorite roles because of how pretty the scene is. My favorite part is the music and the choreography, it’s so uplifting. I am so excited to perform this role because of how magical it feels and how it puts you in the holiday spirit. Bringing the

• Nov. 14, 7 p.m.; Nov. 15-16, 2 p.m.

• Pre-sale tickets are $15 each through Nov. 13; $20 day of performance, subject to availability.

• Tickets available at sacredheartacademyli.org/ TheNutcracker2025Tickets

• Sister Virginia Crowley Theatre, 47 Cathedral Ave., Hempstead

Dew Drop Fairy to life in front of an audience reminds me why I love to dance and how special it is to share that joy with the audience.”

As the Sugar Plum Fairy, Samantha Koenig, of Garden City, carries one of the ballet’s most iconic roles — a part she has made entirely her own.

“Instead of focusing on being perfect, I try to bring warmth and confidence to the character,” she says.

Besides performing, she choreographed Waltz of the Snowflakes and serves as the show’s Finale Coordinator.

“As a senior, it means a lot to set an example for the younger dancers,” she adds.

Koenig reflects that what she’ll hold closest to her heart about her involvement with the show is the deep sense of family and the cherished tradition it represents.

“Everyone supports each other, and it’s so special to be a part of a tradition that brings so many people together,” she notes.

For senior Hailey Friere, of Massapequa, who plays the Lead Messenger and Fritz, this year’s performance marks her fourth year with the show.

“During my freshman year, I thought that participating in ‘The Nutcracker’ was just another after-school activity. Now, I see it more as a part of my life that fulfills the holiday season.”

Friere’s favorite aspect of the production is building friendships across grade levels and sharing the joy of the Christmas season throughout the school.

“Actually, I met one of my best friends through ‘The Nutcracker,’ and she’s like a sister to me,” Friere shares. “Now, I’m Fritz and she’s Clara, so she’s like a real sister to me!”

As the curtain rises this holiday season, Sacred Heart Academy’s “The Nutcracker” reminds local audiences that its magic goes far beyond the stage. In sharing their passion, students invite everyone to experience the joy that has made this beloved production a cherished holiday highlight at the school for 35 years — and counting.

Ted Nash Sextet

Ted Nash’s Big Band brings the Grammy Award-winning “Presidential Suite” to the Tilles Center stage. This fascinating program pairs historic speeches by figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, and others with bold, jazz-driven orchestrations. With Nash’s thoughtful direction and expressive playing, the hard swinging band offers a powerful and resonant performance that bridges history, music and the spirit of swing. Each movement is tied to a different speech by world leaders, giving the words new resonance through music. Presidential Suite is considered Nash’s most significant work, rich with social and political awareness. A longtime member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Nash has spent 25 years blending intellect, emotion and bold creativity through his compositions. Acclaimed as one of the most innovative voices in modern jazz, he’s known for his boundless creativity as an arranger and performer.

Sunday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100

North Mississippi Allstars

Dynamic blues-rock band North Mississippi Allstars unearths the soul of the Mississippi hill country with every riff and beat. Led by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson, their electrifying performances fuse tradition with modern energy and can turn any venue into a juke joint. As legend has it, the brothers started the band in 1996 as a loose collective of like-minded secondgeneration musicians who shared a local repertoire and regional style. Over the years, the lineup shifted by design, and each subsequent record offered up a different combination of collaborators. Get on your dancing shoes and hear for yourself the bold, raucous and reinvented tribute to the musicians’ roots and evolution.

Sunday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. $48.50. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or by calling (516) 767-6444.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

Gospel Fest

Uniondale High School’s show choir

Rhythm of the Knight presents its annual Gospel Fest.

A celebration of music, faith, and community it includes inspiring performances by the awardwinning choir and special guests, showcasing the talent and spirit that make them a local favorite. $20 for adults and $10 for students.

• Where: 933 Goodrich St., Uniondale

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: uniondaleschools.org

‘Once Upon A Song!’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance. In this spirited show books in a library are brought to life in song and dance. A cast of 40 keeps the action moving along, with a live band and and a special appearance by Steve Mitchell as Elvis. The singers and dancers perform current hits, oldies and tunes from the Broadway stage, with a tribute to Woodstock and “Wicked.” With refreshments and post-show dancing until 1 A.M. Seating is night-club style at round tables. $30 per person, available in advance or at the door. Refreshments provided; guests can bring in your own food (just no pork or shellfish).

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

• Time: 7:30 p.m., also Nov. 15

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

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create with kids at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. $20, $10 child; members free.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Noon-3 p.m.

