Issuu

Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown

Friday, February 12, 2021

Vol. 70, No. 7

TOP BUSINESS LEADERS OF NASSAU COUNTY 2020 PAGES 23-58

County targets Coliseum for vaccination site

DISPUTE OVER SCHNIRMAN TO NOT PLUME CONTROL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION PAGE 2

PAGE 7

VA C C I N AT I O N N AT I O N

Nassau legislators criticize state for lack of adequate dosage distribution BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County Presiding Oﬃcer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) suggested using the Nassau Coliseum as a coronavirus vaccination site to increase the number of Long Island residents receiving inoculations. Nicolello brought up the proposal, which seemed to receive bipartisan support in the County Legislature, during a public hearing last Thursday. While the Legislature touted the work of county Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein, legislators were critical of the state’s allotment of vaccines to Long Island compared with New York City. “Long Island has the highest positivity rate in New York and we need our local leaders to advocate more strongly for an increase in vaccine doses and to open a mass vaccination site at the Nassau Coliseum,” Nicolello said. According to state figures, Long Island health care providers had re-

ceived 345,505 vaccine doses, administering 274,566 as of Monday, the most in the state after New York City. New York City had received more than 1.2 million vaccine doses, administering 924,213, according to state figures. Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded the eligibility list for the coronavirus vaccine in New York to taxi drivers, restaurant workers and residents in facilities for those with disabilities. Cuomo announced in late January that the vaccinations provided to the state would increase by 20 percent for the next three weeks. Private pharmacies, he said, would receive an additional 10 percent, or roughly 30,000 more doses, from the federal government. County Legislator John Ferretti (R-Levittown) also pointed out that city facilities, including Yankee Stadium, are only available to New York City residents, but Nassau County facilities are available for anyone to use. Ferretti said the Legislature Continued on Page 67

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Mineola Union Free School District Superintendent Michael Nagler received the coronavirus vaccine in January.

Vets group, chamber ease way for vet to get shot BY K AT I E F E N T O N

VID-19 vaccine on Friday. In a show of appreciation With the help of Warriors for the 96-year-old veteran and For A Cause and the Mineola support for the community, the Chamber of Commerce, a lo- two organizations are sponsorcal veteran traveled in style to ing lifelong Mineola resident receive his first dose of the CO- Ray Vaz’s transportation to the

Javits Center in Manhattan for both of his coronavirus vaccine shots. Tony Lubrano, chairman of Warriors For A Cause, got the idea to provide the rides after Continued on Page 68

Support local journalism and get real news Subscribe to the Blank Slate Media newspaper of your community https://theislandnow.com/subscription/

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Water authority sues Mineola surpasses Lockheed Martin 1,700 total cases

Says company violates pact on groundwater plume Nearly 18K on North Shore positive BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

PHOTO BY JESSICA PARKS

Lockheed Martin representatives spoke to Russell Gardens residents in 2019 about the measures taken to eliminate plume throughout the peninsula. BY R OB E RT PELAEZ A preliminary conference has been scheduled in a lawsuit filed by the Water Authority of Great Neck North against Lockheed Martin for allegedly failing to pay more than $10 million owed to the water authority to clean up a groundwater plume, according to court documents. State Supreme Court Justice Timothy S. Driscoll set a conference on Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the lawsuit filed by the water authority in state Supreme Court in Mineola on Oct. 30. The lawsuit claims that Lockheed Martin violated a 2013 agreement it signed with the Water Authority of Great Neck North and the ManhassetLakeville Water District. According to court documents, the agreement went into eﬀect in 2014 and was to last 30 years. Lockheed Martin agreed to reimburse the water agencies of Great Neck North and Manhasset-Lakeville to treat the plume, which aﬀected some of

their wells. Among the harmful chemicals found in the plume is 1,2 dichloroethylene, a highly flammable substance that can cause eﬀects on the blood and liver. The underground plume originates from 1111 Marcus Ave., the former location of Unisys, a manufacturing company. The facility was acquired by the global defense company Lockheed Martin when it purchased Unisys in 1996. Lockheed Martin sold the property in 2000. As the former owner of the site, Lockheed Martin is responsible for the payment and management of the groundwater cleanup under the supervision of the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the water districts of ManhassetLakeville and Great Neck North. Disputes in the contract arose when the water authority claimed that Lockheed Martin is responsible for money spent on treating wells on Watermill Lane, according to court documents. Lockheed Martin attorneys Louis Orbach and Justin

Tan claim the company is “not obligated under the Agreement” to finance the treatment of a different plume. The attorneys said the Stanton Cleaners Area Groundwater Contamination site had a plume as a result of a former dry cleaners at 110 Cutter Mill Road. Hazardous materials were discharged from the site, which was put on the federal Superfund list in 1999 by the Environmental Protection Agency, court filings said. “Plaintiﬀ has had treatment systems in place for the Watermill Lane Wells since prior to the eﬀective date of the Agreement due to contamination of those wells by compounds emanating from the Stanton Cleaners Area Groundwater Contamination Site,” the Lockheed Martin attorneys wrote in a Nov. 17 filing. Water authority Superintendent Gregory Graziano called Lockheed’s citing of the Stanton site as a reason not to pay the $10 million “unfortunate” in a statement to Newsday. Continued on Page 67

Almost 18,000 people on the North Shore have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began in mid-March, according to statistics provided by the Nassau County Department of Health on Wednesday. As coronavirus vaccinations continue to be rolled out throughout the county, the North Shore saw one of the lowest oneweek increases with less than 800 new cases throughout the region in the past week, according to statistics.

Despite the overall decrease in new cases, the Village of Mineola saw the highest increase of cases over the one-week period with nearly 90 new cases. – THE NASSAU COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The area that incorporates the Willistons and Mineola had 3,999 cases as of Wednesday, the most of all analyzed areas. Despite the overall decrease in new cases, the Village of Mineola saw the highest increase of cases over the one-week period with nearly 90 new cases. Mineola’s 1,703 cases and Garden City’s 1,523 cases accounted for more than 3,200 of the 3,999 total cases in the area. The New Hyde Park area accounted for 3,564 of the North Shore’s cases, with North New Hyde Park having the third most confirmed positives, 1,294, out

of any analyzed area. The villages of Floral Park, with 1,140 cases, and New Hyde Park, with 836 cases, were among the top 10 villages or unincorporated town areas in terms of positive tests and were for the entire month of December, according to Health Department statistics. The Great Neck peninsula saw an increase of nearly 150 new cases over the past week. The villages of Great Neck, Kings Point and Great Neck Plaza accounted for more than 2,300 total cases. Kings Point hit 600 total cases as of Wednesday. The peninsula accounted for 3,351 cases, according to Health Department figures. The Port Washington area, which surpassed 2,000 total cases this week, saw an increase of nearly 100 cases over one week, according to the figures. The town-governed area of Port Washington had 1,042 cases as of Wednesday, leading the peninsula, and Manorhaven had 594 cases. Municipalities and unincorporated areas that stretch into more than one North Shore area such as Flower Hill, Herricks, Albertson, Garden City Park, Searingtown and North Hills were counted separately and accounted for 2,345 cases, according to county statistics. Flower Hill Mayor Brian Herrington said during a Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday he was amazed at how many new cases turned up in the village during the holiday season and encouraged everyone to remain vigilant and continue to demonstrate proper health and safety precautions. “I’m amazed at how many new cases we had over the last three months,” Herrington said. “I mean, we basically matched the entire rest of the year last Continued on Page 67

TO REACH US MAIL: 25 Red Ground Road Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 FAX: 516-307-1046 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sue Tabakin 516-307-1045 x206 stabakin@theislandnow.com

DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Steven Blank 516-307-1045 x201 sblank@theislandnow.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Deborah Flynn 516-307-1045 x218 dflynn@theislandnow.com

EDITORIAL: Editorial Submissions: theislandnow.com/submit-news/ • Event Submission: theislandnow.com/local-events/ Arts Editor: Ethan Marshall 516-307-1045 x208 • ethanmarshall@gmail.com Great Neck News: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203 • rpelaez@theislandnow.com New Hyde Park Herald Courier: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203 • rpelaez@theislandnow.com Manhasset Times: Rose Weldon 516-307-1045 x215 • rweldon@theislandnow.com Roslyn Times: Rose Weldon 516-307-1045 x215 • rweldon@theislandnow.com Williston Times: Robert Pelaez 516-307-1045 x203 • rpelaez@theislandnow.com Port Washington Times: Rose Weldon 516-307-1045 x215 • rweldon@theislandnow.com

WILLISTON TIMES (USPS#685-100) is published weekly by Blank Slate Media LLC, 25 Red Ground Road, Roslyn Heights, NY, 11577, (516) 307-1045. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2021. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Williston Park, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Williston Times, C/O Blank Slate Media LLC, 25 Red Ground Road, Roslyn Heights, New York, 11577.

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Roslyn schools offering COVID-19 test Rapid antigen test to be made available on weekends in trailer located at the high school BY R O S E W E L D ON

Testing is recommended for those types of insurance, and anyone with- appointment at the web address https:// who are experiencing fevers, shortness of out insurance will be covered under the roslyn26.youcanbook.me/, which will be updated in the following weeks as more COVID-19 antigen testing will be breath or diﬃculty breathing. Advanced CARES Act. Interested parties can schedule an appointments are made available. made available for members of the Roslyn Cardiovascular Diagnostics accepts all community for several weeks at Roslyn High School, according to School Superintendent Allison Brown. “We are pleased to announce that beginning this weekend, COVID-19 rapid antigen testing will be made available to the members of our Roslyn community,” Brown wrote in a Feb. 4 email. “Testing will take place next to the trailer situated in the back of the student parking lot at Roslyn High School.” Brown added that testing will be administered by the New Hyde Park-based Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics, which is providing the service for no cost to the district. “As a courtesy to our community, weekend testing will be made available as necessary for the remainder of the school year,” Brown wrote. “Going forward, we anticipate testing to be scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.” A listing of dates and times will be updated regularly on the homepage of the district’s website, she said. PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS “I hope you take advantage of this service and continue to be healthy and The Roslyn High School parking lot will be hosting COVID-19 antigen testing for several weekends. safe,” Brown wrote.

Charles Krypell Fine Jewelry is now open in Greenvale! Come visit us on the corner of Northern Blvd and Glen Cove Road. 516.464.4200 | www.CharlesKrypell.com

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Neiman Marcus bankruptcy fraud plea Hedge fund founder Daniel Kamensky of Roslyn admits to pressuring rival bidder for assets BY R O S E W E L D ON A Roslyn resident has pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud in connection with the bankruptcy of retailer Neiman Marcus. Daniel Kamensky, the founder and former principal of the hedge fund Marble Ridge Capital, was charged in September by the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, according to a statement from the office. He entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Denise Cote last Wednesday. “Kamensky’s alleged criminal acts occurred in connection with his scheme to pressure a rival bidder to abandon its higher bid for assets in connection with Neiman Marcus’s bankruptcy proceedings so that Marble Ridge could obtain those assets for a lower price,” the statement said. “Kamensky then attempted to persuade the rival bidder to cover up the scheme.” The attorney’s office said that Kamensky’s fund Marble Ridge, which specializes in investments in distressed situations, including bankruptcies, and had assets under management of more than $1 billion as of early 2020, was appointed to a committee on unsecured creditors for Neiman Marcus shortly after the re-

coming to a settlement to obtain 140 million shares of MYT Securities for the benefit of certain unsecured creditors of the bankruptcy estate,” the U.S. attorney’s office said. “In July 2020, Kamensky was negotiating with the Committee for Marble Ridge to offer 20 cents per share to purchase the MYT Securities from any unsecured creditor who preferred to receive cash, rather than MYT Securities, as part of that settlement.” Attorneys then say that on July 31, Kamensky learned that a diversified financial services company, identified in court proceedings as “the investment bank” and headquartered in New York City, had informed the committee that it was interested in bidding a price between 30 and 40 cents per share, higher than PHOTO COURTESY OF THE Kamensky’s bid, to purchase MYT SecuJEWISH NATIONAL FUND rities from any unsecured creditor who was interested in receiving cash. Daniel Kamensky of Roslyn pleaded “That afternoon, Kamensky sent mesguilty in federal court to bankruptcy sages to a senior trader at the investment bank telling him not to place a bid, fraud charges. and followed those messages up with tailer declared bankruptcy in May 2020. a phone call with IB Employee-1 and a “During the bankruptcy process, the senior analyst of the investment bank,” committee had negotiated with the own- the U.S. attorney’s office said. “During ers of Neiman Marcus to obtain certain that call, Kamensky asserted that Marble securities, known as MyTheresa Series B Ridge should have the exclusive right to Shares (the ‘MYT Securities’), and ulti- purchase MYT Securities, and threatened mately, the committee was successful in to use his official role as co-chair of the

Early Childhood Program

Nursery – Kindergarten, ages 3-5 • Choose Full Summer or Flexible 25-day minimum • Early Childhood Option: Half-Day: 8:30am - 12:00 or Full-Day: 8:30am - 3:00pm • The program offers a rich play experience • Optional aftercare to 6:00pm NEW Early Childhood yg Playground

Summer at Waldorf Visit Us

elors “The couns t the and staff a gram Summer Pro l!” ona are excepti

Sunday, February 14th 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

at the Waldorf School of Garden City

“Happy, healthy, a nd safe summ er fun!”

225 Cambridge Ave., Garden City (516) 742-3434 x327

SUMMER DATES: Wednesday, June 30 to Friday, August 13, 2021

committee to prevent the investment bank from acquiring the MYT Securities. Kamensky also stated that Marble Ridge had been a client of the investment bank in the past but that if the investment bank moved forward with its bid, then Marble Ridge would cease doing business with the investment bank.” The unnamed bank then decided to not make a bid to purchase the MYT securities, and informed the legal adviser to the committee of its decision. It later told a legal adviser that the bank made that decision because Kamensky, a client of the bank, had asked bank oﬃcials not to, according to federal attorneys. “Later that evening, Kamensky contacted [the employee of the bank] and attempted to influence what [the employee] would tell others, including the committee and law enforcement, about Kamensky’s attempt to block the Investment Bank’s bid for MYT Securities,” federal prosecutors said. “Kamensky said at the outset of the call, in substance, ‘this conversation never happened.’” Federal prosecutors said that during the call, Kamensky allegedly asked the bank employee to falsely say that the employee had been mistaken and that Kamensky had actually suggested that the bank bid only if it were serious. Continued on Page 68

WE ARE FULLY STAFFED FOR ALL YOUR EMERGENCIES FOLLOWING COVID-19 GUIDELINES!

WILLISTON

PLUMBING & HEATING SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 38 YEARS

!"#$%&#"!"'()*+,#"!"-+(&#"!"#,.//(0+#"! !".$-"0(#"*.%1+2#$.%# !"3.$-+2#"4"5(,+2"6+(,+2# !"#$ %&'()*+,!-$ !"3(*&'-.5",+#,$%0 #,!.(/$ !"#+21$*+"*.%,2(*,#"! .*!(0*1% !"-+0(-$7(,$.%#"!

24 HOUR

EMERGENCY SERVICE

10%OFF DIAGNOSTIC FEE “BEST OF THE NORTH SHORE” WINNER

516-746-3353

201 Hillside Ave., Williston Park www.WillistonPlumbing.com

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Are you thinking of selling your home in the next 90 days? We can help. 516.248.9494

Williston Park Spacious Updated Chatlos Colonial, Herricks SD, Family Fm w/Cathedral Vaulted Ceiling, Gourmet Eat in Kitchen w/granite countertops, Dining Rm, 3 Bedrms, 1.5 Bths, basement, finished walk up attic. ML# 3284117 $689,000

Roslyn Heights Renovated Colonial in Brower Hill Section, Herricks SD, Living Room, Dining Rm with fireplace, Eat in Kitchen, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, finished basemt. MLS# 3274446 $825,000

East Williston Lovely cape cod home. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, living room w/ FP, dining room, eat in kitchen, sun room. Lower level recreation area. East Williston Schools. MLS#3266063 $890,000

Williston Park Spacious Legal 2 Family House. 6 Bedrms, 3 Full Bths, Living Rm, EIK, Dining Room/Den. 2nd Floor Living Room EIK, 3 Bedrms and a Full Bth. Full Basement. MLS#3263539 $899,000

Levittown Cape located Mid-Block in the Flower Section, Living Rm with 2 sided Fireplace to Eat in Kitchen, Dining Room, Family Rm, 4 Bedrooms, 1.5 Baths. MLS#3283272 $519,000

Roslyn Totally Renovated. Gourmet Kitchen w/top of the line appliances. 2 new full baths, 3rd floor bonus room. Back yard w/patio and gardens. 2 car garage w/loft. MLS#3279484 $998,000

East Williston Unique split level in a cul-desac in Wheatley SD. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths. Gourmet granite kitchen w/top of the line appliances. 3 bluestone patios and water features. MLS#3269176 $1,650,000

East Williston Lovely 4 bedroom Colonial with 2 full baths, renovated kitchen, 2 fireplaces. 2 staircases to second floor and a large walk up attic. Wheatley SD. MLS#3251358 $898,888

Massapequa Park Beautifully kept 3 bedroom, 1 bath ranch in the Village of Massapequa Park. Renovated in 2017. Large fenced in property with low taxes.. MLS#3281990 $529,000

coachrealtors.com

Williston Park Office | 24 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596 | 516.248.9494

H E R E YO U C A N

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Nine state health execs leave posts Gov. Cuomo’s refusal to follow protocols blamed for exodus in report by The N.Y. Times BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

At least nine senior state health oﬃcials have either retired or resigned from New York’s Department of Health in recent months due to a decline in morale caused by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to The New York Times. The Times said it spoke to five people with direct experience in the Health Department, with Cuomo seemingly the common denominator in a list of concerns expressed since the coronavirus pandemic began in March of last year. Cuomo reportedly declined to use the vaccination protocols in place within the department and developed in the past few years with help from local departments of health, according to the article. Ultimately, Cuomo decided to implement a vaccination rollout method that was dependent on large-scale health facilities, such as New Hyde Park-based Northwell Health, to conduct the inoculations to their own staﬀ and

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

At least nine health executives have left their positions at the state’s department of health in recent months, according to the New York Times. the general public. The governor was lauded by much of the public in the early days of the pandemic for his daily briefings that were made virtually available to everyone throughout the state and nation. New Yorkers and those who lived out of state

cited his transparency, straightforwardness and lack of sugarcoating as reasons to adhere to health and safety mandates. Cuomo was also vocal and made points about trusting the medical experts when it came to the coronavirus, rather than

!"#$%&'()*+,-#'./&)01$'("2)

politicians like former President Donald Trump. Now, at a time when the state is hovering around the middle of the pack in terms of inoculation rates in the United States, Cuomo’s comments at a Friday news conference were something New Yorkers had not heard from their governor. “When I say ‘experts’ in air quotes, it sounds like I’m saying I don’t really trust the experts,” Cuomo said, referring to the level of scientific knowledge at all governmental levels throughout the pandemic. “Because I don’t. Because I don’t.” The Times said state health oﬃcials were “blindsided” by finding out the vaccine rollout would be conducted on a more local scale by hospitals and other health care entities. Cuomo’s orders regarding indoor dining restrictions and capacity limits on gyms were also met with surprise, according to The Times. The Times also said health oﬃcials sometimes learned about who was eligible for coronavirus testing from Cuomo news conferences.

“Morale certainly was and continues to be at an all-time low,” one health oﬃcial told the newspaper. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, cited the unprecedented levels of stress and pressure that the pandemic has had on various departments in the state to The Times. “The Times’s point is several staﬀ left — true, and many others joined the agency with the talents necessary to confront this new challenge,” Zucker told the newspaper. Cuomo also responded to The Times, stressing the importance of preserving lives and putting vaccinations into the arms of New Yorkers as quickly as possible. “If Times reporters think I push hospitals too hard and local governments too hard, I say I’m a fighter for the people of New York and I believe I’m saving lives,” Cuomo told The Times. Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling told The Times, “If you’re asked to help, you help … There’s nothing nefarious about this at all.”

(1;*&+'#)4"&<'-,"/+,-#' 1="/-'>,)0)'%"/'21<)'%"/0' ?0)1001&+)2)&-#@' !"#$%&'%&(%)"%*%&+,-.#/)0&"#&,1%&(%#%2,+&.3&4-%5--5#/"#/6&'%&'"))& %*%#&1.#.-&4-%5--5#/%7%#,+&3-.7&.,1%-&).$5)&38#%-5)&1.7%+9& :.8&$5#&,-5#+3%-&0.8-&4-%5--5#/%7%#,+&,.&.8-&#%')0&-%#.*5,%;& 5#;&$.#*%#"%#,)0&).$5,%;&35$")",06&'1%-%&.8-&%<4%-"%#$%;&+,533& $5#&-%*"%'&0.8-&5--5#/%7%#,+&5#;&7.+,&)"=%)0&.33%-&0.8&7.-%&.-& 4%-154+&%*%#&+5*%&0.8-&357")0&7.#%09&

!"##$%&$'()"*$'($+,#-$*(%$'."/&0,.$*(%.$,12&'2/3$ -.,".."/3,4,/'&$(.$'($&,'$%-$"$/,5$(/,6$

A/0'-,"/+,-#'10)'>*-,'"/0'4"22/&*-%'

>)%5+%&*"+",&.8-&'%(+",%&5,& !"#$%&()*+,-#.(34"2& ?-&$5))&8+&5,&56787968:5:5&3.-&7.-%&"#3.-75,".#9

>)%5+%&=#.'&,15,&;8-"#/&,1%+%&;"32$8),&,"7%+&.8-&357")0& +,5#;+&-%5;0&,.&1%)4&0.8&'",1&533.-;5()%&$1."$%+& ;8-"#/&0.8-&357")0@+&,"7%&.3&#%%;9&

B0)21-*"&'#-10-*&+'1-'C6DEF5' G/0*1$#'#-10-*&+'1-'C9DEF5'

>)%5+%&*"+",&.8-&'%(+",%&5,&!"#$%&()*+,-#.(34"2 &?-&$5))&8+&5,&56787968:5:5'3.-&$.74)%,%&;%,5")+9&

78$92/,(#"$:;,/%,$<$=(&#*/$>,23+'&?$@A$BB877 8BCDCEBDF8F8

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Schnirman will not seek re-election County comptroller sharply criticized for payments made when he served in Long Beach BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman has announced he will not seek re-election in November. Schnirman, a Democrat, faced political headwinds after the state comptroller found that he had received excessive separation payments when he left his previous job as Long Beach city manager. Before being elected comptroller in 2017, Schnirman served as the Long Beach city manager for six years. Schnirman said last Thursday he will remain committed to serving the county until his tenure as comptroller has ended and cited leaving politics to other people as a reason not to run for re-election. “In looking ahead toward November, I had to make a choice, and ultimately it was a clear one: I will stay focused on the work that I enjoy and that our County needs to meet this moment and leave the politics to others,” Schnirman said in a statement. Although Schnirman made efforts to increase government trans-

parency, his tenure as comptroller included some blemishes. A 2019 draft audit conducted by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli showed Schnirman was one of 10 former and current Long Beach employees who received a total of more than $500,000 in excessive separation payments. Schnirman’s overpayments were a combination of accrued sick and vacation days that exceeded the amount allowed under city codes, resulting in his getting total payments of $108,000. Schnirman ultimately returned all of the $52,780 in overpayments he had received. Schnirman touted the work that his office was able to do over the past four years, including the implementation of the Open Nassau Transparency Portal, which allows residents to view county expenditures, budgets, payroll and other governmental aspects. Schnirman’s office also recently released a three-year progress update, which showed that the comptroller’s office recovered more than $149 million for county taxpayers. Schnirman also lauded his office’s work in reforming the county contract system, and having the public more involved in the office’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE

Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman daily operations. “It is no secret that I love focusing on this work, because even though it is nerdy, finding more eﬃcient ways to deliver critical services, supporting our economic recovery, and closing our equity gaps makes a diﬀerence for our communities’ families,” Schnirman said. Jay Jacobs, New York state and Nassau County Democratic Party chairman, told Newsday that Schnirman had been mulling over the move to not run for re-election “for a while.” “I fully understand his decision. I think he’s done a great job as comptroller, certainly has a record to be proud of as comptroller,” Ja-

cobs told Newsday. “I wish him well and I look forward to working with him again. I don’t think his political career is at an end. I think he will be back in some capacity, and I look forward to that in the future.” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran touted Schnirman’s modernization efforts to Newsday. “Jack spearheaded initiatives that modernized the office of comptroller,” Curran said. Though Schnirman’s fellow Democrats praised his work, Presiding Officer Rich Nicollelo (RNew Hyde Park) told Newsday that Schnirman was “compromised since the moment he got here, and what Nassau really needs is someone who can be a true watchdog, which he isn’t.” Efforts to reach elected officials for further comment were unavailing. A report from Nassau County Inspector General Jodi Franzese showed that the county lost more than $700,000, before recovering it, in a 2019 vendor fraud scheme targeting Schnirman’s office. Franzese’s findings, published in a 65-page document on Nov. 19, showed that the online user posing as a county vendor had sought 11

payments totaling $2,095,813.92. Franzese said that a bank the county used froze the scammer’s account after more than $710,000 was sent. This prevented the outstanding $1.3 million from transferring to the scammer, despite the comptroller’s office already approving the transaction, she said. Brett Spielberg, a spokesman for the comptroller’s office, said the legislative majority politicized the incident despite Franzese finding “nothing new” in her investigation. “The Republican Legislative Majority is here to score political points in an attempt to politicize an attack on our County,” he said. “The Inspector General review found nothing new that the Comptroller’s Office didn’t already transparently put forward almost a year ago.” Schnirman did not disclose his future plans in the statement but expressed gratitude to Nassau residents for the support they have shown. “I look forward to continuing our relationship as I move into the next phase of my career,” he said. “There is so much more for us to do together in the months and years to come.”

You don’t bring her flowers anymore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

You’re in... You’re ’ out... You’re ’ Gorgeous. G

!"#$%&'()&*#+%,-)./&01#2&))*./-)1#$3#""456#7#4"895659:;;; 8<4#=/&>#?.)*,)1#$)@#3%&>1#$3#";;84#7#<"<9A:595;;;#7#!"#$%&'()%*+,!"$+!"#$%&'()'(%$*#++,'-).) +%/&09B)&'CD)0#E)&F/'%-%GCH'## I+)H'#E%J'%&H#C*#$3K#L#$)@#3%&>#M/G/NC*)## B-C*CJ/-#=&%O)HH%&#%O#E)&F/'%-%GP## $3Q#R/*G%*)#M)0CJ/-#B)*')&

/#"!$0'1)'2#034*,'-).)'' +%/&09B)&'CD)0#=-/H'CJ#S,&G)%*#T# U%V#E%J'%&#$3#M)'&%#?&)/KL## <;#P)/&H#B/H'-)#B%**%--P1#R'0W

>?@.-A@@B>?+3-C?-DEFFEC-=EGH+IJK-L>E.E=EF-DE>-MEB>-@AD?.MN

-AS SEEN IN -

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Blank Slate to honor county’s ‘Trans Ban’ law top business leaders in 2020 repeal signed by BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Blank Slate Media is hosting a virtual event honoring the top business leaders of Nassau County in 2020 on Thursday at 7 p.m. The event will honor individuals who are influential in their field, who have pushed the boundaries and have developed visionary ways to advance their business. Nominations were open to anyone in any field who exhibited the skills to run a successful company, tackle challenges and positively influence colleagues to strengthen a company. The event’s keynote speaker will be Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling, who was named as the second-most influential people in health care by Modern Healthcare magazine. As the Northwell system combats the second surge of COVID-19, the magazine cited Dowling’s innovation, leadership and strong stance on social issues such as gun violence as a public health crisis as well as immigration and the opioid epidemic. Dowling earned a place on Modern Healthcare’s list for the 14th consecutive year. The list in-

cludes the nation’s most prominent health care CEOs, elected oﬃcials and government administrators. During Dowling’s tenure as CEO, Northwell Health has become New York state’s largest health system, with 23 hospitals, approximately 800 ambulatory and physician practices, and $13.5 billion in annual revenue. He came to the

Blank Slate Media will honor Nassau County’s top business leaders of 2020 in a virtual event on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

system following 12 years as secretary of health, education and human services for former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo. “We are particularly proud to have Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling as our honoree and keynote speaker,” Blank Slate Media Publisher Steven Blank said. “Michael has been a key player not only in the response to COVID-19 in Nassau County but the State of New York and beyond.” Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency, will also speak at the event. Kessel and the agency worked with Nassau County Executive Laura Curran to roll out various initiatives to promote shopping and dining at local establishments. Other winners who will be virtually honored are Jan Burman, the president of Engel Burman Group, Regina Gil, executive director of the Gold Coast Arts Center, James C. Metzger, chairman and CEO of The Whitmore agency, Scott Rechler, chairman and CEO of RXR Realty, Michael N. Rosenblut, president and CEO of Parker Jewish Institute Continued on Page 64

Gov. Cuomo

BY R O S E WELDON A bill to repeal New York’s “walking while trans” ban, co-sponsored by state Sen. Anna M. Kaplan (DGreat Neck), has been signed into law. The law was originally intended to be used to combat prostitution in New York City, but in recent years had been used to target transgender women of color. The state Senate and Assembly passed the legislation to repeal it on Feb. 2, and it was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The bill, S.1351, repeals section 240.37 of the penal law, relating to loitering for the purposes of engaging in prostitution, and includes a provision that would seal past convictions for this oﬀense.

“Contrary to misinformation that has circulated on the internet, the bill does not legalize prostitution, it doesn’t affect any other prostitution-related offenses, and it leaves law enforcement with the tools they need to combat prostitution and sex trafficking related crimes,” according to Kaplan’s office. “COVID exposed low tide in America and the ‘walking while trans’ policy is one example of the ugly undercurrents of injustices that transgender New Yorkers — especially those of color — face simply for walking down the street,” Cuomo said in a statement. “For too long transpeople have been unfairly targeted and disproportionately policed for innocent, lawful conduct based solely Continued on Page 69

Lights, Camera, Save! Calling all teen filmmakers ... Submit a video for a chance to win a Nikon Coolpix W150 & a $250 gift card!*

Visit maspethfederal.com for more information & find out how to enter.

* Winner of prize will receive applicable 1099 statement.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Cuomo joins bid to repeal deduction cap BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed the need to repeal the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction on Friday. Cuomo made the statement with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat. Cuomo touted the importance for oﬃcials from predominantly Democratic states to advocate repeal of the cap, which was signed into law in 2017 by then President Donald Trump. “They took tax money from New York, New Jersey, other Democratic states and they transferred it to Republican states,” Cuomo said. “That’s what the quote/unquote SALT provision was all about. SALT is technical and confusing, state and local taxes. But they for the first time ever taxed the taxes that people pay.” The governors’ call to

repeal the cap came after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the cap and give money back to taxpayers throughout New York. Suozzi touted Cuomo’s pressure to repeal the cap.

“Thank you Governor Cuomo and Governor Murphy for your continued advocacy in calling on Congress to pass legislation that repeals the unfair SALT cap,” Suozzi said. “The cap on the SALT deduction was a target on blue states and a real body blow.” Continued on Page 74

!"#$%&'($)*%+#$+,'$)'-./0"1%12 Have a Festive 3"4.'$)'5.1/%+.+*6' Holiday Season !.+7'3"4.'81"/'9'($)*%+#.6 with our !"#"#$"%&'("#&'()*&+,-".')."/*&0,1 2)'(&3-42"%*&,.5&*4&#67(&#4%"8 Beautiful Holiday Arrangements!

,)0(#/(01/"$#%)*+%#2%)(&1/#2)(# '+%"./&."31#$+,#+.$#"'"(,#$+,4

• Floral Bouquet • Centerpieces • Plants • Gift Baskets & more…• We Deliver We specialize in weddings, get-well soon, graduation, baby & wedding showers, funerals, etc.

ORDER YOUR FLOWERS FOR ANY OCCASION! Visit Us At Our New Location!

PHOTO FROM THE ISLAND NOW ARCHIVES

Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed the need to repeal the cap on the state and local tax deduction on Friday, something U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) has pressed for.

!"# $"%&'"(# %)*+%%,#-# .+/&).+%%,

East Williston Florist 79 East Jericho Tpke., Mineola, NY 11501 1-800-4florist !"#$$"%&'()*+

516-742-9129 ,!-".%/"0!/0

eastwillistonflorist.net

Here Yesterday…Here Today… Here Tomorrow… Serving My Neighbors

James E. Lewis

We are both honored and humbled to be voted BEST FUNERAL HOME 2019 by our families, neighbors and friends that voted for us. We promise to always strive for excellence in caring for the families we serve. We are grateful for the sacred trust you have placed in us.

