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North Hempstead to host Fall Family Festival

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The Fall Family Festival will be held on Oct. 5. (Photo courtesy of the Town of North Hempstead)

The Fall Family Festival will be returning to North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 12 to 5 p.m.

“I always remind people that North Hempstead is a family-friendly town, and this Family Festival is a perfect example,” Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “We want our neighbors and their families to kick off the autumn season with a little something for everyone and this festival does just that.”

VHS Cover Band and the Rusty Spur Band will play live music throughout the event.

VHS is a five-piece band consisting of veteran players from bands across the Long Island area. Rusty Spur is a country band that blends both modern country songs with traditional country classics.

The fourth annual event will feature many free, fall-themed activities including a pumpkin patch, a pumpkin maze, arts & crafts, button making, Girl Scouts of Nassau County Traveling Trefoil, a spooky slime bar, bouncy slides, a mechanical trackless fire engine, character meet-and-greets and a Boot Camp obstacle course. Attendees will be able to purchase food and refreshments from local vendors, and all are encouraged to bring their beach chairs to enjoy live musical performances.

Admission and parking are free. For more information about the event, please call 311 or (516) 869-6311.

2024 Gold Coast International Film Festival to spotlight films, Q&As and special events

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The Gold Coast International Film Festival returns. (Photo courtesy of Gold Coast Arts)

The 2024 Gold Coast International Film Festival, taking place Sept. 22 through Oct.22, is once again bringing the best in new independent and foreign films and special events to audiences throughout the region at venues across the north shore.

The Festival, which follows a successful year of near sold-out crowds at Gold Coast’s year-round film screening series, will include the types of award-winning feature-length and short films that audiences have come to expect, as well as Q&As with many directors, producers and special guests.

Films this year feature some of Hollywood’s finest actors, including Kyra Sedgwick, David Paymer and Griffin Dunne and award-winning actors and filmmakers from around the globe including Goya Award winner David Verdaguer (Spain) and Cesar Award winners Pascal Bonitzer and Agnes Jaoui (France).

In addition to feature film screenings at Manhasset Cinema, the Festival will include award-winning short films screened free at area libraries and an interactive Family Day filled with family-friendly short films and art activities art the Gold Coast Arts Center on Oct. 14 (Columbus Day) when kids are off from school.

This year’s not-to-miss films include:

AVENUE OF THE GIANTS
An inspiring story about the power of friendship and healing between a troubled teen and a man harboring a haunting secret as a Holocaust survivor; inspired by true events. WINNER: Miami Jewish Film Festival (Jury Award) (Monday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM
A powerful and deeply personal film that recounts the untold stories of D-Day. This is a FREE event in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Presented in partnership with PSEG. INCLUDES POST-SCREENING Q&A WITH DIRECTOR CHRISTIAN TAYLOR AND PRODUCER DAVID PATERSON (Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

JOKES & CIGARETTES
An engaging and moving biopic about the iconic Catalan comedian, Eugenio Jofra, who rose to fame in the 1970s. Nominated for 11 Goya Awards, including WINNER of Best Actor. (Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

AIR WAR
Israel’s answer to Top Gun! A rivalry between two charismatic Israeli air force fighter pilots reaches a breaking point on the eve of the six-day war. An Israeli action drama with romance, rivalry & thrilling aerial battles. INCLUDES POST-SCREENING Q&A WITH IAF FIGHTER PILOTS (Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

AUCTION
An engaging French satire involving an Egon Schiele masterpiece that went missing after WWII, a hotshot modern art auctioneer and the ethical and moral questions that arise for all involved. (Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

DAYTIME REVOLUTION
Re-live the incredible week in February 1972 when John Lennon and Yoko Ono produced and co-hosted “The Mike Douglas Show.” Official Selection: Hamptons International Film Festival (Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas). After the screening, bring your ticket stub next door to Greens Irish Pub to celebrate John Lennon’s Birthday with Lennon-themed drink specials and John Lennon on the jukebox.