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

Concert for veterans

9

Uniondale Public Library hosts performers from the Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra to celebrate Veterans Day. Enjoy popular music from the ‘60s.

• Where: 560 Uniondale Ave., Uniondale

Gaelic Storm

encouraged open dialogue and community participation.

• Where: Smith Street School, 780 Smith St., Uniondale

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: District Clerk, Sandra Edwards at Uniondaleschools. org

NOV

24

Sewing class for beginners

Sewing Machine Basics at Bernard Brown Park teaches threading, bobbin making, maintenance, and pattern reading. Learn basic stitches, zippers, and elastic while creating a reversible tote bag. Bring your sewing machine and supplies. Eight sessions cost $96; $48 seniors, veterans, Limited to 20 adults. Registration required.

• Where: Bernard Brown Park, Uniondale

• Time: 2:30-4:30 p.m.

• Contact: tinyurl.com/ SewingBernardBrownPark

NOV

• Time: 8 p.m.

It’s hard to imagine a band just coming into their own after 20 years of success, but that’s exactly what makes a true anomaly. Gaelic Storm, a multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows stronger with each live performance, and after two decades and over 2000 shows, they are a true force to be reckoned with. The band attributes their continued success to their fanatic audience, and it’s a well-diversified crowd for sure — attracting fans of every genre with their rich storytelling, energetic instrumentals, devotion to Celtic traditions and passion for their stagecraft. They are as loyal to their fans as the fans are to them, as frontman Patrick Murphy states, “The fans are the ones that have given us this life. We’re here for them.” Gaelic Storm takes a true blue-collar, hard-nose approach to touring, consistently traveling the U..S and internationally forging a unique path in the Celtic music world. This dedication to their live show dates all the way back to the mid-1990s, when Gaelic Storm kicked off its’ career as a pub band in Santa Monica, Calif. Those performances ultimately led to their discovery that found the band appearing in the blockbuster film “Titanic” (where they performed “Irish Party in Third Class”). This laid the groundwork for a career that would eventually find them topping the Billboard World Chart six times, making appearances at mainstream music festivals, and regularly headlining the largest Irish Festivals across the country, all while gaining a reputation as a genre-bending Irish rock band whose songs mix Celtic traditions with something uniquely creative. $68, $58, $48.

• Time: 2-3 p.m.

• Contact: uniondalelibrary.org

Flip Your Lid

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

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 1-3 p.m.

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

NOV

AdvoKids: Veterans Day

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes all to celebrate Veterans Day. During this month’s AdvoKids workshop, visitors learn about the importance of Veterans Day and about a local naval veteran, Jeremy Feldman who works with the local nonprofit Long Island Warriors Hockey Club. Everyone then creates an American Flag to commemorate the day. This is a drop-in program.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

NOV

Collage workshop

Join Nassau County Museum of Art’s first Artist in Residence, John Grande, on a creative journey through personal expression and visual storytelling. Compose your own collage while exploring a variety of tools and techniques used by professional collage and mixed media artists including a range of cutting instruments and adhesive methods. Each participant will have their pick from a variety of vintage, printed and colorful papers, fabric and trim samples, post cards, magazine clippings, books, and other collaging materials. $50, $45 members. For ages 16+

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Noon-3 p.m.

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

Let’s Skate Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s

• Where: Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington

• Contact: landmarkonmainstreet. org or (516) 767-6444

popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades. Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” With special opening weekend activities.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: Opening drop-in programs start at 1 p.m.

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

NOV

18

Uniondale Board of Education meets

Uniondale residents have an opportunity to ask the school district questions at the meetings, in person on the third Tuesday of each month, unless notified. All meetings are open to the public, and

28

‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive

The Bus! The Musical’ Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes back this delightful production, based on Mo Willems’ awardwinning “Pigeon” picture books. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party. It’s not easy being the Pigeon — you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Nov. 29, Dec. 3-Dec. 4

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

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 FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: InDwelling Properties, LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 05/15/2025. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 447 Clarendon Road, Uniondale, NY 11553. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 156004

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, INC. 2007AHL1, ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES

SERIES 2007-AHL1, -againstPEDRO A. RODRIGUEZ, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF VIVIAN E. RODRIGUEZ, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 19, 2025, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, INC.

2007-AHL1, ASSETBACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES

2007-AHL1 is the Plaintiff and PEDRO A. RODRIGUEZ, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF VIVIAN E. RODRIGUEZ, 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 November 24, 2025 at 2:00PM, the premises known as 761 SALEM ROAD, UNIONDALE, NY 11553; tax map identification 50-D-04-11; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN

PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT UNIONDALE, 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.: 604168/2022.