Victor LoGiudice, Managing Partner

125 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, NY 516.354.0634 29 Atlantic Avenue, Floral Park, NY 412 Willis Avenue, Williston Park, NY www.thomasfdaltonfuneralhomes.com wecare@daltonfuneralhomes.com

10 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

*+,-)./0123,214-)5/6

!"#$%#&'(#%)! !"##$!%$&'($%)*+

,-$('./0/// 1$2&)2%!0'$)((*2#!0'(*2#!0'3()4$+$%!

Port teen gets town to reopen skate park BY R O S E W E L D ON Thanks to the eﬀorts of a Port Washington teenager and his friends, a beloved town-run gathering spot is scheduled to reopen after closing due to COVID-19 two months ago. For Jett Gillis, 13, of Manorhaven, the pandemic meant he couldn’t take part in the varsity wrestling team at Schreiber

!,5$%6*2#'7,('$-$(8,2$

PHOTO COURTESY OF MANNY GILLIS

Jett Gillis at the Town of North Hempstead-run Manorhaven skate park, which he led efforts in reopening.

High School, which he had made despite being a student at Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School. With school sports canceled, he found a new hobby to keep active. “I had a skateboard in my closet that I’d gotten a while ago, so I decided to take it out,” Gillis said in an interview. From the spring through late fall, Gillis and his friends frequented the Manorhaven skate park, going daily while wearing masks and adhering to social distancing. But in November, the Town of North Hempstead closed the park, citing reports of large groups congregating there without masks and not practicing social distancing. The closing surprised Gillis and his friends because other sport venues in that area had been left open. “There were all these soccer fields open, these basketball courts, all this other stuﬀ was open, and for sports that were much more close contact,” Gillis said. “We all were just sick of it.” He added that his group of friends tried to skate on streets, parking lots and strip mall sidewalks, which provided their own problems. Their last resort without a park was to try the Soundview Marketplace. “We were skating at the Soundview, and [oﬃcials] started putting up signs that said no skateboarding was allowed,” Gillis said. “And I was like, this is dumb. We have no way to skate. So I started a petition.” Continued on Page 74

Kaplan eyes hate symbols in legislation )'!%8+$'7,('$-$(8 %)!%$')2&'3"&#$%

99':)*2';%($$%0'<,(%'=)!6*2#%,20'>?'../@/'

!"#$%#%$&'(()

A1$2'B"$!&)8C;"2&)8'./)5CD15 B6"(!&)8'./)5C915' EEEF&*)5,2&3,"%*G"$*24F4,5

BY R O S E W E L D ON Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) would prohibit symbols of hate and political advertisements from being displayed on public property and taxpayer-funded equipment in the state. Kaplan introduced the legislation in the Senate last week in conjunction with state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/ Westchester). Kaplan’s oﬃce said the legislation comes after a widely reported incident last year involving the display of a Confederate flag on a fire truck in a parade in Suﬀolk County, and after a Confederate flag and political flag were displayed in a window at a fire department in Nassau County. “In the past year, we have seen hatred, anti-Semitism, and hate fueled violence explode across the country, and it takes us all working together, speaking with one voice, to say that hate has no place in our community, and we will fight back against

it every step of the way,” Kaplan said. “We took steps last year to make sure that state property would be free from symbols of hate, but we need to take further action to ensure that all public property and taxpayer-owned equipment are entirely free from hate.” Last year, Biaggi introduced a bill, later passed and signed into law, to ban the sale and display of symbols of hate on state property and limit their display at the State Fair. “Our work is not done,” Biaggi said. “I am proud to join Sen. Kaplan in introducing legislation to build on that progress, and ensure all of our government property – including our municipal and local government buildings – are welcoming spaces free from hate. “Additionally, the display of political advertisement on public property is highly inappropriate, and a misuse of government resources to advance a partisan agenda. It is critical that we also move to Continued on Page 74

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Manhasset man accused of $1.7B fraud David Gentile alleged to have defrauded thousands of investors in Ponzi-like schme BY R O S E W E L D ON A CEO of a prominent alternative asset management firm who lives in Manhasset has been accused of defrauding thousands of investors in a Ponzi-like scheme that raised over $1.7 billion by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of New York has announced. David Gentile, who founded and served as CEO of alternative asset management firm GPB Capital Holdings LLC, was charged on Feb. 4 with engaging in a scheme to defraud investors by misrepresenting the source of funds used to make monthly distribution payments to them and the amount of revenue generated by two of his company’s investment funds. In federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, Gentile pleaded not guilty and was released on bond. Charged along with Gentile were former GPB managing partner Jeﬀrey Lash of Naples, Florida, and GPB Capital’s placement agent Ascendant Capital owner and CEO Jeffrey Schneider of Austin, Texas. The SEC’s complaint alleges that Gentile and Schneider lied to investors about the source of money used to make an 8 percent annualized distribution payment to investors. According to the complaint, the two men, along with Ascendant Alternative Strategies, which marketed GPB Capital’s

investments, told investors that the distribution payments were paid exclusively with monies generated by GPB Capital’s portfolio companies. “As alleged, GPB Capital actually used investor money to pay portions of the annualized 8% distribution payments,” the SEC said in a statement. “[They] also allegedly manipulated the financial statements of certain limited partnership funds managed by GPB Capital to perpetuate the deception by giving the false appearance that the funds’ income was closer to generating suﬃcient income to cover the distribution payments than it actually was.” Further, the complaint alleges that GPB Capital and Ascendant Capital made misrepresentations to investors about millions of dollars in fees and other compensation received by Gentile and Schneider in a scheme that lasted for four years and that the company violated whistleblower provisions of the securities laws by allegedly retaliating against a whistleblower. “Despite the company’s representations, investor capital was used to pay for a significant portion of the distributions made to investors in each of these funds,” a statement from the U.S. attorney’s oﬃce said. “Gentile and Schneider were aware that the GPB Funds were underperforming, and authorized repeated distribution payments that used investor funds to cover income shortfalls, to the detriment of investors.”

duct to reap profits for themselves.” William F. Sweeney Jr., assistant director in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York field office, said: “As alleged, the defendants misrepresented the holdings of GPB Capital through deceptive marketing practices, luring investors with promises of monthly distributions that would be covered by funds from the investments and not drawn from underlying invested capital. “As we allege today, however, this was all a lie. In truth, a significant portion of GPB’s distributions were paid directly from investor funds. Investment fraud schemes are not only problematic for the victims they claim, but for the overall investing public who loses faith in a free-market system every time they hear of crimes like this. Along with our partners, we’re committed to exposing these PHOTO VIA CRUNCHBASE frauds whenever and wherever we find them — and holding the fraudsters accountable.” David Gentile of Manhasset has been The company denied the allegations in a accused of defrauding thousands of statement to CNN Business. “GPB denies these allegations and ininvestors in a Ponzi-like scheme. tends to vigorously defend itself in court “As alleged in our complaint, the defen- where, for the first time, the firm will be able dants told investors that they would be paid to present significant evidence in its favor,” distributions from profits of the portfolio the company said. Efforts to reach Gentile’s lawyers for companies when, in reality, many of the payments were being made from the investors’ comment were unavailing. Gentile, Lash and Schneider are charged own funds,” said Richard Best, director of the SEC’s New York regional office. “This action with wire fraud and securities fraud. If shows our continued pursuit of those who convicted, they each face up to 20 years in deceive investors and conceal their miscon- prison.

Give Gift of Wellness Let The Us Help You Keep Your 2020 Resolutions ! This Valentines Day $ 99 99 $ Ask about our Wellness 59 69 Program

!"#$%&'()'%*+,'-(./0%1/2%345/%67,.0%18%9!"#!$%&!'()&!*+,,&--!*%.//0#1!2&#$&3 :6;1%#%<=8>?%@7A9$-A?!4.#5(67!8+&-5(67!*($+35(6!9!*+#5(6! 1476 Union Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY - In the Lake Success Shopping Center %%%%%%%%%%%@7A9@-A?:&5#&-5(67!8%+3-5(67!;305(6 Open 7 days: Monday-Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 9am-6pm B!$9$#C9"D#E FG('(HIE$#JA7KK7L//'M4NH)A 516-673-4278 Clinic0867@massageenvy.com

12 The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Signature Star 1 GCI # 1 Volume # 1 Units #

Diamond Circle of Excellence Garden City

NINA HARRIS C: 516.824.2474 Check out some of my recent listings Under Contract

WILLISTON PARK

ALBERTSON

BRIGHT & AIRY

CHARMING CAPE

!"#$#%"$&'($&%)("$)($#%)&$*+"($,**-$+./(0$1$230$ 456$27$8*.*()/.$&)#'/#"9$:)99."$*;$#%"$<.*=>?$

8*::'#"-&$J-"/:?$!*K".L$1$230$B$27$%*:"$ M)#%$'+9/#"9$>)#=%"($MN$OO$/++.)/(="&$P$Q'/-#R5

@!A1BCDBEF |$GHBD0III

@!A1BSDSFB |$G6EF0III

SEE NINA’S BIO, REVIEWS AND LISTINGS AT: www.signaturepremier.com/Nina-Harris

Who better to sell your house than your neighbor?

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

! u o y hT ank to all my clients for another sucessful year! Stay true to your values, provide your clients with the service they deserve & success will follow.

Call today C: 516.824.2474

Just Listed

MANHASSET

WILLISTON PARK

MOVE IN READY

HEART OF WILLISTON PARK

!"#$%&#'(')*+',-.')/'01'"&23&4%'352'&6%&2%$06067-

@"$405A1'B'A"#$%&#'<')*+',')/'C5D&CE'F5C560$C-'

89:(,;<<<= |'>?+,=;+;;;

89:(,;<GGG |'>;?G+HHH

6I$2201J1076$%A2&"2&K0&2-45K'| =(H'L2$6MC06'/D&6A&'| N$2#&6'F0%E+'OP'??.(H

14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Where is GOP’s support of police?

n July, Nassau County Republicans held a series of events to defend what they claimed were attempts to smear police amid calls for policing reforms in protests led by Black Lives Matter. The protests followed the widespread viewing of videos of a white Minneapolis police officer killing George Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on his neck for more than eight minutes on a city street in broad daylight. Floyd’s death was the latest in a series of incidents in which unarmed Black men were killed by police officers. Nassau Republicans responded by launching “the Blue Ribbon campaign” to support police. “The Blue Ribbon campaign is in response to the attempt by extreme groups to vilify all police for the actions of a tiny few,” Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) explained an interview with Blank Slate Media. “It is intended to show our men and women in law enforcement that we as a county and community appreciate the professionalism, dedication and courage of the overwhelming majority of men and women in blue.” Republican state Assemblyman Ed Ra said in an op-ed article in Blank Slate Media that he was “deeply concerned about the damaging rhetoric, radical actions and misguided policy proposal we’ve been hearing from the left. It seems that for every measured step forward we take, there are radical voices demanding we carelessly leap in the wrong direction.” Ra also cited efforts by some, outside Nassau County, who had called for the defunding of police. He later joined Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, a Republican, along with Nassau

County Police Benevolent Association President Jim McDermott in calling upon the state Legislature to approve “hate crimes” legislation for anti-police graffiti and other acts that target law enforcement officers based on a bias against the crime fighters. The response of Nassau County Republicans and the Nassau County PBA was part of a nationwide campaign to “Back the Blue.” In hindsight, this was strange when viewed against the relative silence of Nassau County Republicans following the attack of an armed mob incited by then President Donald Trump on the Capitol on Jan. 6. The insurrection, which was intended to stop members of Congress from certifying the election of Joe Biden as president, included threats against the lives of then Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress. Five people died as a result of the assault, including Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who sustained fatal blows to the head while trying to defend the Capitol from rioters. A second Capitol Police officer and a D.C. police officer who responded to the attack have since committed suicide. But the price paid by police in the assault does not end there. “I have officers who were not issued helmets prior to the attack who have sustained head injuries,” Gus Papathanasiou, the U.S. Capitol police union chairman, said in an interview with The Washington Post. “One officer has two cracked ribs and two smashed spinal discs and another was stabbed with a metal fence stake, to name some of the injuries.” At least 81 Capitol Police officers were assaulted during the

BLANK SLATE MEDIA LLC

Editorial Cartoon

siege of the Capitol, according to filings by federal prosecutors. The Washington Post reported that “about 65 D.C. police officers also suffered injuries on Jan. 6, including several concussions from head blows from various objects, including metal poles ripped from inauguration-related scaffolding and even a pole with an American flag attached.” One officer lost an eye. And since Jan. 6, 38 Capitol Police employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, almost entirely officers and supervisors who responded to the riot, Papathanasiou was reported saying. So where is the outrage from Nassau County Republicans? Where are the events decrying violence against police officers? Nicolello said following the attack that “the individuals who ‘stormed’ the Capitol should be ashamed of themselves; the ones who committed criminal acts should be prosecuted.” Since then, nothing. The same for Ra, who following the attack said, “People who resort to violence and vandalism undercut the core of our democracy.” How is one supposed to interpret the difference in responses? Well, during the summer many of those protesting were Black people demanding to be REPORTERS Rose Weldon, Robert Pelaez

treated by police the same as white people. But in the attack on the Capitol, the people assaulting the police were overwhelmingly white. Many if not most belonged to far-right groups, including white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Does race have something to do with the Nassau Republicans’ lack of response? If so, that would seem to confirm the claims of Black Lives Matter protesters of systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Or perhaps politics is involved. The thugs who attacked police at the Capitol were seeking to overturn the election on behalf of Trump. Trump is a Republican and the Nassau officials are Republicans. Does politics explain the Nassau Republicans’ silence on the mass assault against police at the Capitol? If that’s the case, do Nassau Republican officials believe that enough Nassau County Republican voters support the rioters or Trump or both that they are politically afraid to offend them? Or do Nassau Republican officials agree with Trump’s baseless claims that the election is rigged? Nassau Republican officials have also been noticeably silent on the issue of whether they believe

Biden was elected president in a free and fair election. Why? Another explanation is that this summer’s campaign on behalf of police was simply based on local Republicans kowtowing to an interest group that has supported them politically for decades while becoming one of the best-paid police forces in the state. The Nassau Republicans’ silence is consistent with the national party. Only 11 House Republicans voted to impeach Trump for inciting the riot at the Capitol, while more than 140 House Republicans and 10 Senate Republicans refused to certify Biden’s election. Many of the Republican representatives also responded to demands for police reforms by claiming the police were being unfairly criticized. But perhaps we’re wrong to imply that Nassau Republicans are hypocritical, that their support of police is not as strong as they claim and they are not the patriots that they would like us to think they are. Perhaps one of the next events held by Nassau Republicans will be to celebrate President Biden’s election victory, the U.S. Constitution and the principles upon which it is founded. That would be very reassuring.

PRODUCTION MANAGER Rosemarie Palacios

25 Red Ground Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 Phone: 516-307-1045 • Fax: 516-307-1046 E-mail: hblank@theislandnow.com

ARTS EDITOR Ethan Marshall

EDITORIAL DESIGNERS Lorens Morris, Yvonne Farley

COLUMNIST Karen Rubin

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Deborah Flynn

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Steven Blank

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Stacy Shaughnessy, Melissa Spitalnick, Wendy Kates, Linda Robinson

OFFICE MANAGER Holly Blank

ART DIRECTOR Jewell Davis

PUBLISHERS OF

Williston Times • Great Neck News Herald Courier • Roslyn Times Manhasset Times • Port Washington Times

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

ON THE RIGHT

Andrew Cuomo: 2nd generation micromanager

ike many New Yorkers who have a parent in a nursing home, I was appalled when I learned about Gov. Cuomo’s March 25, 2020, health care order that directed nursing homes to take in patients who had tested positive for COVID-19. Happily, my 93-year-old father survived the crisis and has received the vaccine. But that does not excuse the governor’s behavior and mismanagement. Instead of reversing the illconceived policy early on, admitting it was a mistake and apologizing, the governor, not surprisingly, wouldn’t budge and actually doubled down. Refusing to take responsibility, he blamed Donald Trump and The Centers for Disease Control for the screw-up. Cuomo also stonewalled. For months, he has withheld releasing to the public the accurate number of nursing home deaths. (On Feb. 2, the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of a suit filed by the

Empire Center for Public Policy and ordered the release of “full coronavirus tolls in N.Y. nursing homes.”) Anyone familiar with Andrew Cuomo knows that his finger pointing is a ruse. That’s because he is a control freak. He micromanages every nook and cranny of his administration and calls all the shots. To make sense of the management style of New York’s 56th governor, one must understand the modus operandi of the man who had the greatest influence on him—the state’s 52nd governor, Mario Cuomo. Throughout his career, Mario Cuomo was a one-man band. He would work long hours because he needed to have total control over all decisions, even routine ones. As a rule, he would not delegate. Also, outside of his wife and son, Andrew, he trusted very few people. “Even in his present position of eminence,” one associate told the Times, “Mario Cuomo trusts no one completely

GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right who isn’t a member of his own family.” After his election in 1982, the elder Cuomo confirmed this management approach: “I want myself in the center of the wheel and a lot of spokes out to the agencies.” In other words, he would not delegate authority to executive chamber subordinates; he wanted his fingers in every governmental pie. And considering the size of the state government, this approach proved to be

disastrous. By March 1983, The New York Times was reporting that “Cuomo Holds A Tight Rein on Decisions.” Defending his loose chain of command, Cuomo thundered, “No bill will go up, no appointment will be made without crossing my desk … I don’t like having too strong a dependence on anybody.” On another occasion, after a question was raised about his method of governance, Cuomo said, “Delegate what? I was elected to govern. I wasn’t elected to let other people govern. To the extent that my strength allows me to bring myself to bear, that’s what I ought to do.” As criticism mounted that his administration was “confused or disorganized” leading to numerous snafus, Mario Cuomo doubled down: “My instructions to [my staﬀ] are, ‘Do not make a policy decision the governor is supposed to make’. If there were any confusion, if there were any ball being dropped, I was the

quarterback who dropped the ball.” And the enforcer of Mario’s dictates was his son, Andrew, known by Albany pols as the “Prince of Darkness” and “Darth Vader.” One long-time political operator told me: “If Andrew showed up in your oﬃce, you knew something was amiss or he would not be there. Andrew was not shy about badgering people verbally, humiliating them, demoting them or dismissing them.” Well, like father, like son. Andrew Cuomo’s management style is fundamentally identical to his father’s. The only difference—he is his own enforcer. Cuomo is a micromanager who cracks the whip, brow beats his staﬀ and bullies anyone who gets in his way. Andrew Cuomo is responsible for the disastrous policy that led to the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents. It is time he fesses up and begs New Yorkers for forgiveness.

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

It’s tough for a burglar in the pandemic

ou’ve got to pity the poor burglar these days. Once upon a time, there were thriving businesses on every street and big office buildings full of people — lots of chances to take wallets or purses or grab whole stores full of merchandise. Now all of those buildings are empty. As for stealing from people’s homes, now everybody is inside them, 24/7. It’s quite the dilemma for today’s career burglar. As everybody knows. Everybody, that is, except for old Ripoff Van Winkle — a distant and felonious cousin of Rip Van Winkle, who fell asleep in the Catskills and missed the American Revolution, according to the story by Washington Irving. Ripoff — or Rip, for short — slept all through 2020, missing all the recent changes, when he woke up and stumbled out of his bat-free cave into the harsh world of 2021. Rip rubbed the sleep from his eyes, blinked in the sun and made his way to the nearest mansion. He was still creeping up the

front yard when the owner called out a cheery “Hello there!” and popped out to greet him. “I beg your pardon?” said Rip, not quite sure what was happening. “I’ve been watching our Ring Doorbell, so I’m just wondering are you our Amazon delivery person? Or UPS?” Rip mumbled, “Um, yeah,” while scratching his rather long beard. “Well, no matter,” continued the homeowner. “Just drop your delivery around the back door, please — near the table with all the cookies. And please take some as our thank you for being an essential worker!” With that, the homeowner popped back inside and locked the door. Rip shuﬄed around to the back of the house, grabbing a sleeve of Oreos before turning away. The problem, he concluded, was he’d been aiming too high. What he needed was a nice, middle-class neighborhood. He found a house that looked promising — mostly because some snowdrifts had obscured all the signs for the alarm company — and wriggled himself in

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side through a bathroom window. He fell straight into a bathtub. “Ouch,” he thought. But then he realized he wasn’t actually hurt at all because instead of falling into a tub, he’d fallen onto a giant stash of toilet paper rolls. Struggling to his feet, he knocked over a row of empty liquid soap dispensers, which hit the floor with a racket and rolled around there, tripping him and sending him back into the tub. “What the heck?” he exclaimed out loud, not noticing that the homeowner had just arrived, armed with a baseball bat. “And

what’s the deal with all the toilet paper?” The homeowner and Rip stared at each other for a moment, mutually incredulous. Finally, the homeowner said, “It’s the pandemic, you know.” “A pan-what?” blurted Rip. “The pandemic! Have you been living in a cave or something?” “Actually, yes. Is it that obvious?” asked Rip. So the homeowner enlightened Rip about the pandemic, and toilet paper shortages, and everything else Rip had missed during his nap. The homeowner had been alone for a year, and missed his friends terribly, so he kept on talking and following as Rip wandered around the house looking for something to steal. The closest Rip came, however, was soup cans—in the kitchen—on the bookshelves—in the hall closet. “It’s really none of my business,” said Rip, “but don’t you want room for coats in there?” “Why? I’m not going anywhere,” replied the homeowner. “Until I can get a vaccine, what’s the point?” “And what’s with the wall of

books across your oﬃce, behind your desk chair? Was that just to make room in the bookcase for more soup cans?” “No — that’s because I needed a nicer background for my Zoom appointments.” “Your Zoom appointments? Whatever are you talking about?” “Oh! Let me explain. Zoom, you see, is this great new technology — it’s a little annoying, but also the only way I could talk to anybody. Before you came into my life, that is. I’m so glad you’re here! Would you like some soup?” “Um, no thanks,” said Rip, looking around for the door. “I’m going to go now.” “Then you’ll be wanting one of these,” said the homeowner, handing Rip a surgical mask. “Why?” “Don’t ask. Just put it on. Like this,” and the homeowner put one on, too. “You might need to trim that beard a little, first.” “Thanks and good luck!” yelled Rip, over his shoulder, running out the door and into the snow. “Where are you going?” “Back to the good life — in the cave!”

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

THE BACK ROAD

Filibuster’s association with Jim Crow

ccording to Journalist Timothy Noah, the most common argument in favor of the filibuster is ‘Our side may be in the majority now, but someday it will be in the minority, and when that happens we’ll want to block the other side’s extremist agenda.’ Historically, the filibuster refers to a tactic used in the U.S. Senate to block a vote on a bill using interminable debate by one or more senators. This was best illustrated when Sen. Jeﬀerson Smith, portrayed by Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 classic “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington,” delivered a 24-hour one-man filibuster that ended with him collapsing in exhaustion. Although Sen. Smith was a good guy, early practitioners of the filibuster used the tactic to prevent civil rights legislation from passing. Life imitated art when, 18 years after that film

opened, Sen. Strom Thurmond filibustered for more than 24 hours in an attempt to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Thurmond didn’t collapse like Smith had. In fact, seven years later he was a participant in another filibuster that lasted almost 60 days, that aimed to block the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which provided protections for voting rights, banned discrimination in public facilities and established equal employment opportunity. In the modern Senate, the filibuster no longer requires long-winded speeches, just enacting a simple parliamentary procedure to jam-up the works. Although I won’t provide the boring details here, suﬃce it to say that it is a procedural hurdle most often responsible for the gridlock in the nation’s capital. It is also important to know that civil rights remain in the mix when the politics of the filibuster

ANDREW MALEKOFF The Back Road

are at play. Although the passage of civil rights, voting rights and fair housing laws from 1948 through 1968 were hard-fought milestones that had to overcome fevered filibusters, the discriminatory practices that underpinned 100 years of Jim Crow laws continue to this day. If not in word, in deed. The evidence is clear when one considers the

well-documented disparities in housing, policing, justice, education and healthcare. And, let us not forget voter suppression and its cousin — voter invalidation, complements of Donald Trump. In his final months in oﬃce Trump did all he could to invalidate millions of Black votes by spinning the fantasy that it was a rigged election that he really won, a tall tale that his base bought, but none of the judges he appointed. Next, he tried unsuccessfully to twist the arm of a public official in Georgia to “find” more than 11,000 votes to put him over the top in that State. When all else failed he incited a terrorist uprising in the nation’s capital. Despite his corrupt and racist actions, democracy held and he failed to overturn the outcome of a free and fair election. Now that Trump has left town for his resort in Florida and Democrats control the Executive

Branch, House and Senate, all that is left is for the senate minority to do is to use the filibuster to deny the voters that Trump endeavored to disenfranchise, the legislative mandate that they fought so valiantly to achieve. The takeaway for many Republicans in the aftermath of Trump’s effort to steal the election is that that the voters who vanquished him must be discouraged from voting in future elections. One irony in all of this is that the Russell Office Building where many U.S. Senators’ offices are situated today, is named after former Senator Richard Russell, a self-avowed white supremacist who employed the filibuster to deny Black Americans the voting rights that they laid their lives on the line for in the mid-1960s. Andrew Malekoff is a New York State licensed clinical social worker.

E A R T H M AT T E R S

It’s winter! Put on a sweater and go outside!

o doubt about it; it is winter in this region of the world. If you had any doubt because of some of the warm spells we had, the recent snowfall and four-foot-high piles of snow at every corner should have made it clear. But just because it is cold out should not mean you are hunkering down indoors. Being outside on these cold, crisp, sunny days is wonderful. You get to see your neighborhood in a whole diﬀerent way without leaves on trees blocking your view. Those hills you want to avoid in the summer because they make you sweat so much are now much more attractive as a convenient way to keep your blood flowing. As beautiful as a winter walk is, nothing can ruin it like passing an idling car. These are the cars people start and leave the engine running for five, 10, 15 or more minutes before actually getting in the car and driving away because apparently, they do not own any sweaters or

a winter coat. These are the vehicles parked with the engine running while people sit in them, again apparently because they also do not own any sweaters or a winter coat and so they cannot survive the five or 10 minutes wait they have outside before getting to do whatever it is they got in their car and drove somewhere to do. I confronted someone not long ago about leaving her car running for well over 15 minutes. I explained how she is polluting the air we breathe by doing so. Her response: it is cold outside. I know climate change has many plants and wildlife confused about how to behave. I did not imagine that people were similarly confused by the changes we are experiencing in our climate as to think it is not cold outside in January and so would not expect a sweater and warm coat to be in order. Idling engines emit the same pollutants as moving cars except they are sitting in one place concentrating it all right there. That

LYNN CAPUANO Earth Matters is a lot of volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides being pumped right outside your home. And every 10 minutes your car is run is the equivalent of one pound of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas contributing the most to climate change. And it is not just all of us breathing in the air outside the idling car that are harmed. The person in the idling car is breathing in dirty exhaust that leaks into the car cabin as well. For those of you that think

you need to warm up your car by running the engine for ten or fifteen minutes before getting in and driving away, get this: a vehicle’s engine warms twice as quickly when driven as opposed to running while parked! That means if you really want to warm up your car, drive it, don’t sit in it or leave the engine running while it’s in park! I recently heard an interesting story about research Kari Leibowitz, a health psychologist, did on how Norwegians in the northernmost regions of the country cope with the long “polar night.” She began her research with the assumption that residents of this northern Norway community were coping but quickly learned they in fact embrace the cold and dark conditions and look forward to them. Leibowitz concluded it is their mindset that helps them view this cold period of little light as a challenge and an opportunity to learn and adapt rather than as a threat. This way of thinking allows them to approach winter with excite-

ment about the possibilities the season brings to do things such as ski, hike, enjoy an outdoor movie and much more. She stated we can control our mindset and see a situation as a challenge full of opportunity rather than as a negative to be escaped or endured. I encourage us all to choose to welcome the challenge of a cold car. Maybe you will learn you have the strength to handle temperature fluctuations you did not realize. Maybe you will discover the joys of blowing “smoke” when you breathe out on a cold day. Maybe you will adapt and leave your shorts and light shirts for the warmer months and embrace the warmth and comfort of a soft sweater and winter coat. Tell your friends and neighbors and the people delivering packages and doing work at your homes that you treasure your clean, crisp winter air and could they please turn oﬀ their cars until they are ready to drive. As the Norwegians say: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theislandnow.com

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

VIEW POINT

Convict Trump or nullify the Constitution

mong the most absurd defenses of Trump’s impeachment, Trump’s lawyers – whose resumes include defending Colombo mob bosses – are claiming that this is “political theater” and a continuation of “Trump derangement syndrome.” They cited prosecution of Trump (by Democrats) going back to the Mueller investigation into complicity with Russian agents which helped Trump literally steal the presidency.This “derangement syndrome,” they claim, continued into the first impeachment arising out of his abuse of oﬃce and literal extortion of a foreign leader, Ukraine’s president, to get a “favor” by hurting the political rival he most feared, Joe Biden, and again, to rig the election. It continued as he attempted to bribe state lawmakers to overturn the will of their people and disenfranchise millions of voters, and extort the Georgia secretary of state to “find” 11,780 votes – to give him a one-vote advantage over Biden in order to overturn the will of Georgia voters. Very likely he attempted the same to overturn the election in Arizona and Michigan, to again steal the Electoral College,

despite losing the popular vote by 3 million in 2016 and 7 million in 2020.They ignore the fact Trump, in his months-long campaign to rig and then steal the 2020 election, tried to work the courts up to the Supreme Court, where he had successfully installed a sixth “friendly” justice he expected would find in his favor, just as Scalia did in the 2000 election that anointed George W. Bush president. Trump contemplated taking up disgraced Michael Flynn’s plan to use martial law (a tactic he tested in the Portland protests) to run new elections in swing states that would declare him the winner. In the meantime, he tried to work the courts up to the Supreme Court, where he had successfully installed a sixth “friendly” justice he expected would find in his favor, just as Scalia did in the 2000 election that anointed George W. Bush president. Trump contemplated taking up disgraced Michael Flynn’s plan to use martial law (a tactic he tested in the Portland protests) to run new elections in swing states that would declare him the winner. And they expect Americans to dismiss his violation of his oath

KAREN RUBIN View Point

to protect and defend the Constitution – at essence, to accept his loss in the democratic election and oversee a peaceful transition of power — to incite a mob to disrupt the Constitutionally-mandated ceremony of counting the Electoral College votes and oﬃcially declare Joe Biden the president of the United States. Instead, he invited, then incited a deadly insurrection – an attempted coup — having the Pentagon stand down as his Proud Boys stood up, invaded the Capitol on his command, attacked Capitol Police, killing one, gravely injuring 140, hunted Vice President Mike Pence they intended to hang for

failing to do Trump’s bidding, stole classified information, and hunted and threatened Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats on their hit list. According to Trump’s lawyers, all of this is fiction, a hoax, a witchhunt, rather than acts to subvert democracy, the oath of office, and the Constitution. Unprecedented? Trump is most proud of being unprecedented, a norm-buster. We never had anyone occupy the presidency, who came to the office through criminality. Trump acted more like a mob boss, demanding loyalty of his underlings – starting with FBI Director James Comey – and firing those who dared uphold their oath, like Alex Vindman and any Inspector General who found wrongdoing, who, while attacking the “Deep State” spent his time constructing a deep state that would support his dictatorship. As for this trial being “unconstitutional because Trump is already out of office,” the House impeached Trump just a week after the deadly insurrection, but Mitch McConnell, holding on to his power as Senate Majority Leader, refused to call back the Senate to

receive the Article of Impeachment saying there was plenty of time after the inauguration. What a tactic, if it is allowed to stand. In the first place, the impeachment came while Trump was President and the Constitution makes it clear the Senate must hold a trial. There are prior precedents, though what Trump has done is unprecedented. What is more, if this becomes precedent, any president could commit heinous acts in the last month of office – sell national secrets, assassinate a rival, write a personal check from the US Treasury – and not be held to account. Trump’s defenders know it too, but have no actual defense against this or the string of “high crimes” that have defined Trump’s entire occupation and abuse of the Oval Office; they are doing their damnedest to give the Senate Republicans an off-ramp, an excuse not to convict Trump of these heinous high-crimes against the nation. Political theater? Tell that to the widow of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, the two officers who subsequently committed suicide, the officer who will lose his Continued on Page 63

