On Oct. 10, the Williston Park American Legion Post no. 144 will give flu shots to senior citizens. Anyone wishing to be vaccinated can schedule an appointment by calling (516) 571-2661.
Flu shots given to seniors at Williston Park American Legion
Local schools receive brand new appliances and enhancements
Many facilities at the Sewanhaka Central High School District were upgraded over the summer from new carpeting to renovated classrooms.
The district’s Board of Education announced various projects completed before the start of the 2024 to 2025 school year. The board played a video highlighting enhancements in all five of the district’s schools.
At Elmont Memorial High School, a new concrete walkway, new kitchen appliances, new exterior doors and an updated band room floor were installed.
At Floral Park Memorial High School, the press box on the school’s field was painted in honor of Mary Jane Morra, who was a teacher at the school and died in 2022 from pancreatic cancer. Also, new kitchen appliances were added and new concrete in the school’s courtyard was installed.
A new carpet was installed in the library at H. Frank Carey High School, the ceiling of the school’s gymnasium was renovated and the school received new kitchen appliances.
At New Hyde Park Memorial High School, a new carpet was installed in the library, a new digital learning collaborative classroom was created and the school received new kitchen appliances.
The sidewalk in front of Sewanhaka High School was redone; the science classroom was renovated; and new Ravens logos were placed on the gym floor, on the field’s scoreboard, on the field and on the floor in the atrium.
“Thank you to Mr. Castelluzzo and all the work that our custodial and maintenance crew have done over the summer to prepare our buildings,” Regina Agrusa, superintendent of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, said.
First round of Building Department reforms announced
North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena revealed a reform plan for the town’s Building Department Wednesday, seven months after the county delivered its audit report and after years of issues plaguing the department.
The announcement, made alongside North Hempstead Council Members Ed Scott and Dennis Walsh, focused on an initiative to “address longstanding problems” within the department. In response to the findings in the audit report, DeSena announced eight reforms to the department, which will be part of a series to be implemented over time.
These include overhauling the intake communication model and breaking down the wall between the department and the public; evaluating Citizenserve, which is the software being used in the department; digitizing all the records; establishing a fair and efficient appeals process; restructuring assignment rotations for inspectors; assembling the supervisor’s advisory panel that will include those with first-hand experience in knowledge of a particular field such as architects, builders, contractors, retired building inspectors and judges; addressing expedited review; and establishing the Legacy Issue Resolution Committee.
Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte said DeSena did not speak with her partners before announcing these set of reforms.
“Time and time again the supervisor has neglected to meet with her partners in government,” said Dalimonte, a Democrat. “She has seemingly forgotten that reforming the Building Department will affect every resident of every district throughout the Town of North Hempstead. Constructive reform to the Building Department simply cannot occur when half of North Hempstead doesn’t have a seat at the table.”
DeSena, who is a registered Democrat but belongs to the Republican Party, said the most important aspect of these reforms is breaking down the wall between the residents and the Building Department. She said people deserve an accessible and accountable department.
DeSena said it took 20 years of “town mismanagement under previous town administrations” to get here so people can’t expect the problems to be fixed overnight. She said the Town will apply a “well-thought-out plan” that will be provide a roadmap of achievable goals and comprehensive reform.
In 2007, five Building Department officials were indicted after a 16-month investigation by then-Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice for receiving favors and payments in exchange for granting permits without inspections.
All five were later convicted, including former Commissioner David Wasserman. He was sentenced to one year in jail in 2008 after pleading guilty to grand larceny and falsifying business records.
Scott said the Legacy Issue Resolution Committee was created because of the “corruption” that transpired between 2003 and 2007. He said many constituents in his district have fallen victim to the Building Department taking bribes and houses being built over the square footage. These property owners were issued improper and nonconforming certificates of occupancy, and as a result they are not currently in compliance with state law.
The committee, which will be an outside panel of advisers, will review and advise on structuring a resolution to bring these properties into compliance and remedy their situation.
“It’s been a long time that they have not been able to get relief,” DeSena said. “So they’ll be making recommendations to what we can do so that these homeowners can move forward.”
DeSena requested the audit in July 2022 after winning election in November 2021 after a campaign in which she focused on the need for department changes.