Jane P. Shrenkel, 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. 156431

LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Plaintiff - against - AGNES LEWIS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on September 2, 2025. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 20th day of November, 2025 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Uniondale, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, and State of New York.

Premises known as 361 Emerson Place, Uniondale, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11553. (SBL#: 50-D02-72)

Approximate amount of lien $144,550.89 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 605243/2023. Maria Sideris, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618

Tel. 585/760-8218 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at

www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: September 18, 2025

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 156391

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of ORGANIC CHEMISTRY PRODUCTIONS LLC

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on October 15, 2025. Office located in New York, SSNY has been designated for the process, SSNY shall mail a copy of any process Served against LLC at 29 Marvin Ave Uniondale NY 11553. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 156434

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF LB-IGLOO SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. 814 STATON HOLDING LLC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 14, 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 December 2, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1059 Harrison Street, Uniondale, 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 36, Block 150 and Lots 303-304. Approximate amount of judgment is $779,945.75 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615545/2022. Lynn Botwinik Almeleh, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 202066-2 156521

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN

TRUST INC. ASSETBACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-AMC4, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, Plaintiff, vs. MAURA PRITCHARD, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 20, 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 December 3, 2025 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 156 Brookside Avenue, Roosevelt, NY 11575. 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 36, Block K and Lot 142. Approximate amount of judgment is $579,539.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #602180/2018. Cash will not be accepted.

Gerard DeGregoris, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 156517

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 18th day of November, 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:

MERRICK

BYRON ROAD - north side, starting at a point 60 feet east of the east curbline of Merrick Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-458/25)

UNIONDALE COLERIDGE ROADeast side, starting at a point 165 feet south of the south curbline of Lee Road, south for a distance of 20 feet.

(TH-443/25)

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 30, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 156613

LEGAL NOTICE

Uniondale Public Library is excessing the following furniture, electronics and miscellaneous items. The bid walkthrough for the following items will be held on: Saturday, November 15, 2025 from 10am –4pm in the meeting room at 400 Uniondale Avenue.

1. 1 SHARP Cash Register w/keys (as is). The starting bid is $25.00.

2. 1 lot – 6 “Book Club in A Bag” totes (as is). The starting bid is $5.00.

3. 1 lot – 2 metal book carts (as is). The starting bid is $10.00.

4. 1 lot – 2 metal book carts (as is). The starting bid is $10.00.

5. 1 lot – 1 book cart w/metal magazine holders. The starting bid is $5.00.

6. 1 Keva Plank set for juveniles (as is). The starting bid is $5.00. 7. Technology Bundle A

– 1 lot – 5 E-Reader Nooks w/accessories (as is). The starting bid is $20.

8. Technology Bundle B – 1 lot – 10 E-Reader Nooks w/accessories in manufacturer’s packaging (as is). The starting bid is $50.00.

9. Technology Bundle C – 1 lot – 5 E-Reader Nooks for Juveniles (as is). The starting bid is $20.

10. Technology Bundle D – 1 lot – 3 Rokus with individual pouches (as is). The starting bid is $30.

11. Technology Bundle E – 1 lot – 3 Chromeboxes in original packaging (as is). The starting bid is $100.

12. Technology Bundle F – 1 lot – 5 E-Reader Kindles (as is). The starting bid is $20. 13. 1 unused TN-780 Toner Cartridge (as is). The starting bid is $25. 14. 1 metal filing cabinet (as is). The starting bid is $40.

15. Technology Bundle G – 1 box of assorted computer accessories: cables power strips, speakers, etc. (as is). The starting bid is $25. 16. 1 HP printer with miscellaneous parts unattached/missing (as is). The starting bid is $20.

17. 1 Electric typewriter (as is). The starting bid is $30. 18. 1 small metal file drawer (as is). The starting bid is $10. 19. 1 lot of approximately 40-45 telephones (as is). The starting bid is $20. 20. 1 freestanding coatrack (as is). The starting bid is $15. 21. 1 lot of 2 office chairs (as is). The starting bid is $20. 22. 1 Fabric chair w/wooden arms (as is). The starting bid is $10. 23. 1 lot of approximately 9 plant pots of various sizes (as is). The starting bid is $5. 24. 1 wooden piano bench (as is). The starting bid is $30. 25. 1 wooden upright piano w/cover (as is). The starting bid is $100. 26. 1 lot of 4 music stands (as is). The starting bid is $5.00. The highest bidder will be notified via telephone. Winning bidders are responsible for picking up and transporting their property off of library property by 5:30pm Monday, November 17, 2025. 156697

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 18th day of November, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations:

ELMONT

MEACHAM AVENUE (TH 456/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of D Street, south for a distance of 30 feet.