OUT OF LEFT FIELD

Polling students on America’s greatest leaders

ebruary is always a propitious time to make leadership appraisals. In addition to President’s Day, combining Washington and Lincoln for the same holiday, we have Black History Month, building on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Jan. 18. We also entered this February with a new president coming out of one of the most polarized and disputed elections in our history – with anxieties continuing because of the threats and realities of violence spurred, as many say, by Donald Trump, who is now beginning an unprecedented second impeachment trial. For those of us who are college teachers, February is a new beginning with the start of the spring semester. Since 1970, on the first day of my classes, I have asked my students to participate in a Brainstorming Leadership Rating Poll. Last week marked my 51st year of the student polling. Although I have been at Hofstra since 1960, I did not adopt the idea until I was encouraged to do so by two of the great all-time Long island Newsday journalists, Bernie Bookbinder and Stan Isaacs. Both of

them worked for Newsday when Bill Moyers was the publisher and the paper justly garnered national and international acclaim. I learned much from both of them (and took the name of Stan’s column for my own after he died in 2013; “Out of Left Field” was intended then as now to have more nuances than may be immediately apparent). Bernie and Stan worked with me, and even published stories about my brainstorming exercises with college students. Typically, they made several suggestions for improvement as I proceeded over the decades. One idea was to compare the ratings by students with those of adults, even more specifically with elders (over 65). Then, I was advised to follow up the brainstorming polls with analytical discussions that brought folks of diﬀerent ages together in an intergenerational meeting space. All of those things have been done over the years, over the decades. Please consider how you might have participated in last week’s “Brainstorming Leadership Rating Polls” – it was undertaken precisely as it had been for decades, but with two process modi-

MICHAEL D’INNOCENZO Out of Left Field fications. The simple aspect of the rating polls in all years included this instruction to participants: “On the sheet of paper you have received, place a large number 1 at the top of the page and then in a quick brainstorming’ activity, make a list of up to 10 people you consider to be the greatest Americans who have ever lived.’” I gave only two more sentences: 1) “You may use any criteria you wish for your ratings;” and 2) “Because this is intended to be quick brainstorming, I will not take questions until we are

finished (and in the spirit of acclaimed quarterbacks, this will be a ‘two minute drill.’”) Clearly, there were elements of unfairness in asking my new students to respond so quickly and without being open to questions (as I always strive to be). As you can discern, the intent was to generate fast responses because they were likely to reflect the leaders who (for whatever reasons) were at the top of people’s minds. Later we discussed the speed pressure and other aspects of the exercise. In order to minimize stress and ego risk, students and adults when they participated were told not to place their names on the rating sheets. Anonymity did not get in the way of compiling the leaders for later discussion Over the decades, I always asked folks to make a second list – this time with a large number 2 on the reverse side of the paper, and to identify up to 10 people who they considered to be the “greatest living Americans.” A process change because of the Covid-19 pandemic is that we avoid using paper, so each student sent me her/his lists in a word doc. A third rating assignment was

added in recent years at the suggestion of my senior and perspicacious colleague, Martin Melkonian — to list up to 10 people who students considered to be the greatest global leaders of all time. I was glad to add that dimension, because it certainly highlights judgments that our lives are increasingly connected around the world. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Not as well known is Dr. King’s insistence that people needed to look beyond national identity and declare loyalty to humanity as a whole. So, my students have submitted three lists, and we will be discussing them this week. If you decide to prepare lists of your own using the two-minute drill, you are invited (with my next column), to compare your own ratings with those of my 2021 classes as well as with students who have been doing these ratings since 1970). If you are so inclined, you can email your lists to me, and I will be glad to tabulate them and give a report to Blank Slate Media papers (michael.dinnocenzo@hofstra. edu)

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

OUR TOWN

Super Bowl LV defined America’s character

he nation turned its lonely eyes to Tampa Bay this week to watch a transcendent force of nature referred to as Tom Brady, that 43-year-old, wrinkle-free, larger-than-life, 10-time visitor to the Super Bowl. Impact champions like Tom Brady, Tiger Woods and Mohammed Ali seem to single-handedly establish a sports’ popularity by pulling in a new viewing audience. Clearly Tiger Woods did that for golf and Mohammed Ali did the same for boxing.But when you get past the buzz created by an impact champion, it is worth asking the question of what the real force behind any given sports popularity. The French are an aesthetic nation and thus love the gentility of tennis. Brazilians are passionate and creative and love the random spontaneity and flair of soccer, “the beautiful game.” Football is America’s chosen sport. In years gone by America loved Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and baseball, but our interest has waned as our hyperactivity mounted. Basketball maintained its popularity with

Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, but there is nothing quite as quintessential as football to describe the American ethos. If you watch even a single play in professional football, you will observe a few obvious features. Football is aggressive, swift, violent, brutal, tactical, demanding of courage and dangerous. How Patrick Mahomes managed to survive the beating he took during the Super Bowl is beyond me. Many years ago I met wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson when I was being interviewed there in the Jets training camp. He walked into the locker room just wearing white spandex shorts and I had the impression I was standing in front of a large very muscular oak tree. A year or so later I met running back Emmitt Smith at an Ann Liguori party in the Hamptons and I recall thinking that nothing on Earth could ever knock this guy over. But does dangerous aggression, brutality, speed, tactical smarts, and a tendency toward violence aptly describe the central character of America?

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

Back in 1835 Alexis de Tocqueville, a French aristocrat, traveled throughout the United States and then wrote what is widely considered the definitive description of the American character. He coined the term “American Exceptionalism,” which refers to our energy, optimism, practicality, social mobility, religiosity, commercialism and our lack of aesthetic awareness. But let’s face facts, a lot of can change in 185 years, n’est ce pas? So, to confirm and/or deny that this describes the American personality let us review the highlights of Super Bowl LV.

First, we have the commercials from Budweiser, Pizza Hut, Uber Eats, Turbo Tax, McDonalds, YouTube and Logitech. I think there was also an ad selling rides into outer space. I like these commercials because they have such humor and the corporations paying for them have a willingness to spend millions to remind us they still exist. Commercials are as American as apple pie. Maybe even more so. So Alexis got this right. The halftime show was with a guy named Weeknd. Granted I have never heard of this singer, but you got to figure he must be somebody comparable to Michael Jackson or he would never have been oﬀered the gig. The show was not exactly high-brow entertainment, but it was a spectacle, so Alexis got this right too. The game itself was exciting if violent, interesting if brutal, amazing if concussively head-bashing. If you blend together Alexis de Tocqueville’s description of our character with my impressions of Super Bowl LV, you have an apt view of America. It’s filled with com-

mercials, speed and spectacle. In addition, we also had a glimpse of the Trump era represented by the way the Kansas City Chiefs committed enough infractions to slowly but surely play themselves out of the game and lose. This is the power of role modeling in the worst possible way. America is unapologetically aggressive, speedy, take-no-prisoners, win-at-allcosts approach to life. And it was good to observe that the team that did less cheating was the team that won. So, if you are feeling guilty for having spent the entire Sunday watching Super Bowl LV, take solace in the fact that you were getting a first-rate adult education crash course in social studies. America is the land of the free, home of the brave and filled with those who love commercials and embrace weekend spectacles. And on rare occasion we also get to witness a miracle like Tom Brady who defeats time, age and the KC Chiefs all in one afternoon. Who could argue with that? Letters Continued on Page 63

H I ) 5 J $ K 1 L 5 M 5 H

!"#$%&"'$())#$*+$,&&-$./+-0 :4$2;4<=&+=>4$=8$?"4&5=8@$1++$?';4A$*B$0**5$&89$18C+4$/"*-+4DAE F$1<G=++4A$?489*8=5=A F$18C+4$2;"&=8 F$1"5G"=5=A F$15G+454HA$0**5$ $ I?=84&$/49=AJ F$K,8=*8A F$%&++,A4A F$%*"8A F$2;*"5A$L8M,"=4A F$!=&-45=<$0**5$%&"4 F$0+&5$0445$ $ I*N4"$;"*8&5=*8J

F$0,8@&+$O&=+A F$PA54*;*"*A=A F$Q&DD4"5*4A F$/+&85&"$0&A<==5=A$ F$L8@"*R8$?*48&=+A F$0"&<5,"4A F$O4,"*D& F$:&"5A F$7&A4"$?G4"&;'$ $ B*"$?*48&=+$0,8@,A

!"#$%&$'()'$"*%+'$"')&,-*(.-'+"(/' %00"1#$2-#$'%#*'$%3-'$,-'4/)$')$-0' $"5%/*'0%1#67/--'7--$8 !"#$%&"'$(#$)*+,-.$!/(.$01%012 !"#$3*-4"5$6#$7&89'.$!/(.$01%012

!"#$%&''&($)*+,-$%&''&(./0$1234-$56$7789!$:$;87!<$=>?@?7??$ AAA,0+B.(.+CC/D&2.3EC''F,F/G !"#$%#&'#()*+)%&",&-#.&/(#0&1(#23"4&&&5&&/"3*&6437#(4)%3&8))%9*%:

;87!<$=>?@?7??

Fitness Over 50

How exercise can help you live longer

Playing Catch-Up Saving strategies as retirement draws near

A Blank Slate Media Special Section • February 12, 2021

20 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Making gifts before the limit drops BY PA U L M A R C H E S E A N D P H I L PA L U M B O In the United States we all enjoy something called a federal lifetime exclusion, which is a dollar amount given to each of us by the IRS that is most often used to oﬀset any estate tax liability when a person dies. Although most taxpayers use their FLE “at death,” a taxpayer is also permitted to use their FLE during their lifetime by making large gifts. In 2017, President Trump doubled everyone’s FLA to its current level, which is $11.7 million per person. Legally, President Trump could not make the FLE increase permanent and so the exemption is scheduled to be reduced by 50 percent at the end of year 2025. As part of President Biden’s promise to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, he has proposed accelerating the drop in the FLA to this year or next year. Many savvy taxpayers have no desire to wait around to see what is going to happen. Using the law as it exists, and the ability to give away the FLE during life, they are making very sizable gifts now, so that if the FLE is reduced, they have eﬀectively “locked-in” today’s high FLE through their gifts.

Clearly, the idea of giving one’s assets away during their lifetime has a limited appeal to many taxpayers and this is where the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust comes in handy. The true value of the SLAT plan is that a person can “gift” assets to a trust, use most or all of their FLE during their lifetime and, if the client lives for three years from making the gift, the gift is not “clawed back” into the estate for New York State estate tax purposes, thereby allowing the gifted assets to completely avoid NYS estate taxes. Further, when the FLE is lowered, the gift to the SLAT eﬀectively “locksin” the client’s exemption at today’s rate. A SLAT is an irrevocable trust that works as follows: Husband would create a SLAT wherein wife, and say, the couple’s son, are the trustees. The trust would provide that as much of the income and principal of the assets in the SLAT are available to wife for the rest of her life. For gift and estate purposes, the Husband’s gift of assets to the SLAT is a completed gift and will use the Husband’s FLE. If the wife dies before her Husband, the assets in the trust can remain in the trust and, with the trust-

ee’s consent, the SLAT could loan trust assets to the husband should he ever need them. When both spouses die, the assets in the SLAT, and all the growth thereon, will pass to their children completely free from any estate taxes. From an income tax perspective, the SLAT trust is of a type that is called an “intentionally defective grantor trust,” which means that the tax ID number of the trust is the husband’s Social Security Number, resulting in the avoidance of filing a separate income tax return for the trust and enabling the taxpayer to pay the income taxes that are generated on the assets within the SLAT from their personal assets. If you consider the net eﬀect of the foregoing ability, the taxpayer is in effect making additional tax-free gifts to the SLAT because they are personally paying from their individual, non-trust assets, the tax obligation on something that is not theirs, thereby allowing the trust to grow tax-free. Like with all planning, there are some downsides to the SLAT plan. For all gifted assets, there will be a “carryover” in cost basis for all appreciated assets gifted to the SLAT and there is an “all or nothing” nature to this type of gifting – if the taxpayer does not use

!"#$%&'(%#% )*++*(%+','(('-

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

;271.<%&#04%%=%%>?@AB?CA@DCE%%=%%41#04F)89:G)'*%%=%%777G)89:G)'* !"#$%&'&"()*+,)&+-"('."+')*,-&(/%0)("%-&#"()/11"%",)'2%/$32)4/0*5)655&*+#")6((/#&*'"(7)8+#9):466;).".<"%)=8>46?!8@A9))466)&()("B*%*'"50)/C+",)*+,) /'2"%)"+'&'&"()*+,?/%).*%D"'&+3)+*."(7)B%/,$#'()/%)("%-&#"()%"1"%"+#",)2"%")*%")&+,"B"+,"+')/1)4669)6,,&'&/+*5)&+($%*+#")("%-&#"()/11"%",)'2%/$32)>"C) E/%D)=&+*+#&*5)@*%'+"%(7)8+#97)C2/)&()+/')*1F5&*'",)C&'2)4/0*5)655&*+#")6((/#&*'"()8+#9

all or most of his or her FLE when gifting to the SLAT and the FLE is subsequently lowered, the “unused” part of the FLE will likely be eliminated with the reduction of the FLE. Taxpayers would be well advised to seek the advice of knowledgeable counsel to see if the SLAT plan is right for them before the door closes on this type of planning. Paul Marchese is a partner Marchese & Maynard, Manhasset, NY, attorneys focused on Wills, Trusts, Estates, Elder Law and Medicaid Planning. Phil Palumbo is the founder of Palumbo Wealth Management (PWM). PWM is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only oﬀered to clients or prospective clients where PWM and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. For additional information, please visit www.palumbowm.com. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an oﬀer to sell a security. It does not account for any investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your own attorney or tax advisor.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Living 50 Plus

How exercise can help you live longer

JUST LISTED 61 Marino Avenue, Port Washington

Open House Saturday, Feb. 13th 1:00 - 2:30 PM Sunday, Feb. 14th 12:00 - 1:30 PM

here are many reasons to get in shape. Weight loss is a prime motivator, as is reversing a negative health effect, such as high cholesterol or increased diabetes risk. Routine exercise also can improve life expectancy.

of stress, helping the body adjust its flight or fight response accordingly, and help them cope with mildly stressful situations. While engaged in exercise, people may forget about their problems as they are focused on the activity at hand.

WebMD says exercise keeps the body and brain healthy. That’s why exercise should be an important component of daily life no matter one’s age.

Improve bone health Strength training and physical activity can stave off the effects of frailty and osteoporosis, which affects bone strength. A study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine in 2017 found that hip fractures are associated with diminished quality of life and survival among the elderly. One in three adults aged 50 and over dies within 12 months of suffering a hip fracture, and older adults have a five- to eight-times greater risk of dying within three months following a hip fracture. Building muscle strength, balance and bone density through exercise can reduce falls and frailty, helping to prevent fracture-related health risks.

Research published in the journal Immune Aging found that how people age is 75 percent lifestyle and only 25 percent genetics, which underscores the importance of the lifestyle choices people make. Cardiorespiratory fitness Many health experts say that cardiorespiratory fitness may be just as valuable a metric to determine overall health as blood pressure and lipid levels. People with a high aerobic capacity can deliver oxygen to tissues and cells efficiently to fuel exercise, according to data published in 2014 in the journal Aging & Disease. In a study involving 11,335 women, researchers compared V02 max, also known as aerobic capacity, in women with mortality data. Women who were fit from a cardiovascular perspective had a lower death rate from all causes, irrespective of the women’s weight. Manage stress and mood Exercise has direct stress-busting benefits that can promote longevity. The Mayo Clinic says physical activity can increase the production of endorphins, which are the body’s feel-good neurotransmitters. In addition, exercise can imitate the effects

Addresses sarcopenia The health and wellness resource Healthline defines sarcopenia as the loss of muscle mass specifically related to aging. Doctors once considered this muscle loss inevitable, and it can affect stamina and lead to weakness. However, new indications suggest that exercise is the main treatment regimen for sarcopenia, particularly resistance training. This is designed to improve muscle strength and help balance hormone levels by turning protein into energy for older adults. These are just some of the ways exercise can help older adults live longer, healthier lives.

Port Washington Country Cape with Master on Main. Large Eat in Kitchen, 142 Ft. deep backyard, !"#$%&&$'(&&#)*'+%&'"$$,-,&."/'01$#&&2)' & 1.5 Baths, Full basement. Port Wash SD#4 Salem Elementary. Convenient to all. $649,000 Feel free to call me for a private showing.

Shelley Scotto Founding Member Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker 1695 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, NY 11030 Located in the Munsey Park Center 516.816.7428

3!1//14'35&--&'6)'7'8,51.)1$'7))&5,"-1'91"/':)-"-1';#&<1#'7=>/,"-1$'?,-!'@&2A"))*'@&2A"))'6)'7'8,51.)1$' Real Estate Broker And Abides By Equal Housing Opportunity Laws.

22 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Enjoy senior discounts on recreational activities

espite the efforts of Juan Ponce de Leon, there is no magical Fountain of Youth. Getting older is inevitable and it is important to see the silver lining of aging. Among the various perks that come with age, including increased knowledge and experience, are a whole host of discounts for the aging population. Men and women who have reached a certain age are entitled to key discounts if they know where to look. The ages at which discounts are

available vary. Auto insurance companies may provide a senior discount to drivers who are over 50. Certain restaurants offer these discounts for those over the age of 55. Retailers may begin offering discounts to customers who are over the age of 60. Many discounts can be used for recreational activities.

Dining out: Why pay full price for a meal if you don’t have to? A meal out with friends and loved ones becomes a bit more affordable thanks to the senior discounts available through many different restaurants, whether it’s chains or independently owned eateries.

Hotels: Seniors booking their stays through select hotel chains may be eligible to reduce their costs by 10 percent or more. When making the reservation, check to see if you qualify for an age-related discount. Some may be affiliated with

Respect. Tradition. Compassion. For four generations, New York’s Jewish Community has turned to Sinai Chapels for guidance and comfort in their time of need. We honor and respect all Jewish traditions and customs, attending to every funeral detail according to each family’s personal and religious preferences.

To learn more, contact us today:

718.445.0300 | 800.446.0406

memberships in organizations like AARP.

Theme parks: Before buying entry tickets or season passes, check with the membership office regarding senior discounts. Certain items also may be discounted throughout the parks. Movies: Movie theaters may offer special viewing days or times that are discounted.

Flights/cruises: Discounted senior fares are available on select flights for Delta Airlines and American Airlines. British Airways offers up to $200 off flights and packages when booked online through British Airways’ AARP page. Seniors can enjoy discounts on select cruises through Carnival. Rental car companies also offer discounts for senior customers. Clothing: Looking your best for a night out may mean shopping for

new clothing. Kohl’s offers a 15 percent discount for customers ages 55 and over every Wednesday and Ross offers 10 percent off on Tuesdays when signing up for the Every Tuesday Club. Gym memberships: Individuals who are eligible for Medicare also may be entitled to a free SilverSneakers membership, which provides access to more than 13,000 participating fitness centers Park admission: Seniors age 62 and older can purchase a Senior Pass for $10 that’s good for more than 2,000 federal recreational sites and national parks in the United States. The pass is good for a lifetime. Recreational activities become a little more affordable when seniors take advantage of agerelated discounts.

LEADERSINNOVATORSVISIONARIESAMBITIOUSINDUSTRIOUSBREAKINGBOUNDARIES CREATINGSOLUTIONSINDUSTRIOUSENTERPRISINGPROBLEMSOLVERSINVENTIVE

A B L A N K S L AT E M E D I A S P E C I A L S E C T I O N • F E B R U A R Y 1 2 , 2 0 2 1

24 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Northwell Health values innovative, compassionate leadership—

as displayed by Blank Slate Media’s Top Business Leaders of Nassau County A special congratulations to our own,

Michael Dowling, President and CEO We are forever grateful for your guidance and visionary leadership, especially during this time of crisis. Your advocacy for patients to be consistently treated with competence and respect is unparalleled—and your steadfast support for community health and education initiatives have improved the lives of all New Yorkers. Michael A. Epstein Chair, Board of Trustees

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

FROM THE PUBLISHER

STEVEN BLANK PUBLISHER

Blank Slate Media The COVID-19 pandemic affected everything in 2020 - how we lived, how we worked, how we educated our children. For the more than 450,000 people who have died so far in this country and their friends and families, the impact of COVID-19 went well beyond that. We mourn this incomprehensible loss. But amid these dark times, there is also much to celebrate: The scientists who have developed vaccines, teachers who continue to educate our children, doctors, nurses and other frontline workers who never stopped serving us in the face of sickness and death. Blank Slate Media has chosen one of these groups to celebrate, a group of people who adapted to this new world to serve their customers and, in many cases, the public in general. We are calling that group the top business leaders of Nassau County 2020. The 25 people Blank Slate Media have selected include a financial adviser who put together a team to help more than 800 small business owners obtain government loans needed to keep their businesses afloat and their staffs employed, a not-for-profit agency head who led an assistance effort for those struggling financially, builders and construction executives who allowed developments to continue safely during the

pandemic and real estate companies that continued to serve the many people who wanted to buy and sell homes. One honoree started a new business during the pandemic - and succeeded. Another ran a film festival showing some movies via Zoom and other films through a makeshift drive-in theater. Another turned his company’s IT capabilities to helping businesses run remotely. And yet another expanded his government agency’s role to assisting small businesses and distributing PPE protection to them. Most notably our honorees include Michael Dowling, the president and CEO of Northwell Health, New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer with 23 hospitals, 800 outpatient facilities, more than 14,200 affiliated physicians, and 72,000 employees as well as the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and a school of medicine at Hofstra University. Dowling led the healthcare network’s response at the outset of the COVID epidemic in this country with New York at its epicenter and very little was known about the disease. He personally walked the halls of the network’s hospitals in support of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff fearful for their lives and the lives of their families as they were reeling from the number of sick and dying. He also led dramatic changes in hospital procedures that would be adopted across New York State and beyond. And he was an important adviser to Gov. Cuomo, who asked him to take the lead in responding to the pandemic, including the distribution of the new vaccines. Many of our honorees have long histories of success in business as well as philanthropy. That philanthropy continued in 2020 at the same time that these business leaders were overseeing often dramatic changes in how their companies operated. The 25 business leaders we honor help give us hope and confidence that better times are ahead for Nassau County. Blank Slate Media is proud to honor and to share their stories. ■

Blank Slate Media congratulates the Top Business Leaders of Nassau County

Since 2014:

100,000+ community service hours

+ 1000 ,

megawatts of clean energy procured for Long Island

Our commitment to Long Island has never been stronger. To learn more, visit

PSEGLINY.com/WeAreLongIsland

26 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

MICHAEL DOWLING PRESIDENT AND CEO NORTHWELL HEALTH |

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

One of health care’s most recognized and outspoken executives, Michael Dowling leads one of the nation’s largest and most progressive health care organizations. As president and CEO of Northwell Health, he leads the largest integrated health care system in New York State with $13.5 billion in annual revenue, more than 71,000 employees and nearly 800 outpatient locations, including 220 primary care, 51 urgent care and numerous home, rehabilitation and end-of-life care facilities. The health system’s strong commitment to medical education includes 1,800-plus residents and fellows — one of the largest medical residency programs in the US — as well as 4,000 researchers performing more than 2,500 studies each year.

Mr. Dowling’s leadership has been invaluable to Northwell’s consistent expansion and prominence. In 2020, he successfully navigated the health system through the first COVID-19 epicenter in the US, detailing his experiences in Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis. Overall, Northwell has treated more than 130,000 COVID patients, and the health system utilized a strong innovative culture to expand hospital bed capacity (adding 2,000 beds in two weeks), 3D-print nasal swabs for COVID testing, convert bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines into mechanical ventilators and take advantage of its large, integrated health

system to “load balance” and transport 810 patients from overrun hospitals to those that had bed capacity. Northwell also kept employees safe, investing in critical personal protective equipment to help those working the front lines, one of whom — Sandra Lindsay — was the first person in the US to receive the historic COVID vaccine in December 2020. Prior to becoming president and CEO in 2002, Mr. Dowling was the health system’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. Before joining Northwell Health in 1995, he was a senior vice president at Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Mr. Dowling served in New York State government for 12 years, including seven years as state director of Health, Education and Human Services and deputy secretary to the governor. He was also commissioner of the New York State Department of Social Services, as well as a professor of social policy and assistant dean at the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services, and director of the Fordham campus in Westchester County. Mr. Dowling has been honored

with many awards over the years. They include: his selection as the Grand Marshal of the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City; induction into the Irish America Hall of Fame; the 2012 B’nai B’rith National Healthcare Award, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the 2011 Gail L. Warden Leadership Excellence Award from the National Center for Healthcare Leadership, the 2011 CEO Information Technology Award from Modern Healthcare magazine and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the National Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee, the Distinguished Public Service Award from the State University of New York’s Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. For 13 consecutive years, Modern Healthcare has ranked Mr. Dowling on its annual list of the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare,” including No. 2 in 2020. He was also ranked No. 44 among large company CEOs in the US and was the nation’s top-ranking health care/hospital CEO on Glassdoor’s “Top CEOs in 2019” list. Mr. Dowling is past chair of the

Healthcare Institute and the current chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences and the North American Board of the Smurfit School of Business at University College, Dublin, Ireland. He also serves as a board member of the Long Island Association. He is past chair and a current board member of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL), the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) and the League of Voluntary Hospitals of New York. Mr. Dowling was an instructor at the Center for Continuing Professional Education at the Harvard School of Public Health. Mr. Dowling grew up in Limerick, Ireland. He earned his undergraduate degree from University College Cork (UCC), Ireland, and his master’s degree from Fordham University. He also has honorary doctorates from Queen’s University Belfast, University College Dublin, Hofstra University, Dowling College and Fordham University✎ ■

compass.com

Thank you to our agents who make Long Island home.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

EDWARD BLUMENFELD

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER | BLUMENFELD DEVELOPMENT GROUP

Edward Blumenfeld is the President, Founder and the creative force behind Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG), which he created in 1978. Throughout his tenure, Blumenfeld Development Group has become an industry leader and a Nassau County mainstay, helping to build a better Long Island

through the firm’s work in converting underutilized real estate into vibrant, innovative, progressive space. Known for his pioneering spirit and inventive vision, one of Ed’s first major projects was the redevelopment of the North Shore Atrium, a 300,000 square foot building that BDG converted

from a Grumman aircraft manufacturing plant to the first office facility on Long Island to incorporate a restaurant, conference area, fitness center, and retail shops on premises. A dramatic example of this approach toward redevelopment involved the expansion and conversion of Bulova Watch Corporation’s 250,000 square foot manufacturing plant into a 480,000 square foot Class A office facility, anchored by British Airways’ corporate headquarters. Renamed Bulova Corporate Center, this project won numerous design awards and with its art deco details rescued and restored by Ed, it is considered BDG’s flagship project. Through its 43-year journey BDG has expanded, now employing over fifty people in three New York offices and controlling approximately four million square feet of real estate. Its development portfolio features regionally significant projects, entertainmentbased retail, multi-tenant office, medical office, industrial and multifamily-residential. Despite 2020’s many challenges BDG was able to adapt

quickly and reinvent their business model, a testament to Ed’s leadership. The real estate firm was still able to complete major projects, including the development of The Smile, a beautiful, technologically-advanced residential building in Harlem designed by renowned architect, Bjarke Ingels. Known for its community events, East River Plaza, a large retail complex in Harlem developed by BDG, partnered with local organization Sol Cinema Café to host a series of drive-in movies on the mall’s rooftop, offering NYC residents a reprieve from 2020. BDG’s commitment to the community is integral to the company’s success and to Ed’s character. He is a founding member of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) and has been returned by his peers for a third term as its President and also serves as a member of its Energy and Environmental Committee. He remains a strong and effective advocate on issues relating to education, the environment, child healthcare, responsible government and sustainable development. As a founding member of

the Cohens Children’s Hospital, Mr. Blumenfeld has worked over three decades to sponsor a unique brand of care based on the special needs of young patients, care that has won international recognition. He has been an ardent supporter of the hospital since its inception and further confirmed his commitment to its continued success by spearheading the expansion of the Hospital campus to include the Blumenfeld Family Pavilion which is Long Island’s only pediatric dedicated Emergency Department and home of its level 1 pediatric trauma center. He founded and served as president of the Children’s Medical Fund, which supports the hospital and most notably was instrumental in the creation of the Center for Diagnostic Studies, the only pediatric-dedicated MRI unit on Long Island, and is the future home of the Pediatric Surgical Operating Complex. In addition, Mr. Blumenfeld serves on the Gift of Life Board of Directors, a bone marrow registry which cures blood cancer through cellular therapy, and the Board of Overseers for Northwell Health. ■

JAN BURMAN

PRESIDENT | THE ENGEL BURMAN GROUP

Jan Burman brings a unique style and personal sensitivity to the business of real estate development. He has an insight for spotting hidden opportunities that lesser-trained eyes overlook. This adds up to consistent results: value for partners, adaptive reuse of underutilized properties and outstanding developments, and portfolios for tenants and buyers. Among his successes: • The purchase, development, or redevelopment of over 10 mil-

lion sq. ft. of industrial and office properties. • The conception and development of Long Island’s largest modular “golden age” community to date. • Co-founder, developer, and operator of The Bristal, a growing family of prestigious assisted living communities. • The purchase of the 500acre Grumman/ US Navy aircraft manufacturing plant in Calverton. • The entitlement of over

5,000 homes on Long Island and in Queens. • The conception and development of Wellbridge, the first of its kind research and treatment center for addiction. Jan, a CPA, is a founder and past president of the Association for a Better Long Island, a developers’ lobby promoting a deliberate agenda that will protect the region’s economic future and enhance the quality of life of every Long Islander. Its members collectively comprise over $20 billion worth of real property and investment in the Long Island region. Jan was honored as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the New York Family Business category. He was appointed to the board of directors of the United Nations Development Corp. by Governor Andrew Cuomo and currently serves on the St. Francis Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. In addition to these honors and accomplishments, he is a Long Island Business News 2015 Fall of Fame inductee. Jan is also a former member of the corporate advisory council

2020 removed from all of us the emotional underpinnings we all share as social beings. It required me to consider once more my late parents and their experiences of living through national and global calamities. for the School of Management at Syracuse University from where he received his MBA. He is on the board of the Community Development Corporation of Long Island and on the advisory board of the Nassau County Police Department Foundation. In 2001, Jan was named The News Review’s Business Person of the Year and the Long Island Business Review’s Developer of the Year. He

was also honored in October 2003 by the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation and in 2002 by the Jewish National Fund. And, in April of 2008, The National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education on Long Island founded “The Renee and Jan Burman Chabad Center for the Arts” at Congregation Beth Shalom in Mineola. When asked about the impact of COVID, Jan shared the following. “COVID has turned everything familiar into a potential point of deadly infection. From greeting a long-time friend to sharing a meal to visiting a loved one, 2020 removed from all of us the emotional underpinnings we all share as social beings. It required me to consider once more my late parents and their experiences of living through national and global calamities. It has made me appreciate them even more, their strength, their integrity, and their boundless optimism in our country. I hope I have transmitted the same to my family in 2020 and for the future that still lies ahead.” ■

28 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

JOHN D. CAMERON, JR., P.E. FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER | CAMERON ENGINEERING

A licensed professional engineer, marine engineer and U.S. patent holder, John Cameron is the Founder and Managing Partner of Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP. The Firm has completed 36 years of business in consulting engineering and planning serving the public and private sectors alike. The Firm provides various technical services to its clients including civil, electrical, mechani-

cal, structural, and environmental engineering as well as planning, landscape architecture and construction management. As experienced scientists and engineers, the Firm recognized the need to aggressively address the principal cause of COVID transmission, that being indoor air. As a result of an extensive investigation, the Firm determined that Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization (NPBI) was the safest and most

effective in destroying viruses in indoor air. Accordingly, the Firm installed the NPBI air purification system in their Long Island Headquarters and New York City offices. The Firm is also engineering the installation of such systems in major commercial, municipal and institutional buildings. Under Mr. Cameron’s direction, the Company has achieved noteworthy success in the engineering field receiving local, State and National awards for many of its projects. Some of the Firm’s major projects have included the LIRR’s Third Track Project, the Nassau Coliseum Renovation, FDNY’s major firehouse house renovation project, Wyandanch Village, Garvies Point Development, Hofstra University Medical and Business Schools, Molloy College School of Nursing and many, many more. An engineering graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, John also holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Long Island University and has an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from