Findings in the audit included “significant problems” with the department’s online permit portal that underutilized software features, a lack of standardized procedures and operational oversight leading to operational inefficiencies, a lack of communication and transparency with permit applicants, and a lack of standardization for permit expedition procedures.
These issues will be tackled by evaluating the aging software interface Citizenserve to determine whether continued investment into the program is warranted or if it should be replaced. Also, by “breaking down the wall between department and public,” the Town’s 311 call center will now field all calls for the department and generate a call log.
“When request for help or information comes in, whether it’s information from the applicant or a professional working on the job, the inspector will have to respond within 48 hours,” DeSena said. “They will have to respond because that is reasonable, that is what our taxpayers and what our professionals deserve.”
The department has also been criticized for its approval delays, which have dragged out processes for businesses and residents over the years. This issue will be tackled by digitizing all of the records. The Town authorized approximately $2.5 million to convert all of the Town’s paper records, including those of other departments, to digital files.
DeSena said she will also be rethinking expedited review, which was adopted as part of the Town’s code by a prior administration following the 2007 Building Department scandal. This code would allow a council-member or supervisor to overrule the decision of the Building commissioner on whether the town should issue or deny an expedited permit.
“It’s just not fair for me to expedite one person and another person has to wait on line forever,” DeSena said.
“At her swearing-in and many times since, the supervisor has spoken about collaboration, so I was stunned to learn that today she announced reforms to the Building Department to the media without even a prior whisper to her Democratic colleagues on the Town Board,” Dalimonte, said. “Time and time again the supervisor has neglected to meet with her partners in government. She has seemingly forgotten that reforming the Building Department will affect every resident of every district throughout the Town of North Hempstead. Constructive reform to the Building Department simply cannot occur when half of North Hempstead doesn’t have a seat at the table.”
DeSena said the overall message of these reforms is that this administration is committed to delivering an accountable and accessible building department to meet the needs of the residents and businesses. She said these reforms will make housing projects move at a reasonable speed.
‘Alarming’ Regents data prompts creation of new council
Following low Regents test scores, the Sewanhaka Central High School District set a new goal at the start of the school year: to increase the passing rate of all 10 Regents exams.
At the district’s Sept. 24 Board of Education meeting, Richard Faccio, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, presented the June regents scores to the board. The regent’s exams were for ELA, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Global History and U.S. History. The presentation included the number of exams given out for each subject, the number of students who passed — 65 percent or above — and the number of students who got “mastery” — 85 percent or above.
The weak topic, as pointed out by Faccio, was some of the science courses. Over 10,000 Regents exams were given out to high school students in the district. Out of all the students who took the regents, 73 percent passed the Living Environment exam, 81 percent passed the Earth Science exam, 65 percent passed the Chemistry exam and 54 percent passed the Physics exam.
Faccio said usually Global History is the hardest exam students take in their four years of high school, but this year it was a few of the science tests, which took him and the district by surprise. He said the district will will be meeting and working with the science teachers and leadership team to concentrate on “good instruction, along with focusing on reaching comprehension in the content area to help boost the students scores in the subject area.”
“While we’re pleased with the Earth Science scores, the Chemistry results were not as positive,” Faccio said. “The passing and mastery rate can be improved by working closely with the leadership team of science to improve scores on this exam.”
Faccio said Physics was another Regents exam that did not meet the district’s expectations. He said the district needs to investigate the data to understand why students did not do well in this subject.
“We have only had a few months with this data, but it is alarming and we share it openly because it is an area that has our attention,” Regina Agrusa, superintendent of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, said.
The district’s administration recently underwent changes, such as a new principal at Sewanhaka High School, a new principal at New Hyde Park Memorial High, a new assistant superintendent for student support services, an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and a new superintendent of the district.
Agrusa, who became the district’s superintendent on July 1, said although she can’t change the Regents’ results, she will focus on the new administration to figure out ways to mentor the teachers. She also said she would concentrate on using the data to inspire students and motivate them to improve their scores.
One resident spoke about how the science scores were upsetting. Agrusa said her hope by showing Faccio’s presentation would be that the district would be able to communicate to that the district was both proud of some areas and acknowledge others that need additional work.