MEACHAM AVENUE (TH 456/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of D Street, north for a distance of 47 feet.

“D” STREET (TH 456/25) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Meacham Avenue, east for a distance of 25 feet.

“D” STREET (TH 456/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Meacham Avenue, east for a distance of 35 feet.

LEVITTOWN

OLD OAK LANE (TH 449/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Acorn Lane, east for a distance of 30 feet.

OLD OAK LANE (TH 449/25) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Acorn Lane, west for a distance of 30 feet.

ACORN LANE (TH 449/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Old Oak Lane, north for a distance of 30 feet.

ACORN LANE (TH 449/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Old Oak Lane, north for a distance of 30 feet.

ROOSEVELT EAST FULTON AVENUE

(TH 453/25) South Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 403 feet east of the east curbline of Stevens Street, east for a distance of 24 feet at the terminus.

UNIONDALE

NASSAU ROAD (TH 457/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Uniondale Avenue, north for a distance of 67 feet.

(NR) VALLEY STREAM HUNGRY HARBOR ROAD (TH 461/25) North Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Glenridge Avenue, west for a distance of 55 feet.

WOODMERE

CLARK PLACE (TH 398/25) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Ocean Avenue, north for a distance of 40 feet.

CLARK PLACE (TH 398/25) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Ocean Avenue, north for a distance of 40 feet.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 30, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 156611

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 18th day of November, 2025, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Chapter 202 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE and REPEAL “REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at the

Students learn lifesaving skills in EMT course

stretchers and other equipment — skills that prepare them for the state’s written and practical certification exams.

This year’s class includes 19 seniors, and the admission process is highly competitive, with strict requirements. Uniondale’s director of science, Arthur Registre, said that admission is based on students’ grades, attendance and recommendations from guidance counselors, and that they search for students who aren’t afraid to work hard.

“It’s a rigorous course, but we want to see students that have great work ethics,” Registre said.

“Each year we get better and better with the number of kids who are graduating with their license and going out and taking the test,” said Charlie Marfoglio, a retired chemistry teacher who coordinates the program. “It’s really rewarding to see them build confidence and grow.”

The yearlong course is overseen by the Nassau County EMS Academy, and those who complete it are certified as emergency medical technicians.

The high school program began 30 years ago, at Plainview-Old Bethpage, overseen by Marfoglio and Frank Chester, who is now the chief instructor. It has been in Uniondale for almost seven years, and this is Marfoglio’s fifth year as an instructor at Uniondale High.

The program is under the auspices of the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board.

“Some of the students are going to use it as a steppingstone into medical professions — nursing or medicine,” Marfoglio said. “Some will work in the city and have the opportunity to find a job right out of school.”

Where do EMT students go?

■ Medical fields: Many high school seniors with EMT training pursue nursing, pre-med and health science programs as undergraduates.

■ Public service: Volunteers are always welcomed at local fire departments, while others join the Nassau County Auxiliary Police. Several alumni currently volunteer with the Uniondale Fire Department.

■ Employment opportunities: Options include Northwell Health, Stony Brook University Hospital, the NYU Langone system and local ambulance companies, which hire certified EMTs.

world scenarios.

Students who complete the training and then enroll in a college in New York State can receive six college credits — the equivalent of about two courses — for only $50 instead of paying the regular tuition. That’s made possible through partnerships with institutions such as the Nassau VEEB, as well as Kingsborough

Public Notices

following location:

UNIONDALE

NASSAU ROAD (TH 457/25) East SideSection 202-12 TWO

HOUR PARKING 7 AM to 7 PM EXCEPT SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAYSstarting at a point 67 feet north of the north curbline of Uniondale Avenue, north for a distance of 88 feet.

WEST HEMPSTEAD

FAIRLAWN AVENUE

(TH 448/25) North Side

- Section 202-20 NO

PARKING 9 AM to 9

PM EXCEPT SUNDAYSstarting at a point 39 feet east of the east curbline of Maplewood Street, east for a distance of 84 feet.

FAIRLAWN AVENUE

(TH 448/25) North Side

-NO PARKING 9 AM to

9 PM EXCEPT

SUNDAYS - starting at a point 201 feet east of the east curbline of Maplewood Street,

east for a distance of 68 feet.