EX-HUSBANDS
In this beguilingly bittersweet seriocomedy, Griffin Dunne stars as Peter Pearce, a man floundering after his father leaves his mother after 65 years of marriage, and his own wife leaves him after 35 – and he inadvertently crashes his son’s bachelor party in Mexico. INCLUDES POST-SCREENING Q&A WITH DIRECTOR NOAH PRITZKER (Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

THIS IS MY MOTHER
A poignant and beautiful French drama/comedy about a 33-year-old son and his mercurial mother who recently escaped from a residential clinic. (Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)

BAD SHABBOS
A darkly hilarious film with a warm heart, this charmingly modern screwball comedy, stars Kyra Sedgwick, Method Man, David Paymer, and Catherine Curtin. Official Selection: Hamptons International Film Festival INCLUDES POST-SCREENING Q&A WITH PRODUCER ADAM MITCHELL (Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., Manhasset Cinemas)


The 2024 GCIFF will also feature an outstanding selection of over 40 short films presented free to the public at the Great Neck Library and Port Washington Public Library.

Great Shorts: Series 1 will be screened on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Port Washington Public Library and Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Great Neck Library.

Great Shorts: Series 2 will be screened on Monday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. at the Great Neck Library and Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Port Washington Public Library.

Family Shorts will screen on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Great Neck Library (Parkville branch) and Monday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Port Washington Library. Gold Coast’s short film programs, curated by Alexandra Gil, have always been some of the Festival’s most popular events.

All Festival screenings and events are presented with the support of Founding Festival sponsor the Town of North Hempstead. Additional 2024 sponsors include Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; A.L. Sarroff Fund; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; The Katz Institute for Women’s Health at Northwell Health; Warner Brothers Discovery; WNET, PSEG Long Island, Liman Video Rental; the Great Neck BID, Manhasset Cinema, and many local businesses.

Information regarding this year’s films and events, and tickets is available at www.goldcoastarts.org.

Great Neck’s Lipinsky gets head start in annual Polar Plunge fundraiser

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Cameryn Oakes
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Erin Lipinsky at the 2024 Polar Plunge. (Photo courtesy of Joe Oginski)

For the past decade, Great Neck’s Erin Lipinsky has made a splash in fundraising for the Special Olympics through the annual Polar Plunge.

He has continuously raised thousands of dollars yearly and set records for the most money raised.

While the Polar Plunge is still five months away, Lipinsky has already started to raise funds for the annual event. His coaches said this is how he stays a top leader in fundraising in the state.

“He’s always our first person to start fundraising,” Special Olympics New York Director of Development Alexis Dawson said. “He’s always thinking about it as soon as the plunge ends what he can do for next year. That’s why he’s No. 1 every year. So we love him for that.”

“I don’t quit,” Lipinsky said.

The Special Olympics is a global nonprofit organization that supports athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate in sports. The Polar Plunge is an event where participants jump into cold bodies of water to fundraise for the Special Olympics.

Dawson said its top fundraising method is peer-to-peer, as exemplified by Lipinsky’s efforts through the Polar Plunge.

“Somebody like Erin is a shining example of what we want every plunger to do,” Dawson said.

“That’s right,” Lipinsky said in response.

Lipinsky’s fundraising has already begun, which included a car wash in June that raised about $1,200.

The Town of North Hempstead will host its Polar Plunge on Feb. 8. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. and the plunge will commence at 10 a.m.

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said the event is important in the community.

“It’s for the joy of sports,” DeSena said. “This is very inclusive. It allows the athletes to participate in sports, it allows their families to come and cheer them on. This is physical fitness, coaching, camaraderie and mostly including everybody.”

Dawson called their pursuits an “inclusion revolution.”

Lipinsky said he does it for the kids, not himself.

Lipinsky has been participating in the Polar Plunge for about 10 years and has been a leader in fundraising every year.

In 2023, Lipinsky estimated he raised $32,000 for the organization. When he sat down with Schneps Media Long Island, Lipinsky brought a notebook that included the line-by-line breakdown of every donation he had received.

Dawson said Lipinsky is the state organization’s top fundraiser downstate. DeSena said she and the town are proud to have a resident like Lipinsky.

While he has reached heights in fundraising, Lipinsky said he is looking to do more this year to raise the bar even higher.

Lipinsky is supported by his team which he refers to as his coaches. This includes Dawson, as well as family friend Joan Lazaunik and DeSena. In tandem with these supporting individuals is also the community at large, including the Great Neck fire departments.

“It’s a real team effort,” DeSena said.

Dawson said the organization seeks to bolster its support by bringing in more schools to participate. Students can get community service hours through their participation.