“Under a new central office with changes in leadership, I ask you to understand that this does have our attention and will continue to collaborate with the leadership in the science areas,” Agrusa said.
Faccio said that the district formed the Council of Instructional Excellence at the start of the school year to combat these low test scores. The membership on the council consists of central administration and principles and district coordinators.
“The curriculum meetings will try to bring folks together and share some best practices and continue to commit to the professional development of our staff,” Agrusa said.
At the meetings, there will be discussion about the curriculum and focusing on the fundamentals of “good teaching and learning.” Faccio said the council met this week with district chairpeople and coordinators. In the future, the CIE will work on strategies to help increase the passing and mastery rate in all Regents exams.
Upcoming events at the Hillside Public Library
Upcoming programs and events at the Hillside Public Library:
On Oct. 11 at 1 p.m., the movie Bikeriders, which is rated R will be shown in the All Purpose Room. “The Bikeriders captures a rebellious time in America when the culture and people were changing. After a chance encounter at a local bar, strong-willed Kathy (Jodie Comer) is inextricably drawn to Benny (Austin Butler), the newest member of Midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. The club begins to evolve, transforming from a gathering place for local outsiders into a dangerous underworld of violence.”
Mystery Book Club on the first floor Modular Room on Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. The book being discussed is: Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier. When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom — covered in blood, holding a straight razor with her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her — she knows she’ll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it’s not what worries her the most. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it’s only a matter of time before someone from her long hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she’s worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future.
Learn about Head and Neck Cancers: Virtual. On Oct. 17 at noon, join Head and Neck Cancers: Know the Facts. Come join health educators from Stony Brook Cancer Center to learn about head and neck cancers. They will be discussing causes of head and neck cancers and the importance of prevention. Upcoming events on Nov. 14 at noon, Healthy Living for Healthy Women on Dec. 5 at noon.
Plant and Garden Group at the first floor Modular Room on Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Calling all gardeners, of all levels and interests! Join the Plant and Garden Club and exchange seeds, rooted cuttings, and plants with fellow gardeners of all skills and interests. Let’s discuss composting, annuals and perennials, indoor and outdoor gardens, container gardens,
terrariums, and your problems and successes! No registration necessary.
Pumpkin Pageant in the All Purpose Room on Oct. 19 at 10:30 a.m. Visit the library to decorate your very own pumpkin for the library’s Pumpkin Pageant.
• Decorating will take place from 10:30 to 12:30pm.
• Winners will be announced at 1 p.m.
• $1 materials fee will be collected prior to receiving your pumpkin.
Pumpkins are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last. 1 pumpkin per person. You can bring your own supplies. No violent or inappropriate materials. No carving allowed on pumpkins.
Children and young adult events:
Hauntingly Perfect Ceramics, an in-person event on Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. Grades 1 through 4. Paint a Halloween-themed ceramic figure to take home. Material fee is $3.
Chess Night on Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. Grades 2 through 4. Coach Mike is back with all new Chess adventures! Both new players and experienced players welcome.
Time for Kids: Pumpkin Fun! On Oct. 18. 10:30 a.m. Ages 12 months to 5 years with parent/caregiver. Come join A Time for Kids, Inc. as they explore in this family fun preschool program. Music, movement storytelling and make a pumpkin craft.
Zombie Laser Tag on Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m. Grades. 1 through 4. Join the fun in Zombie laser tag, which is a STEM based version of laser tag using watch-like devices.
Purrr-fect Fall Fun with Ms. Cindy on Oct. 24 at 4:30 p.m. Ages 4 through 7. Craft a spooky black cat.
Upcoming events at the Williston Park Public Library
“Please be aware that the LI Children’s Museum will be closed from Sept. 9 through 27
for their fall cleanup,” Donna McKenna, director of the Williston Public Library, said. “Passes to the museum will be unavailable during this time. The library is still distributing Covid-19 tests while supplies last. Please ask at the Reference Desk.”
New titles added to the library’s collection:
Spirit Crossing by William Kent Krueger
All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women & the Rise of an Independent
Nation by Rebecca Traister
Wordhunter by Stella Sands
That Librarian: The Fight against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones
Safe Enough by Lee Child
Angel of Vengeance by Douglas Preston
God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Adult Programs:
Reiki on Oct. 3 and 17; Nov. 7 and 21; Dec. 5 and 19 from 6 p.m. in the
Assembly Room of Village Hall. $10 per person.