ALSO, to REPEAL from Chapter 202 “REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS” from the following locations: WEST HEMPSTEAD

FAIRLAWN AVENUE (TH 454/07) North Side - Section 202-20 NO PARKING 9 AM to 9 PM EXCEPT SUNDAYSstarting at a point 449 feet west of the west curbline of Morton Avenue, west for a distance of 230 feet.

(Adopted 2/5/08) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: September 30, 2025 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 156610

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU EAST ROCK FINANCIAL, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST EASTLYN ALEXANDER, LAZARANIAN WELLINGTON, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 26, 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 December 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm, premises known as 708 Goodrich Street, Uniondale, NY 11553. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of

land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 120, Lot 123. Approximate amount of judgment $111,657.59 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #001220/2017. Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Dri ve Williamsville, NY 14221 16-003348 87680 156598

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

program.

Community College in Brooklyn.

During a recent demonstration on airway management, students practiced using bag-valve masks and oxygen tanks to ventilate “patients” who weren’t breathing. Working with mannequins and officials from the county EMS Academy, the class applied their training to real-

“There were two different stations,” Goris explained. “We learned how to ventilate patients, how to use the oxygen tank, and how to connect it. We also learned from EMS officers who came in to work with us in small groups. It really showed us what it’s like to respond in a real emergency.”

Goris added that teamwork is a major part of the course. “There’s a lot of group bonding,” she said. “Our professor makes sure we work together in our labs. Overall, that work and team bonding skills we use in real life.”

throughout the year, students rotate through a series of hands-on modules, practicing Cpr, airway and ventilation techniques, trauma care and patient-lifting exercises under the guidance of certified instructors.

Waterfront Living at its Finest

Is my home too big an insurance risk?

Q. My home insurance is being canceled, and I’m actively looking around to replace it. The excuse I got was that the companies that used to insure find the risks in flood and wind-prone areas are now too great. I understand this, so I’m wondering if there are things I can do to make my home less of an insurance risk to a company. Are there reasonable upgrades I can make, and what are they?

A. The answer has two sides, like a doubleedged sword. First, yes, there are things you can do to your home to make it easier to insure. But the second part is applying the meaning of the word “reasonable.” Next, you have to understand that, like other forms of gambling, which is what insurance really is, do you have a chance to win back your money, your insurance payments, or your investment in your property to presumably reduce the payments?

Again, insurance is a legalized form of gambling, extensively regulated but sometimes loosely enforced. Many people say, when describing gambling casinos, that the house always wins in the end, and with a few exceptions, casinos rarely fail. Insurance companies have been hit with one disaster after another due to strange global weather that some deny is a trend, but those companies aren’t as care-less, and they invest heavily in statistical analysis, so you can bet that if they’re pulling out of certain areas, they know something.

So, a “reasonable” investment to make your house easier or more attractive to insure often ends up being unreasonable, or is based on faulty assumptions. For example, you may add a steel roof and concrete composite siding as a more reasonable and less costly wind-resistance improvement, only to discover that the insurance company thinks you should still have raised your home, because they think flooding is a bigger and more frequent risk to insure.

Add to that the fact, as some insurers will point out when you complain, that by making the improvements, you increase the cost of reconstruction. That’s a good argument, one you’ll never win. The same thing happens with alarm systems, fencing your property or removing trees that could fall on your roof.

Make improvements that help you to recover more healthfully, safely and economically, for your own assurance. I am convinced, as you can see, that all the effort you put in is not universal in your neighborhood, and insurance companies look at whole areas, not just your home, for insurability. Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency is a large and extremely indebted insurance company, funded with the help of tax dollars and losing billions. So before you make changes and improvements, remind yourself that you’re doing this for yourself, not to reduce insurance costs. As Walter Cronkite used to say when he signed off on his broadcast of “The CBS Evening News” when I was a kid, “And that’s the way it is.” Good luck with whatever you decide to improve.

© 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.

MarketPlace HERALD

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opinions

GOP cuts to health care will hurt Long Island families

one of the top issues I heard about when I campaigned for Congress was that it was getting more expensive to live on Long Island, and people were worried about whether they could afford to stay here. And as we face a cost-of-living crisis, the rising cost of health care has become crippling to young people, families and seniors alike.

LAURA A. GiLLEn

Rising medical bills are forcing Americans in every state to face the prospect of choosing between paying for groceries and going to the doctor’s office. When I came to Congress, I vowed to work in a bipartisan way to reduce Nassau County families’ cost of living, and in particular the cost of health care.