Lipinsky has aspirations to continue fundraising leading up to the plunge. Individuals can donate to Lipinsky’s fundraiser at http://events.nyso.org/goto/lipinsky.

World’s best short films come to Westbury

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Ben Fiebert
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Asbury Shorts USA Director Doug LeClaire introducing the film lineup for the 12th annual Westbury Short Film Concert. (Photos courtesy of Doug LeClaire)

Producer Doug LeClaire from Westbury has brought back the Westbury Short Film Concert for its 12th year.

Asbury Shorts USA, New York City’s longest-running short film exhibition and travel show, returned to the Piazza last Friday with a variety of acclaimed short films.

The concert is a two-hour, fast-paced, and fun exhibition of the world’s best short films. The recent concert featured a mix of U.S. festival “Best of Show” winners and international hits, along with many audience favorites from over the years.

“Asbury Shorts and Westbury Arts once a year brings a dozen award-winning short films and people get to see them on the big screen,” LeClaire said.

The event was 90 minutes with no intermission and it took place in the Piazza. The short films at the concert were independently produced and featured a lineup of comedy, drama, animation and more.

The Piazza was crowded last Friday, as attendees watched a dozen short films.

“It’s incredibly eclectic,” LeClaire said. “It’s films from the past and the present, representing all genres. It’s fast-paced and fun.”

Two of the films that were shown were in the “local spotlight selection.”

One was by Alicia Evans, who is on the board of Westbury Arts. She was the subject of a six-minute documentary called “Threads of Nature: The Art & Advocacy of Alicia Evans” that filmmaker Kevin Lopez of Rockville Centre created.

“She does this incredible artwork through crocheting materials that is related to the environment and how it can help save the environment,” LeClaire said.

The other local spotlight film was called “Kyle versus Karen.”

This is a five-minute film created by director James Morrison. It’s a modern story about a young man who mistakenly takes a photograph of a woman without her permission.

LeClare, who grew up in Westbury, said bringing this show to his home is a treat. He said Westbury Arts and Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro have been “very supportive” of the concert.

Westbury Arts President Julie Lyon welcoming the attendees at the short film concert.

In 1981, LeClaire and his partners founded Asbury Shorts USA. Asbury Short’s mission is to keep award-winning short films in theaters instead of YouTube, computers or on smartphones.

LeClaire said he and his partners found that there weren’t any public exhibitions for student films in the area, especially in Nassau County. They then created Asbury Short’s 43 years ago, which is named after Asbury Avenue where LeClaire grew up in Westbury.

“Then we put together what was called at the time the Asbury Film Festival and a whole bunch of people came,” LeClaire said.

For the first six years of Asbury Shorts, the group showed short films in Westbury with about 100 people in attendance each year. The shorts displayed were student films from Alephi University, Hofstra University and independent films.

“It was once a year because we were all working in the film business in New York,” LeClaire said. “I produced T.V. commercials for 38 years, but all the while the side gig was always the Asbury Film Festival once a year at our flagship show in Manhattan.”

When the group was invited to bring their show to London in 2000, Asbury Shorts became LeClaire’s full-time job. They got the idea to start touring around different countries, which transformed the film festival into the Asbury Shorts Film Concert.

“And what we mean by that name is that it’s not competitive,” LeClaire said.

LeClaire’s goal with his group is to provide entertainment with nearly a dozen short films. He said the group’s tagline is they would “rather have malaria than do a Q&A.”

“We do about 15 to 18 shows a year across the country,” LeClaire said.

Previously, Asbury Shorts presented their short film concerts in historic venues from Los Angeles to Berlin. The next Asbury Shorts Film Concert will be on Sept. 28 at The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Conn.

For more information on Asbury Shorts USA and future film concerts, visit AsburyShortFilms.com.

Town fines Mineola School District for cutting trees

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Ben Fiebert
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The Mineola School District cut down trees on the left side of Washington Avenue, prompting the Town of Hempstead to fine them thousands of dollars. (Photos by Ben Fiebert)

The Mineola School District recently got a lesson in Town of North Hempstead law after cutting down nine trees at the high school.

The town fined the district $19,000 for 11 code violations, saying the school district had cut down the trees in front of the high school’s campus in Garden City Park outside the town’s right-of-way without a permit.