Molloy College. John serves on numerous not-for-profit boards including those of professional, civic and educational organizations, including the Long Island Regional Planning Council, where he serves as Chairman; the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County, the Hofstra University and Stony Brook University Engineering Schools, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association and others. John has been recognized many times in his career for his professional achievements (2020 Kings of New York, 2019 Distinguished Business Leader Award, 2018 Top Engineer on Long Island, Long Island Business Hall of Fame and CEO of the Year by Long Island Business News; Kings Pointer of the Year, his Alma Mater’s highest alumni award; Consulting Engineer of the Year in New York State, The Long Island Press Power List Hall of Fame; Vision Long island’s Regional Leadership Award, etc.); his contributions to the environment (New York Water Environment Association Hall of Fame; Long Island Pine Barrens Society

Award; Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Award, etc.), community service (Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center, ERASE Racism Corporate Leadership, Nassau BOCES Education Partner, MLK Center of Long Beach Business Person of the Year, the Caritas Award from Catholic Charities, etc.) and others. A recognized leader on Long Island, John has appeared as a guest on many television public broadcasting programs to discuss such topics as economic development, the environment, post Superstorm Sandy resiliency and our Island’s future sustainability. Aside from his passionate professional interests, John has diverse personal interests including sports, music, art, travel, education, and the environment. He and his wife Loretta, reside in Rockville Centre as do their two married children and their families, with grandsons, Jack and Will and granddaughters, Frances and Kristin. His favorite time is spent anywhere with his family, but most especially at the beach. ■

RON EDELSON

FOUNDER AND CO-PRESIDENT | ZE CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Ron Edelson is a founder and co-president of ZE Creative Communications, an agency Ron describes as an eclectic mix of innovators, critical thinkers, foodies, Rubix cube solvers and wonderful women and men with big, fearless ideas. Having started the business with Robert Zimmerman in 1990, Ron takes great pride in the fact that ZE Creative Communications (rebranded in 2018 from Zimmerman/ Edelson, Inc.) is one of the few Long

Island-based communications agencies that has remained independent across the multitude of changes in the communications field over the last three decades. Ron began his professional career at Martin Greenfield Associates, a boutique advertising agency that was based in Great Neck, New York. At MGA, Ron co-founded Behavioral Consultants, a division of the agency that delivered, for that period, ground-breaking sales,

cross-selling training and in-branch marketing techniques to the savings bank industry. Ron worked with some of the largest savings banks at the time, including Connecticut Savings, New Haven Savings, and Washington Mutual Savings Bank. After five years at MGA, Ron was offered the opportunity to head up the marketing division of automotive maverick Malcolm Bricklin’s Global Motors, an importer of foreign automobiles, including the Bertone, the Pininfarina, the Proton and the Yugo. Noted Ron, “this was an exhilarating point in my life – I traveled to countries I never would have dreamed of going to, I met heads of state, international business titans, and most memorable, I got to work with my dad, who left his life as a senior partner at one of the largest accounting firms in the country to become Malcolm’s CFO. I learned more about business and finance in those five years than at any other stage of my life.” Over the past three decades at ZE Creative Communications, Ron has led the agency’s creative efforts, which include delivering messaging and branding campaigns that inte-

grate and leverage multiple communication platforms. Ron and the creative team at ZECC have developed multi-million-dollar TV, radio, print and digital campaigns for the agency’s diverse clientele, including real estate developers, energy providers, health care, financial, legal, and telecommunications clients. Ron also heads up the agency’s education division, which provides communication, social media management, web development and crisis management for numerous public school systems and private schools on Long Island and Westchester County, two BOCES, and higher education institutions. Since 1990, Ron has also served as the executive director of the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District, the first business improvement district (BID) established in New York State outside the state’s big five city municipalities. Ron was also responsible for helping to establish some of the other early adopter BIDs on Long Island, including those in Cedarhurst, Westbury, Port Washington and Huntington. In looking back over this past

year, Ron has noted that rather than the pandemic being an obstacle, it has provided opportunity. “I had always been a proponent of a hybrid work model. In the past, that was not something we offered in our agency to any great extent. With the pandemic, we’re all working remotely, and we proved we could be just as productive, maybe more so, working this way than we were when we were all in the office. It has changed our perspective on how we structure our agency going forward. For example, right now we have an employee who lives in Peru. We would never have thought to offer this person a position under the old model. We’re still adapting. There will be more considerations, like how much office space is really needed when we do return and what that space will look like. While the pandemic has wrought so much heartache on personal, professional and business levels, I do believe we are rounding the corner and that there is opportunity for great success for those businesses ready to adapt to and operate under the new operational paradigms that have emerged.” ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

Congratulations Jan Burman and all of the Top Business Leaders of Nassau County

30 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

SALVATORE FERRO

PRESIDENT AND CEO | ALURE HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Salvatore Ferro, President & CEO of Alure Home Improvements, started his career with the company in 1989 as a production manager. After serving in production, sales, and general management, Ferro took on the roles of President & CEO in 2002. Alure has been in business since 1946 and specializes in full service remodeling. With Ferro’s leadership and remarkable people skills, Alure grew from a painting contractor to one of the most successful remodeling companies in the country. Ferro believes the key to a successful company is its people, and he has worked diligently

to promote a team attitude that focuses on an inclusive culture, where employees are encouraged to share input, as well as attend personal development training. Ferro graduated from Lindenhurst High School in 1981 and then attended SUNY Farmingdale where he graduated in 1984. He also holds (CR) and (CKD) industry certifications. Industry professionals often look to Ferro for advice on ways to improve and develop products in the remodeling industry, and also for how to manage a company and cultivate the right employees to reach

the standard of service that Alure has attained. Ferro has been featured in Newsday, LIBN, Remodeling Magazine, Professional Remodeler and Replacement Contractor; spoken at various industry events; and hosted a number of renovation episodes on the D-I-Y channel, Bar Rescue and George to the Rescue. Most notably, Ferro and Alure’s remarkable reputation enabled them to participate in ABC’s, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where they completed eight projects. In order to overcome the challenges in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Alure had to adjust and in many ways relook at how we do business. We focused on how best to stay on our clients agenda, make to most of limited opportunities and keep everyone safe. We added “Design While Distancing” where we provided touchless measuring and virtual sales appointments. We redeployed our resources to maximize efficiency and costs. We embraced technology at a whole new level. Ferro, one of the most respected leaders in the home improvement industry, and Alure, one of the most

successful remodeling companies in the country, have received numerous accolades for their work in the industry and the community. They include; the Owens Corning Excellence in Customer Service Award, the Forbes Business Enterprise Award and the National Remodeler of the Year Award from Professional Remodeler Magazine, among others. Under Ferro’s leadership, Alure has also been recognized as one of Long Island’s Best Places To Work, by both Newsday and LIBN. Personally, Ferro was inducted into the Farmingdale Business Hall of Fame, The Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award, LIBN Outstanding CEO Award, Long Island Association Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Community Service, the Owens Corning Panther Award for outstanding service, leadership and development, the Home Improvement Management Summit Industry Legend Award, for his innovation, dedication and leadership, voted as Long Islands Most Philanthropic Person by Long Island Press, voted one of the Top 50 Most Influential People on Long Island and received

the LIBN ICON Award. Ferro is a very active member in the community and serves on the boards of several non-profits including The Clark Gillies Foundation, Family Service League, The Community Chest of Long Island as well as his own Foundation. Ferro is also a proud active member of The Long Island Builders Institute, the Board of Trustees of Huntington Hospital and is also a founding active board member of Empire National Bank, and also serves on the Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals. In 2017, Ferro started The Ferro Foundation, a non-profit corporation developed to help Long Islanders, focusing on, but not limited to, students, seniors and veterans. The Foundation currently offers two primary programs; an annual Scholarship Fund for Long Island students based on need and academic promise, and a veteran and senior home care program, which assists Long Island seniors and veterans with financial assistance related to housing and health related expenses. Ferro lives in Commack with his wife Molly, their blended family of 6 children, and their 2 dogs. ■

REGINA GIL FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOLD COAST ARTS CENTER |

Regina Gil is the Founder and Executive Director of the Gold Coast Arts Center, a not for profit located in Great Neck. Now in its 25th year, the Arts Center is a dynamic regional cultural organization featuring music, art, dance, dramatic arts and film. Its mission has always been to promote and support the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach, which the Arts Center does through its renowned School for the Arts, free public Art Gallery, Arts-in-Education outreach program, year-round film screening and discussion series and annual Gold Coast International Film Festival, amongst many other programs. Ms. Gil is a painter and sculp-

tor, freelance graphic designer and a New York State licensed Art Specialist, K-12. She has served on the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Advisory Board and as a Grants Review Panelist for the New York State Council on the Arts. In addition, Ms. Gil is the founding President, Artists Network of Great Neck and has served as the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, Village of Great Neck Plaza, since 1994; she has served on the Advisory Board of the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center; and as a Long Island Arts Alliance Board Member; Secretary and Member of the Board, Slobodkina Foundation; and is the founding President of the Historical Society of

Great Neck. Regina Gil has been recognized as a 1999 “Woman of Distinction”, by the New York State Senate; awarded a place on the “Woman’s Roll of Honor” by the Town of North Hempstead; received the 1997 “Eleanor Roosevelt Award” from AJC Women’s Commission for Equality. In addition, Ms. Gil is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the Arts. More recently, she was named one of Long Island’s 50 Top Women by Long Island Business News. Ms. Gil graduated with a B.A. in Art and English Literature (City College of New York), an M.A. in Art (Adelphi University) and an M.A. in Education (C.W. Post, Long Island University.) She is a member of the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the oldest art club in America and still paints and sculpts and does some freelance illustration. Her work is in the collection of many homes in New York and beyond. She has taught middle school, high school, college students and adults and still feels that teaching is the most rewarding profession there is.

ON THE PANDEMIC: I am honored to be among the stellar group of individuals being recognized as top leaders in Nassau County. I accept that honor on behalf of my amazing and dedicated staff, faculty and Board of Directors. As the founder and executive director of the Gold Coast Arts Center, I have been a keen observer of and participant in the artistic, educational, social, political and economic fabric of our Long Island community. We have served tens of thousands of students, visitors to our gallery and audiences, who enjoyed the classes, films, programs, performances, and exhibits we offer. This work was challenged when the COVID epidemic hit and virtually shut down America. On March 13, 2020, in conference with my team, I made the decision to enter uncharted territory and demonstrate that the work we do could transition to an online presence. It meant that teachers could still teach, children and adults could still learn and audiences could still watch the best new independent, documentary and foreign films, filmmaker

Q&As, concerts and gallery tours, even book signings, from the safety of their homes. Within a week, we knew that we could do this and that our base would support our efforts. We successfully adapted to this new format for arts and arts education and learned how to be even more creative problem solvers than we have ever been. • Our School pivoted and was able to excite and delight students in art, clay, music, dance, chess, and other programs; • Our Gold Coast International Film Festival and year-round film series presented hundreds of films, both virtually and in-person at a series of drive-in events around the region; • Our Making Memories program presented free monthly online concerts for thousands of people living with Alzheimer’s and memory loss, as well as as their caregivers; and • The Arts Center proudly celebrated our 25th Anniversary with a fantastic online Gala, free to the public and still available for all to see on our website. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

MTA-LIRR Third Track

Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine

FDNY

Copiague Commons

SUNY Stony Brook Long Island Seagates Study

Massapequa Creek Preserve

Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Energy/Renewable Energy Services Civil Engineering Morrelly Homeland Security Center

Site Development & Landscape Architecture

Nassau Coliseum

Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste Engineering Stormwater/Resiliency Engineering Transportation & Traffic Engineering Smithtown Solar Photovoltaics

Planning/Environmental Analysis

Ritz Carlton North Hills

Geographic Information Systems Structural Engineering Security/IT-AV Engineering Fordham University

Construction Management

Sacred Heart Academy

LEED Design/Sustainability Emergency Preparadeness

St. Joseph’s College Athletic Complex

LEED Accredited Professionals Woodbury, NY

New York, NY

Baxter Pond

White Plains, NY

www.cameronengineering.com Bergen Point WWTP

Molloy College Center for Nursing

Garvies Point

SC Minor League Stadium

Museum of American Armor

Clean & Green Biosolids Facility

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

NCIDA NASSAU COUNTY

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

LEADING WITH VISIONARY IDEAS AND INITIATIVES. Congratulations Richard for your well-deserved recognition as a 2020 Blank Slate Media Top Business Leader of Nassau County. The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is proud to honor our own Chairman, Richard Kessel, for his leadership and dedication to the growth and sustainability of Nassau County’s economy and the development of programs and services that improve the quality of life for everyone on Long Island. For over five decades, Richard has been at the forefront of positive change for our region. We look forward to Richard’s continued leadership in positioning the Nassau County IDA and the Nassau County Local Economic Assistance Corporation (LEAC) as driving forces in Long Island’s emergence from these unprecedented times smarter and stronger than ever before. The Nassau County IDA/LEAC Board Members and executive team would like to congratulate all the honorees of Blank Slate Media’s 2020 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County. Together we are creating a robust and sustainable future for Nassau County and the entire Long Island region.

Richard Kessel, Nassau IDA Chairman

BOARD MEMBERS Richard Kessel, Chairman • Lewis M. Warren, Vice Chairman • Anthony Simon, 2nd Vice Chairman • Timothy Williams, Secretary Christopher Fusco, Assistant Secretary • Amy Flores, Treasurer • John Coumatos, Assistant Treasurer

EXECUTIVE TEAM Harry Coghlan, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director • Danielle T. Oglesby, Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Executive Director Anne L. Lamorte, Chief Financial Officer • Catherine Fee, Chief Marketing Officer/Director of Business Development Colleen Pereira, Administrative Director • Carlene Wynter, Compliance Assistant • Nicole Gil, Administrative Assistant

nassauida.org | (516) 571-1945

34 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

RONALD KEATS

PRESIDENT | KEATS INSURANCE AGENCIES The Keats Agency is a local insurance agency with a long history of customer satisfaction, speed to service, and smart insurance planning. They have been honored year after year for many industry awards including a 2014 induction into the Nationwide Insurance Hall of Fame. Keats is one of fewer than 60 agents who have achieved this recognition in the 100 year history of the company. “We have a responsibility to our clients to find them the right companies, with most competitive products and to prepare their protection program in the most cost-effective way. We exist for their benefit and vow to offer as much value as possible for their insurance dollars.” said Ron Keats, President Keats Insurance Agencies Inc. Keats does things differently than most local insurance agencies. A few things stand out. At the Keats Agencies, every client is contacted at least once a year for a sales-free review of their policies. It’s rare for a local agent to have the staff to handle such a significant undertaking. Keats feels that a lot changes each year and it’s important to take the time to make sure protection

matches need. Ron mentions “Discounts fall off; rates change; new opportunities for efficiency develop; and sometimes you have coverage you no longer need. Smart insuring can only be accomplished through regular reviews”. An example of something new is telematics and pay per mile programs. They offer potential savings that weren’t readily available just a couple years ago. Another category Keats handles differently is claims. The agency claims team will reach out to clients upon notice of a loss to support the client in their dealings with the insurance carrier. They are an industry leader in technology and training affording their customers accurate, knowledgeable, and friendly insurance services. Another advantage Keats has is their vast inventory of insurance carriers. More carriers means more choice and a better opportunity to find the best fit for a client. Keats Insurance represents most major carriers including Nationwide, Allstate, Travelers, Safeco, Liberty Mutual, Hartford, MetLife, Hanover, Progressive, Chubb, PURE and more. COVID had a significant impact

on operations in 2020. “We were prepared for work from home but still had to learn how to do it efficiently. Today we run seamlessly as a hybrid with some workers at home and some at our offices while remaining fully and completely available for our clients.” according to Ron. The agency took all appropriate measures to protect staff and clients in their offices. They include acrylic barriers, temperature checks and questionnaires upon entry, sanitation stations and new air purifier systems in HVAC units for maximum protection against the virus. Their work isn’t only in sales and service of insurance. Keats staff is very active outside the office with their extensive volunteer and charitable work with organizations such as Long Island Cares, Island Harvest, Lustgarten Foundation and others. Keats Insurance has offices on Long Island in Mineola and Baldwin, upstate New York in Orange and Sullivan counties, as well as Atlanta Georgia and Ft Myers Florida. They do business in the states of NY, NJ, PA, CT, GA, VA, and FL and serve over 10,000 households. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

RICHARD KESSEL CHAIRMAN | NASSAU COUNTY IDA /LEAC

Richard Kessel has dedicated his career to helping turn Nassau County into a region of opportunity and economic prosperity for all its businesses and residents. A lifelong resident of Nassau now living in Merrick, Mr. Kessel has promoted economic development and the creation of jobs serving in various positions under six New York State governors. Various positions include Executive Director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board, as well as Chairman and CEO of both the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)

and the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Devoted to Nassau County, Mr. Kessel has served on the Board of Trustees for Nassau Community College for nearly 20 years. In 2018, Mr. Kessel was appointed chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Nassau County Local Economic Assistance Corporation (LEAC) by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran —a position he still holds with great pride today. The critical importance of Rich-

ard’s visionary leadership at the helm of the Nassau County IDA/ LEAC was demonstrable during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Kessel, together with Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, Sen. Todd Kaminsky, and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin championed New York State legislation to temporarily allow IDAs throughout New York state to provide grants and loans to coronavirus-affected small businesses and nonprofits. In collaboration with Nassau County Executive Laura Curran’s Department of Economic Development and the Office of Community Development, Mr. Kessel created the Boost Nassau Small Business Recovery Loan Program as part of the New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) to offer critical stabilization loans to Nassau’s small businesses, MWBEs and non-profits hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Boost Nassau Program has lent over one million dollars to small businesses thus far and hopes to increase that support in 2021. Furthermore, in collaboration with Nassau County’s Department of Economic Development and the Office of Community Development,

the Boost Nassau program partnered with the Town of Hempstead to create a personal protective equipment (PPE) kit giveaway and coordinated several mass distributions of these kits to those desperately in need. Ultimately, through the Boost Nassau program, the Nassau IDA/LEAC distributed 5,000 PPE kits to small business owners, nonprofits, and Town of Hempstead school districts. In addition to the COVID relief efforts, Mr. Kessel has propelled the Nassau IDA/LEAC forward in other critical areas. It is important, now more than ever, to support large projects that will provide hundreds to thousands of construction jobs. A groundbreaking IDA achievement under Mr. Kessel in 2020 was the movement made on the Long Beach Superblock project. The property, that has sat undeveloped for forty years, is primed to become an economic hub through job creation, with three hundred plus construction-phase jobs, and more than 400 units of much- needed housing. A $360 million investment, the Superblock project will result in an increase in tax payments to the

county by more than $13 million and $75 million to the Long Beach school district over the course of the 25-year agreement. Furthermore, in 2020 Mr. Kessel guided the IDA in the adoption of a policy that would promote the creation of additional affordable housing options in development projects throughout the county. Mr. Kessel’s visionary approach to overcoming the hurdles of today will serve as the differentiator in improving the lives of Nassau County’s business owners and residents for generations into the future. While Richard appreciates being an honoree of Blank Slate Media’s 2020 Business Leader of the Year, he always shares his achievements with his partners and stresses his success is due to the leadership of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and the most engaging IDA/ LEAC board of directors. Mr. Kessel’s plan is to continue working collaboratively with his colleagues to help businesses that are already here to prosper and grow, recruit companies outside of New York state to grow the tax base and increase affordable housing for the betterment of all Nassau residents. ■

!"#$%&'()$&*$+,(#-.&(/$'0)$/.'**$'.$1&(."$2"&(#$3",4)$5$6'7,48$9:,)'0-# 3#0.#($-&0;('.:4'.#$&:($<=#-:.,>#$+,(#-.&(?3<@$!"#$%&'()*%+,--$'/$'$ !&A$%:/,0#//$B#')#($&*$1'//':$3&:0.8C

D,/$EF$8#'(/$&*$)#),-'.,&0$.&$&:($&(;'0,G'.,&0$'0)$$ .&$-",4)(#0H/$7#0.'4$"#'4."$"'/$I##0$,0/.(:7#0.'4$,0$$ I(,0;,0;$"&A#$'0)$"#'4,0;$.&$B&0;$J/4'0)$*'7,4,#/K

36 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

ANDREW MALEKOFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO | NORTH SHORE CHILD AND FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTER

Andrew Malekoff is chief executive officer for North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, the leading nonprofit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, where he has worked for 45 years. He is a 1973 graduate of Rutgers University where he earned a BA, majoring in economics. At Rutgers he was a linebacker and captain of the 1972 football team. He also competed in wrestling, lacrosse and rugby; and, volunteered as a big brother for Rutgers Community Ac-

tion, a community service program. Malekoff has worked in human services since 1974 when he joined Volunteers in Service to America. In VISTA, he worked in a MexicanAmerican community in Grand Island, Nebraska. His work involved youth development and drug and alcohol prevention. He was next employed by the Mid-Nebraska Community Mental Health Center as a drug-counselor coordinator and also served as a youth educator for the Nebraska

School for Alcohol Studies. In August 1976, he left Nebraska to attend Adelphi University School of Social Work where he earned a Masters in Social Work (MSW) with a concentration on working with groups. He is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). In addition to his work at the Guidance Center, Malekoff is a prolific writer and winner of two Folio journalism awards. He has been editor of Social Work with Groups, a journal of community & clinical practice, since 1990. Among his hundreds of professional publications, including 12 books and monographs, is the internationally acclaimed “Group Work with Adolescents: Principles and Practice” (Guilford Press), now in its 3rd Edition. The book was a main selection of the Behavioral Science Book Club and has been a top choice in universities for decades. Malekoff has also written hundreds of newspaper columns and op ed pieces, including for Blank Slate Media in The Island

Now publications. Malekoff has taught at Adelphi and NYU graduate schools of social work, lectured across the U.S. and Canada and conceived and implemented many action-oriented research-advocacy projects since the 1980s; most recently regarding mental health parity, discrimination & universal access to care. Malekoff is a longtime member of the board of directors of the International Association for Social Work with Groups. He was chairman of the Civil Service Commission for the City of Long Beach in 2004-5. He is married to Dale, a high school art teacher. They live in Long Beach and have two adult sons. North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center is the pre-eminent not-for-profit children’s mental health agency on Long Island, the Guidance Center is dedicated to restoring and strengthening the emotional well-being of children and their families. A highly trained staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, vocational rehabilitation counselors and other mental health professionals lead the

way in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, training, parent education, research and advocacy. The Guidance Center helps children and families address issues such as depression and anxiety; developmental delays; bullying; teen pregnancy; sexual abuse; teen drug and alcohol use; and family crises stemming from illness, death, trauma and divorce. The Guidance Center was a FEMA-funded responder to major disasters such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America and Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Since the March 2020 Covid-19 outbreak in America, North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center has made a seamless transition from on-site mental health care to telehealth in order to meet the needs of thousands of children and families who have been experiencing increased anxiety and depression during this perilous time. For 68 years, the Guidance Center has been a place of hope and healing, providing innovative and compassionate treatment to all who enter its doors, regardless of their ability to pay. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

Metzger

ON BUSINESS & GIVING !"#$ % &'()'#*+!",'-.)#+/0+1#()&+(2.3+%+*,*+&.+4,'"+ &#5#)(6+7.)#+5(68#&+,$+-,$*9+:$#+.;+'"#-+4(&<

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

!"#0,11#(+#0&''/.(+4#)*%5(0*23 O#&3+'"#+*.$(',.$&+&8)#61+"#6@+'"#+)#7#,5,$2+.)2($,A(',.$&+ ($*+@#.@6#+'"#1+&#)5#3+B8'+!",'-.)#+(6&.+B#$#;,'&+B1+ #$"($7,$2+76,#$'+)#6(',.$&",@&+($*+B8,6*,$2++'"#+B)($*9 ?&+'.5,*+()+)(2#*+'").82"+P.$2+%&6($*+6('#+6(&'+1#()3+(6.$2+ 4,'"+(+;.)-#)+6(7).&&#+'#(--('#+;).- Q.;&')(3 *(5,* !.17,>+ R)93+S9E9 ?)-1 '.6.$#6++T#',)#*,3+,'+4(&+2)(',;1,$2 '. &8@@.)'+(+ 7(-@(,2$+7.$'),B8',$2+&,2$,;,7($'61+'.-

!"#$%"&'(

$!)*('#++$

T HE W HITMORE AGENCY 4/#-2%",2+/#

4/55$%,+&'

!+#&#,+&'(8(;+<$

6$&'(7-2&2$

!"#$%&'()$%*+,$-(

=%&#-9/%2&2+/#(8(;+*$%:

.$%-/#&'(0(1$&'23

6$-2&"%&#2-(8(1/-9+2&'+2:

H!I"#$JK%J$LM&N$#

38 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

WILLIAM D. “BILL” MERKLIN, P.E SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | D&B ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS

William D. “Bill” Merklin, P.E., Senior Vice President at D&B Engineers and Architects William D. “Bill” Merklin, P.E., Senior Vice President at D&B Engineers and Architects, (Woodbury), has long been an innovator and visionary leader in Long Island’s engineering community. As head of D&B’s Civil Engineering and Water Supply Divisions, he oversees the planning, design and construction of municipal and private storm water man-

agement projects, water treatment/ distribution, water storage tanks, site development and roadway improvements. Bill’s ability to oversee complex details of municipal infrastructure projects from master planning through completion is unparalleled. With nearly 30 years of experience bringing projects in on schedule and under budget, it’s no surprise he is the ‘go-to professional’ for municipalities, private industry and peers alike. Bill has designed and imple-

mented hundreds of water projects including packed tower aeration systems, granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment systems, nitrate removal systems, advanced oxidation process (AOP) treatment systems, iron and manganese filtrations, water main and pumping station construction, water storage tanks and chemical storage. Combining water supply and engineering knowledge with a passion for preserving the integrity of Long Island’s aquifer, he helps communities meet regulatory requirements and keep pace with evolving environmental needs. Bill’s stewardship of innumerable water supply projects will have a profound impact on Long Island for generations to come. Bill is active in the American Water Works Association (AWWA), an international organization dedicated to improving water quality; the Long Island Water Conference; and the American Public Works Association (AWPA) which serves professionals in multiple aspects of public works. The Seaford native earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and his Masters in

Environmental Engineering from Manhattan College. D&B ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS Since 1965, D&B Engineers and Architects (D&B), headquartered in Woodbury, has provided innovative engineering solutions in environmentally acceptable and cost-conscious applications. D&B services include wastewater and construction management, water supply, environmental investigation/remediation, multimedia environmental compliance, MEP engineering, architecture, civil engineering, energy engineering, electrical engineering, solid waste management and structural engineering, all guided by the directive of ‘facing challenges, providing solutions.’ D&B is comprised of over 225 men and women who are outstanding professionals from a wide variety of disciplines. Experienced, innovative and consummately skilled, D&B’s people demonstrate a client-centric commitment that instills loyalty, diligence and dedication, essential attributes that support total customer satisfaction.

D&B supports numerous engineering, environmental and architectural associations, which enables the firm to continually improve its quality of services through technology and the latest innovations. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State considered D&B an ‘essential business’ and the firm’s continued operation was considered critical to maintaining public health in the communities that D&B serves. As the pandemic heightened and governmental responses unfolded, D&B adapted quickly. Managing the disparate needs of staff and clients required significant coordination by the D&B management team. D&B deployed portable computers and collaborative software to reduce in-office staff by roughly 75 percent. While business has thrived in this environment, D&B looks forward to getting “back to normal.” D&B has five locations in New York with headquarters in Woodbury, and offices in South Plainfield, N.J. and Trevose, Penn.. ■

JAMES C. “JIM” METZGER CHAIRMAN AND CEO | THE WHITMORE AGENCY

In 1989 James C. “Jim” Metzger put his unsatiable drive and entrepreneurial instincts in action and opened The Whitmore Group Ltd. in Roslyn. Today, as the award-winning insurance and financial services agency’s Chairman and CEO, Jim continues to lead the business located in Garden City. There, the company has more than 70 employees, and is know as The Whitmore Agency. In addition to driving bottom-line business wins, Jim is also a renowned Long Island philanthropist. He contributes to and participates in numerous organizations with the belief that his support will help make it possible for future generations of leaders to attain

their dreams. Two key influences - sports and mentors - in his early life prepared him for his calling as a creative, innovative, and successful Insurance executive. As he readily headlines on his personal website - jamesmetzger.net – “Everything I ever needed to know about business I learned on the sports field.” Growing up on Long Island, Jim was known as a gifted natural athlete playing football, basketball, and lacrosse at Half Hollow Hills High School. He was a Suffolk County All-Star running back who started every game in his 3-year varsity football career graduating in 1977 with the distinction

of being the school’s all-time leading scorer and rusher. His lacrosse accomplishments, almost unbelievably, were even more impressive. He was an AllAmerican and Suffolk County scoring champion. Most notably, he won the Ray Enners Award as the outstanding lacrosse player in Suffolk County in 1977. He was the first player at Half Hollow Hills High School to ever receive the award. After high school, Jim played lacrosse at Hofstra. In his sophomore season he was names a Division I All-American His record setting scoring average of 4.9 points per game still ranks fifth in the history of the Hofstra lacrosse program. After college, Jim was fortunate to work with two of the insurance industries’ most prolific sales executives, Richard Ferrucci and Frank DeMartino. From them, he learned the business and was inspired to pursue his dream to run his own company. Over last three decades, Whitmore, has steadily built the business to extend beyond insurance brokering. Besides a broad range of personal insurance services, the company focuses on special industries that in-

clude funeral services, transportation and livery, restaurants and hospitality, construction and bonding, fine arts and collectables, and the cannabis industry. Its business services encompass Whitmore Advisors, Whitmore Business Solutions - Equipment Management Maintenance Program, and the Whitmore Hospitality Group. Jim is a generous philanthropist – importantly, he prefers to describe his giving as “community service.” He is a frequent contributor to educational and athletic programs at Hofstra University. Among more than a dozen named programs, awards, and scholarships, to recognize his outstanding contributions to Hofstra over the course of a 40-year relationship as a student-athlete and lead philanthropist, the university, during early 2020, placed Metzger’s #56 retired jersey on the facade of Margiotta Hall and a bronze bust to the newly landscaped area outside the men’s lacrosse locker room at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. Other charities / causes Jim has supported are – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, The Funeral Service Foundation, The American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Wounded Warriors, Amer-

ica’s VetDogs, and Canine Companions, among others. After the onset of COVID-19, Jim immediately steered Whitmore with three major moves. First, take care of the people, make the office a safe place. He invested in antimicrobial cleaning products and adopted aggressive procedures to guard against infection. Further, the office began to operate virtually and on schedules that assured employee and visitor safety. Second, as some client industries were hit hard – e.g., restaurants and hospitality – and others like the funeral services business, which were busy operationally, but at drastically lower margins, financial and economic adjustments were made. Whitmore worked with insurers and industry partners to allow for relief and forbearance on policy payments. Lastly, Jim looked forward. Applying sage advice from his grandma that, “this too shall pass,” he is making strategic moves and investments with private equity firms and venture capitalists to be in a prime position to help them protect their success when the world begins to recover from the pandemic. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

We proudly join with

Blank Slate Media in saluting the

Top Business Leaders of Nassau County including our president,

Stuart Rabinowitz Educator, Innovator, Leader

hofstra.edu

40 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

DEIRDRE O’CONNELL

CEO | DANIEL GALE SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

As Chief Executive Officer, Deirdre O’Connell plays a leading role in both the day-to-day success of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty and the development of strategic initiatives and goals for the future of this highly innovative organization. She oversees the sales man-

agement of this $4 billion dollar organization with 850 sales associates and nearly 100 employees in 25 offices spanning Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties, the North Fork of Long Island, and Westhampton Beach. O’Connell has led the company’s ongoing expansion into new markets, most

recently on Long Island’s south shore coast with the opening an office in the City of Long Beach. In 2020, under her direction, the Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty management team quickly met the challenges imposed by Covid-19, implementing safety protocols and providing extensive video training to continue to close transactions and show homes. Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty achieved its highest sales numbers ever in 2020, ranking it among the top ten of Sotheby’s International Realty’s nearly 1,000 brokerages. O’Connell has excelled as an agent and as a broker owner throughout her career and today is recognized as one of the top residential real estate executives in the nation. She enjoys a longstanding reputation for exceptional customer service, unparalleled local knowledge and strong managerial skills that result in positive outcomes for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty sales agents, customers and clients. Following a career in public and employee communications for a major insurance company,

O’Connell began working in real estate in 1991. She founded her own business, Deirdre O'Connell Realty Inc., in 2002 in Manhasset. She expanded her operation to the North Fork in 2005 with the opening of a Cutchogue office. When her successful business was acquired by Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty in 2007, O’Connell joined the organization in a sales management position. Her role continued to expand in scope and responsibility, ultimately encompassing the sales oversight of the entire organization. She was named CEO in 2018. As for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty’s future in Long Island and Queens real estate, O’Connell plans to continue to lead the organization, guided by “our strong core values of professionalism, ethics and luxury service at every price point as well as our leadership in leveraging real estate technologies.” Recognized with numerous awards throughout her career, O’Connell’s most recent honors include ranking nationally among real estate executives in the

Swanepoel Power 200 and receiving RISMedia's 2019 Real Estate Newsmaker Award. Locally, she has been recognized among the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business, received the Executive Circle Award, and was named to the Long Island Power List. She serves on the Board of Directors of The United Way of Long Island and on the Board of Trustees for Old Westbury Gardens. She was selected as the 2018 honoree for the Old Westbury Gardens annual gala for her commitment to the continued cultivation and preservation of Long Island’s beautiful places and singular heritage. COVID forced Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty to readjust and retool for an imminent shutdown almost overnight. O’Connell’s leadership, the core values of an almost 100 year history, and the leading edge technologies and systems that were in place enabled the organization to show and sell homes virtually. While there were many challenges to be met, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty emerged from 2020 with $4 billion in sales revenue, its best year on record. ■

CONGRATULATIONS DR. JEFFREY REYNOLDS, FCA PRESIDENT & CEO FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF

BLANK SLATE MEDIA’S TOP BUSINESS LEADERS OF NASSAU COUNTY 2020 Your dedication and determination has changed countless lives across Long Island for the better.