Unfortunately, we have seen the congressional majority refuse to act on bringing down the costs of prescription drugs or monthly insurance bills. In fact, their cuts to our medical system will move us in the wrong direction and raise Americans’ medical expenses. First they passed the “Big Beautiful

WBill” without any bipartisan input earlier this year. It included the largest cuts to Medicaid in its history, which will result in millions of Americans losing their insurance coverage and make it harder for seniors to afford nursing homes or other long-term care.

pThe impact of these budget cuts will stretch far beyond just those on Medicaid. At a nonpartisan budget briefing I held earlier this year with Rep. Tom Suozzi, hundreds of Long Islanders heard from former Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling about how the cuts to Medicaid mean that all Americans can expect more expensive insurance coverage and reduced services at hospitals, doctors’ offices and other health care providers.

would throw millions of Americans into financial uncertainty.

Preserving these tax credits should be a bipartisan priority. In the House, I called for both sides to come on board and help American families. But the majority refused to discuss the issue, and instead passed a continuing resolution that will allow the credits to expire at the end of the year. Since then, they have refused to even negotiate a bipartisan path forward despite the credits’ looming end.

reserving Affordable Care Act tax credits should be a bipartisan priority.

Next, as we were looking to fund the government, Democrats sought to discuss with Republicans the urgent need to keep health care affordable by extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that have helped millions of families afford health care by reducing their monthly insurance bills. For years, families in both red and blue states have relied on these credits for coverage, but they are set to lapse at the end of the year, which

I’ve heard from many Nassau County residents who are deeply concerned that their health care costs are set to skyrocket under the majority’s plan. A Floral Park woman was notified that her monthly insurance premium would rise by $1,500, and an Oceanside resident reported that her premiums, deductibles and co-pay were all set to increase drastically. When these premiums go up, families will have no choice but to go uninsured, and young people will forgo insurance coverage.

When the uninsured rate increases, the cost of health care rises for us all. Health care experts at the nonpartisan Century Foundation have warned that

the expiration of these tax credits will result in the largest single-year premium spike in our nation’s history for all Americans, even those with private insurance. The nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation reports that a family of four could see their annual insurance bill increase by over $13,000, and a single mother could face a price hike of more than $10,000 for coverage, while a couple in their 60s might see their premiums rise by over $20,000.

This should not be a partisan fight. Every member of Congress has a responsibility to make life more affordable for the people we represent, and that is what I’ve been doing. I’ll work with anyone, from any party, to continue bringing costs down and to ensure that people have health care.

Right now, Congress should be in session and at work negotiating a bipartisan package that lowers costs and protects quality, affordable health care in an economically sound way. Instead of listening to the intolerant extremes on either side, we should work together to solve the problems that our constituents sent us to Washington to fix. I’m committed to that aim, and I’ll continue to fight for bipartisan solutions that lower costs and make life better for Long Islanders.

Laura Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.

Treat your brain better than your car

hen you take your car in for its yearly inspection, you want the mechanic to examine it thoroughly. Overlooking a vital system like the engine or transmission could lead to serious problems, including ones that jeopardize the safety of the vehicle’s drivers and passengers. You treat an annual physical with a doctor the same way: Why would anyone neglect having one of their body’s most vital organs — the brain — checked to make sure it’s firing on all cylinders? Unfortunately, it happens too often. In numerous ways, the brain is the body’s command center. Thoughts, emotions, senses, language, balance, coordination, breathing and heartbeat all depend on the brain. Yet many people don’t get regular memory screenings, even though these quick, noninvasive “checkups from the neck up” should be part of everyone’s health and wellness routine.

Fear is a common reason. Cognitive impairment can lead to loss of independence, functionality and treasured

remembrances of people, places and events. People may worry about being stigmatized, treated differently, pitied or seen as less capable by friends, family or coworkers.

All of that is a scary prospect. Being afraid is natural and understandable, especially for those exhibiting warning signs of memory impairment. Allowing that fear to prevent action, however, can lead to worse outcomes. Ignoring the problem hardly ever makes it go away, and usually exacerbates it.

depression, urinary tract infections and medication side effects are some treatable, if not curable, causes of memory impairments. Without a diagnosis, they cannot be corrected, which could cause more significant problems down the road.

i f you’ve never had a memory screening, or are overdue for one, get screened this year.

Lack of awareness is another reason people neglect the health of the brain. Many people don’t know what memory screenings are, why they’re necessary and where or how to get one. Nor are they aware of the importance of early detection of memory issues, even those caused by an incurable condition like Alzheimer’s disease. Others mistakenly believe that memory problems occur naturally as you get older, and that there’s nothing that can be done.