“I conferred with the town’s attorney’s office and they advised us that they would be interested in prosecuting this case,” Derek Skuzenski, the town’s commissioner of public safety, said.

The town issued an appearance ticket for a court date set on Aug. 23. On the ticket, it states that the school district did not display a building permit while doing work and they removed trees that were in the Town’s right of way.

 

The property in front of Mineola High School prior to the end of July. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

North Hempstead’s Department of Public Safety had received notice from Town Councilman Dennis Walsh’s office on July 25 that the Mineola School District was cutting trees down in what appeared to be the Town’s right of way along Washington Avenue.

The town did not approve this work, which alerted code enforcement to investigate the area.

 

To cut down a tree in North Hempstead, the town requires the tree to be assessed, an arborist to inspect it, and a good reason provided.

“They didn’t pursue any of that and they cut down all of them,” said Umberto Mignardi, the town’s public information officer.

Mignardi said the school district has argued that the town has no authority to require them to go through a process before cutting down any tree.

But, he said when the town receives phone calls from constituents about an issue, it seems like “common sense” that the issue applies to the Town.

The Mineola School District declined to comment on the violations.

“Mineola Public Schools does not comment on pending legal matters,” Blaine Malefatto, a spokesperson for the school district, said.

Skuzenski said the law gives schools a lot of discretionary authority, but they aren’t exempt from doing everything.

For example, he said, a school district may be able to build a fence without obtaining a building permit from the town, but that doesn’t give them immunity from complying with the town code.

“The town’s position is in preserving the suburban quality of life and keeping the neighborhood looking nice,” Skuzenski said. “And the councilman got complaints. He had constituents complaining that these trees were removed so I think the Town’s really just looking for the trees to get replaced.”

Mignardi said he remembered the street having a “beautiful tree canopy” of very tall trees. After hearing about the complaints, he visited the street and he said it looked pretty drastic compared to how he remembered it.

“We do not have a comment on this as the high school is outside the boundaries of the Village of Mineola,” Bryan Rivera, clerk for the Village of Mineola, said.

The next court appearance is on Oct. 11. A trial date has not yet been set.

Gold Coast rotary to host Swim Across America event for cancer research

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Cameryn Oakes
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Gold Coast Rotary's 2023 Swim Across America event. (Photo courtesy of Sheila Harmon)

The North Shore will be making a splash against cancer at the Gold Coast Rotary’s annual Swim Across America event.

“Hopefully, we’ll eradicate cancer,” organizer Sheila Harmon said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be in my lifetime, but I’ll keep working for it.”

The Swim Across America event is hosted by the Gold Coast Rotary, which includes Lake Success and Lake Success and partners with Manhasset, Williston Park, Hicksville, Glen Cove and Carle Place.

Harmon is the liaison to the Great Neck South High School’s Interact Club, the high school Rotary club that will participate in the event.

The swim will be held on Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Swim Across America is a national nonprofit that hosts pool and open-water swims to raise money for cancer research.

Swim Across America’s Long Island chapters’ funds go directly to local hospitals and those thousands of miles away.

This includes the Swim Across America Lab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Swim Across America Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine Meyer Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, the Feinstein Institute of North Shore, the Cancer Support Team, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.

Harmon said he has visited each of the labs their funds support, each focusing on a different cancer research and treatment area.

“All of these places are making such strides,” Harmon said.

For Harmon, cancer is personal.

He was diagnosed with cancer 16 years ago. Before her, her mother, uncle, and aunt too had been diagnosed and later died of the disease.

This year, Harmon said, it is even more personal as her daughter was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Harmon and her daughter will swim together this year to raise funds for researching the disease they know all too well.

“I feel so touched by the support that we have received,” Harmon said.

While Harmon said she is comfortable speaking about cancer, she said that was not always the case for most people.

“I remember when my mother had cancer and that was a gazillion years ago,” Harmon said. “We weren’t even allowed to use the word cancer.”

But Harmon said times have changed and she proudly uses her voice to advocate for cancer research.

The swim event will take place in three parts: the high school teams from 8-10 a.m., the middle school teams from 10 a.m. to noon, and everyone else in the afternoon.

A bid to swim costs a $100 donation to the organization, but individuals and organizations are open to sponsor swimmers who otherwise could not donate.