Yoga on Sept. 28; October 5, 12, 19 and 26 from noon to 1 p.m. in the
Assembly Room of Village Hall. $10 p/person. Bring a yoga mat, water bottle and towel. Wear comfortable clothes. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Ceramic Pumpkin Craft with Rosemarie Attard on Oct. 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in
the library. $15 material fee. Limited to 25 participants. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Senior ID Program on Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Assembly Room of Village Hall. The event is sponsored by the Nassau County Office for the Aging. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Tax Exemption Seminar on Oct. 24 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Assembly Room
of Village Hall. The event is sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead, the Receiver of
Taxes Mary Jo Collins, who will show homeowners how to apply for important property tax exemptions. Reservations are not required but are recommended. To reserve your seat, email Gounarisg@northhempsteadny.gov or call (516) 869-7800 and indicate the seminar you wish to attend.
Book Discussion on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Room of Village Hall and via zoom. Copies of Namesake are available at the Circulation Desk. Join the book club at Aadelphiuniversity.zoom.us/j/96885670102?pwd=VGtSYnkyUW9acVJy
V0tyNUtUZnMyZz09
Meeting ID: 968 8567 0102
Passcode: WPBookClub
Or call 1-929-205-6099, and it will ask for the meeting ID and password above.
Ceramic Christmas Ornament Craft with Rosemarie Attard on Dec. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the library. $20 material fee. Limited to 25 participants. Call the library at (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Children’s Programs:
Storytime with Miss Beth on Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 from noon to 12:30 p.m. in
the Children’s Room for ages 3-5. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Adventures in Keyboarding on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Children’s Room for grades 1 to 4. Children will explore their musical talents on a floor keyboard. Limited to 12 participants. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Minecraft Halloween Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 12 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Children’s Room for grades K to 7. Limited to 15 participants. 10 devices will be provided. The remaining participants must bring their own devices. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Halloween Crafts on Oct. 26 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Children’s Room for all ages. Call the library (516) 742-1820 or email WillistonParkPrograms@gmail.com to register.
Manhasset doctor accused of sex crimes at Queens urgent care
A doctor from Manhasset was arrested on charges of sexual abuse earlier this month after he was accused by a 21-year-old male patient who visited him at a ModernMD urgent care facility in Queens. This is the second time he has been arrested on sexual abuse counts in the past two years.
Police said the patient saw Dr. Amir Sitafalwalla, 72, of Manhasset, on Aug. 14 for medical care concerning his genital area at the ModernMD urgent care located at 89-22 Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven.
The patient reported that during the medical examination by Sitafalwalla, he made inappropriate sexual comments that made the patient feel uncomfortable, according to police.
The patient did not report any injuries, police said.
Sitafallwalla was arrested on Sept. 9 and charged with third-degree sexual abuse and forcible touching of intimate parts. He pled not guilty to both charges and was released on bail, according to court records.
The doctor was previously arrested on March 23, 2023 and also charged with third-degree sexual abuse. The arrest was for an incident reported on Jan. 19, 2023 at the same medical facility, according to court records.
Sitafallwalla is due back in court Nov. 13 for both incidents.
Diocese of Rockville Centre reaches $320M settlement In sex abuse case
By NICOLE FORMISANO
Four years ago, hundreds of victims came forward alleging that Catholic priests on Long Island had sexually abused them. Those victims finally reached a $320.5 million settlement Thursday with the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
“The majority of our clients are in their 60s and 70s – they have been waiting decades for justice, and we are extremely pleased to reach this settlement on their behalf,” according to a statement from Adam Slater, founding and managing Partner of Slater Slater Schulman LLP, which represents about 100 of the 600 clients in the case. “Importantly, this is the largest diocese settlement in the history of New York State.”
“We hope it will serve as a model for other pending cases around the country,” he added, “So that adult survivors living with the lifelong trauma of being sexually assaulted by predator-priests can receive the compensation they deserve and begin healing.”
The diocese first filed for bankruptcy back in 2020, and that claim has been hotly contested for the past four years. Meanwhile, the first official jury court date for the sex abuse lawsuit — scheduled for Oct. 7 — loomed ever closer.