Education is critical to reduce fear and dispel the myth that any memory trouble equals a severe, untreatable illness or is an inevitable part of normal aging that afflicts everyone. Vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, sleep apnea,

Even if a memory issue is the result of Alzheimer’s disease, early detection matters. Diagnosing Alzheimer’s in the early stages gives people the opportunity to start medications sooner in the disease progression, when they’re most effective (or in some cases, are only offered then); enroll in a clinical trial; and begin therapeutic interventions that can help prolong cognitive functioning and enhance quality of life.

Memory screenings are equally important for people who aren’t experiencing symptoms of memory loss. Like other health screenings, they provide a baseline that can help uncover a potential issue sooner. Checking and tracking your blood pressure regularly enables doctors to act if you have hypertension, because high blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. Mammograms and PSA tests aren’t just given to people experiencing potential symptoms of breast cancer and prostate

cancer; all women and men of a certain age are advised to get them annually to catch cancer as quickly as possible. If you’ve never had a memory screening, or are overdue for one, make it a point to get screened this year. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers free, confidential memory screenings regularly at its AFA Barbara Rabinowitz Education & Resource Center in Amityville. They are performed one on one with a qualified professional, and consist of a series of questions designed to test memory and other cognitive functions. The screening itself is not a diagnosis, but it can indicate if someone should see a physician for a more comprehensive evaluation of potential memory impairment.

Schedule an appointment for a free memory screening by contacting the center at (631) 223-4000. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to get screened. There are no minimum age or insurance prerequisites.

Your brain is far more important than your car. Buying or leasing a new one is impossible. Warranties don’t exist for it, and there is no extended coverage available for purchase. The one you have now is the only one you’ll ever own. Be just as vigilant about checking it each year.

Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., of Merrick, is president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Incorporating

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2 Endo Boulevard

City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web:

HERALD

editorial

As neighbors go hungry, D.C. plays politics

on Saturday, 184,000 Long Islanders across nearly every ZIP code in Nassau and Suffolk counties woke up without the food assistance they rely on to feed their families. Forty-eight hours later, under public pressure, the Trump administration announced that it would fund just half of the $100 billion Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The federal government shutdown has done the once unthinkable, gutting SNAP and leaving 42 million Americans — one in eight — wondering where their next meal will come from. SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, helps lowincome families buy groceries with electronic payment cards.

Our Long Island neighbors who participate in SNAP — working families, children, seniors and people with disabilities — receive an average of $187 per month to put food on the table. That’s for a full month. For their full families. Roughly 3 million people in New York rely on food stamps. They now face impossible choices between meals, rent and medicine.

In an extraordinary display of community compassion, restaurants across Long Island and around the nation have stepped up to offer free meals to families who have lost their food stamp benefits. These acts of generosity exemplify the best of community, reminding us that when Washington fails, ordinary Americans will take care of one another, because compassion — like hunger — isn’t a partisan issue.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency, and committed $65 million in new state funds to emergency food assistance, which will provide 40 million meals through food banks and pantries. SNAP recipients should continue submitting required documentation to their local Department of Social Services, because benefits will hopefully be paid retroactively when federal funding resumes.

Locally, Island Harvest and Long Island Cares continue to serve food-insecure families across Nassau and Suffolk counties. This self-inflicted crisis hits at the worst possible time, in the weeks before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest periods for food banks, while federal workers remain without paychecks due to the ongoing shutdown. Food banks are preparing for unprecedented stress that will be felt in communities everywhere.

We’re grateful for the compassion shown by restaurants and businesses that are stepping forward to feed their neighbors. We’re thankful for the tireless work of our food banks. These extraordinary acts of kindness demonstrate the

If you need food assistance

Call 211 for immediate help finding your nearest food pantry or community kitchen.

Island Harvest Food Bank works with more than 300 community partners throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. Application assistance is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.

Website: islandharvest.org

Phone: (516) 294-8528

Long Island Cares serves families across the region with food pantries and emergency assistance.

Website: licares.org

Phone: (631) 582-FOOD (3663)

Some food delivery apps are offering grocery credits to SNAP recipients throughout November. Check apps for details on assistance programs.

Continue submitting documentation to your local Department of Social Services. Benefits are expected to be paid retroactively when federal funding resumes.

Restaurants offering free meals Some local restaurants are providing free meals to anyone with a SNAP card. Check social media or call restaurants in your area to ask about assistance programs.

How you can help

Donate to food banks:

■ Island Harvest: islandharvest.org, (516) 294-8528

■ Long Island Cares: licares.org, 631-582-FOOD (3663)

Financial contributions allow food banks to purchase and distribute food efficiently.