• • • • •

Prevention & Family Support Children’s Mental Health & Wellness Addiction Prevention, Treatment & Recovery Residential Services Senior & Adult Services

FCALI.org info@FCALI.org FamilyAndChildrensAssociation @fca_daily @fca_daily

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

A secure retirement doesn’t just happen. It requires a plan.

The PWM MasterPlan !"#$%"&'()*+*,$+#(-"+,"(./(0$*! When it comes com to retirement planning, most people don’t know where to start or who to trust. They lack the time, knowledge and tools needed to take control of their financial lives. live As a Certifie Certified Financial Planner, we know it’s almost impossible to do this on your own. That’s why we created MasterPlan, the foundation enabling us to offer the PWM M you the most mo appropriate fiduciary advice. MasterPlan is a holistic, long-term framework The PWM M provides you clarity and direction in making the that provide correct fina financial decisions. Serving as your personal “chief we apply our knowledge and experience financial officer,” offi from working workin with many individuals and families. The process offers offe you peace of mind knowing you can achieve retirement goals. your retirem The PWM M MasterPlan provides you with: Compr • Comprehensive financial organization F lllly Fu y integrated in • Fully retirement plan Taililo ore investment strategy • Tailored Detaile advanced planning • Detailed With more than 100 years of combined experience, Palumbo Wealth Management is the client-first private wealth management firm delivering the highest level of service to clients who are nearing or in retirement. Contact us today to build your own PWM MasterPlan. Philip G. Palumbo, CFP® Founder and CEO

Palumbo Wealth Management 1010 Northern Blvd., Suite 310 | Great Neck, NY 11021 | 516.629.7536 | palumbowm.com

Palumbo Wealth Management is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Palumbo Wealth Management and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. For additional information on the Advisor, please visit the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website at www.adviserinfo. sec.gov by searching with the Advisor’s CRD #306548. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® (with plaque design), and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, Palumbo Wealth Management LLC offers both investment advisory services and brokerage services. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements.

42 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 After 20 years of working for major wealth management firms, Philip Palumbo showed tremendous resilience as a business leader by successfully launching his own firm, Palumbo Wealth Management (PWM) in January 2020 in the face of the COVID pandemic. As challenging and unprecendated COVID has been, Philip’s detailed preparation and thorough due diligence assisted in making his transition for his clients as seamless as possible. Philip’s passion to deliver a platform that is solely focused on his clients as a fiduciary contributed to he being able to transition his clients at record speed. Today, just completing his first full year in business, his firm is thriving and continues to be lazer focused on providing a world-class experience for his clients. We would like to congratulate Philip Palumbo as being chosen as the top business leader on Long Island. OUR FIRM PWM is a Great Neck, New York-based SEC Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) focused on high-net-worth and ultra-high-networth families. Our seven-person team and five strategic partners are solely focused on assisting clients to prepare for or make the most of their retirement. Clients include professionals such as surgeons, dentists, attorneys and business owners who have worked hard to build

PHILIP PALUMBO

FOUNDER, CEO AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | PALUMBO WEALTH MANAGEMENT goals. • Third, ensure that our clients can TRANSFER their wealth to their heirs, helping the next generation to carry on their legacy.

their wealth over decades. Protecting their wealth against unforeseen risks is the critical objective. As an RIA, Phil has a fiduciary duty to his clients, which is among the highest standards of financial care in the American legal system. PWM believes it is imperative to follow a disciplined planning and investment process to achieve three critical goals for our clients: • First, PROTECT our clients’ money. • Second, GROW our clients’ money, providing a return that will assist them in achieving their life

OUR PWM MASTERPLAN: Delivering Financial Peace of Mind The Palumbo philosophy is grounded in three tenets: financial planning, fiduciary advice and full service! It starts with the PWM MasterPlan. Designed by their Certified Financial Planning team, the PWM MasterPlan offers complete financial organization and delivers the peace of mind that comes with knowing one’s financial objectives are achievable and on target. As a fiduciary advisor, our clients can always be assured PWM’s advice is in their best interest, with no conflicts of interest. The PWM MasterPlan provides the most appropriate financial advice tailored to their unique situation. OUR APPROACH PWM seeks to serve as our clients’ personal “chief financial officer,” the “go-to” source for any financial advice that may arise. As

personal CFO, we seek to take the burden off their shoulders by managing every aspect of their financial lives, freeing them to enjoy their retirement years. We help guide each of our clients to the most appropriate decisions, not only around their investments, but also regarding tax mitigation opportunities, estate and trust planning, family governance, asset protection, long-term care planning, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security planning, and their philanthropic goals. At the core of our wealth management approach is understanding each client as an individual — not just as an investor. Our team seeks to embrace their financial goals and how best to achieve them. They are laser-focused on five main concerns that are critical to clients: 1. Will I have enough money to live on to maintain my desired lifestyle? 2. Where will my income come from in retirement? 3. How do I protect my assets from major stock market declines? 4. How will my assets be protected if I become ill? 5. Who will inherit my money

when I die? The result of our approach provides clients with straightforward answers to these questions and identifies any specific gaps which may need to be addressed. An Institutionally Based Investment Approach Supplemented by Strategic Partners As clients consider estate planning and wealth transfer, our strategic partners assist in customizing individual plans and programs, along with the appropriate steps to fit their planning needs. Whether it is a large charitable donation, or a trust for transferring generational wealth, our team is prepared to work with clients to achieve their objectives. In summary, we believe the PWM approach to wealth management, starting with the PWM MasterPlan for all clients, is the proper way, and in our opinion, the only way to assure individuals and families a secure retirement. It delivers a foundation for clear and appropriate decision making amd most important, peace of mind for PWM clients.■

Congratulations to the Top Business Leaders of Nassau County

You Sell It... We Deliver It... Same-Day! Join our network of Small & Home Based Businesses, Local Retailers and Professional Services leveraging same-day local delivery to save time and money! Our platform will provide your business access to on-demand local delivery drivers with little out-of-pocket expense!

Visit byTrellus.com or Call 516.432.5001

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

We would like to congratulate our CEO

!"#$%$"&'()*++",& for being honored as a

Top Business Leader of Naussau County 2020 36 Main Street, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 631.423.1180 | danielgale.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

44 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

STUART RABINOWITZ PRESIDENT | HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

For the past two decades under the leadership of President Stuart Rabinowitz, Hofstra University has become an institution of international reach and reputation, hosting three consecutive presidential debates and launching several new schools, including the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell, the Hofstra-Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Peter S.

Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs and the School of Health Professions and Human Services. He also founded the National Center for Suburban Studies, the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Cybersecurity Innovation and Research Center and ensured they became community resources as well as academic centers. The University’s endowment has grown six-fold to more than $700 million, the academic profile of its students has increased on all mea-

sures, and its enrollment become increasingly more diverse in every way. Hofstra is the only university ever to host three consecutive presidential debates – in 2008, 2012 and 2016, and one of only three schools in the New York metropolitan area with schools of medicine, engineering and law. President Rabinowitz also insisted that the University find ways to help the community meet the needs of underrepresented groups. This included the creation of Long Island’s first law clinic to help immigrants facing deportation and forging a partnership with the Central American Refugee Center (CARACEN) in which students are trained to provide tutoring in English for Speakers of Other Languages, and help immigrants prepare for the citizenship application process. He has presided over significant investments in new facilities, including new state-of-the-art buildings for the Zucker School of Medicine and the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, as well buildings dedicated to the arts and humanities and graduate student

housing. He also has heralded the role of higher education as a regional engine of economic innovation in his role as co-chair of the state’s Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, which has helped drive bring more $727 million for nearly 900 projects on Long Island. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Long Island Association and Accelerate Long Island. President Rabinowitz was the leading force behind Hofstra’s swift and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He convened a Task Force on Reopening which focused on implementing new health and safety protocols to ensure a safe return to campus for students, faculty, and staff. Hofstra students were able to enjoy a full semester on-campus with no disruption to learning as a result of his new policies and procedures. We commend President Rabinowitz for all he has done at Hofstra - not only through the challenges of 2020 - but through the last 50 years. At the start of 2020, President Rabinowitz announced his retirement in August 2021 after 20

years as president and five decades serving the University, first as a member of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law faculty and then as its dean. He has been recognized for his commitment to the University and the Long Island region many times, most recently with a lifetime achievement award from the Long Island Association and a number one ranking on the 2020 Long Island Business News Power 25 in Education. In the final year of his tenure, President Rabinowitz is successfully steering Hofstra through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with Northwell Health, Hofstra’s partner in the medical and nursing schools, the University has developed one of the most comprehensive testing and tracing programs among colleges in New York State and instituted health and safety protocols that protect the campus community while continuing to provide students with a rewarding experience inside and outside the classroom. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

Congratulations to Bill Merklin on being recognized as A Top Business Leader of Nassau County! And thank you to Blank Slate Media for creating this event. D&B Engineers and Architects Facing Challenges and Providing Solutions Since 1965

William D. “Bill” Merklin, P.E. Senior Vice President

A Legacy of Water/ Wastewater Management & Environmental Solutions. Public or private, large or small, D&B has delivered unparalleled expertise, innovation and dedication to our clients throughout Nassau County, Long Island and the metropolitan area since 1965.

516-364-9890 | DB-ENG.COM Facing Challenges. Providing Solutions. WOODBURY, NY • WHITE PLAINS, NY • ISLANDIA, NY • EAST SYRACUSE, NY • ALBANY, NY • SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ • TREVOSE, PA

46 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

SCOTT RECHLER CEO AND CHAIRMAN | RXR REALTY

Scott Rechler is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of RXR Realty. Since its formation in January 2007, Mr. Rechler and his partners have led RXR to become one of the largest owners, managers, and developers in New York City and the surrounding region. The RXR platform manages 75 commercial real estate properties and investments with an aggregate gross asset value of approximately $20.2 billion[1] as of June 30, 2020, comprising approximately 26.0 million square feet of commercial properties, inclusive of a multi-family residential portfolio of approxi-

mately 3,400 units under operation or development, and control of development rights for an additional approximately 2,900 multi-family and for sale units in the New York Metro Area. In June 2011, Mr. Rechler was appointed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to serve on the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and served on such Board until October 2016. During his Board tenure Mr. Rechler served as Vice Chairman of such Board, and as Chairman of the Port Authority’s Capital Planning Committee with responsibility for

the Port’s $30 billion capital budget, including the World Trade Center redevelopment. In May 2013, Mr. Rechler was appointed to represent Gov. Cuomo on the Board of The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation, Inc. Mr. Rechler also served on the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from 2017 to 2019. Mr. Rechler prides himself on enhancing the communities where RXR operates. As such, he serves as Chairman of the Regional Plan Association, is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York, a Board member and Co-Chair of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Board Member of Northwell Heath (the largest healthcare system in New York), and a member of the NYU Real Estate Institute Advisory Committee. Mr. Rechler also serves on the Board of the Drum Major Institute and the Long Island Children’s Museum. While unprecedented, COVID-19 was not the first crisis for Mr. Rechler and RXR. From the attacks of September 11th to the 2008 financial crisis to

HONORING

ADAM SCHWAM Founder & President

for his vision and leadership his creative entrepreneurship his technology expertise his passion for community

The proud Sandwire Technology Group team DYNAMIC TECHNOLOGY THAT FUELS YOUR SUCCESS ONSITE & REMOTE ASSISTANCE " COMMUNICATIONS " 24/7 IT SUPPORT SERVERS & WORKSTATIONS " NETWORKS " ANTI-VIRUS & SPAM E-MAIL & HOSTING "#MONITORING " OFFSITE BACKUP " CLOUD COMPUTING CYBERSECURITY "#TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT "#VoIP PHONES

Serving Manhattan to Montauk 20 Hempstead Turnpike, Farmingdale, NY 11735

516.861.3000 " Sandwire.com

Superstorm Sandy in 2012, Mr. Rechler, along with RXR’s senior leadership and core management team have managed through a number of past crises. This experience, combined with RXR’s vertically integrated management team and the deep relationships with its tenants and key stakeholders throughout the state, gave the RXR team a comprehensive response and execution framework as the COVID-19 public health crisis began to escalate. Early in the pandemic, RXR established a dedicated COVID-19 taskforce, which continues to meet on a weekly basis, to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving social, public-health, and economic crisis. This was followed by companywide initiative designed to ensure that RXR is not only well-positioned to navigate the current crisis, but also to thrive on the other side. Pre-COVID-19, RXR had already created a data and analytics environment that allowed RXR to capture, store, and analyze hundreds of millions of data points that are generated continuously by RXR buildings, their occupants, and visitors, built on a foundation of world-class privacy

and infrastructure standards. As COVID-19 hit, RXR was well-positioned to develop RxWell™, a new comprehensive, public health-based, data-driven program that combines the physical and digital to give RXR customers the peace of mind that they are returning to a safe and healthy workplace. By enabling RXR’s customers to congregate safely together, the RxWell program provides for that fundamental element that’s been missing when working remotely—a sense of community and belonging. In addition to leaning into repositioning its core business for a post-COVID-19 world, in 2020, RXR used its resources to support local communities navigate through COVID-19. Through the creation of a new online platform, RXRvolunteer. com, RXR matched over 300 skillbased volunteers with 150 local small businesses and nonprofits in need. RXR also gave $5 million to organizations throughout the New York region to support efforts to address food insecurity, struggling small businesses, the growing digital divide, and more. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

. ' & - / ( + ' &$ , ( 0 , * " & ( 1 # , + , - $ +

!"#$%&'()*''$+

+*,-*.' ,

!"#$%&&%'#+ (!'$)* , !"#$%&'(&)&#*+(,!,-$

LEADING WITH PURPOSE We congratulate our own Ron Edelson, founder and co-president of ZE Creative Communications, and all the other honorees of Blank Slate’s 2020 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County. Like Ron, all these outstanding business leaders, through their creativity, vision, and unrelenting commitment to Nassau County and Long Island, are moving the region’s economy forward, creating job opportunities and improving the region’s quality of life for all of us.

!"#$%&

Ron Edelson, Co-President ZE Creative Communications

ZECREATIVECOMMUNICATIONS.COM

48 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

DR. JEFFREY REYNOLDS

PRESIDENT AND CEO | FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S ASSOCIATION

Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds is a man of many missions and one vocation: to help the underserved and the at-risk. Throughout his 25 year career, Dr. Reynolds has committed his considerable efforts to strengthening not for profit organizations and creating programs that serve vulnerable and often invisible members of the Long Island community. FCA is one of Long Island’s largest health and human organizations with 340 staff, 200 volunteers and 30+ programs. This year Dr. Reynolds is both overseeing the organization’s relocation from Mineola to its new Garden City headquarters and continuing to navigate FCA’s

comprehensive COVID response. FCA’s response to COVID was multi-faceted and immediate, and is ongoing; to continue and modify essential healthcare programs; to bring provide critical programs virtually, to continue to serve seniors and other at risk populations. Dr. Reynolds has a history of being able to fortify and turn around not for profit organizations through careful management, by securing increased funding, and implementing programs that address emerging issues. Dr. Reynolds has earned the respect of New Yorkers of all stripes, from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other

elected officials to the consumers who access FCA programs, as well as the people who contribute to, work for or volunteer for the organization. At FCA, Dr. Reynolds has secured new and vital funding, in particular for life-saving opioid and addiction programs. Most recently, FCA launched addiction recovery centers in Westbury and Hauppauge that play a critical role in helping former users stay clean. A Catholic Health partnership provides peer and family recovery coaches (SHERPA) trained to work with overdose survivors and families in the community and in emergency departments. Prior to joining FCA, Dr. Reynolds served as Executive Director of the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD). LICADD provides substance abuse screenings, brief interventions and referrals to addiction treatment, as well as professionallyfacilitated family interventions, relapse prevention programs and anger management services to adults and adolescents. Under Dr. Reynold’s leadership, LICADD pioneered the

launch of “Too Good for Drugs,” an evidence-based K-12 substance abuse prevention program in several Long Island schools, initiated a new mentoring program for children of incarcerated parents and expanded LICADD’s Employee Assistance Program, which now covers 60,000 public and private employees in the Tri-state area. During his tenure, LICADD’s revenues tripled and the number of families served per month increased nine-fold. Dr. Reynolds has served as a consultant and grant reviewer for the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and frequently presents at local, statewide and national health and human service conferences. He has authored more than 250 news and op-ed articles for a wide variety of publications and is consistently used as an expert source for substance abuse, addiction, HIV/ AIDS and human/civil rights information by local and national radio, television, print and digital media. Deeply invested in Long Island, Reynolds serves on the Suffolk County Heroin/Opiate Epidemic Advisory Panel; on the Executive

Committee, Nassau County Heroin Prevention Task Force; Suffolk County’s Welfare to Work Commission and as Vice-Chair of the NYS AIDS Advisory Council. Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointed him to the New York’s Heroin and Opioids Task Force and to a task force charged with crafting New York’s Adult Use Regulated Marijuana Program. Dr. Reynolds holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Dowling College (1988), a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) with a specialization in health administration from Long Island University (1997) and a doctorate from Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare (2007). Dr. Reynolds is also a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) and a U.S. Department of Transportationqualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). A lifelong Long Island resident, Dr. Reynolds is an avid marathon runner and triathlete, a passion he’s used to raise much-needed funds for FCA, United Way of Long Island and other local charities. ■

GEFFEN RODIK

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING/SELF STORAGE | MEN ON THE MOVE storage! Their warehouse is located in Woodbury, and their premium self-storage facilities are located in Woodbury, Farmingdale, and Deer Park! These locations feature state-of-the-art security, 7 day access, and are all newly built

Men On The Move is Long Island’s most award-winning, and socially responsible moving and self-storage company. Locally founded by John Beyer in 1985 as a moving company, they have grown to offer warehouse storage, self-storage, and recently expanded into the mobile storage industry. Their moving division includes a fleet of over 25 meticulously maintained trucks and trailers. They offer local and long

distance moves throughout the east coast for both residential and commercial customers. With professionally trained career crews, and industry leading technology, materials, and tools, you can rest assured that Men On The Move is best equipped to perform your move safely, and within budget. When you’re in need of storage, Men On The Move offers a variety of solutions to meet your needs including warehouse storage, self-storage, and now mobile

stop-shop when it comes to all your moving and storage needs! Men On The Move’s Top Business Leader honoree, Geffen Rodik, joined the company in 2012. He has been instrumental in the marketing and development

We’re still not out of the woods, however, Rodik and his colleagues at Men On The Move have proven to make some great decisions in some incredibly rough times. or fully renovated within the last 2 years! For those who need mobile storage, onsite or offsite, Men On The Move is excited about their latest mobile storage venture, Storage Cube! Their premium Cubes are insulated, weather resistant, and are delivered using industry-leading horizontal-load technology. They truly are a one-

of all their divisions, and continues to push the company forward with his energy, positivity, and forward-thinking concepts. He enjoys finding ways to streamline workflows, as well as improve customer experience whenever possible. Rodik was part of the core team at Men On The Move that had to make many tough decisions

through the COVID pandemic. While maintaining existing operations in the safest way possible, they had to decide whether to push forward with their Deer Park Self-Storage construction. This is one of many defining moments they faced, and after pausing construction for a few months, they decided to push forward, while implementing the strictest safety protocols in the process. We’re still not out of the woods, however, Rodik and his colleagues at Men On The Move have proven to make some great decisions in some incredibly rough times. Looking towards the future of Men On The Move, Rodik shows a great deal of passion for the company, it’s brand, it’s team, and it’s mission. They look forward to the continued growth of all their divisions, and are consistently looking for underserved Long Island markets in need of self-storage. Men On The Move has served Long Island since 1985, and will continue to serve the region with the help of passionate team members like Rodik for generations to come. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

PARKER JEWISH INSTITUE PROUDLY SUPPORTS BLANK SLATE MEDIA AS THEY CELEBRATE THE TOP BUSINESS LEADERS IN NASSAU COUNTY 2020

A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO PARKER’S PRESIDENT AND CEO

MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT AND TO ALL THE HONOREES!

SHORT TERM REHABILITATION • LONG TERM CARE • HOME HEALTH CARE • HOSPICE • PALLIATIVE CARE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT DIALYSIS • MEDICAL HOUSE CALLS • MANAGED LONG TERM CARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN • MEDICAID ADVANTAGE PLUS PLAN • CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND GRANTS

271-11 76TH AVENUE, NEW HYDE PARK, NEW YORK 11040 877.727.5373 | www.parkerins!tute.org | PARKER INSTITUTE /

50 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT

PRESIDENT AND CEO | PARKER JEWISH INSTITUTE HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATION CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF MANAGERS | AGEWELL NEW YORK

As President and Chief Executive Officer of New Hyde Park-based Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, Michael N. Rosenblut administers one of the region’s largest skilled nursing facilities for older adults. Under Mr. Rosenblut’s aegis, Parker developed community health divisions to address the continuum of care, through social model day care, certified home-health agency care and hospice programs. He has led progressive clinical, management and environmental initiatives, including new programs in wound care, pain management, palliative care and behavior modifica-

tion, an award-winning technological infrastructure overhaul, and comprehensive building renovation and modernization. Mr. Rosenblut launched Parker’s Integrated Emergency COVID-Response Campaign in the pandemic’s earliest days. During the COVID-19 outbreak, skilled nursing facilities were Ground Zero. As information and health mandates changed rapidly, Parker’s leadership was in constant communication, driving new policies ahead of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of Health protocols. This enabled Parker to relay urgent messages to multiple

audiences: Families, workers, donors, vendors, partners and the public – all in real time. Parker remains prepared to win the fight against COVID-19 no matter what comes next. Mr. Rosenblut has been a driving force in making the COVID-19 vaccine available, via federal and state protocols, to Parker’s residents, patients and staff. And through regular communication to members of the Parker community, Mr. Rosenblut ensures that they have most current information as it becomes available. In fighting the virus under Mr. Rosenblut’s direction, Parker installed some of the most advanced safety measures available. Parker launched a nonstop testing operation, devoting an entire team to test all staff weekly. The staff is armed with a robust supply of Personal Protective Equipment, provided by Parker, to stay safe. Prominent signage is posted throughout the building, reminding team members to wear the correct PPE. With Mr. Rosenblut’s leadership, Parker added digital turnstiles to its entrance, automatically scanning staff IDs and measuring temperatures, enabling the Institute to maintain physi-

cal and health security via contactless technology. Parker invested in a virus-killing ultraviolet light system for its HVAC units. And the Institute upgraded its generator system to ensure that the power is always on, which is especially critical during COVID-19. Early in the pandemic, Mr. Rosenblut led Parker to establish its Family Call Center in which staff members communicate regularly with family members, connecting them to additional information and resources as needed. These projects follow Parker’s newly launched Infection Control Patrol, a multidisciplinary team, guided by Mr. Rosenblut, that makes rounds throughout the facility’s care areas, ensuring that staff members are complying with the Institute’s meticulous standards. “As we continue to fight COVID-19, Parker stands resolute in protecting our community – our residents and patients, our dedicated, compassionate team members, and their families,” Mr. Rosenblut said. “We remain resilient and focused in these extraordinary times. With the vaccine now available, we are optimistic, but

still prepared to make each day better for our region no matter what comes our way.” Prior to COVID, Mr. Rosenblut led the planning and development of the Renal Institute, a 15-station chronic dialysis center, as well as launched Lakeville Ambulette Transportation. He is the founding Chairman of the Board of Managers for AgeWell New York, a licensed Managed Long-Term Care Plan and Medicare Advantage Plan in New York State. Previously the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and then Acting CEO of the Institute, Mr. Rosenblut played a crucial role in developing culturally sensitive health care services and programs, including the first-of-its-kind Indian Cultural Unit and an Asian adult day health care program. He helped shape a patient outreach program firmly integrated into the region’s civic, religious and community fabric. And he catalyzed Parker’s leadership in collaborative labor management projects, including quality improvement training, certified nursing assistant mentoring, and cost containment forums. ■

Get your free moving estimate today! 516.589.7560 or online at MenOnTheMove.com

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

!"#$%&'($)'*+&,('(-./$)-01$ 2&-3+4.564.(/$.7($ 8&*$95/:-(//$;(4<(+/$&=$ >4//45$2&5-.?

Quality Work Competitive Prices

(516) 352-2754

NO SALESMEN, DEAL DIRECTLY WITH OWNER

Cell: (516) 384-8155 www.varhomes.com Email: varhomes@gmail.com !"#$%&$'()(*+%'$',(-.&&./(011234567(8/99+:;(04<=3=1>7(-?@ 064A32A=22227(#"BC(+9(!+%D(*$.#E(0FA13

52 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

REBECCA SANIN

PRESIDENT AND CEO | HEALTH AND WELFARE COUNCIL OF LONG ISLAND

Rebecca Sanin is the President/CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI), an umbrella organization for the nonprofit sector in the region that advances social justice and equitable human service delivery systems.

Prior to this position, she served for five years as an Assistant Deputy County Executive for Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone and has extensive experience in the nonprofit and government sector working on critical issues that impact community develop-

ment. In addition, she has taught various Psychology courses as an adjunct professor at Dowling College, Suffolk Community College, and Iona College, teaching undergraduate students. She has a long history of working collaboratively across sectors with nonprofits, government, Education, the business community and with a wide array of leaders across Long Island. A recipient of numerous awards and recognitions for her leadership, Rebecca is most proud of the collaborations and coalitions she has built to advance critical issues that impact the regional economy, and human service provision. She is grateful for the opportunities to build and effectuate a strong vision for Long Island’s future during its greatest public health emergency. Rebecca has a proven record of leadership in executive management, strategic analysis and planning, policy-making and professional development. Since becoming President/CEO of HWCLI in 2017, Rebecca has focused attention on the critical needs of

families and children across Long Island, bolstering the services HWCLI provides to support them and building strong cross-sector coalitions to strengthen policies and opportunities for communities. Using her background in government and strong community ties, Rebecca has engaged valuable stakeholders and policymakers into the broader dialogue addressing equity across Long Island. She is a strong advocate for systems change and believes that Long Island, as America’s first suburb can lead to effectively eradicate suburban poverty. Rebecca Sanin, as HWCLI’s CEO has led a regional coordinated response to COVID-19 by bringing hundreds of nonprofit executives to the “virtual table” each week with partners from Federal, State and County governments to plan and coordinate disaster response. Emerging issues that have been prioritized in the health and human service delivery system response include emergency food and nutritional equity, mental health and access, health equity,

legal needs and domestic violence/ child abuse. HWCLI has also coordinated and delivered thousands of needed PPE to nonprofit businesses to ensure front line workers have what they need to continue to serve communities through the height of this crisis. Rebecca’s commitment to COVID 19 response includes the cross-sector coordination of service delivery to meet emergent and immediate needs and also long term planning to restructure opportunities, innovate and rebuild a regional infrastructure that catalyzes the brightest future possible for every family and every community. As a Stein Scholar, Rebecca earned a Juris Doctor from Fordham University. She holds a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University where she was a fellow at the National Center for Children and Families. Born and raised in Nassau County and living in Suffolk County, Rebecca’s a lifelong Long Islander committed to building its bright future. ■

ADAM SCHWAM FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT SANDWIRE TECHNOLOGY GROUP |

Sandwire Corporation, headquartered in Farmingdale, New York, is a growing provider of managed IT and telecommunications services for small and large

businesses. The company is expanding to meet the demands of customers in the evolving business world. During the COVID-19 pandemic,

Sandwire President and CEO Adam Schwam and his team came to the rescue of many businesses that needed to rapidly move to remote work. Sandwire’s IT professionals worked long hours as many clients shifted from traditional office environments to remotely working from home. These efforts kept businesses, professional practices and health care providers open and connected, allowing them to retain employees and provide vital services to clients, customers and patients. Mr. Schwam and his entire team employ the philosophy that Sandwire takes full ownership of any technology-related challenge for clients. They are committed and stay focused until clients are satisfied. This is a significant differentiator and has assisted the company in developing long-lasting relationships. During the pandemic, cyber threats to businesses have increased significantly. With their strategic partner Kasey, Sandwire’s cybersecurity measures and protocols have kept their clients’ technology safe. Fighting cyber attackers, ran-

somware, phishing, viruses and malware is an ongoing battle. Sandwire remains vigilant, staying on top of all the latest software and strategies to protect their clients. The company has expanded its services to include cloud-based operations and solutions. The company manages over 7,500 computers and the networks they run on. The firm added IP telecommunications products and services several years ago, supporting another layer of needed technology for businesses. The company’s services also include workstation setup, hardware installation, e-mail and printer management, registration of products and more. The corporation manages anti-virus and backup systems, addresses spam issues and repairs computers, and also supplies hardware and software to meet client needs. As an IT professional, Mr. Schwam works directly with the CEOs and decision makers at large and medium size business and professional firms. He has a unique perspective on business operations and needs. Often, he provides is candid and in-depth knowledge and expertise to help leader solve

problems and take advantage of opportunities. Long Island Business News recognized Adam as one of Long Island’s “Top 40 Business Professionals” under the age of 40. He has been interviewed by a number of media outlets, including Newsday, Long Island Business News, News 12 Long Island and SC Magazine on a wide-variety of technology topics. Mr. Schwam is a member of the board of directors of Commerce Plaza and donates his professional service to Pet Peeves. He is a member of the Long Island Elite where he played a key role in its development of its Diversity Committee. Adam has been a two-time volunteer boxer for the Long Island Fight For Charity, raising more than $75,000 for Long Island not-forprofits. He also serves on the board of Tempo Group, which specializes in drug and alcohol abuse addiction programs for youths, teens, adults and families. He and his wife and two daughters are residents of Lynbrook. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

Congratulations Michael N. Rosenblut President and Chief Executive Officer, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation and Chairman, Board of Managers, AgeWell New York, for recognition as one of Nassau County’s Top Business Leaders of 2020 by Blank Slate Media.

Congratulations to all the honorees for outstanding service to our community.

AgeWell New York offers high quality and affordable health care coverage for those with !

Medicare

Medicare and Medicaid

Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) Plan for those who need community based long term care services and supports in the home.

Toll-free 866-586-8044 • TTY/TDD 800-662-1220 agewellnewyork.com

54 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

NEIL SEIDEN

FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT | ASSET ENHANCEMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC

Neil Seiden is the Founder and President of Asset Enhancement Solutions, LLC (AES), a financial advisory firm that provides both Investment Banking and Consulting Services to companies considering important transactions such as selling a company, acquiring a company and raising capital. AES specializes in arranging debt and equity financing for companies with challenges, both favorable and unfavorable.