Today, with less than two weeks before that first jury trial, the Diocese of Rockville Centre agreed on a $320.5 million settlement with the victims. Joseph Amala, a partner and sexual abuse attorney with Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, who represents more than a dozen survivors who filed claims in the DRVC bankruptcy, believes the DRVC finally settled to avoid those upcoming jury trials.
“The timing of this settlement speaks volumes,” Amala said. “Ironically, the diocese filed for bankruptcy in order to avoid jury trials, but then spent the last four years asserting our clients’ claims had little or no value. We commend the survivors and (U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Martin) Glenn for staying the course, making the deal happen, and sending a strong message that even the most powerful entities can be held accountable.”
The Diocese of Rockville Centre will pay $320.5 million to the victims of alleged sexual abuse by priests in its parishes. That settlement amount is subject to increase, based on claims covered by the Arrowood insurance company, which is going through liquidation and did not participate in the settlement.
The bankruptcy includes all of DRVC’s parishes — the diocese previously made clear that they would never agree to a settlement that does not include this condition, which protects the parishes and their insurers from the threat of future lawsuits.
This is a first in any bankruptcy arising from claims against the Catholic Church, and will stop a number of jury trials against the DRVC and its parishes.
On April 12, the DRVC had filed its own motion to dismiss its bankruptcy, claiming $200 million was “its best and final offer” to its creditors. Their real final offer is over $120 million more than that.
“Rather than (accept April’s lowball offer), the survivors told the Diocese, its parishes, and their insurance companies to get ready to face New York juries for their wrongdoing,” said James Marsh, a partner and sexual abuse attorney with Marsh Law Firm, in a statement.
“I hope this settlement paves the way for a similar approach in the other Catholic bankruptcies, some of which have been pending for even longer than this one,” Marsh continued. “If anyone out there wants to argue these claims aren’t worth much, they should be forced to make that argument to a jury.”
The Diocese of Rockville Centre was at the center of one of the longest pending Catholic bankruptcies in the country.
The DRVC first filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after more than 200 lawsuits were submitted on behalf of more than 600 victims, all alleging that priests in the Diocese of Rockville Centre had sexually abused them.
Victims’ attorneys criticized the move as a delay tactic, saying that it could limit survivors’ ability to unearth names of accused priests and expose leaders who engaged in coverups. And because the bankruptcy court would set a claims bar date, that would have been the deadline for the sexual abuse survivors to file a claim in bankruptcy court or risk losing their legal rights.
Then in March 2023, The Official Committee Of Unsecured Creditors — a committee of survivors appointed by the bankruptcy court to represent the interests of all survivors — filed a motion to dismiss the the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s bankruptcy, claiming the DRVC and its parishes were unwilling to propose a reasonable amount to resolve it. Further, the DRVC made clear it would never agree to a settlement that did not include its parishes.
In October 2023, the bankruptcy court rejected the committee’s motion to dismiss DRVC’s claim, because it would result in hundreds of lawsuits against the Diocese and its parishes returning to state court. Further, there was nothing to stop the Diocese of Rockville Centre from simply filing for bankruptcy again afterwards.
Then earlier this year, the DRVC announced a plan for emerging from bankruptcy. But in April, it announced that its proposed plan had been rejected by more than 85% of survivors, which it admitted was an “overwhelming” number of rejections. Later that month, it proposed a $200 million settlement.
The first jury trial was scheduled to begin on Oct. 7.
Finally, Thursday the Diocese of Rockville Centre proposed the $320.5 million global settlement with the hundreds of sex abuse survivors who allege they were abused as children at the DRVC’s parishes, churches, and schools.
The lawsuits had only been made possible by the Child Victims Act, which the Diocese of Rockville Centre had previously attempted to overturn.
Longtime Westbury Village trustee dies at 85
Westbury Village Trustee William Wise, 85, who oversaw the operations of the Department of Public Works, died Sept. 13.
Wise was a member of Westbury Village for decades. He started as a member of the Planning Board in 1989 and served until he was appointed as a trustee to the village board In 2006. He served on the board until his death.
Wise’s early life was spent in Hempstead. His educational years began at Prospect Street School. He attended Hempstead High School, where he played the drums in the band and was a member of the football team.