“Not only are we raising money for charity, but we’re throwing kindness to people who can’t necessarily afford this,” Harmon said.

Individuals and organizations can also sponsor the event, either through a $250 donation to be featured on the banner or a $500 donation to have a dedicated lane.

Interested sponsors can reach out directly to Harmon via email at harmonsheila1@gmail.com.

Harmon shouted out the committee who organized the event, saying it was made possible through them.

Editorial: Expectations for all seeking political office

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The Island 360
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One thing that has become clear in the past three months is that debates matter.

President Joe Biden did so poorly in his June presidential debate, appearing frail and unable to coherently explain policies, that Democrats, already concerned that he could not effectively make his case to voters, persuaded him to leave the race.

There has been no similar groundswell of Republicans calling for former President Donald Trump to do the same after his disastrous performance last week when Vice President Kamala Harris soundly defeated him at a debate on ABC.

Trump repeatedly failed to offer a coherent explanation of his policies and instead angrily responded to Harris’ jabs with lies and even racist responses. Harris’ performance was strong enough to draw praise from Republican political guru Karl Rove.

Whether the debate will matter at the ballot box remains to be seen.

What we do now know is that presidential rallies, television ads and a campaign’s social media campaign have an important place in elections. But they do not tell the complete story.

Debates and candidate interviews conducted by informed questioners are also needed to give voters a clear picture of who they are voting for.

There is no opportunity to question a claim made in a television commercial or a postcard mailed to voters’ homes or ask them for more details on a policy they support.

As former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson once said, everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.

We do not suggest that candidates be tested physically, but they should be subject to thorough vetting—just like anyone else applying for a job.

This is not only true in national races.

Voters in Nassau County will also decide on two congressional races, which could determine not only who represents them but which party controls the House of Representatives.

They will also decide on races to determine who will represent them in the state Senate and Assembly.

Nassau County voters know something about electing poorly vetted candidates. They are the ones who elected George Santos to New York’s 3rd Congressional District.

A short time after Santos was elected, the world learned that he had lied about his professional background, educational history, religion and property ownership, among other things.

This was followed by a 13-count federal indictment in which Santos was charged with embezzling contributions from supporters, fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits and lying on campaign disclosures. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in August.

Santos was also expelled from Congress in December, leaving 3rd Congressional District residents without representation until Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election for his old seat. Suozzi now faces former Republican Assembly Member Mike LiPetri in November.

During the 2022 congressional campaign, Santos ducked sit-downs with both Blank Slate Media and Newsday, which employ journalists who get paid to stay informed about the issues.

He was not alone.

Candidates for every level of government have begun ducking debates, forums hosted by organizations like the League of Women Voters and newspapers like ours.

We invite candidates for one-hour interviews via Zoom, which will be recorded and uploaded to YouTube for all to view. Stories are also published in our newspapers. The date and time are left up to the candidates.

The interview includes questions not shared with candidates in advance. Sometimes follow-up questions are asked to prove a claim or for greater detail.

There is a reason the founding fathers made freedom of the press part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – to keep elected officials accountable and honest.

We understand why candidates may prefer to present themselves with carefully crafted commercials put together by paid campaign professionals and rallies where they are not questioned.

But as Santos’ election and the debates between Trump and Biden and Trump and Harris show, that is not in the best interest of voters.

When considering a candidate who ducks debates and interviews, voters should ask – what are they hiding?

 

 

Great Neck Library Conversation Groups

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The Great Neck Library will be hosting two upcoming conversation groups. (Photo courtesy of the Great Neck Library)

Great Neck Library Conversation Groups:

Coffee, Community, and Conversation for Seniors 55+

Come join fellow Great Neck resident Cindy Pross and connect with members of the community ages 55 and up.

Meet new people and connect with old friends to discuss different topics of choice. Light refreshments will be served.

The meeting will be at the Great Neck Library, Parkville Branch at 10 Campbell St. in New Hyde Park on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.

New Beginnings: Singles 50+ with Marla Matthews

If you are divorced, widowed, single or an empty nester age 50+ who would like a new beginning, come and be inspired to make new friends, network and learn new skills towards reinventing yourself.

No registration required; all are welcome.

The meeting will be at the Main Library, 159 Bayview Ave. in Great Neck on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.

No registration is required for these events; all community members are welcome.

LIRR in process of acquiring land for third track at Port Washington station

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Cameryn Oakes
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The Long Island Rail Road is in the process of acquiring land at the Port Washington Train Station to potentially establish a third track to increase service. (Photo by Julie Prisco)

Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said the transit agency is in the process of acquiring land at the Port Washington Station to establish a third track, which would bolster service that commuters say was lost with the opening of Grand Central Madison.

“We’ve met with them and we’ve explained to them what our intentions are and to show that this would benefit the community,” Free said at a media roundtable Thursday with local news outlets.

The Town of North Hempstead and the Long Island Rail Road entered into a memorandum of understanding in July that started the process for the railroad to acquire space at the station for the third track. The town’s vote to enter the agreement was unanimous.

Metropolitan Transit Authority CEO Janno Lieber described the memorandum as the first step in the process of acquiring the land. Free said it also permits the Long Island Rail Road to conduct studies on the land’s use.

“Once we know that we have the real estate, that’s when we can start to design the yard expansion if and when we get the real estate,” Lieber said.

Free said the memorandum was something the Long Island Rail Road was “very excited” about after he estimated what was 15 years of work building up to this.

Free said there are about 4 ½ miles of single track between Port Washington and Great Neck. He said this limits the number of trains that can be run back and forth and turned around on the tracks.

The land under discussion to be acquired by the Long Island Rail Road would serve as yard capacity at the Port Washington station to provide extra service and store additional trains overnight. He estimated that at least two more trains could be stored in this yard overnight.

“So what we’re seeing now is very limited ability to increase service on the Port Washington Branch,” Free said.

Free said the original plan was for the third track to be established before East Side Access to bring the LIRR to Grand Central Station was opened, but an agreement could not be reached.

Residents have also complained about crowded trains, but Free said this is not exactly the reality.

Free said ridership “exploded” with the introduction of East Side Access. Compared to the prior year, ridership increased by 16.9%.

Ridership overall on the Long Island Rail Road has grown since drops during the pandemic. Lieber said it has grown to 80% of pre-pandemic levels.

In August, Free said more than 20,000 trains operated during weekdays. He said 0.35% of those trains were crowded, or had reached more than 90% capacity.

As for rush hour trains, Free said 0.007% of those trains were classified as crowded. He said this amounted to 45 trains out of 6,600.

Free said the additional track at the Port Washington Branch would help bring these numbers down even further.

“So we’ve done an incredible job mitigating that throughout the system, and this advancement of this project would drastically help service on the Port Washington Branch, which has some of the best service in our operation already,” Free said.

The transit authority will be releasing its 2025-2029 capital plan in the coming week, Lieber said, which would include projects and plans that the Metropolitan Transit Authority has for the next five years.

North Hempstead welcomes first female planning commissioner

By
Cameryn Oakes
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Nancy Shahverdi will serve as North Hempstead's first female planning commissioner. (Photo courtesy of the Town of North Hempstead)

The Town of North Hempstead hired new Planning Commissioner Nancy Shahverdi, who will be the first woman to lead the department in its history.

“My passion for planning stems from a deep desire to positively impact my community,” Shahverdi said. “I want to find practical solutions that enhance the quality of life for our residents. It’s an honor to hold such a prestigious role, and I’m hopeful my experience paired with our very talented team here can bring improvements for all our neighbors across the town.”

Shahverdi, who has resided on the island for the past decade, has more than 12 years of experience in municipal planning. She earned her urban planning degrees from UCLA and CSU-Northridge before beginning her career in Los Angeles.

Most recently, Shahverdi worked as the senior community development and planning specialist for Suffolk County where she concentrated on downtown revitalization.

She has participated in planning projects involving transit and street safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and served on planning committees in New York, New Jersey, and California.

“Nancy was the best candidate for this job, male or female,” Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “Her body of work speaks for itself, and I’m happy we were able to make a bit of history in the process. I can’t wait to see how she elevates our town’s efficiency and facilities.”

The Department of Planning & Environmental Protection oversees the town’s land use regulations, environmental impact reviews, historic landmark preservation, public transportation and real estate transactions. The department is responsible for transportation, environmental and other capital projects for the town.

Shahverdi was hired during the town’s July board meeting, with her position beginning on July 3. She is given an annual salary of $130,000.