Volunteer: Food banks desperately need volunteers to sort, pack and distribute food across Long Island. Even a few hours makes an enormous difference. Contact Island Harvest or Long Island Cares to sign up.

Support restaurants helping neighbors: Patronize local businesses that offer free meals to families in need. Their generosity deserves our support.

strength of our communities when we support one another. But private charity, no matter how generous, cannot replace a federal program serving more people than the population of many countries. If demand skyrockets, local food pantries may have to reduce distribution portions and limit the frequency with which people can receive food. Families that have never needed help before — in every Long Island community — are about to discover what food insecurity feels like.

And the economic ripple effects extend beyond hungry families. Food stamps generate $1.54 in economic activity for every dollar spent. This suspension hurts businesses, employees and entire communities from one end of the Island to the other. As well, hungry children

Contact your elected officials and demand action:

■ Sen. Chuck Schumer: (202) 224-6542

■ Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: (202) 224-4451

■ U.S. Capitol switchboard (for your congressional representative): (202) 224-3121

Tell them Long Island families cannot be pawns in political games. The shutdown must end, and SNAP funding must be restored immediately.

Become a grocery buddy: Help a neighbor or stranger buy groceries. Even small contributions make a difference for families struggling to afford food.

will struggle to learn and behave. With many classrooms likely to have students on food stamps, the SNAP suspension will impact learning in schools across America.

Long Island will rise to this challenge, caused by Washington’s dereliction of duty, because that’s who Long Islanders are. The restaurants opening their doors to feed families in need, the food banks working overtime, the people becoming grocery buddies to help strangers buy food — these are the stories that define us.

But we must also demand accountability. The shutdown must end. Food stamps must be fully funded. And every elected official who played politics with families’ ability to eat must answer to voters.

opinions

Add project labor agreements to major school projects

From our city skyscrapers to the subways that keep our cities moving, union labor built this state. And now, as our schools age and our communities continue to grow, we have a new opportunity to show what it means to lead with our values.

The School Construction Fair Labor Act, sponsored by State Sen. Monica Martinez and I, is a chance for New York to show up for working class people and make sure the workers building our schools are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve.

This bill would require project labor agreements, or PLAs, for all Long Island public school construction projects costing over $1 million. Before a single shovel hits the ground, PLAs lay out clear terms for wages, safety standards and conflict resolution. That means less

chaos on job sites, and a better final result for our school communities.

We already know this approach works. Research from Cornell University shows that PLAs make job sites safer and more cost-effective over time. That’s because they prevent the chaos that comes when non-union contractors underbid jobs by reducing wages and ignoring safety.

We’ve seen it time and again: When we cut corners on construction, our schools pay the price.

Tlot of our own talent here in our region. This isn’t a strong model for success, and puts our own unions at a disadvantage.

hey’ll ensure that public dollars work to create local jobs and support a stable workforce.

School buildings that fall apart too soon. Heating systems that fail in the middle of winter. These are all costly and avoidable problems. By ensuring a stable, experienced workforce from the start, PLAs create the strongest conditions for a job well done.

This bill isn’t just about upgrading our schools — it’s about working-class Long Islanders. Right now, far too many school construction contracts are awarded to out-of-state firms that bring their own workforce, which bypasses a

Long Island public schools receive nearly 80 percent of their construction funding through the state’s Building Aid program. That’s hundreds of millions of public dollars flowing into the region every year. The question isn’t whether we’ll spend this money; it’s whether we will spend it responsibly. With 125 school districts, these are not small or occasional projects. They’re an important part of our public infrastructure, and they should be built to the best standards possible.

Requiring PLAs would ensure that public dollars work to create local jobs and support a stable, skilled workforce. Many PLAs include workforce development components that prioritize hiring from the local community, which includes Black, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander New Yorkers, and other underrepresented groups in the

trades. That helps create long-term opportunities for working families. It also supports small and responsible local contractors. PLAs don’t exclude non-union firms; they just require everyone to play by the same rules. That levels the playing field for businesses that do their part to pay fair wages and provide workers’ benefits. This bill would also provide clarity and consistency. As things stand now, each school district manages its construction bidding process independently, which leads to unpredictable results and unequal standards. A uniform PLA requirement for projects over $1 million would offer a reliable baseline, while still giving our local school leaders the flexibility they need.

At its core, the School Construction Fair Labor Act is about making sure public money works for the public good. That means investing in our infrastructure, and in the people who build it. Let’s pass this legislation, and make sure our schools are built to last, by workers who are valued and paid fair wages.

Framework by Jacqui Kiddle