Wise furthered his education with an associate degree he received cum laude from Nassau Community College. He also received a bachelor’s in science degree in Sociology from Adelphi University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Long Island University.
Wise met his wife Barbara in high school and they married on Nov. 29, 1959. They had two daughters, Sherri Johnson and Wendy Wise Whitfield. The Wise family lived in Hempstead and later moved to Westbury.
“As a young family man, Bill was a true entrepreneur and continued this passion throughout his life,” according to an obituary on GinaMitchellFunerals.com. “On a typical Friday evening, he and his wife would host parties and holiday gatherings at their home. They were exceptional hosts where their guests enjoyed their company.”
The obituary, which did not give a cause of death, said Wise enjoyed golfing and watching the news, action movies, crime dramas and basketball and football games.
“He was a visionary that was instrumental to the planning of the Westbury architecture and development,” the obituary said.
Wise was a board member on the Nassau Guardians Association, on the board and support service for youth in the One Hundred Black Men of Long Island, a consultant at Career Training for Skills Technology and Occupational Enhancement and an executive board member for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement.
“His 35 years of service to our Village coincided in large part with his long career in the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, serving the people of Nassau County as a member of law enforcement,” Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro said on Facebook. “Bill was an active member of many community organizations over the years, including 100 Black Men of Nassau, the Westbury Republican Club and Committee and many other organizations.”
Wise was also a retired deputy sheriff at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office in which he was instrumental in starting several programs including the GED Program, Printing Shop Programs, and Reading Literacy Program.
Wise’s professional achievements included being a lifetime member of the NAACP of Westbury, a vice chairman on the Nassau County Assessment Commission, a past master of the Zion Lodge no. 76, a past president of the Bethpage Rotary Club, a lifelong member of the Union Baptist Church, a member of Big Brothers and Sisters of Nassau County, a union management and labor relations specialist, a labor mediator and employment consultant and a board commissioner of Planning and Urban Development in the Village of Westbury.
He also received the Humanitarian Award by the March of Dimes and the Urban League Award.
The Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs said on Facebook that Wise was a longtime and dedicated member of the Village of Westbury. They said he was a “true leader” and known to be reputable, kind and heavily invested in the state and affairs of his community.
“He was happy to be a mentor, a role model, a great friend, and a gentleman to all who knew him,” the County’s Office of Minority Affairs said on Facebook. “His deep-rooted good nature and concern for others were only accented by his outstanding charm and character. A widely beloved and respected pillar of his community, may he rest in peace.”
Kevin Boone, trustee on the Village of Hempstead board, said on Facebook that Wise’s efforts in politics and One Hundred Black Men have “forged a lasting legacy that will inspire and motivate future generations.”
“Reading Facebook post comments about Bill echo my own impressions of the man I have known since I was a young deli clerk where he was a customer,” Cavallaro said on Facebook. “Bill was always smiling and ready with a good and kind word. He knew everyone and was seen everywhere. He was a gentleman, always dressed impeccably.”
Wise is survived by his two daughters Sherri Johnson and Wendy Wise Whitfield; three grandchildren Royce Johnson, Delano Whitfield and Dior Whitfield; predeceased brother Emmett Smith and brother Sylvester Wise; sisters Valerie Wise and Cynthia Wise-Wilcox; and nieces, nephews, grand nephews, and cousins.
Flags at village facilities were flown at half-mast last week in honor and memory of Wise.
The wake was held on Sept. 19, and the funeral was held on Sept. 20, both at Union Baptist Church in Hempstead.
Nassau mask ban lawsuit rejected by federal judge
A lawsuit challenging the legality of Nassau County’s recently implemented face mask ban was thrown out by a federal judge Wednesday due to the plaintiffs’ lack of standing after arguing it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and other legalities, according to court documents.
“Nassau County residents can be grateful that the court dismissed a lawsuit that would have made Nassau County less safe,” Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement. “The Legislature was correct in addressing this pressing need to give police officers the ability to enforce the law.”
The law, referred to as the Mask Transparency Act, prohibits individuals from wearing a face mask that conceals parts of their face or disguises their voice for the purpose of concealing their identity. Masks are prohibited in both public spaces and private businesses and properties where the owner prohibits it.