Shahverdi is replacing former Planning Commissioner Michael Levine, who had held the position since 2006 before retiring in December. His retirement occurred in tandem with a series of other employees axed by the town’s new Republican majority, including multiple individuals like Levine who had worked since Democrat Supervisors Jon Kaiman and Judi Bosworth were in office.

Antisemitic Graffiti at Shelter Rock Jewish Center, Roslyn, NY

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Picture of defaced sign (photo by Risa Borsykowsky)

I am writing because this sign at Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn was splattered with red paint over 1-1/2 weeks ago.

This is an antisemitic hate crime. It is still on full display at a major intersection for thousands of people to see every day as a painful sign of Jew hatred and Israel hatred that is running rampant all over the world.

It is absolutely abhorrent and outrageous that this sign is still up. The police cannot believe that it is still up.

I spoke with the president of the Board at Shelter Rock Jewish Center, who said that they are keeping it up in defiance. They have plans to order a new laminated sign and will install a security camera.  Until then, this horrible antisemitic sign is still up.

If a Black church was defiled with KKK graffiti. if there was anti-gay, anti-Muslim, anti-anything graffiti anywhere – public or private property, it would be removed immediately. Hate does not need a platform, and of all places – a synagogue.  Leaving this sign up is normalizing hate.  It is promoting hate.

This is not an act of defiance.  Jewish people do not need an antisemitic sign on Jewish property to show our defiance.

Defiance is calling out every single act of antisemitism and ending it immediately.  Defiance is a march and a rally, which I’ve attended, in Washington, DC, in New York City, and Nassau County.

Hate has no place in my town, but somehow, the Board of Shelter Rock Jewish Center has determined that it is OK to expose people to disgusting antisemitism.  They are providing the property and the platform for hate.

This highly offensive and painful sign should be removed immediately.

I cannot believe that absolutely nothing is being done to take down this sign.  I implore everyone here to contact Shelter Rock Jewish Center and demand that the sign be removed now.

Not another minute should go by that people are forced to be exposed to this kind of vile signage.

Risa Borsykowsky

Albertson

 

Nassau County beefs up security ahead of Trump rally

By
Ben Fiebert
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Bruce Blakeman updating the public about security measures and traffic advisory ahead of the Trump rally on Wednesday. (Photos by Ben Fiebert)

Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive, updated the public on new security measures ahead of former President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Nassau County.

The rally, which will take place at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening will be the first rally since the second assassination attempt on his life occurred Sunday in Florida. Doors open at 3 p.m.

Blakeman, alongside Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and elected officials, discussed the expected traffic congestion and how the county will be keeping attendees safe.

Local resources that will be available to facilitate traffic and protect the attendees include volunteer firefighters and EMTs, Uniondale Fire Department, the Bureau of Special Operations, local aviation and the special investigation squad.

Helicopter flying by with a show of force. Aviation crews will be deployed for the rally.

Blakeman said Operation Overwatch will be in effect, activating the detective division, canine unit, highway patrol, CERT unit, the Emergency Ambulance Bureau, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, and the fire marshal’s office.

Local enforcement and emergency crews will be at the rally.

“We feel very confident that we will have the assets necessary to make sure that this is safe for everyone,” Blakeman said.

Blakeman said the Secret Service is in control of the security for this event, but they are working in conjunction with the county. He said the New York State Police, NYPD and MTA police have also been “very helpful” in planning this trip.

“Suffice to say that every unit of the police department will be utilized on that day,” Blakeman said.

When asked if there are any credible threats at this time, Blakeman said he could not comment on that.

Blakeman said the traffic will be “incredibly heavy” from noon to 10 p.m. He said if you don’t have any business in the area, stay away unless you live or work in East Meadow, Uniondale or Hempstead.

Ryder said the parking lot at the coliseum will be locked down the night before the rally. He said there will be a “complete sweep” of the lot Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

“Anybody that is deciding to go to either Eisenhower Park or Mitchell Field to get there early and park their cars, that’s fine,” Ryder said. “Everybody will go through the main gate on the turnpike. There is no other entrance.”

This event is first come, first served. Blakeman said the rally may not accommodate as many people as he would like. He said to buy tickets for the rally, visit DonaldJTrump.com.

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