Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
of Women on 2023 WOMEN OF NASSAU COUNTYʼS
Distincti N E T WO R K I N G A N
D AWA R D S E V E N
$1.50
Friday, September 22, 2023
Vol. 98, No. 38
T
DISTINCTION
KINGS POINT GETS FUNDING FOR SECURITY
BLAKEMAN SUBMITS COUNTY BUDGET
PAGES S1-S52
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Petition urges museum to bring Riley back Public outcry over decision to not renew ex-director’s contract BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The decision not to renew Charles Riley’s contract at the Nassau County Museum of Art has sparked an uproar from community members who cherished the former director’s larger-thanlife personality and contributions to the museum. Now a fellow local arts director has taken matters into his own hands and launched a petition to bring Riley back. Riley served as the museum’s director for six years. He is known internationally as an expert on the economics of the arts and has authored numerous books and articles. He has been involved in the founding of multiple museums and curated exhibitions in Taiwan, Berlin, Amsterdam and New York. “He’s extraordinarily knowledgeable, he’s got vision, he’s got commitment and he’s very personable,” David Bernard said. Bernard, who grew up in Great Neck but lives in Manhattan, is the music director of the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been music director since 2016, previously serving as the music director of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony in New York City. He has worked with Riley for the past couple of years, starting their working relationship during the pandemic when the philharmonic partnered with
the museum to bring socially distanced live music to Long Islanders. In the wake of these performances, he said the philharmonic also became the orchestra in residence at the museum and has continued to play concerts there. Bernard said in partnering with the museum for the past three years, the philharmonic has become “integrated with Dr. Riley’s amazing conception and vision for the exhibits and the art and all this that’s happening at the museum.” “He’s very open, personable,” Bernard said. “Not everybody who’s that driven and successful is that open, but he is. He’s a consummate educator. It looks like he made the museum thrive.” Bernard said he found out about Riley leaving the museum when he read Blank Slate Media’s story breaking the news on Sept. 6. The museum’s interim director, Fernanda Bennett, said that Riley’s contract was not renewed in August as Riley and the museum’s board of trustees did not “see eye to eye” on the museum’s future goals and activities. Bernard said upon reading the Blank Slate article, he found the whole situation “crazy” and had to do something about it. So he started a change.org petition Continued on Page 42
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAY CORN
A box truck struck a bridge in Plandome on Sept. 11, causing LIRR Port Washington Branch service to come to a halt during the evening rush. See story on page 5.
Manhasset girl presents trophy at US Open BY K A R I N A KO VA C The Manhasset Chang family has used tennis not only as a family bonding activity, but as a means to build each generation, starting from humble beginnings immigrating from China two generations ago to the grandest stage of all – the US Open. Christopher Chang used his tennis scholarship at Penn State to study finance and provide for his family. His daughter, Blake Wu-Chang, was
born 12 years ago, and when she was 4, he started sharing his passion for the game with her. This past Saturday, because of her skills, she presented Coco Gauff with the winning Single’s Women’s Championship trophy at the US Open. Blake’s training has led her to become one of the top Eastern Tennis Association players, ranking No. 1 on Long Island for girls 12’s category. As one of the top players in her age group nationally, Blake went
through an application process to be able to present the award to Gauff. Once invited to attend, she faced another obstacle. A coin toss with another top player, Izyan “Zizou” Ahmad, that would determine who would hand over the award. “My most nervous moment ever was the coin toss,” she said, “The coin toss was insane. I was like, Oh my god. Oh my god…like the most nervous moment in my whole life.” But she bet on heads and won, Continued on Page 43