The law also allows police to ask an individual to remove a face mask during traffic stops and when suspected of criminal activity.
Face masks for the purpose of health are not prohibited under the law nor are religious face coverings or those used to celebrate holidays peacefully.
Punishment for a face mask conviction is either a maximum fine of $1,000 or a maximum of one year in jail.
The lawsuit against the ban was filed by two Nassau County residents, identified as S.S. and G.B., who have lived in the county for more than 20 years. Both are disabled and wear masks when they leave their homes to protect themselves from illness, according to court documents.
Both stated in the suit that they would not remove their face masks if asked to do so by law enforcement.
One of the plaintiffs said they have also reduced the frequency with which they leave their home to “avoid likely harm and threat” to their life. Both stated in the suit that they fear harassment, arrest and prosecution.
The lawsuit was based upon the residents’ assertion that the law violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the New York State Constitution.
The lawsuit was overseen by Judge Joan Azrack in the Eastern District of New York.
Azrack ruled that the two plaintiffs failed to provide evidence of injury due to the law, citing that the law provides exemptions specifically for people wearing masks for health reasons as they do.
The judge said their other arguments, such as the law limiting their public and private lives and potential harassment due to mask wearing, were not “persuasive,” according to court documents.
The suit was ultimately rejected.
Blakeman signed the law into effect in August after the Nassau County Legislature approved the bill 12-0 with solely Republican support and all Democrats abstaining earlier in the month.
Democrats proposed an alternative where one would face elevated charges for committing a crime while wearing a mask, but it was ignored by the Legislature’s GOP majority.
The law was introduced by Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck), who argued for the law’s necessity in the wake of pro-Palestine protests across the country. She and others alleged that protesters wear masks in order to commit antisemitic acts without identification.
The passage of the law was highly contested, with the board divided on the issue along partisan lines and members of the public overwhelmingly speaking against it during public comment periods.
One opponent was arrested after they refused to leave the podium when their three-minute public comment session expired. Many supporters heckled the opponents during the public hearings and were given more time at the podium to speak publicly.
Multiple individuals have already been arrested and charged with violating the county’s mask ban, including an 18-year-old in Levittown who was arrested in August for possessing a 14-inch butcher knife and for wearing a face mask in public. A Manhattan man, 27, was also arrested in August in Jericho for attempted burglary and wearing a face mask.
From the Desk of state Assembly’s Chuck Lavine: Setting record straight on New York ERA
The nature of the demagoguery that some politicians have used against the New York State
Equal Rights Amendment, Proposition 1 on the back page of our ballots, reminds me of an
experience I had as a young public defender in the rough and tumble New York City Criminal Courts.
During a proceeding, the prosecutor told a blatant lie. I banged my fist on the desk and shouted out that the statement was a lie.
The judge immediately called me up to the bench for a conference. Smiling, he told me that, yes, although he knew that the statement was a lie, I shouldn’t say that the lie was actually a lie.
He told me that I should instead say that the false statement was simply “disingenuous.”
After all, being accused of being disingenuous was much nicer than being accused of being a liar.
That memory is in my mind all these years later as some politicians are intentionally spreading blatant lies about the New York Equal Rights Amendment.
Not long ago, I used this space to discuss the New York Equal Rights Amendment, which will be on the back of our ballots when early voting begins on Oct. 26 and on Election Day,
Nov. 5. I am talking about it again in response to a disinformation campaign which is based
on ridiculous and preposterous lies.
If you listen to far-right politicians, the ERA will permit abortions even after a woman gives
birth. It will allow non-citizens to vote and ban parents from knowing if their little children are receiving gender-changing surgeries.
These claims don’t even come close to passing the laugh or the smell tests.
Among the various falsehoods about the NY ERA is that it will take away parents’ rights over their children by allowing minors to consent to gender-affirming surgery, enable boys to play on girls’ sports teams, and control who uses what bathroom.
These claims are false and not credible.
This is part of a narrative being pushed by politicians who are trying to divide and distract us from what this amendment is actually about – protecting the right to abortion and guaranteeing our personal freedoms.
Charges that it will change our immigration process and allow non-citizens to vote are also lies.
The protections in this amendment have nothing to do with our country’s asylum or immigration laws.
They are simply about strengthening our state constitution to make sure that all New
Yorkers are protected against discrimination from the government, no matter their race or
ethnicity.
There have been questions about whether we really need to pass this amendment in New York, where abortion, at least for the time being, remains legal. While many of us took for granted that our reproductive freedom would always be protected, the overturning of Roe v. Wade shocked us back into the reality that our rights aren’t nearly as safe as we thought.
Never before in all of American history has a Supreme Court completely gutted a fundamental constitutional right.
Since then reproductive rights like abortion, contraception, and IVF have been under attack across the country. New York’s current laws can and will be changed or rolled back depending on who is in the state Legislature or the governor’s mansion. The bottom line is that we do need the ERA to ensure all New Yorkers have their basic, fundamental rights and freedoms protected.
The amendment is straightforward, guaranteeing that no New Yorker can be discriminated
against by the government. It does not hand out special rights to anyone and doesn’t change common sense laws on the books.
The amendment is about protecting the rights we currently have and not leaving them up to out-of-touch politicians in the future.
Prop 1 will permanently protect New Yorkers’ fundamental freedoms, including the right to
abortion — and voters deserve to know the truth. Now, it’s our job to make sure all voters know that Prop 1 will protect abortion and our fundamental freedoms when we head to the ballot box.
We have a monumental opportunity to modernize our own state constitution by voting yes on Prop 1 and passing the NY ERA.
The choice is clear. The NY ERA will protect our human rights at a time when they desperately need to be protected.
Former Nassau County probation officer accused of sexual relationship with probationer
By Nicole Formisano
A former Nassau County probation officer was charged with concealing sexual relations with a probationer he was supervisor, District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Tuesday.
Matthew Albertson, 42, of Smithtown, was charged with offering a false instrument for filing, falsifying business records, and official misconduct after he was accused of giving a probationer $8,000, gifts, co-signing a car loan and falsifying records to cover up an improper relationship, Donnelly said.
Albertson also allegedly did not report her possible fentanyl overdose.
Albertson, 42, pleaded not guilty in district court. If convicted, he faces a maximum of four years in prison.
“Probation Officers are in a position of great trust, assisting people with criminal justice involvements to restart their lives and avoid reoffending,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. “This defendant allegedly exploited his power and compromised his sworn duties by pursuing and engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a probationer that he was supervising.
“Albertson’s alleged actions flew in the face of the Nassau County Probation Department’s rules and failed the probationer he should have been lawfully and ethically supporting through this process.”
In August 2023, Donnelly said, an attorney for the probationer reported to the authorities that Albertson had sex with the probationer while she was under his supervision.
The attorney said screenshots of text messages showed the relationship began around November 2021 and continued through at least March 2022. On at least one occasion, Albertson allegedly had sex with his probationer during a home visit.
If true, the relationship violates written probation rules that prohibit intimate relationships between officers and their probationers.
A subsequent investigation by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Albertson allegedly gave his probationer a total of $8,000 across 18 separate dates. The money was for manicures, food, car payments and other expenses.
Prosecutors said that on Jan. 14 Albertson co-signed a loan on a car with the probationer’s family member.
The probationer texted Albertson on February 2022 that she feared she was suffering a fentanyl overdose.
But he allegedly did not seek medical assistance or emergency services for her — rather, he told the woman to stay awake, wake up her mother, and eat sugar.
Afterwards, Albertson allegedly did not report any drug use to the probation department, and later filed a case note reporting that the probationer stated she was doing well.
On nine separate occasions between January 2022 and August 2023, the former probation officer allegedly falsified case notes regarding drug tests, office visits, and home visits concerning the probationer.
Albertson had documented that his probationer was drug tested at her home and the Nassau County Probation Department — but the evidence revealed that no one from Probation administered a drug test to her, prosecutors said.
Albertson had also allegedly documented that phone call check-ins, home visits, and office visits were made on specific dates. Yet phone records, text messages between the defendant and probationer, and other evidence showed that these check-ins did not occur.
The former probation officer surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators.
“We’re going to review the discovery and see what type of case the district attorney has, and see what the charges are and whether they can prove them,” said Lloyd Nadel, Albertson’s lawyer.
He is expected back in court on Nov. 6.