Unfavorable challenges include operational, legal, tax, financial or liquidity issues and positive challenges consist of opportunities for growth, acquisitions and longterm success. AES has arranged over $600 million of financing for scores of middle market companies, public companies and small businesses in a variety of industries. When the effects of the pandemic brought small businesses

to a standstill and the CARES Act caused chaos and panic for those trying to secure much-needed funding – Neil quickly responded. He staffed up in just a few weeks with more than 20 accountants and other financial professionals and began helping hundreds of small businesses. While many others provided frantic business owners with just a link to a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application, Neil offered VIP personal service and guidance to any applicant who sought out help, regardless of the size of the business or the loan. AES also presented over 100 free webinars, teaching small business owners how to apply for a PPP loan. To Neil and his team, this was a mission beyond the financial support secured. AES gave business owners reassurance and a helping hand that relieved some of the stress that owners and managers were facing. Neil and his team were relentless in their efforts to get PPP loans approved. Often, the referrals to AES were companies that had applications rejected at least

once before. The team worked seven days a week and long into the evening each day. They helped more than 800 companies survive and saved approximately 10,000 jobs. With the second wave of the PPP effort now underway, AES is helping many more businesses. The team is assisting businesses apply for a PPP loan for the first time, or second time. Two weeks into the new program, AES has already assisted hundreds of companies. The financial and economic damage that the pandemic caused will be with us for years to come. There are many financial options that AES will be able to offer to businesses as they overcome this economic hardship and begin to grow again. The AES team is here now and will be here in the coming years to help Long Island businesses pull through this downturn and thrive. Neil and his team at AES recognize that every business opportunity and challenge is different. Therefore, all business relationships must be personal and built

on trust. As an advocate for challenged businesses, AES will never shy away from adversity, but instead, will embrace it and thrive on it. The economic conditions resulting from the pandemic have caused unprecedented turmoil. It is during these times that having the right trusted professionals on your side is critical. Before founding AES, Neil, who is a CPA, served as the CFO of a variety of companies in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses. He began his career at KPMG after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Boston University with a BS in Accounting. He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He is on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Chapters of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) and Middle Market Alliance of Long Island (MMALI). He is Past-President for both the LI IMA and the LI TMA. ■

STEPHEN J. SILVERBERG, ESQ., CELA PRINCIPAL FOUNDER | LAW OFFICE OF STEPHEN J. SILVERBERG, PC

Stephen J. Silverberg, Esq., CELA, a lifelong Long Island resident, is a nationally recognized leader in Elder Law, estate and tax planning, estate administration,

and helping individuals, families and business owners plan for the future and preserve assets by managing complex legal, tax and financial issues.

He became an Elder Law Attorney before it became a recognized practice area. Working as a tax attorney in New York City, Mr. Silverberg focused on complex pension and tax matters for large corporations. When a client asked if he could protect her family’s assets as her husband needed long term care, he researched the law and created a will with a Supplemental Needs Trust. The year was 1980; the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) had not yet been founded. Mr. Silverberg found that his experience in complex tax and pension law gave him a unique skill set that could be combined with estate planning to solve problems for families. He joined NAELA in 1991 and immediately became active in the organization, was elected to the Board of Directors in 2002 and then president in June 2009. In 1995, Mr. Silverberg founded NAELA’S Tax Section to help educate other attorneys on the tax aspects of Elder Law planning. Mr. Silverberg is also a founding member and past president of the New

York State chapter of NAELA. In 2003, he was named a NAELA Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by NAELA, for his efforts on behalf of NAELA, seniors, and the special needs community. In 2019, he was awarded the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP©) designation by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. Mr. Silverberg is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), awarded by the National Elder Law Foundation under the auspices of the American Bar Association. There are fewer than 550 CELAs throughout the United States. He holds the AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 rating from Martindale-Hubbell, has been named a Super Lawyer by his peers for thirteen consecutive years and a Best Lawyer from U.S. News & World Report. On Long Island, Mr. Silverberg has served as an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Elder Law, Social Services and Health Advocacy Committees. He is a past President of the Pension Council of Long

Island A long-standing member of the Estate Planning Council of Nassau County, he was recently elected to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Estate Planning Council of Nassau County. Mr. Silverberg’s law firm moved seamlessly to working remote in March 2020 when New York State was “paused.” The firm’s management, document storage, and communications systems were all internet and cloud based even before the pandemic, allowing attorneys and staff to work in the office, at home, or anywhere. Investing in technology has always been a high value at the firm, and clients benefited from our ability to keep working without interruption. Since returning to the office, the firm has followed all CDC guidelines, including mask wearing and sterilization requirements. Mr. Silverberg’s dedication to the advancement of Elder Law and to protecting seniors, special needs individuals and their families, is at the heart of everything he does. ■

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

SINCE 1965

To the healthcare workers, first responders, public servants, essential workers, and all those doing their part to support our community through this global health crisis.

WE THANK YOU FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND FUNCTIONING. We are encouraged by your strength, grateful for your services, and inspired by your sacrifice. You are the best of Long Island and Spectorgroup stands with you.

ARCHITECTURE INTERIORS MASTER PLANNING

We honor the over 400,000 Americans who have succumbed to COVID-19 and those who were affected.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTACT MARC B. SPECTOR, FAIA mbspector@spectorgroup.com www.spectorgroup.com

We at Spectorgroup are (re)Innovating Innovation and are rising to the occasion in designing the new standard for creativity and for life.

56 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

MARC B. SPECTOR, FAIA, NCARB PRINCIPAL AND OWNER | SPECTORGROUP

As principal and owner of Spectorgroup, Marc is (re)Innovating Innovation, applying this core cultural principal to the Business of Architecture, to create value for design excellence and the profession. Moving the practice of architecture beyond traditional boundaries and market competition, Marc’s

hand-in-hand with profitable business practices. Marc leads a diverse team of professionals live in office and virtually from across the country and world, advancing the creative and technical strategies in the various practices the firm has built over its 55-year journey. Sustainability, Carbon Neu-

The leverage of Fellowship allows Marc to have a voice in the profession, to bring importance, prominence and respect for all architects and the very reason we are considered essential during these tumultuous times. influential business model is built on: the creation of impactful life spaces regardless of project constraints and typology, cultivation of client and team relationships into friendships, growth in new markets and services, and continual advancement of design innovation

trality, Passive and Net Zero principles of design and construction are now indigenous in the firm’s Cultural DNA. Marc is a member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. Fellowship is the highest honor to be bestowed

upon an architect within the profession, recognizing not only the achievements of the architect as an individual, but also an architect’s contribution to the profession and to society. The leverage of Fellowship allows Marc to have a voice in the profession, to bring importance, prominence and respect for all architects and the very reason we are considered essential during these tumultuous times. The Covid-19 Pandemic has created a unique crisis for businesses, the profession of architecture in particular. Now more than ever, architects are being called upon to lead the return to the new normal. This requires creative leadership; emotionally, personally, and professionally. Leadership instills confidence, stability, and certainty during challenging times. It allows innovation to rise to the surface, to set the new standard for creativity and for life. ■

!"#$%&'()*+,)#--(./+0&-1)23 !!!!"#$%&'()$!*+!,-*(.$/01!234+

5067!8763#3!9!23#'#$3!*##07($:

1$C6==@$D$E*F@&@ 1$G@&)&'$H=)4464< 1$+@@'&$H*>&'A&6>4 1$H*>I)&' 4+--+5 6789:);;;<88;;

1$G@&)&'$ $ +3B646@&*)&6>4 1$G=3'*$?)( 1$J')=$G@&)&'

=5&&$6>8?:)>>9<>@>7

!"#$%&'()*&$+,'-.$%&'-$/0"$1$2)*3'4$56&7.$89$##:0"$ (((-;)4<'=>?)(+@@>A6)&'@-A>B

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020

Stephen J. Silverberg, Esq., CELA

!"#$%&'()&'*"#+,'", 6)&#7,8)&'0,904*&:+,

It is an honor to be part of this first group of forward thinking leaders who share a larger vision for their professions and businesses. Your commitment to pushing through traditional boundaries inspires us all.

!"#$%&'()&'*"#+,'",-.,/0))"1,2"#"%00+3,&#4, 5"#$%&'()&'*"#+,'",6)&#7,8)&'0,904*&, for launching this recognition platform.

The Law Office of Stephen J. Silverberg, PC

is a nationally recognized Estate Planning and Elder Law firm, helping individuals, families, and business owners plan for the future and navigate the technical world of estate planning. The firm integrates the areas of estate tax, wealth preservation and business succession planning, Elder Law, Medicaid planning, estate administration, retirement benefits planning, and planning for closely-held businesses and professional practices to achieve client goals. LAW OFFICE OF

STEPHEN J. SILVERBERG, P.C. (516) 307-1236 | 185 Roslyn Road | Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 | www.sjslawpc.com

58 Top Business Leaders of Nassau County 2020 • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 !"#$%"&'()*+,-+("&

. ' & - / ( + ' &$ , ( 0 , * " & ( 1 # , + , - $ +

!"#$%&'()*''$+

+*,-*.' ,

!"#$%&&%'#+ (!'$)* , !"#$%&'(&)&#*+(,!,-$

!"#$%&#'()*+,-'&#")* ./-0#'1#/&*2#3#/,40#'(*5",-4*

.$,&')%*$,/&

!"#$%&#'()*67#*8'9#/*.-"0:'*5",-4

.01,&23&4$*+%0,/&.%3&53!3/&

+,-'&#")*;:':9%'9*!:"('#")* <:0#",'*8'9%'##"%'9

6781$+(&20#(7,9/&

!"#$%&#'(*=*<8>)*?,"(7@#//*A#:/(7

:0,&!"+(;0,/&

+,-'&#")*<,B*!"#$%&#'()*C8*<"#:(%3#* <,00-'%D:(%,'$*

<$(=$>0%+&?+%%0/&

!"#$%&#'(*=*<8>)*E/-"#*A,0#*F04",3#0#'($

:+97,$&@7(/&

+,-'&#"*:'&*8G#D-(%3#*2%"#D(,")* 5,/&*<,:$(*E"($*<#'(#"

:0%A&@0(0"/&

!"#$%&#'()*<,04:$$*6"%BH(:(#

:0,$("&B+$>;/&

!"#$%&#'()*I#:($*F'$-":'D#*E9#'D%#$

:781$%"&B+;;+(/&

<7:%"0:')*?:$$:-*<,-'(J*F2E*KL8E<

/*%.&,.0$123$4541$6$7855#9 !"#$%&'('&%)*&+)#","-.*/'&%)'&+'0'+1*,2)34$) *.")'&51"&/'*,)'&)/4"'.)6",+)*&+)4*0")+"0",$7"+) 0'2'$&*.8)3*82)/$)7.$%."22)/4"'.)-12'&"229

C,"%+#&6$(+D0--/&

8G#D-(%3#*2%"#D(,")*<8>)* ?,"(7*H7,"#*<7%/&*:'&*+:0%/J*5-%&:'D#*<#'(#"

E7((7$*&23&F'7((G&6+%D(7,/&53!3/

H#'%,"*M%D#*!"#$%&#'()*2=.*8'9%'##"$* :'&*E"D7%(#D($

.$*+;&43&F.7*G&6+>H9+%/&

<7:%"0:'*=*<8>)*67#*N7%(0,"#*E9#'DJ

2+7%"%+&IJ40,,+((/&

<8>)*2:'%#/*5:/#*H,(7#OJP$*F'(#"':(%,':/*Q#:/(J

517(7K&5$()*L0/&

+,-'&#")*<8>*=*<7%#1*F'3#$(0#'(*>1RD#")* !:/-0O,*N#:/(7*;:':9#0#'(

<>)$%>&:$L7,0#7>H/&

!"#$%&"' ()"*!"+,' !"#$%&'()*+'",-( :."2'+"&/)*&+);<=) $>)?$./43",,)@"*,/4

"-"$&' .%(&,' ./&0&,(1'%,2 :1-,'24".) A,*&B)C,*/")D"+'*

!"#$%&#'()*A,1$(":*S'%3#"$%(J

<80>>&:+81(+%/&

<8>*=*<7:%"0:')*QTQ*Q#:/(J

2%3&.+--%+A&:+A,0(";/& !"#$%&#'(*=*<8>)*+:0%/J* :'&*<7%/&"#'P$*E$$,D%:(%,'

@+--+,&:0"7D/&

2%"#D(,"*,1*;:"U#(%'9KH#/1*H(,":9#)* ;#'*,'*(7#*;,3#

E$)."%'2/".)>$.)/4'2)"0"&/)0'2'/F

1>>K;QRR>1+7;($,",0#380*R,$;;$)S80),>A;S>0KSL);7,+;;S(+$"+%;S0-STUTUR

6781$+(&M3&:0;+,L()>

!"#$%&#'(*:'&*<8>)*!:"U#"*V#@%$7*F'$(%(-(#*A#:/(7* <:"#*:'&*Q#7:O%/%(:(%,' <7:%"0:')*.,:"&*,1*;:':9#"$)*E9#@#//*?#@*W,"U

:+L+88$&<$,7,/&

!"#$%&#'(*=*<8>)*A#:/(7*:'&* N#/1:"#*<,-'D%/*,1*L,'9*F$/:'&

C"$*&<81#$*/&

+,-'&#"*:'&*!"#$%&#'( H:'&@%"#*6#D7',/,9J*5",-4

M+7(&<+7"+,/&

+,-'&#"*=*!"#$%&#'()*E$$#(*8'7:'D#0#'(* H,/-(%,'$)*LL<

!"#$%&#'()*+&#$&,-## $)./0+#1%2345. 6"789#:;<=7;>"## ???,54%2./@+&+)?,A)B

<>+K1+,&.3&<7(=+%L+%9/&!;N3/&4!OC/& !"%'D%4:/*+,-'&#")*L:@*>1RD#*,1*H(#47#'*VX* H%/3#"O#"9)*!<

6$%8&'3&<K+8>0%/&?CPC/&M4C:'/& !"%'D%4:/)*>@'#")*H4#D(,"9",-4

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Living 50 Plus

How often to see the doctor

COVID 19 TESTING AVAILABLE!

FLU SHOTS NOW AVAILABLE!

• No Appointment Necessary • Physicals • Pediatric & Adult Care • Sprains & Minor Fractures • Vaccinations Available (Incl. Pneumonia) • Work/Sport Injuries • Stitches Onsite X-Rays, EKG’s and Labs • Blood Work • Business Accounts Welcome Worker's Comp • No Fault • Seasonal Allergies and Asthma • Multi-Lingual Staff

Celebrating Over 14 Years of Dedicated Service / Most Insurances Accepted Now Scheduling Immigration, DOT/CDL Physicals

2090 JERICHO TURNPIKE, NEW HYDE PARK, NY 11040 (between Denton Ave. & New Hyde Park Rd., cross street is Denton Ave.)

516-352-STAT(7828) www.statmd.net

OPEN 7 DAYS: Mon. -Fri. 9am-9pm, Sat.-Sun. 9am-5pm • All Holidays 10am -3pm

!"#!$%&#'( ,.+ )*+,-( !"//*%)(0*$,0(1*"%.,0&!23 !"#$%&'"&'$(#$)*&+%%,-.//%+)#-(0$1$'234'5/-67-4"#,%#'$/

outine health checkups are a key part of staying healthy. Older adults may feel like they’re always visiting one doctor or another. But what is an acceptable frequency for doctor appointments? The answer isn’t always so cut and dry, and many health professionals have mixed feelings even among themselves over the magic number.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults over the age of 65 visit the doctor more than twice as often as 18- to 44-yearolds. According to Paul Takahashi,

a physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., adults should see their primary care physicians at least once a year to make sure diseases are being properly managed and to stay current on preventative screenings. Visiting the doctor more frequently does not necessarily add up to better health, and it actually can do the opposite. Dr. Peter Abadir, an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, says frequent visits to health facilties where sick people congregate puts one at a higher risk of illness or infection. Visiting the doctor only when necessary is one way to avoid risky exposure. Doctor visit frequency is not a onesize-fits-all answer. A yearly physical or checkup is a given, even for people who are healthy. People with a family history of certain conditions, like sleep disorders, cancer, high blood pressure, and other

conditions, may need to see a doctor more frequently than those with no such histories. In addition, patients may need referrals to certain specialists who work together to provide an overall health plan. That can increase the number of appointments and shorten the intervals between them. Johnson Memorial Health offers some statistics.

!"#$%&#'()*+&#$),&-#$)./0+#1%2345.-#67#88"99 :::;54%2./,+&+):;<)=

!"#$%&'()*#(+"

SEE YOUR WAY CLEAR

• People visit the doctor four times a year on average. • Studies show that poor or uninsured people prolong the time between doctor’s visits.

• Individuals with high blood pressure may need to see the doctor four times a year to ensure medications are working properly.

• Patients on dialysis see the doctor several times a week.

Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a family physician and assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, says too often people visit the doctor only when they are really sick. That works to their disadvantage because the appointment will focus only on treating the illness instead of addressing other preventative care and screenings. Balance is necessary in regard to health care. Patients can work together with their doctors to develop screening schedules that are customized to their particular profiles. These schedules can be modified as health history information changes or as patients age. Doctors can dial back or increase health visits as needed.

Doctor available for exams in a safe, sanitized facility. By Appointment Only

If you are over the age of 60, and it has been more than a year since your last eye exam, talk to us today about your vision care needs.

MEDICARE ASSIGNMENTS ACCEPTED Large Selection of Designer Frames for Prescription & Non-Prescription

70 OFF

30 OFF

Any One Complete Pair of Prescription Eyeglasses

Any Two Complete Pairs of Prescription Eyeglasses

At time of purchase. Not retroactive. $100 min. purchase. Cannot be combined w/any other offer or Union plans. W/coupon only.#012(3456475 Exp.!/2"/2#

At time of purchase. Not retroactive. $100 min. purchase per pair. Cannot be combined w/any other offer or Union plans. W/coupon only. #012(3456475 Exp. !/2"/2#

OUR EXPERIENCE & QUALITY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FULL-SERVICE, FAMILY OWNED OPTICAL CENTER SINCE 1982

+,+,

!!!!!"#$%!!!!"#$%& &'(%) *)'(# -.&&/0

Focal Point Optical FAMILY OPTICAL CENTER

!"#$#%&#'()* )+,%-($+,&#(.#'/,

GARDEN CITY PARK

2453 Jericho Tpke. (Between Herricks Rd & Marcus Ave) 516-746-3836

+,+,

!!!!!"#$%!!!!"#$%& &'(%) *)'(# -.&&/0 !"#$#%&#'()* )+,%-($+,&#(.#'/,

COME IN FOR YOUR EYE EXAM.

MOST UNION PLANS & MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED. (We Accept Eyemed)

Visit Us At: www.focalpointgcp.com

60 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

8199%"3$0%:(0$ ;%1"&(0<8=

Evaluating seniors’ biggest expenses

7,8+9'48&#"$2!:#!-2#/&"# :$,'#;<==#;$$24&#>!'2 %&'()*+,-*-.,/-+&0+('12314.-4'-',.,/-54&',61+31.7-+&0+('12314.-*.8-7,3

!"##$

!%"$%&#$ '#(")*

+,-.--$/(01#

2#3$456$%!!$#/#"'$7('$ !"#$%&'#()*#'&+"!,'!-"+#$-#.$-/#0+1!-2% 34-&#4-#$'#"!5&#$,"6 @A9B&=C4DE59F4&EAGH&I&JKLMN&4OP&<99&Q!!GH!

!"#$%!0/'(/%(/+:%./% $)/%=0'+7%>0'$/%1/:*'% %?'?/#%*+:*6'$/:%@/0"8A B(%0"8%'(%CDE%F"#%'+%/+$*#/% 3/'#A% 1'+)'((/$%-*./(

!"#$%&'()*+,$"+%-*./(

2"(03+%-*./(

&*00*($"+%-*./(

4#/'$%5/67%5/8(

9/#'0:%;"<#*/#%!"#$%&'"$()*+

!"#$%&''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ())*$++%&''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''(,-&.%''''' /0-1%&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''&2-"-$%&''''''&30,&/4)$%&''''''''''' 5647$%&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''&

8#"09%&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

&89'$7"&,#:+7,#6&1*&,#-#7;#&<**67#&=$,6&>,##&*3#&)#$,?

!"#$%#&'$(#&)*+,&-.#-(&/$)$0"#&1*&2"$3(&4"$1#&5#67$&*,&/$)&0)&-,#671&-$,6 '''(#$*0:"7&8;,*$++&&&&&&'''<0+:4=$*&&&&&'''>"+-$*:"*)&&&&&&'''&?0+"

/"*)&!@#A$*%&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

ew parents may not be able to visualize that one day their largest expenditures won’t be centralized around providing necessities for their children. Adults go though many years of paying for diapers, toys, clothing, food, and education for their children. Yet, when the children have flown the coop, spending patterns change, and even more changes await come retirement.

According to a 2020 survey from the financial services firm Edward Jones, 68 percent of workers soon to retire said they had no idea how much they should be setting aside for expenses, particularly health care and long-term care. Professionals

approaching retirement would be wise to analyze the Consumer Price Index - Elderly (CPI-E). It is a good reference to estimate which future expenses will cost the most after retirement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics looks at consumer spending and uses various data to determine the rate of inflation in key areas that apply to older adults starting at age 62. Individuals may be surprised to learn about where they’ll be spending the bulk of their money when they get older. Here’s a look at some key categories.

Housing: According to data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available, housing accounted for roughly 49 percent of all spending for seniors. Focus should be centered on lowering those costs when a fixed income is imminent. The possibilities include paying off a mortgage; downsizing a home to

have a lower rent or mortgage payment; refinancing a home to a fixed-rate loan so that costs are predictable; and taking on a tenant to offset costs.

Food: The cost of food will not change dramatically, but it can eat into your budget. Even though food costs may decline when there’s only two mouths to feed, food and beverage spending may go up due to more leisure time and dining out. Utilize senior discounts by shopping on days when stores offer percentages off purchases. Save money on restaurant spending by eating out at lunch instead of dinner, splitting plates or skipping appetizers.

Healthcare: Experts warn that while many expenses decline in retirement, health care spending increases. According to Fidelity, the average 65year-old couple retiring in 2020 in the United States needed roughly $295,000 just to cover their retirement health care expenses. Those with family histories of severe illnesses or those with preexisting conditions will need even more. It’s also important to realize that roughly half of the population will need long-term care at some point, offers The Motley Fool, and that requires advanced budgeting as well. Many people find that Medicare supplement plans can bridge the gap in expenses that government-run plans will not cover. Saving through a health savings account (HSA) when employed also can create extra cash on hand for retirement expenses. Understanding which retirement expenses will be high can help people plan better for the future.

8;,0*"-047%&''''''B''''''&&/?/&/4)$%&''''''''''' !"#$&47&/"*)%&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 20C7"-@*$%&'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' <"-$%'''''''''''''''''

DE&F$)&G*4@7)&F4")H& F4+917&I$0C6-+H&!$J&K4*L&MMENN& JJJO-6$0+9"7)74JO:4# !"#$%&'()*#(+"

Downsizing a home is one way to reduce spending on housing in senior years.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021 • Living 50 Plus

Senior communities offering lifestyles

iving life to the fullest does not need to stop when adults near or reach retirement age. Agerestricted housing communities once bore the stereotype of having limited recreational options and dated surroundings. But modern senior homes and facilities are all about catering to active lifestyles — with some communities offering resort-like amenities and pristine properties. Furthermore, certain communities provide niche offerings for people who are looking for something even a little more different. Eligibility to live in these communities varies, but generally speaking one resident in the home must be age 55 or older. According to research by TRI Pointe Homes, of the 75 million people who comprise the Baby Boomer generation who are eligible for age-qualified communities, more than 32 million would consider living in such a community. The website 55places.com, which specializes in promoting age-restricted communities, indicates Florida has the most age-restricted communities in the country, followed by New Jersey. Arbutus Ridge Seaside Community for Active Adults was the first comprehensive retirement community built in Canada. Choosing an age-restricted community requires consideration of a host of factors, including the amenities residents most desire and the cost of a facility. The following factors can help people decide which community is most suitable for them. Style of home: Homes built in retirement communities are designed to be comfortable and convenient for aging residents. Many are singlefloor units. Certain communities may be comprised of apartments, condos or townhouses, while others may be single, detached residences.

Amenities: When comparing agerestricted communities, consider the amenities available. Do they include on-site dining, transportation, travel assistance, pools, fitness centers, walking trails, or outdoor sports facilities? Some communities have “aging in place” amenities, which means residents can move from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care as their needs change. Make a list of interests and then match them to a community that can fit your needs. Costs: Costs vary considerably. Investopedia advises seniors to consider the community’s location and what is being offered, as these factors will affect costs. In addition to rent or mortgages, most communities also have monthly maintenance or homeowners association fees that need to be compared and considered. Read contracts carefully to see which other costs are included. Specialized features: Unique men and women call for unique communities. If standard agerestricted communities do not fit the bill, 55places.com says there are specialized offerings for people who spend retirement in an RV; desire homes that align with their heritage; communities just for postal workers; or communities tied to a local college to continue lifelong learning. Age-restricted retirement communities are evolving and many specialize in catering to active lifestyles.

NASSAU KNOLLS

CEMETERY & MEMORIAL PARK

Lovely & Quaint

Grounds Open Daily Open To All Faiths Headstone, Flat Marker & Cremation Grave Sites and New Mausoleum Payment Options Available For Pre-Need

500 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington

944-8530

Est. 1900

We accept

62 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Saving strategies as retirement draws near

rofessionals on the cusp of retirement are often excited about what lies ahead. Some prospective retirees may look forward to traveling once they no longer have to go to work each day, while others may plan to return to school. Regardless of how adults envision spending their retirement, they’re going to need money when they’re no longer being paid by their employers. As retirement nears, some professionals may be concerned that they haven’t saved enough. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer in regard to how much money people will need in retirement. People who are worried they haven’t saved enough can try various strategies to build up their account balances before they officially call it a career.

Take advantage of catch-up contributions. Adults who are 50 or older are eligible to take advantage of catch-up contributions. These are designed to help people over 50 contribute more to certain retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or IRA, than statutory limits would otherwise allow. There are limits that govern the amount of money people can designate as catch-up contributions, but taking advantage of this perk can help people save more as retirement draws closer. Consider relocating. A recent study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute found that

housing costs accounted for 49 percent of seniors’ spending. Professionals nearing retirement who live in areas traditionally associated with a high cost of living can begin to rethink their long-term housing strategy. Relocating to an area with a lower cost of living is one option, while those who prefer to remain in their current town or city can consider downsizing to a smaller home to reduce their property taxes and monthly utility bills. Continue investing. Conventional wisdom suggests moving away from investing in stocks the closer you get to retirement. Though that’s a sound strategy, professionals who are trying to build their retirement savings in the final years before retiring could be missing out on significant growth by abandoning stocks entirely. Speak with a financial advisor about stock-based investments and your risk tolerance. Maintaining a diversified portfolio with a little risk can be a great way to grow your savings as retirement draws near. Professionals approaching retirement may be dealing with a mix of excitement and anxiety, particularly if they’re concerned about their retirement savings. Various strategies can help quell such anxiety and make it easier for professionals over 50 to build their savings as retirement nears.

What to know before claiming Social Security benefits

ardworking adults spend years striving to achieve their professional goals. Along the way, planning for retirement is a way to ensure all that hard work pays off when the time comes to call it a career. In the United States, men and women nearing retirement age may be thinking about when they should begin collecting their Social Security retirement benefits. Social Security is a social insurance program instituted by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1935. The program consists of retirement, disability and survivor benefits, and workers in the United States contribute to Social Security each week. The decision about when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is one all those who have contributed to the program must eventually make. In recognition of the difficulty of that decision, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers the following tips to people wondering when they should begin collecting their Social Security benefits.

Confirm your full retirement age. Full

retirement age refers to the age at which people can begin collecting their full benefits. Depending on the year you were born, you can begin collecting your full benefit at age 66 or 67. Claiming your benefit before you reach full retirement age will lead to a permanent decrease in your monthly benefits. Conversely, claiming after you reach full retirement age will lead to a permanent increase in your monthly benefits. Since the stakes are so considerable, it’s vital for adults to confirm their full retirement age before they claim their benefits.

Delay claiming if you can. The CFPB notes that you can expect to get an additional 5 to 8 percent in monthly benefits for every year you wait to claim your Social Security benefits after age 62, maxing out at age 70. If you can afford to do so, wait to claim your full benefit until age 70, as doing so can translate to a benefit that’s 32 percent higher than it would have been had you claimed your benefit at age 62. Budget for retirement. Short- and long-term budgeting for retirement can help you assess

how much money you will need to cover your expenses when you stop working. This step can help you understand how much a reduced or increased Social Security benefit will affect your bottom line in retirement.

Continue working. Remaining in the workforce full-time or even part-time can have a considerable impact on the size of your Social Security benefit. The CFPB notes that continuing to work for one or two additional years can replace low- or no-income earnings from your earnings record, thereby increasing your benefit.

Consider the long-term needs of your spouse. Surviving spouses receive the higher of the two spouses’ benefits. So it makes sense for the higher earning spouse to wait to collect his or her benefit until he or she reaches full retirement age. The decision about when to collect your Social Security benefit is complex. Discussing your options with your spouse and financial advisor can help you make the most informed decision.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

VIEW POINT

Convict Trump or nullify the Constitution Continued from Page 17 eye and 139 others gravely injured. Tell that to the traumatized Congressmembers who were hunted and had to hide from the marauders who already proved they would beat someone to death. Is intimidation of lawmakers the new “Rule of Law.” The second absurd claim is that Trump’s incitement of the protesters at the rally at the Ellipse was “free speech.” But free

speech is not unlimited — does not cover fraud, slander and certainly not incitement of violence. Trump violated his oath of oﬃce in egging on his rabid followers to disrupt Congress fulfilling its Constitutionally-mandated duty, for the purpose of somehow keeping himself in oﬃce. Free speech? Incitement is not protected speech, but the President must be held to a higher standard of faithful-

ness to the awesome power of his office. What is more, this was a long-term disinformation campaign designed for his own benefit. That’s what this second impeachment is about: to reaffirm the obligations of holding this sacred office. But it also is about declaring Trump unfit and banning him from ever holding federal office again. It isn’t enough that Trump is

being impeached for inciting an insurrection and attempting to overturn the election, he should be prosecuted for his actions and policies which amounted to negligent homicide (just like former Michigan Governor Snyder is being prosecuted for Flint’s poisoned water supply), contributing to the death of over 400,000 Americans to COVID-19, because acknowledging the pandemic would damage

his political fortunes, and what’s more, was hurting Democrats way more than Republicans. He would be prosecuted for crimes against humanity for his family separation policy. He would be prosecuted for extortion, bribery, and shaping domestic and foreign policy for his personal enrichment. And no doubt, his defense will be that he was president at the time.

NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

BENEFITTING NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA

VIRTUALLY BID on unique items and experiences. Visit: biddingowl.com/NSALA All auction winners will receive an adorable North Shore Animal League America face mask, while supplies last.

SCAN ME! The Auction closes on February 19th at 12:00 PM EST!

Happy Valentine’s Day On the Market | Breton Hills A!ordable luxury residences in Glen Cove for the over-55 community. Schedule your visit today! Web# 3252116

Elizabeth Zuvekas

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.627.2800 | M 917.710.2133 elizabeth.zuvekas@elliman.com

elliman.com

110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.7401 © 2021 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. ALL MATERIAL PRESENTED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE THIS INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, IT IS REPRESENTED SUBJECT TO ERRORS, OMISSIONS, CHANGES OR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT NOTICE. ALL PROPERTY INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO SQUARE FOOTAGE, ROOM COUNT, NUMBER OF BEDROOMS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PROPERTY LISTINGS SHOULD BE VERIFIED BY YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, ARCHITECT OR ZONING EXPERT. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

64 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

F R O M T H E D E S K O F S TAT E A S S E M B LY M A N E D W A R D R A

State must rebuild trust with Legislature

ast week when Attorney General Letitia James released a scathing report detailing the Cuomo administration’s deceptions and failures in our nursing homes over the last year, it was regarded as a bombshell. Bombshell reports get a lot of attention. It checks that box. However, bombshell reports are usually something else — surprising. Unfortunately, the attorney general’s findings confirmed what our conference has been saying publicly for months: the administration intentionally undercounted nursing home deaths and forced embattled facilities to admit COVID-19 positive seniors. The report outlines the sort

of unconscionable, premeditated wrongdoing that shakes confidence in our institutions and erodes public trust. As lawmakers, it’s our job to do everything in our power to restore it. The process starts with removing the governor’s emergency powers. For months, Assembly Republicans have been imploring our friends on the other side of the aisle in both houses to promote checks and balances and restore regular government order. It was the right thing to do then. After the attorney general’s report and a New York Times investigation that found nine top health oﬃcials resigned after the governor demanded that their professional guidance match whatever

EDWARD RA

State Assemblyman arbitrary political decision he’d just pronounced at his press briefing, it’s even more obvious now. I’m pleased that top Democrat legislators are echoing our

concerns and stating publicly that they’re seriously considering joining us in stripping the governor of his emergency authority. Once we restore our full legislative power, we need to use it to promote transparency, provide oversight and demand accountability. It means holding full bipartisan hearings. It means using subpoena power to compel the administration to hand over documents and testify in public. And it means using the attorney general’s report as a road map to dig deeper and uncover the whole truth. Did private nursing home and hospital executives influence the administration’s decision to grant them legal immunity? Did the administration undercount deaths

simply for rosier optics, or did they have more sinister intentions? Thousands of families who lost loved ones across the state deserve to know what happened and why. Getting these answers is part of our duty to the constitution and to our constituents. Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature need to put political diﬀerences aside and work together to earn what the administration has squandered: the trust of millions of New Yorkers. They want state government to provide oversight and accountability. They want us to work hard to ramp up vaccine distribution, and they want us to get our economy moving in the right direction. Let’s deliver for them.

READERS WRITE

Zeldin’s support of Greene

o insurrectionist Representative Lee Zeldin (Q-NY) voted to support the Q-Anon Kewpie Doll, Marjorie Taylor Green (Q-

GA). He must be one of the investors in the “Jewish lasers from space” that Q-Anon Kewpie campaigned on. Maybe he’d like a “Camp Auschwitz” or “6MWNE”

sweatshirt from the new RNC (QNC ?) company store. Not Sad!, Pathetic. Eric Cashdan Sands Point

Greene deserved punishment

epublican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was stripped of committee assignments by the House of Representatives. This was because of her calls for political violence and peddling farright conspiracy theories. She was kicked oﬀ the education and budget committees as reported. In my opinion The House did

the right thing and should have done more. Greene’s comments I found most appalling and destructive to our democracy. She liked a Facebook post that said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be executed and claimed school massacres were false flag operations by gun control advocates and questioned whether the Pentagon was hit by a plane on 9/11.

Our representatives did the right thing considering Rep. Greene was out of line and should have been impeached. Remember this: Evil thrives when good people do nothing. Well, the good people in Congress did something right. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose

LETTERS POLICY Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten, and those longer than 750 words may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters must include the writer’s name and phone number for verification. Anonymously sent letters will not be printed. Letters must be received by Monday noon to appear in the next week’s paper. All letters become the property of Blank Slate Media LLC and may be republished in any format. Letters can be e-mailed to news@theislandnow.com or mailed to Blank Slate Media, 25 Red Ground Road, East Hills, NY 11577.

Field work

was taking a rest, watching you continue to clear a path From the house, down to the white street, Lifting each shovel of snow onto the thick piles On either side, a perfect pitch. We’d broken two plastic shovels already. I thought about how we met that winter back in college, Full of the whims of youth. Then our long distance Correspondence, me to grad school in Texas, You to work in the big city. But still we married, dreaming and following the currents Of the fickle economy and changing politics of the 80s. We crisscrossed half the country and survived, Our love thrived whole. In Oklahoma we sought the help of a senator who prevented Fannie Mea from foreclosing on a house we bought To move our family from a one bedroom apartment As the job market took a long nosedive. I’m thinking of your sore shoulder, and the intractable issue That when the lungs become infected bleed from both halves, Each time shaking my world to the core of my being, Formed into memory. You stop to rest and we smile, feeling good. Our faces are flush like a birthmark we carry for one another. Valentines are stained red and need last for perfection. A love-knot, always and forever. Stephen Cipot Garden City Park

Blank Slate Media to honor top business leaders Continued from Page 8 Health Care and Rehabilitation, Rebecca Sanin, president and CEO of the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, and more.

Blank touted all of the honorees for their work throughout the coronavirus pandemic. “This year’s event has special meaning due to the challenges posed

by the COVID-19 pandemic for each of our honorees and their success in overcoming those challenges,” he said. Those who wish to register for

the event can visit theislandnow.com or people can join the Zoom meeting directly at 7 p.m. on Thursday with the following link: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/89857850314.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Business&RealEstate

Is it better to sell now or in the spring? We had our second snowstorm in less than a week, but purchasers were still going out searching for their next place to call home. I have observed the most qualified and serious families and individuals venturing out with their masks, gloves and booties to view homes, condos, coops and even rentals. The buyers and tenants figure there would be less competition at this time of the year rather than waiting until the spring rush, when the weather is more conducive for those snow birds and snow flakes to re-enter the market. Most important and understandable is that if you are older or have health issues, the Covid-19 pandemic has put a lot of fear and concern for your wellbeing into the public’s psyche and stopped you from buying. However, that being said, the demand is still extremely strong and the activity is greater than I have seen in a multitude of years. Our inventory as of January 2021 year over year has been reduced drastically. Comparing the two-month period from November and December 2020 as per One Key MLS, inventory has been reduced by 36.39 percent in Nassau County. This statistic is due

to the pent-up demand that had occurred due to everyone being housebound and not being able to go out and look at homes during the March-June 2020 time period when Gov. Cuomo shut everything down while the Covid-19 pandemic and its inherent infection rate were escalating along with substantial job losses and many reduced incomes. The buyers were out in full force purchasing with an insatiable appetite in the third and fourth quarters of 2020. As of January 2021 the absorption rate was 2.8 months, which means it was calculated by the number of available listings divided by the number of contracts and with this analysis to show the number of months for a typical home to go under contract, assuming it is priced at fair market value. The average selling price in Nassau County was $760,509, the median price was $623,000, meaning half of the sold homes were above that price and half were below. The average original listing price was $798,903. The median original listing price was $639,000, again, whereby half were above the original listing price and half were below. So homes were selling within about

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

a 5 percent range of the original asking price. The change in demand, which declined 6.87 percent for the period covering December 2020 to January 2021, is another figure that is closely looked at to show how strong the market is for purchasing. This is the change in the number of contracts over the selected period (two months, three months, etc.). It is smoothed by dividing that diﬀerence by the sum of the listings for the period (this normalizes this statistic so it can be better compared with the change in supply. For example, if you selected a two-month comparison period, and the total number of contracts went from 155 (two

months ago) to 121 today, and the total number of listings went from 1,000 (two months ago) to 1,200 today, then this number would be minus 1.55. So was it the first snowstorm back on Dec. 16-17, 2020, that may have caused the reduction in demand? Over the next few months going into the spring, we will know whether or not the demand to purchase is cooling oﬀ or remains strong and how this will factor into determining prices and inventory. With all this information is it to your advantage to list your home now or wait until the spring? If in fact the stats in demand are not related to the weather but reflect more that prices have gone to almost an unsustainable level for the average purchaser and buyers are backing away for now, we shall see what trend emerges over the next few months. It will also provide more time for those buyers who are continuing to save for that ever important down payment to jump oﬀ the fence and become a qualified and creditworthy purchaser. Lastly, those who are venturing out to purchase today regardless of weather must be very qualified and motivated mi-

nus the tire kickers that will be out during the spring and summer months. The question arises do you want the most serious legitimate buyers or the spring tire kickers, lookers and even worse those small numbers who might not have any intention of purchasing but whose devious agenda is to potentially steal and abscond with your personal possessions? The choice is yours, but now is a fantastic time to strike while the market is still very hot. Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has 39 years of experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S). For a “FREE” 15 minute consultation, a value analysis of your home, or to answer any of your questions or concerns he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate. Com Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas or suggestions on future columns with your name, email and cell number and he will call or email you back.

DID YOU KNOW?

Challenges posed by COVID-19 in N. Hempstead

t is hard to believe that we are nearing one year since the coronavirus pandemic has altered our everyday lives. As vaccines are rolled out throughout the country, and with an end hopefully in sight, I would like to reflect on those who went above and beyond for all of us through these diﬃcult of times: our first responders. The Town of North Hempstead is home to over 230,000 residents, as well as three hospitals, seventeen volunteer fire departments and nine police agencies. Thousands of hospital workers, police oﬃcers, firefighters, and EMT’s fought for us around the clock. The pandemic brought a new life that these first responders had to adapt to.

Being on call, working extended hours and changing the way they interacted with the public were just a few of the new realities they dealt with during the height of the pandemic. Many were quarantined away from their children, families and friends due to constant exposure to the virus. They spent weeks, months, and the better part of a year isolated. With over 13,000 positive tests in just the North Hempstead community, all residents faced diﬃculties adapting to an everevolving way of life. During the New York State ‘stay-at-home’ order, businesses, oﬃces, shops, schools, and all non-essential services were closed as we all did our part to fight back and flatten the curve.

WAYNE WINK

North Hempstead Town Clerk However, the brave men and women who make up our first did not just sit back. All first responder organizations worked tirelessly to best help our communities. There were volunteer fire

departments that had quarantined crews on shift, living in their departments away from their families for two to three weeks at a time to limit exposure. Ambulance employees and EMT’s would respond to dozens, sometimes hundreds of calls each day. Hospital workers would work around the clock to intake, process, and assist patients to the best of their abilities before sleeping in temporary structures or making other accommodations away from their friends and families due to their high-risk contact rates. Day after day, knowing that the day would be filled with the unknown, our first responders never wavered and kept pushing forward. We owe it to all of those who have been on the

front lines to do our part in return. We must take the proper precautions and the right steps to ensure the valiant eﬀorts of our first responders aren’t in vain.The coronavirus pandemic will forever be remembered in history. In the future, when reflecting on this historic time, we should never forget the courageous response to the disease made by our first responders. The sacrifices made throughout the year have been truly admirable and deserves everyone’s deepest appreciation. I would like to thank all of the first responders for their sacrifice and dedication, as well as always being a beacon of hope for all. Thank you, stay safe, and I look forward to the day that we defeat this virus together.

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theislandnow.com

66 The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Recent Real Estate Sales in the

Willistons

25 Terrace Court, Albertson

49 Whittier Drive, Albertson

4 bd, 2 ba, Sold on: 11/29/20, Sold Price: $565,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Mineola

4 bd, 3 ba, 2,000 sqft, Sold on: 12/30/20, Sold Price: $860,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Herricks

15 Shadow Lane, East Williston

129 Custer Avenue, Williston Park

4 bd, 3 ba, Sold on: 12/7/20, Sold Price: $1,260,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: East Williston

3 bd, 2 ba, Sold on: 10/29/20, Sold Price: $600,000 Type: Single Family, Schools: Mineola

Editor’s note: Homes shown here were recently sold in New Hyde Park, the Willistons, Mineola and surrounding areas by a variety of real estate agencies. This information about the home and the photos were obtained through the Zillow.com. The homes are presented solely based on the fact that they were recently sold in New Hyde Park, the Willistons, Mineola and are believed by Blank Slate Media to be of interest to our readers.

We live where we work. We love where we live. Our reach is global, Our expertise is local.

R E A

516.626.7600

L I Z E Y O U R V

Wheatley Plaza Office 342 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale, NY wheatleyplaza@danielgale.com danielgale.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Coliseum targeted for vaccination site Continued from Page 1 recently released a joint statement to state officials imploring them to allow Nassau residents to use New York City facilities. Jack Sterne, a Cuomo spokesperson, said the legislators needed to look at the facts and “stop misleading” Nassau residents. “The reality is Long Island has received the most vaccines in the state after New York City, we’ve launched two mass vaccination sites on Long Island, and we’ve deployed seven community vaccine hubs to the region, with more in the works,” Sterne said. The state’s average weekly inoculation rate is around 300,000 doses, but the number remains insufficient in the ongoing efforts to administer doses to people as quickly as possible. More than seven million New Yorkers were eligible to receive the vaccine before Cuomo expanded those eligible to include taxi drivers, restaurant workers and those who reside in facilities for people with disabilities. Cuomo announced on Tuesday that New Yorkers with underlying health conditions will be allowed to make appointments at state-run mass vaccination sites

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Nassau County Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) implored state officials to allow the county to use the Nassau Coliseum as a mass vaccination center. as early as Sunday, with inoculations beginning the next day. Underlying health conditions Cuomo mentioned include cancer, kidney disease, pulmonary disease, liver disease, type 1 or 2 diabetes,

intellectual or developmental disabilities, pregnancy and others. Cuomo also announced that the White House had signed oﬀ on a 5 percent increase in vaccination doses being

distributed to states for three weeks. “The 5 percent increase doesn’t sound like much but remember, that’s on top of the first announcement which was 16 percent increase, then the second announcement of 5 percent, so this is a third announcement of 5 percent — 16, plus 5, plus 5, so over the past three weeks it has been relatively significant,” Cuomo said Tuesday. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said the county remains ready to increase the number of vaccinations administered whenever the state allows it. “We have put 100% of doses into eligible arms, and we will continue to do so while aggressively advocating for more vaccines from the federal government,” Curran said in a statement. CVS Health said its eligible 32 locations in the state will begin to offer the coronavirus vaccines starting Thursday. The eligible pharmacies are expected to receive more than 20,000 total doses to prioritize vaccinating people who are 65 and older, according to officials. Officials also said there will be four Walgreens locations in the county that will be eligible to conduct inoculations, but did not provide specifics as to where.

Hearing set for lawsuit on toxic plume cleanup Continued from Page 2 “It is unfortunate that Lockheed is using that history as a way to evade their legal obligation to reimburse the Authority for the cost of addressing the impact of their plume on the Authority’s well sites,” Graziano said in a statement to Newsday. John Brickman of McLaughlin &

Stern LLP, who is representing the water authority, said Lockheed agreed to pay the water authority $250,000 for maintenance on three additional wells on Watermill Lane, where the water authority detected problems in 2014, according to Graziano. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said, “In general, it is our practice not to

comment on pending litigation.” Lockheed Martin announced in January that the agency has cleaned up around 70 percent of the plume throughout a 900-acre region in North Hempstead. Oﬃcials said that despite the progress, eﬀorts to continue cleaning the area will span at least another two decades.

“Remediation of groundwater is very challenging because we’re constrained by many things like the flow of groundwater where we can put treatment in,” Glenda Clark, a project lead of environmental remediation at Lockheed Martin, said at a January forum. “So, we will be continuing to remediate for a very long time.”

North Shore nears 18K total virus cases Continued from Page 2 year, and in that short period. So please, everybody, be careful, wear masks, socially distance.” The Village of Roslyn’s 270 cases appeared comparatively low, but the cases per 1,000 residents, 93.62, is one of the four highest rates in Nassau County, according to Health Department figures. Despite this, the village has seen one of the lowest three-month increases of any analyzed municipality, with fewer than 150 new confirmed cases since Nov. 1, according to county statistics. The village had just three new cases over the past week. Roslyn Heights had 544 total cases as of Wednesday, and the Village of East Hills had 418. Manhasset, which has remained comparatively low since the beginning of the pandemic,

had 1,248 cases, with nearly half coming from town-governed areas. It is the only analyzed area with fewer than 1,300 cases. A total of 135,711 Nassau County residents had tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday, and 2,768 had died since the pandemic began. Nearly 700 Nassau residents remained hospitalized due to the virus, with 107 in intensive care units and 63 on ventilators, according to county figures. All three hospitalization figures are decreases from last week. Throughout New York, more than 1.5 million people had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Wednesday, according to state figures. Of that total, more than 44,500 people had died. In New York City, 647,000 people had contracted the virus, and 27,856 had died.

CHART BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Nearly 18,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus since mid-March as of this week, according to statistics from the Nassau County Department of Health.

68 The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

Chamber sponsors vet’s vaccination ride

PHOTO BY JOEL HARRIS

Veteran Ray Vaz was met by state Sen. Anna Kaplan and a police escort to his coronavirus vaccine appointment on Friday.

Continued from Page 1 seeing a Facebook post by Vaz’s daughter, Caryl Vaz Salesi, in which she mentioned the appointment she had made for her father to receive his vaccine at the Javits Center. While the news was exciting, Lubrano and others observed that it might be a challenge to get Vaz, who uses a wheelchair, to and from New York City for both doses of the vaccine. Lubrano, who is also a former president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, reached out to Joel Harris, the group’s current president, and the two formed a plan to help Vaz. Working with Larry Blessinger, owner of All Island Transportation in Freeport, they arranged for the veteran to be driven to receive his first dose of the vaccine on Friday and for his second dose three weeks later. “Ray is truly an American hero and an exceptional Mineola citizen,” Harris said. “The Chamber of Commerce’s mission is to help local businesses, but we like to go

beyond that. We’re really, really proud to be able to do this for somebody like him.” As a soldier at the Normandy landings, Vaz survived serious injuries, earning a Purple Heart, and continued to serve upon recovering. He went on to help liberate Buchenwald concentration camp. Bringing the expression of gratitude for Vaz a step further, Lubrano and Harris arranged an escort by the 3rd Precinct of the Nassau County police for the veteran. State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) and a representative from U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice’s oﬃce, Kevin Devlin, also met Vaz at his home to see him oﬀ and thank him for his service on Friday morning. Reflecting on the helpfulness she saw at every step of the process, Salesi said that the day was a success. “Everyone was really accommodating, so my family is very thankful,” Salesi said. “It was a wonderful gesture and a great surprise.”

Roslyn financier admits to bankruptcy fraud Continued from Page 4 “Do you understand … I can go to jail?” Kamensky is quoted as saying. “I pray you tell them that it was a huge misunderstanding, okay, and I’m going to invite you to bid and be part of the process … But I’m telling you; this is going to the U.S. Attorney’s Oﬃce. This is going to go to the court … [I]f you’re going to continue to tell them what you just told me, I’m going to jail, okay? Because they’re going to say that I abused my position as a fiduciary, which I probably did, right? Maybe I should go to jail. But I’m asking you not to put me in jail.” During a subsequent interview with the oﬃce of the United States trustee,

which the attorney’s oﬃce says was conducted under oath and in the presence of counsel, Kamensky stated that his calls to the bank were a “terrible mistake” and “profound errors and lapses of judgment.” Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement that Kamensky had abused his position. “Daniel Kamensky abused his position as a committee member in the Neiman Marcus Bankruptcy to corrupt the process for distributing assets and take extra profits for himself and his hedge fund,” Strauss said. “Kamensky predicted in his own words to a colleague: ‘Do you understand … I can go to jail?’… ‘this is going to the U.S. Attorney’s Oﬃce.’ His fraud has

indeed come to the U.S. Attorney’s Oﬃce and now has been revealed in open court.” The attorney’s oﬃce said Marble Ridge resigned from the committee handling the Neiman Marcus bankruptcy and has advised its investors that it intends to begin winding down operations and returning investor capital. Kamensky’s lawyer, Joon H. Kim of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, said: “Mr. Kamensky has admitted what he did was wrong. He deeply regrets his conduct on July 31, 2020 and the great pain it has caused his family, colleagues and others.” Kamensky was previously a partner at Paulson & Company, and prior to that held

roles at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital, and as an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. He received the Jewish National Fund’s Theodore Herzl Leadership Award in 2017, having helped to found the organization’s Finance for Israel group, and is a former member of the board of trustees for the Schechter School of Long Island, which in 2019 named him a guest of honor at its annual gala. Eﬀorts to reach both organizations for comment were unavailing. Kamensky pleaded guilty to one count of bankruptcy fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 7.

!"#!$%&#'( ,.+ )*+,-( !"//*%)(0*$,0(1*"%.,0&!23 !"#$%&'"&'$(#$)*&+%%,-.//%+)#-(0$1$'234'5/-67-4"#,%#'$/

!"#$%&#'()*+&#$),&-#$)./0+#1%2345.-#67#88"99 :::;54%2./,+&+):;<)=

!"#$%&'()*#(+"

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/ THEISLANDNOW AND TWITTER: @THE ISLANDNOW

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

Cuomo signs ‘Trans Ban’ repeal

PROFESSIONAL GUIDE ▼ COMPUTER / TECH SUPPORT ▼ (&)*+,-.% *.&/0-)12

LAW ▼

<M=N$OPFCDIQRS$.CPEFOFCI$ .!BHGECP$PCHKFP$CTHCPEU

!"#$%$"&'()*'&+" !",-&./"&'0)*$1" " 2'%3)&4/"$56"7&-5%'&/" !"8-9"/'%:.7" !";'<.1$&"0$-5%'5$5(' BCDEF!D$.!GH!D$.!ICJ$=>?@A"KDI$LCE

!"#$##%&'' !"#$%&'()*&$#+,$"&&-.

D’Angelo Law Associates, PC Stephanie A. D’Angelo, Esq.

!"#$%&'#$()#$*"+,-$./""*%$0#$()#1$ &"$2*"3("2%&*"$4&%5$/",$*%5#6$2*(7 8*"$*6$*99#6-$!99#6$#:8&6#)$;<=>;=;?-$ @/+&1$ 9*6$ /",$ "#4$ )#6A&2#$ #:2#8%$ )(0)26&8%&*"$ 9##)-$ B()%$ '#"%&*"$ 2*(8*"$/%$%&'#$*9$)/+#-

!"##$%&'$(&)$"$*+,,$-."/%&0.0$12345$6768469:

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT ▼

Your Trusts & Estates Attorney • Wills & Trusts • Estate Administration • Estate Planning • Asset Protection • Elder Law • Probate • Real Estate

PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN

A bill to repeal New York’s “Walking While Trans” ban backed by state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) has been passed. ers.” The bill passed with the support of the District Attorneys Association of New York and of local District Attorney Madeline Singas. “As we work to promote confidence and trust in law enforcement and our criminal justice system it’s important that we be clearheaded about the laws and policies that protect our communities, and those that can be abused to cause harm,” Singas said. “No one should be profiled for their clothing, gender identity or expression, but data make clear that marginalized individuals — especially trans women of color — have been harassed, exploited, and unjustly charged with ‘loitering for the purpose of engaging in prostitution,’ and I strongly encourage the State Legislature to repeal this law. “Violence and abuse victimizing our trans neighbors occurs at an alarming rate, and we must do more to protect them. The repeal of the ‘walking while trans’ law is an important step and I commend the leaders who have championed this issue so tirelessly.”

For your latest community news visit us 24 hours a day 7 days a week at

www.theislandnow.com

Queens (718) 776-7475

901 Stewart Ave., Ste 230 • Garden City, NY 11530 www.DangeloLawAssociates.com

TAX PREPARATION SERVICES ▼

5626789:)*)!22698!+;2<)8=9> !""#$%&'%()*)+,-)./01,/,&'#%)20/3'"04 !"#$%&'%(#)$*% #+,#$-#./#%-.%-./01#% 2)+%,$#,)$)2-0.3 TUTOR ▼

MATH • SAT • ACT

TI-84 TI-89

★ Algebra ★ Core Curriculum NYS Licensed ★ Geometry Grades 7-12 ★ Algebra 2 + Trig ★ Pre-Calc ★ AP Calculus

NORM: 516-625-3314

ENGLISH • ACT • SAT ing

ead ★ Critical R Also ONLINE ★ Writing Tutoring ★ Grammar ★ Essays

LYNNE: 516-625-3314

!"#$ %"&'()*#+$ ',-.$/,0)#+$ 1&$%"&'()*2

FPU$C7O&+&"VS$ P#%&6#'#"%$8+/""&"VS$ F"A#)%'#"%)S$W<?$8+/")S$ Q&9#$F")(6/"2#$ B#'0#6$DKEHS$DUEHS$ KF.HKS$DRUU.HK

$ !"# %&& !"#$%&'%"&"!()*$+''$ 9)AA%20B)(%C0$%).%),,0-.21#.2% 0$%C0$%)BB-2-0.)A%-.C0$1)2-0.

DEFG&HDGIJ&E

Continued from Page 8 on their appearance. Repealing the archaic ‘walking while trans’ ban is a critical step toward reforming our policing system and reducing the harassment and criminalization transgender people face simply for being themselves. New York has always led the nation on LGBTQ rights, and we will continue that fight until we achieve true equality for all.” “When it becomes clear that a section of the law is being abused to unjustly target vulnerable individuals in our community, it falls to lawmakers to correct the problem and prevent further injustice from taking place,” Kaplan said in a statement. “With the repeal of the ‘Walking While Trans Ban,’ we’re removing a broken law that didn’t make anyone safer, and caused transgender New Yorkers undue hardship and suﬀering for far too long. I congratulate Senator Brad Hoylman for this achievement, I applaud the hard-working activists who fought for this day, and I thank our Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for prioritizing measures that protect justice for New York-

Nassau (516) 222-1122

4!5%678% 9:;76<=% 8;<>%<>;=%?@

KJEG'K%L.-0.%<,M#N 4A0$)A%O)$MP%6Q%EE''H RRRN$0*0"-/S)**0/-)2#*N/01

ADVERTISE WITH US

PLACE YOUR AD WITH US! To place your ad, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

70 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ ANTIQUES

AUCTION SERVICES

$$ Top Cash Paid $$

BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS

EXPERT BATHROOM REPAIRS

HIGH END ANTIQUES HIGH CASH PAiD Oil Paintings, Mid-Century Accessories 1950s/60s, Porcelain, Costume Jewelry, Sterling Silver, Gold, Furniture, Objects of Art, etc. • 1 Pc.or entire estates • Premium prices paid for Tiffany, Damaged Quality Pieces Meissen Porcelain, Bronzes, Marble, etc. also

wanted

CALL JOSEPH OR RUTH

718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 Family Business for over 40 years

AntiqueAssets.com

CARPENTRY

!"##$#%&'()*+,&'-./#$*.% and&01234235

Crown Molding Window Molding Base Molding Picture Frame Molding

New Doors Old Plaster Removed New Drywall Installed Rotted Wood Replaced

516-884-4016 Lic# H0454870000

Buying and Selling over 40 Years / Member New England Appraisers Association

CLEANING

CHIMNEY SPECIALISTS

Thorough and Professional home and office cleaning at affordable rates. Call for a free estimate

Anna Klimas 516-360-8340 Polish cleaning lady

Chimneykinginc.com

4klimas@gmail.com

PLACE YOUR AD

CUSTOM FRAMING

ADVERTISE WITH US!

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING Over 30 Years in Business We can frame anything!

To place your ad, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

Elegant Touch Remodeling “Quality Construction with a Personal Touch” Deal direct with owner - Serving li over 25 years

"!"#$%$&'(')%$!*()&'$&(&+$! "#,#-(&).$!(&/'0)&"#1$&$#(2!0(&3/*(&!4$#%)+$4 "#5(&!6$!789&3!8&!:'(4;!#(66)'<

Call for Idea session or FREE ESTIMATE ANDREW COHEN 631-867-6557 nehoc23@gmail.com

ADVERTISE WITH US To advertise, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

All Types of Home Improvements Free Estimates • Free design service extensions • Kitchens dormers • bathrooms decks • siding

631.281.7033 Licence #H18H2680000

COMPUTER REPAIR

• Screen Fix • Computer Repairs • Onsite Service • Tutoring • VHS to DVD

516.472.0500

www.ComputerRepairForce.com 33 Great Neck Rd. Ste. #5 2nd Floor, Great Neck Open 7 Days • Patient & Friendly

DEMOLITION AND JUNK REMOVAL

HOME IMPROVMENT

COMPLETE JUNK REMOVAL/DEMOLITION

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

AMBIANCE

• Kitchen Installations • Furniture Assembly • Finish Carpentry • Minor Electrical & Plumbing 28 YEAR GC RESIDENT

HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10-5 @jacks_custom_framing jackmccullough@me.com

Nehoc’s Organizing & Handyman Services

• Cell: 516-263-6774

Lic # H3700460000

516-775-9495 92 Covert Ave., Stewart Manor

HOME IMPROVEMENT

• • • •

Office: 516-933-6508

Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from

HOME IMPROVEMENT

INSURED

NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL “Old Fashioned Craftsmanship”

PLACE YOUR AD

You’re Just One Phone Call Away From a Clean Home or Office!! COMMERCIAL and RESIDENTIAL Customized Services • Excellent References

Specializing in bathroom repairs & leaks • Mold problems. • Shower pan leak experts • Tile repair • Sheetrock • Plastering • Painting • Plumbing Repairs • Grouting

Lic & Ins H18E2170000

Call BOB 516-741-2154

• We Remove Or Demo Anything & Everything • Entire contents of home and/or office • We clean it up and take it away Residential - Commercial Bonded Insured / Free Estimates

STRONG ARM CONTRACTING, INC.

516-538-1125

HOME IMPROVEMENT

LAMPS FIXED $ 65 In Home Service Handy Howard 646-996-7628

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ HOME IMPROVEMENT

15-YEAR RESIDENTIAL WARRANTY POLYUREA NOT EPOXY đ 4X STRONGER THAN EPOXY đ NO HOT TIRE PICK-UP! đ WON’T CHIP OR PEEL đ EASY TO CLEAN đ INDOOR/OUTDOOR

ONE DAY FLOORS đ GARAGE FLOORS đ LAUNDRY ROOMS đ PATIOS đ WALKWAYS đ RECREATION ROOMS đ BASEMENTS đ SERVICE AREAS đ OFFICES đ SCHOOLS đ SHOWROOMS đ RESTROOMS đ PRODUCTION AREAS đ VETERINARY CLINICS

516.676.8469 iPaintFloors.com CONCRETE COATINGS

!"#$%&&'(#&)*+,"+-./&&01

PLACE YOUR AD

ADVERTISE WITH US!

To place your ad, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046 PAINTING

ISA

est. 1978

Interior and Exterior • Plaster/Spackle Light Carpentry • Decorative Moldings Power Washing www.MpaintingCo.com

516-328-7499 Licensed & Insured

WINDOW REPAIRS

631-385-7975

WINDOW REPAIRS & RESTORATIONS

Outdated Hardware • Skylights •Andersen Sashes • New Storm Windows • Wood Windows • Chain/Rope Repairs • Falling Windows • Fogged Panes • Mechanical Repairs • Wood Repairs

ALL BRANDS

WWW.SKYCLEARWINDOW.COM Call Mr. Fagan • 32 Years Experience Lic. # H080600000 Nassau

ALL PHASES OF RUBBISH REMOVAL & DEMOLITION

HOME IMPROVEMENT

• New Construction & Conversions • Dormers • Extensions • Mason Work • Stone • Kitchens • Windows • Siding • Decks • Porticos • Baths • Basements • Carpentry Work

Free Estimates / 516-581-9146 Nass#HO444640000

• Suff#HI-61446 • Insured

• Residential • Commercial Construction Sites

Kitchens • Bathrooms Clean-Ups • Attics Basements Flood/Fire

516-541-1557 www.1866WEJUNKIT.com

MASONRY FREE ESTIMATES LOU: 516 850-4886

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

DRIVEWAYS & PARKING LOTS RETAINING WALLS FOUNDATIONS DRYWELL WATER DRAINAGE WATER PROOFING

SIDEWALKS PATIOS / PAVERS BRICK / BLOCK BLUE STONE STEPS / STOOPS BELGIUM BLOCK CULTURED STONE

Contracting LLC

To place your ad, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

LIC: #H2219010000

MOVING

PAINTING, POWERWASHING

MOVING & STORAGE INC.

Long Island and New York State Specialists

• Residential • Commercial • Piano & Organ Experts • Boxes Available FREE ESTIMATES www.ajmoving.com

516-741-2657

114 Jericho Tpke. Mineola, NY 11501

Bob Cat Service

PLACE YOUR AD WITH US!

MASONRY • PAVING • CONCRETE

FULLY INSURED

N.Y.D.O.T.#10405

ALL SIZE DUMPSTERS Same Day Service, Fully Insured

ADVERTISE WITH US

!"##$#%&'()*+,&-./$*/$0 and&'12-34526

• INTERIOR / EXTERIOR • B. Moore Paints • Power Washing • Dustless Sanding Vacuum System • Taping • Spackling • Plaster Removed • New Drywall

516-884-4016 Lic# H0454870000

TREE SERVICE

PAINTING & WALLPAPER

516-385-3132 New Hyde Park

JUNK REMOVAL

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PLACE YOUR AD

ADVERTISE WITH US To advertise, call 516.307.1045 or fax 516.307.1046

WINDOW TREATMENTS

OLD VILLAGE TREE SERVICE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Owner Operated Since 1989 Licensed & Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

Member L.I. Arborist Assoc.

516-466-9220

*CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS TOP BRANDS AT DISCOUNT PRICES* WE BRING THE SHOWROOM TO YOU FREE CONSULTATION

516-426-2890

WWW.MADEINTHESHADENSLI.COM

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

nassau

72 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

▼ EMPLOYMENT To Place Your Ad Call Phone:

516.307.1045 x 218

Fax:

516.307.1046

e-mail:

DFlynn@theislandnow.com

In Person:

25 Red Ground Rd. Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

We’re Open:

Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

Deadlines

Tuesday 11:00am: Classified Advertising Tuesday 1:00pm: Legal Notices/ Name Changes Friday 5:00pm Buyers’s Guide Error Responsibility All ads placed by telephone are read back for verification of copy context. In the event of an error of Blank Slate Media LLC we are not responsible for the first incorrect insertion. We assume no responsiblity for an error in and beyond the cost of the ad. Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor. There are no refunds on cancelled advertising. An advertising credit only will be issued.

• Great Neck News • Williston Times • New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times • Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Garden City News • Bethpage Newsgram • Jericho Syosset News Journal • Mid Island Times • Syosset Advance

HELP WANTED

NASSAU COUNTY NEEDS CERTIFIED HHA’S, COMPANIONS AND HOMEMAKERS. ★★★ HIRING IMMEDIATELY★★★ “A Special thank you to all the Nurse Aides and all who Save Lives.” • Competitive Pay Rate • Flexible Scheduling • All Shifts & Locations available

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

!"##$%&'()*#+$,-./01234-56/$

7)89$*)7:')$;<=$>&'()*#+?@*7;8AB8);%

TAX PREPARER PART TIME Franklin Square Experience needed Retirees welcome. Call 516-358-9455 Fax resume 516-358-9483 Email: ed@loturco.com Help Wanted $18.50 P/H NYC$16 P/H LI$13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA program. No Certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553

SITUATION WANTED CAREGIVER AVAILABLE 24/7 Experienced caregiver available. Will also help with errands, bringing to doctor appts, housekeeping, light meals. Excellent references, licensed driver with own car. Call 631-838-9875 ELDER CAREExperienced woman seeks position to care for the elderly live in or live out. Certified HHA. Excellent references. Please call 516-800-6442

!"#$% !$&'(!%&)*$ +$$,)-.% $#/'"0#$-( 1"2)*%+&3$

!"#$"#%#&'#(')" *+,-".#/,0 12"3)#4,""567)4&)89) :;8"<4#8,7+4-#-&+8

1456786%/95:;% <=>?==@?AB<=

MATURE LADY SEEKS employment as CNA. Home health aide, very reliable, hard working, willing to do background checks, 15 yrs nursing home experience. Please call 516-477-1225 or 917-244-3714

AUTOMOTIVE

A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 Antiques-Furniture-Jewelry-SilverMirrors-Lamps-Artwork Come to Consign & Stay to Shop Visit.... Our Shop 109 Eleventh St. Garden City Tues-Fri 10-4 (Wed till 6) Saturday 12-4 Our Website tgchs.org Our Online Store stores.myresaleweb. com/ at-stewart-exchange Items to Consign? Email photos (with sizing info) to: store@atstewartexchange. org All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society Like us on Facebook & Instagram

AUTOS WANTED

AUCTIONS

718-850-3400

!"#$%$&'(% )**++((!&,-% ".'&,&/$#"$*#%

MARKETPLACE

SITUATION WANTED

Certified HHA

• Experienced • Excellent references.

We will provide you the best caregivers in America. Filipino men and women. Kind, loving and caring at this very difficult time.

Call Gertrude

347–444–0960 CAREER TRAINING COMPUTER & IT TRAINING program! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get trained, certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EVENTS COVID-19 TESTING AVAILABLE COVID-19 PCR Nasal Swab and/or ANTIBODY testing Mon, Wed & Fri in Floral Park Doctor’s Office without wait or lines. Scheduled by appointment. 516-488-1414

MARKETPLACE INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time! We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-2796378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information.Visit us at www.invitedsales.com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

Cool Old Stuff in Glen Cove Vintage Shop. WINNER OF BEST OF NORTH SHORE 2020. GREAT PRICED items for Boat and Home. See ALL online: Wilsonsdrydock. com. For info / appt Please call 516-662-2821

WANTED TO BUY LOOKING TO BUY! Estates, Oriental items, Gold, Silver, Costume Jewelry, Dishes, Flatware, Watches, Clothing, Old Photos, Coins, Stamps, Records, Toys, Action Figures, Comics, Art and Furniture. Immediate Cash Paid Call George 917-775-3048 or 718-386-1104

WANTED TO BUY TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTSALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC. Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

PETS CHERYL’S PET SITTING SERVICE Dependable pet sitter will walk and feed your precious pet while you work or travel. Also available to board small dogs. Many excellent references. Call 516-971-3242

Drive out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup 24hr response Tax deductionEasy to do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

JUNK CARS BOUGHT Auto Wrecking Frank & Sons

516-997-5736 LIST YOUR SERVICES HERE: 516.307. 1045 REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

VACATION RENTAL ATLANTIS, BAHAMAS TIME SHARE RENTAL July 3-10, 2021 Corner Premium 1BR Unit, Bldg 7 Sleeps 4 On the Atlantis Marina 7 nights, $2,000 Call: 516-742-3176

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

OUT OF TOWN REAL ESTATE STUART FLORIDA FOR SALE BY OWNER Gated Community Beautiful 2,441 sq.ft. home on small scenic lake w/screened lanai. 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath Two car garage Large lush plot w/185’ frontage.Award winning golf course and clubhouse w/gourmet dining and social activities.Gym, tennis, pickle ball, pools, dog park. Mixed ages. 10 mins to Hutchinson Island Ocean beaches /downtown Stuart restaurants and shops. 30 mins to PBI $170,000 / $2,500/mo fees. Info/pictures call 516-551-1905 NO BROKERS

SERVICE DIRECTORY

SERVICES EXPERIENCED ORGANIZER Need an extra pair of hands around the house? Experienced organizer will help turn clutter and chaos into efficient spaces.No job too small Available weekends and evenings. Call Liz 917-679-5553

#01234%*5678%19:78%50;%/<=28>? &''(.&"$(%"@"&A")&A&$B

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

Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

877-516-1160

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! Offer valid December 15, 2020 - March 1, 2021

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

▼ AUTOMOTIVE, REAL ESTATE, SERVICE DIRECTORY HEALTH SERVICES

SERVICE DIRECTORY

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

SERVICES

MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli.com 516-426-2890

JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!! Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495 WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEEDHHA, LPN, Nurse’s Aide, Childcare, Housekeeping & Day Workers. No Fees to Employers. Call Evons Services 516-505-5510

ATTORNEY

THE GENERAC PWRcell a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

AMBIANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES *Handyman & Remodeling *Kitchen Installations *Furniture Assembly *Finish Carpentry *Minor Electrical & Plumbing 28 year GC Resident Lic & Ins H18E2170000 Call BOB 516-741-2154

MICHELANGELO PAINTING & WALLPAPER Interior, Exterior, Plaster/Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499

FREE ESTIMATES Extensions, Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Carpentry Work, Porticos, Siding, Dormers, Stone, New Construction & Conversions, Mason Work, Stone. Insured. Please Call 516-581-9146 LAMPS FIXED $65 In home service. Handy Howard. 646-996-7628

LONG ISLAND CARE AT HOME, LTD

Let Us Help Provide You With an Independent Life Style

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1993

We are Long Island Care at Home, a team of dedicated professionals specializing in inhome, non-medical services including light housekeeping, personal care assistance, meal preparation, medication reminders and more. We are available hourly, daily or 24 hour care. Covid-19 Safety Protocols are strictly adhered to.

MASONRY All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000 Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886

STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ. Elder Law, Wills & Trusts Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/ Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 5 1 6 - 2 2 2 - 1 1 2 2 www.dangelolawassociates.com

• Licensed by the NYS Department of Health • Joint Commission of Healthcare Organizations Accredited

Call us for a free consultation at (516) 794-0700 or visit our website at www.licareathome.com

Serving patients in Queens, Nassau & Suffolk

325 Broadway • Bethpage, N.Y. 11714 Phone (516)794-0700 Fax (516) 794-0787 www.licareathome.com

TUTORING

CERTIFIED TUTOR AVAILABLE Long Island teacher with 9 years of experience Masters Degree and NYS certifications in Childhood (1-6) Early Childhood (B-2) and Special Education.Available evenings, weekends and school breaks, including summer. Virtual or in-person. For more information call Caitlin 516-287-6304

LONG ISLAND TEACHER available to tutor ELA, social studies, special education, study skills, Living Environment, life skills, help with remote learning. Vaccinated with mask or over Zoom Tailored to individual needs Highly qualified Call LL 516-456-6849

MATH TUTORING ON-LINE & F2F ALL MATH (Grade 4First Year College) ACT, SAT, AP, GREAll Placement Tests Very Experienced, specializing in all Private and Public schools, (Chaminade, Kellenberg, Sacred Heart, etc.) We offer Math tutoring from experienced and award-winning teachers at very reasonable rates. We offere a choice of on-line 30 minute “homework help” or 55 minute “test prep help”, limited face to face. (masks) Richard 516-567-1512 educationtimeincrgs@outlook.com

PROFESSIONAL HOME & OFFICE CLEANING You’re just one call away !! from a clean home or office. Thorough and Professional Cleaning at affordable rates! Call today for Free Estimate Anna: 516-360-8340

TO LIST YOUR SERVICES HERE, CALL 516.307.1045

DENTAL Insurance

FREE Information Kit

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

HEALTH SERVICES FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager Assistance with Aging at Home/Care Coordintion Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications 516-248-9323 www.familycareconnections.com 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

HEALTH SERVICES

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve! CALL NOW!

1-855-225-1434

Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan You can get coverage before your next checkup

Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details.

1-855-225-1434 Visit us online at

www.dental50plus.com/nypress

Insurance Policy P150NY 6129

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH FOR SALE HISTORIC SARATOGA SPRINGS

Well maintained colonial style dwelling with open floor plan !""#"$%&'(()*"+,-"$./0"" !""1//.20%&"32.'"4.'.4%"" !""155'(67)./%89"3:;;"<=">/, !""?(2./%&"7@"."A%'9"&%<7'.$8%"BC1"D())E@7/9"FG"5((8, !""?%<<"/0.@"."3G+")78%"/("07</('72"H.'./(4."I.2%"D(E'<%"" " .@&"J(F@/(F@"H.'./(4. !""K.@/.</72"'%@/.8"5'(5%'/9"LM'.2N"<%.<(@*"" " OPD"Q.88%/".@&"R(8("/(E'@.)%@/<S

Values are on the rise !!!! Get a head of the increasing spring market Prices !!!!! List Price $489,000 Photos available upon request Call Jack 516-840-8616 Legacy Real Estate

MB17-NM003Ec

CLEANING

SERVICES A & J MOVING & STORAGE: Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www.ajmoving .com 516-741-2657 114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NYDOT# 10405 DISH TV $59.99 for 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-800-609-9405 Passion for Seniors. Certified HHAs, Companions & Homemakers. 24 hour care available. Also Nassau locations. Trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Call 718-850 -3400

LIST YOUR ITEMS, PROPERTY FOR SALE HERE CALL NOW: 516.307.1045

74 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

▼ SERVICES Saving a Life EVERY 11 MINUTES

alone I’m never

Life Alert® is always here for me. One touch of a button / sends help fast,, 24/7. with

GPS !

!"#$%&'%!()" !"#$%*+,'-",.( ®

!"##$%&$'()$*$%()$$+(,-"%.&/.0

For a FREE brochure call:

1-800-404-9776 !"#$%$&%'(#)%"%*&+, !"#$%$&%'(--%"%*&+, ./0%123%45216%7/08%29%:3%48:3;%239%/35:36%<:;=%;=6%

+523>%?52;6%@69:2%239%-:;A/8%B0C5:12;:/3D%"9E68;:D:3F%F8/04G !"#$%&'%()**%&++,&$%)-%&**%..%"/%"#$%01+,$2*"3&*4%&(&$'%()--)-5%3"66#-)71%-,(8+&+,$8%9:;%"-*)-,%/"$% <=>>?%@"87%1"#$%&'%1"#$8,*/%A1%5")-5%7"%(((?70,)8*&-'-"(?3"6B3*&88)C,'8?

H/3;21;% )6CC:6%'5733

!"#$$%&'()*(+',-%$%./) 0#.#/', IJKLMNOLJNPI%Q%RJS

25 Red Ground Rd., Roslyn Heights, New York 11577 | (516) 307-1045 www.theislandnow.com

821 Franklin Avenue, Suite 208 Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 294-8900 www.gcnews.com

Gov backs repeal on cap Continued from Page 9 Repealing the tax cap, Suozzi said, will provide local governments and residents in states such as New York, which have been strongly aﬀected by the coronavirus, necessary resources in the ongoing battle against the virus. “Some New Yorkers are complicit in funding our own demise by supporting elected oﬃcials who not only redirect billions of New York state’s federal tax dollars to their own states but also capped the SALT deduction. This is literally chasing people out of New York,” Suozzi said. “New Yorkers are left holding the bag in the form of higher taxes and our largest companies are being lured to other lower-cost states.” Suozzi also said that New York has recently been one of the states that have paid more money to the federal government than they received. From 2015 to 2019, Suozzi said, New York, sent $116 billion more to the federal government than it got back. Over the same period, Kentucky received $148 billion and South Carolina received $87 billion more than they contributed to Washington.

According to 2017 data from the IRS, the average state and local taxes deduction for Nassau County homeowners prior to Trump signing the cap into eﬀect was $26,259. In the same year, 53 percent of individuals who lived in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck and Floral Park, among other areas, and stretches from Whitestone, Queens, to Kings Park in Suﬀolk County, took advantage of the deduction. The average deduction for those who filed in the district was $33,317, according to the data. Nearly 50 percent of people who lived in the 4th Congressional District, which incorporates central and southern Nassau County, including Floral Park, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park and Westbury, used the deduction in 2017, receiving an average of $21,127, according to the data. The legislation, Suozzi said, has bipartisan support from fellow Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Young Kim (R-California), and Chris Smith (R-NJ).

Teen’s efforts to reopen skate park pay off Continued from Page 10 Gillis began with a Change.org petition discussing his hopes for reopening the park, and one week later, after it gained 625 signatures from fellow skaters and parents, sent it to Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth on Jan. 21, along with an emailed letter. “Opening the park will provide an organized, safe space, where skaters like myself and scooter riders can do what we do where it’s meant to be done, instead of the open streets with moving vehicles or shopping centers with pedestrians and vehicles as well,” he wrote to Bosworth. “For many of us, the park is our outlet, a way to de-stress and deal with COVID and the related anxiety, as well as remote learning.” The next day, Bosworth responded, but told

Gillis that the park would have to remain closed. “The decision to close the skate park was not an easy one, but was based on the judgment of our Parks Team with a focus on the safety of our residents,” the town supervisor wrote. “We will continue to monitor the situation, but as of now we feel it is still the right decision to keep the skate park closed.” The initial response was “a little disappointing,” Gillis says, but a week later he received an email from an aide to Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte. “She reached out to me, and she said, Judi forwarded my email to Mariann, and then they said that she’d like to meet with me and a few of my friends at the skate park,” Gillis said. Dalimonte then offered Gillis and his friends

the opportunity to serve as ambassadors to the skate park and promote maskwearing, social distancing and other appropriate procedures to fellow parkgoers, an opportunity they took. The skate park was originally scheduled to reopen on an early February weekend, but now will be back once the snow clears, Gillis said. “We’re all really excited,” Gillis said. For any other person his age who wants to eﬀect similar change, Gillis suggests having a good stable of people in one’s corner. “Have a few people on your side, and then try and grow to get a bigger team,” Gillis said. “And don’t be afraid to talk to more people and reach out to the town or oﬃcials or anyone. You can’t be afraid. You have to kind of just go for it.”

Kaplan eyes hate symbols with bill Continued from Page 10 bar municipal employees from displaying any political advertising on government property, regardless of what party you aﬃliate yourself with. I appreciate Senator Kaplan’s partnership on these bills, and

look forward to working together to move them forward.” The legislation introduced by Kaplan will prohibit municipal corporations, towns, cities, villages, fire districts, volunteer fire companies, or

PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN

State Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) has introduced legislation to ban political advertisements and hate symbols on public property.

police departments from selling or displaying symbols of hate, except when the display is for educational or historical purposes. It will also prohibit any municipal oﬃcer or employee, paid or unpaid, from displaying a political advertisement of any kind on a public building, flag pole, monument sign, vehicle, uniform, or other permanent structure except when the display is for educational or historical purposes. “Government and politics should never mix, and any property owned by the taxpayers should never be used to promote a political candidate, no matter who they are or what party they belong to,” Kaplan said. “It’s time we strengthened our laws to protect our public spaces from these kinds of abuses. “

Visit us at w w w.theislandnow.com

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

DISCOVER THE FINEST IN SENIOR LIVING

The Bristal Assisted Living has been serving seniors and their families in the tri-state area since 2000, offering independent and assisted living, as well as state-of-the-art memory care programs. We are committed to helping residents remain independent, while providing peace of mind that expert care is available, if needed. Designed with seniors in mind, each of our communities feature exquisitely appointed apartments and beautiful common areas that are perfect for entertaining. On-site services and amenities include daily housekeeping, gourmet meals, a cinema, salon, plus so much more. Discover a vibrant community, countless social events with new friends, and a luxurious lifestyle that you will only find at The Bristal.

SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY!

For a list of all locations in the tri-state area, visit: THEBRISTAL.COM

AN ENGEL BURMAN COMMUNITY

Licensed by the State Department of Health. Eligible for Most Long Term Care Policies.

76 The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

!"!LEGALS

7LYZVUHS YLX\LZ[ MVY ;YHUZWVY[H[PVU MVY [OL 4PULVSH :JOVVS +PZ[YPJ[ T\Z[ IL THKL I` WHYLU[Z VM Z[\KLU[Z H[[LUKPUN H WYP]H[L ZJOVVS MVY [OL ZJOVVS `LHY ;OL KLHKSPUL PZ (WYPS MVY MPSPUN [OPZ HWWSPJH[PVU -VY M\Y[OLY PUMVYTH[PVU JVU[HJ[ `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

PLACE A LEGAL

NOTICE IN ONE OF BLANK SLATE MEDIA’S 6 WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS CALL: 516.307.1045 X201 OR EMAIL US AT legals@theisland now.com

ACCESS THE PAPERS IN PRINT AND ONLINE SUBSCRIBE TODAY@ THEISLANDNOW.COM

COMMUNITY NEWS

Freshmen team up to ‘Share the Love’ Two Long Island high school freshmen, Chloe Siegel (Roslyn) and Sarah Sukoﬀ (Huntington), have joined forces to create a huge fundraiser to raise money for the Birthday Wishes Organization in

Hicksville. Together, they are making and selling Valentine’s Day candy boxes with 100 % of proceeds going to funding birthday parties for children living in Long Island’s home-

less shelters. The goal is to raise $5000 which will provide parties in a shelter for a year. So far they have sold over 60 boxes which cost $20 each. The girls are thrilled to help out

children in need in our community and have been working tirelessly shopping for candy, filling and decorating the boxes.

Charles Fazzino: A celebration of a people

“After the Darkness” by Charles Fazzino

Internationally renowned 3D pop artist Charles Fazzino joins the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County for an hour of art talk, demonstration, and fundraising. On this special evening, visit Charles in his studio in New Rochelle where he will show you his collection of Jewish-themed artwork, created over the span of his career – a collection that celebrates the history, the culture, and the hope of the Jewish people. He will demonstrate his unique three-dimensional technique, discuss the evolution of his signature vibrant and detailed style, and an-

swer your questions. Registration is free for this art talk and demonstration. During his more-than-30 years as an artist, Fazzino has created a vast and broad art collection encompassing many different cultural genres. His Jewish-themed artwork makes up one of his most compelling niche collections. In 2017, he was commissioned by the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center to put together an exhibition titled “Heroes of the Holocaust.” The project was punctuated by a month-long museum exhibition and an open-

ing night fundraiser that generated tens of thousands of dollars for HMTC. The remainder of his resume includes painting some of our most high-profile events including 21 Super Bowls for the NFL, seventeen MLB AllStar Games and the GRAMMY Awards, and creating public installations at JFK International Airport, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, and around the globe. This virtual visit with Charles Fazzino will also be a fundraiser, as a portion of the proceeds from any artwork sold in conjunction with this event will be donated to HMTC.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA WELCOMES YOUR SUBMISSIONS. PLEASE E-MAIL THEM TO NEWS@THEISLANDNOW.COM

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

COMMUNITY NEWS

Happening at the Williston Park Library Carl DelVecchio Memorial Library www.willistonparklibrary.org By: Donna McKenna, Director E-mail: wppubliclibrary@gmail.com New titles added to the collection: Joe Biden: The Life, The Run & What Matters Now—Evan Osnos Children’s Blizzard— Melanie Benjamin Dear Miss Kopp—Amy Stewart Charmed Wife—Olga Grushin Murder of Innocence— James Patterson Wife Upstairs—Rachel Hawkins Catered Book Club Murder— Isis Crawford Our New Daily Hours Are: Open for Browsing: Monday-Friday: 10am-5:30pm. Vestibule Pick-Up: MondayFriday: 10am-5:30pm. Browsing & Vestibule Pickup: Saturday: 10am-4pm “Open for Browsing” means you can come inside, walk around the Library, and look for books and other items. Please limit your time to 30 minutes. Only one family at a time will be permitted in the Children’s Room.

Items requested over the phone can be picked up in the Library vestibule. Please maintain social distancing practices while in the Library. All customers and staﬀ are required to wear face coverings at all times while in the Library, per Executive Order 202.17. Face coverings must cover both your mouth and nose. Congregating is not permitted. Two computers are available for public use. Please return items in the outside book drops. For safety reasons, we cannot accept items returned inside the Library! Thank you for cooperating with the guidelines we have in place to keep us all safe. Adult Programs Reiki Circle—February 18—6:00 pm — 7:00 pm in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. $10 p/person Book Discussion—March 10—7pm via Zoom. Login information TBD. Copies of The Storyteller’s Secret will be available at the Circulation Desk. Please check our website, willistonparklibrary.org for this week’s DIY story time.

Calling all kindergartners Registration is now open for the incoming 2021-22 North Side Kindergarten class! Registration will be online only via FamilyID. There will be no in-person kindergarten registration this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions. If you have a child to register,

or if you know someone who has a child to register for kindergarten, please inform them that registration information is provided on the East Williston’s District website at www. ewsdonline.org; Families; New Student Registration Site.

Deadline for Herricks Attention: HERRICKS RESIDENTS TRANSPORTATION REQUEST DEADLINE All request for transportation to a NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL Must be filed no later than APRIL 1ST, according to state law.

Applications may be obtained from our website www.herricks.org Or at the Transportation Oﬃce Room 105 in the Herricks Community Center At 999 Herricks Rd, New Hyde Park, Phone number 305-8948.

!"#$%&'!#('#"&#)&*+,&,-'*&./00/'*#(&0/**0,&0,-1$,

First – Eighth Grade Program • Lower school to teen • Full-Day: 8:30am-3:00pm • Full summer program or • Flexible 25-day minimum • A variety of indoor and outdoor activities • Optional aftercare to 6:00pm

Summer at Waldorf Visit Us

elors “The couns t The and staff a m gra Summer Pro l!” ona are excepti

Sunday, February 14th 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

at the Waldorf School of Garden City

“Happy, healthy, a nd safe summ er fun!”

225 Cambridge Ave., Garden City (516) 742-3434 x327

SUMMER DATES: Wednesday, June 30 to Friday, August 13, 2021

Sport Psychology Dr. Tom Ferraro

has specialized in sport psychology for 20 years and works in the fields of golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, lacrosse, figure skating, gymnastics, softball, fencing and more. He has helped professional teams, Olympians and elite young athletes learn how to manage the intense pressure of competitive sports. He appears on both TV and radio and has sport psychology columns in 5 different newspapers and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall street Journal and the London Times. Golf Digest includes him in their list of top mental game gurus in America. For a consultation see below: Williston Park Professional Center 2 Hillside Ave, Suite E. Williston Park NY 11596 (building parallel to E. Williston railroad station)

drtomferraro.com drtferraro@aol.com

!!!!"#!$%&'(!)*+!,*-!)*+-!.+//*-$ !!!"#!$%&&$#$#'()#"*+,

(516) 248-7189

78 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 12, 2021

ENT M AY P WN O $0 D

ONE OF A KIND

BALDWIN

AMERICAN FLAG DESIGNER GRAND

765

/MO

NEW

PEARL RIVER 5’ BABY GRAND $

**Sales tax and delivery additional

60 mos.

159

/MO

60 mos.

JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF OUR 150+ NEW & CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED PIANOS BALDWIN • YAMAHA • STEINWAY • KAWAI • SEILER • YOUNG CHANG • KNABE • PEARL RIVER WEBER • HARDMAN • KOHLER & CAMPBELL • PETROF • KORG • CASIO • ARTESIA • SAMICK

NEW Korg LP380 Digital L3)$+>(+N3C3( 6@01$(0>=+C>3(/ 0/@=1+3()+0/($

Young Chang Continental Console*

U3E(@0+P30>(

Yamaha Country Oak Console*

OA/(G+"/E>21

NEW Samick NEO Hybrid Digital 6@01$(0>=+C>3(/+2/@()

Play with Headphones

Kawai Traditional Console*

/mo., 24 mos. $0 down**

L31/?3(G+P30>(

119

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

NEW Samick Digital Mini Grand

Baldwin Designer Console*

Young Chang 4’11” Ivory Polish Baby Grand*

OA/(G+"/E>21

129

104

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

NEW Pearl River White Professional Upright* White Polish

Play with Headphones

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

Yamaha U1 48” Professional Upright*

Q@EE+H$30@#$)8+ /#=1$20#3E+D/>=$28 3.3R>(?+2/@()

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

Yamaha U3 52” Professional Upright*

149

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

149

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

NEW Baldwin 4’9” Baby Grand

NEW Seiler Silent Upright

OA/(G+"/E>21

White Polish

OA/(G+"/E>21

Play with Headphones

106

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

NEW Baldwin Professional Upright OA/(G+"/E>21

179

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

NEW Pearl River 5’ Baby Grand Player Piano OA/(G+"/E>21

179

/mo., 36 mos. $0 down**

Steinway S 5’1” Baby Grand* S3#T+U3E(@0

138

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

Play with Headphones

170

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

Yamaha C3 6’1” Conservatory Grand*

Petrof IV 5’8” European Baby Grand

OA/(G+"/E>21

234

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

Kawai 6’1” Grand Player Piano* OA/(G+"/E>21

Plays from Your iPhone

299

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

Steinway A 6’2” Victorian Art Case Grand* OA/(G+P30>(

319

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

361

NEW LOCATION CARLE PLACE SHOWROOM 214 Glen Cove Rd (516) 333-2811

OPEN EVERY DAY BY APPOINTMENT

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

364

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

Plays from Your iPhone

424

www.frankandcamilles.com

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

849

/mo., 60 mos. $0 down**

HAUPPAUGE WAREHOUSE & RESTORATION ,JK+L3#=@2+MED) (631) 436-5000 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

!"#$%&'($)*+!!,-+./(012+30+4*445+6"78+9:+./(012+30+-*445+6"78+:;+./(012+30+4*445+6"78+<(3(=>(?+2@AB$=0+0/+=#$)>0+3CC#/D3E8+23E$2+03F+3()+)$E>D$#G+3))>0>/(3E*+&HH$#2+=3(I0+A$+=/.A>($)+(/#+3CCE>$)+0/+C#>/#+C@#=132$2*+Offers expire 2/28/21.

The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

WE A R 7 DAY E OPEN SA FOR L WEEK U AND D NCH INNER Sun Th urs 11 : Fri & S 30-9pm a t 11:30 -10pm

980 Franklin Ave, Garden City • (516) 294-6565

Grimaldi’s Family Meals Are Back!!

Available January 4 through April 3 for lunch and dinner, Take Out Only FAMILY MEAL #1 - $30 PLUS TAX One 18” Pizza with choice of Spinach and Artichoke Dip Or Grimaldi’s Mixed Salad & Complimentary 2 liter bottle of soda

FAMILY MEAL #2 - $40 PLUS TAX

One 18” Pizza, One Order of Penne alla Vodka, Choice of Spinach and Artichoke Dip Or Grimaldi’s Mixed Salad & Complimentary 2 liter bottle of soda

FAMILY MEAL #3 - $45 PLUS TAX

Two 18” Pizzas with choice of Spinach and Artichoke Dip Or Grimaldi’s Mixed Salad & Complimentary 2 liter bottle of soda

FAMILY MEAL #4 - $80 PLUS TAX

Two 18” Pizzas, 1/2 Tray Chicken Parmigiana & Complimentary Bottle of Cabernet OR Pinot Griegio *Additional Items May Be Purchased at Regular Menu Price. Toppings Available for Additional Cost. May Not Be Combined with any other coupon, discount, offer or Groupon. Prices Do Not Include Tax or Gratuity, Available for Take Out, No Substitutions*

It’s your night... Make it special Now Accepting Reservations For Valentine’s Day Sunday, February 14th

Four Seatings Available: 4-5:30 5:30-7 7-8:30 and 8:30-10

We Are Open For Inside Dining at 50% Capacity You must wear a mask to and from the tables. Thank you for your cooperation

Now Accepting Reservations For Parties of 6 or More A $25 fee will be applied if canceling within 3 hours of reservation.

TAKEOUT & DELIVERY

SUNDAY - THURSDAY 11:30-9 FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11:30-10

LENT STARTS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17th

Delivery through: www.grimaldisgardencity.com

80 The Williston Times, Friday, February 12, 2021

,!*

(*+ '()!#

!"#$%&'()*+#$,-.# /0110*,23#4'&5 ##6+7#82&5#99:;<# =:;;.;;;# !"#"$%&#'(')*+, -')&./,' 01##')&2*3*$.' 0"43&#'+%$%$5' &$+'#%6%$5'4""3' 7*8')"%#*4' 9:4%$;#*4'2<2.*3

,!*

(*+ '()!#

>;#/+*,?)&%#@A+-.# B03+21'.# 6+7#82&5#99:C9 =:"C.CCC# !/&43%$5'=#+*4' !"#"$%&#, '04"$.'>"4?/, 7*&4'@&%#'@"&+,' 9?/""#,'>""#,' >&4;,'&$+' 9/"::%$5'!*$.*4A

#:C#99,D#@A+.# B03+21'.#6+7#82&5###=:;:.CCC##

B'C*+,'-'C&./,'*&.'%$';%.?/*$,'D1##')&2*3*$.,')1%#.'%$' 6&?113'2<2.*3,'E1%*.'2.4**.,'F%$*"#&'2?/""#'+%2.4%?.A

!"#$

999#E+&2F+#@A+-. B03+21'.#6+7#82&5#99:C9####=<G;.CCC C*&1.%D1#'?"#"$%&#'%$'6*4<'$%?*'?"$+%.%"$A' >*4D*?.'#"?&.%"$G'H4*&.'5&4&5*'8I"D.A' J&45*'K..%?A'7*8'4""D'8%$+"82'&$+'2%+%$5A

:HH#I)(10J#@A+.# /-#K+FL*,+'J.#6+7#82&5#99::G###=H>;.;;;

C*&1.%D1#,2:&?%"12'/"12*,3%++#*'"D'L"58""+'9*?.%"$, "$'MMN-OMA'7*8'4""D,'/&4+8""+'P""42'./4"15/"1.,' $*8'&::#%&$?*2,':""#'&$+'+*?;'%$'./*')&?;<&4+A'M'C42,' ('C&,'2:&?%"12'J@'8I)1%#.Q%$'C#1*.""./'2:*&;*42'R'S4*:#&?*A J&45*'TUV,$*8'&::#%&$?*2,2:&?%"12'+%$%$5'&4*&'#"";%$5 '%$."'./*')&?;<&4+,#&45*'+*$I2"?%&#'&4*&A

!* (*+,

'()!#

9:#/0110'F#$,&++,. /0110*,23#4'&5.#68#99:;<###=<9;.CCC H&2'/*&.,'?"";%$5,'+4<*4,'/".'8&.*4'/*&.*4, $*8'4""D,'6%$<#'2%+%$5A'J&45*'+*?;,':4%6&.*'<&4+A W*44%?;X2'9?/""#A'91:*4%"4'?"$+%.%"$A'!K!,'UH9A

Mike Fink Licensed Associate Broker

193 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596 Office: 516-743-9953 | Cell: 516-647-3737 | mfink@bhhslaffey.com A Division Of If your home is currently listed with another broker, this is not meant as a solicitation of that listing. All figures approximate. All information furnished regarding sole property sale, rental or financing is form sources deemed responsible. No representation is made to the accuracy thereof and it is submitted subject to errors,omissions, change of price, rental. commission or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice.