The fight for the date of the Third Congressional District’s general election heads to federal court on an expedited appeal Wednesday, Sept. 14, following the denial by an appeals court of Rep. Jack Martins’ request to move the election date to December.

Martins, who is running for retiring Congressman Steve Israel’s seat against fellow GOP candidate Philip Pidot, Libertarian Michael McDermott and Democrat Tom Suozzi, said having the election in November is too close to the court-ordered Republican primary of Oct. 6. Martins said having the two elections so close together fails to give adequate time to get ballots out to active-duty military and absentee voters.

“This has been about protecting the rights of military and absentee voters,” said E. O’Brien Murray, a spokesman from Martins’ campaign. Murray added that absentee ballots couldn’t be opened until a week after the election, meaning that primary election results wouldn’t be certified until less than four weeks before voters head to the polls in November. “It doesn’t provide the opportunity to properly run the general election.”

Martins is asking that the date of the Third Congressional District general election be moved to December, and if that doesn’t happen, that the primary be canceled altogether.
Pidot, a fraud investigator from Glen Cove, was not included on the primary ballot back in June, after Martins alleged that he had not gathered the required 1,250 valid signatures to get on the Republican line. A state Supreme Court justice ruled in June that Pidot did actually have the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot, but the timing of his appeal was too late to print ballots to include him in the primary.

In August, a federal judge ordered a special primary be held on Thursday, Oct. 6, 32 days before the Nov. 8 general election. Martins said the close proximity of the dates will hinder active-duty military personnel serving overseas from voting, as the federal MOVE Act requires that states send absentee ballots to active-duty military personnel and their family members at least 45 days before the election.

“Keeping the general election on Nov. 8 would violate federal law and compromise military personnel’s ability to vote by providing only 32 days at the earliest to mail absentee ballots,” Martins said in a statement on his website. “Moving the general election to Dec. 6 is necessary to comply with federal law and ensure that our servicemen and women, as well as their families, are able to cast their votes and have them counted.”

Martins also requested a stop on the mailing out of absentee ballots for the primary, a request that was denied by the appeals court.

Pidot called Martins’ attempts to move the general election or block the primary an attempt to “manipulate the courts and democratic process…for their own selfish and desperate reasons.”

“What we are witnessing, almost daily, is the unraveling of [a] political machine candidate who actually believed he could subvert the democratic process to his own benefit,” said Pidot. “Mr. Martins truly thought he was entitled to a free ride in the primary, and now he actually thinks a federal court is going to move Election Day for his convenience. Here before us is the arrogance of power on almost shocking display.”

Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War, a new documentary co-directed by Ken Burns and Artemis Joukowsky, will air on Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS. The film tells the story of a little-known but important mission by an American minister and his wife to rescue refugees and dissidents in Europe before and after the start of World War II.
The 90-minute film tells the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, a Unitarian minister and his wife from Wellesley, Massachusetts, who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to numerous life-threatening missions in Europe. Over two dangerous years, they helped to save hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation across Europe.

“The story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp is one of the most incredible tales of compassion, sacrifice and heroism that I have ever heard, and I was completely unaware of it until five years ago when Artemis Joukowsky first shared it with me,” said Ken Burns. “Nearly three years before America as a nation became involved in the second World War, these two unassuming, so-called ‘ordinary’ Americans gave up everything they knew and loved and risked their lives to become involved in a war 4,000 miles away because they knew there were people in grave danger who needed help.”

Artemis Joukowsky, a film producer and co-founder of No Limits Media, is the grandson of Waitstill and Martha Sharp and has spent decades researching their story. He is the author of a companion book to the film, featuring a foreword by Burns, published by Beacon Press and was scheduled for release on Sept. 6.

“Beyond the cloak-and-dagger suspense of my grandparents’ experience, it is a story of what America meant to refugees fleeing war-torn countries to build new lives. And it underscores what Waitstill would call ‘a collaborative effort’ of how a small but effective underground network of rescue workers saved as many lives as they could, and how important that lesson is for what is happening today,” said Joukowsky.

In January of 1939, as Americans remained mostly detached from news reports of the growing refugee crisis in the escalating war in Europe, Waitstill received a call from the Rev. Everett Baker, vice president of the American Unitarian Association, asking if he and Martha would travel to Czechoslovakia to help provide relief to people trying to escape Nazi persecution. He invited them to take part in “the first intervention against evil by the denomination to be started immediately overseas.” The mission would involve secretly helping Jews, refugees and dissidents to escape the expanding Nazi threat in Europe. If they were discovered, they would face imprisonment, probable torture and death. Seventeen other members of the church had declined. With two young children at home, the Sharps accepted. They expected to be gone for several months. Instead, their mission would last almost two years.

During this time, the Sharps would face harrowing encounters with Nazi police, narrowly escape arrest and watch as the Third Reich invaded Eastern Europe. Their marriage would be tested severely and the two children they left behind would be saddened by their parents’ absence. But dozens of Jewish scientists, journalists, doctors, powerful anti-Nazi activists and children would find their way to freedom and start new lives as a result of their efforts. To recognize their heroic sacrifice, Martha and Waitstill were honored at Yad Vashem in Israel and declared “Righteous Among the Nations.” Of the thousands so honored, there are only five Americans, including the Sharps.

Defying the Nazis is cinematically told through the letters and journals of the Sharps, with Tom Hanks as the voice of Waitstill and Marina Goldman as the voice of Martha. It features firsthand interviews with the now adult children whom the Sharps saved, as well as leading historians, authors and Holocaust scholars, including William Schulz, Deborah Dwork, Modecai Paldiel, Ghanda DiFiglia and Yehuda Bauer.

In conjunction with the broadcast, a wide range of organizations will participate in community outreach and engagement activities, creating screening events and conversations that focus on what it means to be “righteous,” both as it relates to the Holocaust and genocide across the globe today. These include The United States Memorial Holocaust Museum, Hillel House, The Anti-Defamation League, The Unitarian Universalist Association, The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Jewish Community Centers, The Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College, Brown University, Harvard University, No Limits Media and others (a full list is available at www.DefyingtheNazis.org).

“The Sharps’ early grasp of the true nature of the Nazi threat and their willingness to leave the safety of America and take action to help endangered refugees was a rare act at a time of widespread indifference,” said Sara J. Bloomfield, director, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Their courage and sacrifice should inspire us to reflect deeply on our own responsibilities in a world that also faces many challenges.”

“The Sharps’ story is inspiring modern day faith leaders to action. Unitarian Universalists are partnering with Jews, Christians and Muslims to carry on the Sharps’ legacy by standing up against religious bigotry, Islamophobia and indifference in the face of today’s refugee crises. Hundreds of actions are being planned for the book and film’s release across the country through the Defying the Nazis UU Action Project. The Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and Meadville Lombard Theological School are encouraging all UUs and multi-faith partners to honor the Sharps by working to advance the values for which they sacrificed,” said UUSC President Rev. Dr. William F. Schulz. “The Sharps answered the call of their faith, risking their life to save others. Their selfless dedication to a more just world is an example for Unitarian Universalists and all who care about human rights.”

In addition, WETA, the presenting public television station for Defying the Nazis, has partnered with Facing History and Ourselves, one of the world’s most respected educational organizations. FHAO is dedicated to raising students’ awareness of injustice and intolerance. Together, WETA and FHAO are creating curriculum materials to help middle and high school teachers use the film and additional primary sources to engage students in the Sharps’ story of sacrifice, rescue and moral courage. Materials will be available free to schools through PBS’ Learning Media Services.

BY ELEANOR LANGE

Manhasset is very proud of one of its own, Kadeem Howell, a Manhasset High School and Adventures in Learning graduate.

Diana Holden, executive director of Adventures in Learning, announced that Howell was selected by the Buffalo Bills medical staff as a physical therapy intern for their summer training camp and the preseason.

He recently graduated with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Long Island University Brooklyn. His goal is to work in an orthopedic outpatient clinic in Manhattan.
He also received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology from the State University of New York at Albany, having majored and minored in this area of study.

Holden noted that “Kadeem was a wonderful student at Adventures and a terrific role model for our students. We believe that as a Doctorate recipient, he symbolizes everything Adventures stands for in terms of academic achievement and individual development. We are extremely proud of his accomplishments and are thrilled that he is interning with the Buffalo Bills this summer.”

Founded 47 years ago by the Congregational Church in Manhasset, Adventures in Learning is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. It is an after-school education and enrichment program, located in the Hagedorn Community Center at the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC building at 65 High St. in Manhasset, dedicated to improving the lives of children in Manhasset and Great Neck. For more information go to www.adventures-in-learning.org.

Cy Lloyd Roberts, 89, of The Villages, FL, formerly of Manhasset, passed away on Aug. 20. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia (nee Oestreich), and children Richard (Cindy) of Manhasset, Cynthia (Thom) of New Jersey and Christine (Stephen) of Manhasset. He was a loving grandfather of five and great-grandfather of three.

Cy was born in Hartford, CT, the third child of Polish immigrants. He followed his older brother to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, from which he graduated in 1950. After serving in the Korean War Theater, involved in the Wonsan and Inchon Landings, he was decorated with the Atlantic and Pacific War Zone medals. For five decades Cy was an active member of the USMMA Superintendent’s Council and received the Meritorious Alumni Service Award. A devoted alum, Cy was instrumental in preparing many a candidate for admission to the Academy.

In 1951, Cy married his college sweetheart, Patricia, whose family resided in Kings Point. The couple eventually settled in Manhasset in the early 1960’s, where their children attended the Munsey Park and Manhasset Secondary Schools. During those years, Cy served as a trustee at Temple Judea and could often be found during the summer catching an after-work swim at the Village Bath Club, where they were longtime members. Cy was a devoted husband and father with an incomparable work ethic.

Services were held at Temple Judea and internment at Nassau Knolls. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation, 14 Bond St., Great Neck, NY 11021.

The ninth annual “Kids Safety Day” will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Manhasset’s Mary Jane Davies Green.

This exciting and informative event focuses on educating kids about fire, Internet and car safety, and the importance of recycling. The Manhasset Lakeville Fire Department will also be there with a fire truck and smokehouse which teaches children how to safely exit a burning structure. Kids Safety Day will also include free giveaways, arts and crafts and more.

“We invite our residents to join us for our annual Kids Safety Day. This event shows how you can learn how to be safe and have fun at the same time,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “We thank our local law enforcement agencies and our wonderful community groups for joining with the town to provide our children and parents with the knowledge necessary to keep them safe.”

Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, who is cohosting the event, said, “Kids Safety Day is a wonderful event that we offer to our community. We know how important it is to keep our children safe at home and are looking forward to another successful Kids Safety Day this year.”

Mary Jane Davies Green is located across from Town Hall on Plandome Road in Manhasset. For more information, call 311 or 516-869-6311 or visit www.northhempsteadny.gov.

—Submitted by the
Town of North Hempstead

Northwell Health and the Americana Manhasset will host the 24th annual Katz Institute for Women’s Health Luncheon and Fashion Show featuring the Michael Kors Fall 2016 Collection on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. at Old Westbury Gardens. Fox 5 News anchor Kerry Drew will emcee the event—a benefit presented by the Partners Council for Women’s Health that supports the unique and complex health care needs of women.

Three former patients of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and a member of Northwell Health will share their personal stories and walk the runway alongside a doctor who has impacted their life. One patient, Danielle Santiago, received a call that changed her life at just 31 years old—she had Stage 2 breast cancer. She was further devastated when she learned her best course of treatment would throw her body into menopause and impact her ability to have children, that is, until Dr. Avner Hershlag, chief of human reproduction at North Shore University Hospital, discussed her option of a medical egg freeze.

“I’m walking the runway to raise awareness for women’s health issues and for the life-changing work taking place at Northwell Health,” said Santiago. “I want everyone to know that cancer cannot and will not define who we are.”

To date, the Katz Institute Luncheon and Fashion show has raised $7.5 million in support of women’s health. Money raised at this year’s Luncheon and Fashion Show will increase the delivery of comprehensive health care, community-based wellness services and preventive health education to women and their families. Community support provides clinicians access to the latest medical advances and the ability to conduct gender-based medical research to benefit women throughout every stage of their lives.

A luncheon sponsor since its inception, Americana Manhasset stores are an integral part of the success of the event. Nicole Mancini, general manager of the Americana Manhasset Michael Kors store, is the inaugural honoree.

Katz Institute Luncheon and Fashion Show tickets, raffles and sponsorships are available to the public. Visit the Northwell Health Foundation website at www.support.northwell.edu to purchase or donate.

These happy cousins just turned 95 years old and celebrated their 95th birthday in Plandome. Happy Birthday Michelina Gargano, Dr. Peter DiConza and Flora Bongiorno.

Students and faculty at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset will be enjoying a new, shady and comfortable outdoor gathering place thanks to a service project by Troop 71 Eagle Scout candidate Patrick Sheehan. Sheehan replaced the school’s 25-year old gazebo with a brand new gazebo, complete with benches and a copper Eagle weather vane. Before installing the new gazebo, Sheehan razed the original one from 1992 that had since succumbed to weather erosion, making it dilapidated and unusable. The new wood structure refreshes the academy’s grassy area just west of the main entrance, often used for recreation, gatherings and other events, and will receive new landscaping and plantings to beautify its surroundings. Started in June, the project was completed on Aug. 20, just in time for start of the 2016 school year.

The Academy could not be happier with the new addition. “For almost 25 years, the gazebo at OLMA has been a treasured structure. It has provided a memorable location for our students to participate in outdoor learning experiences and informal gatherings. In the spring, it is an integral aspect of our annual ‘Reverse Shakespeare’ performance,” remarked OLMA President Margaret Myhan. “Collaboration with others and reverence for the earth are among the core values of the Sisters of Mercy. Our new gazebo provides the ideal venue for the extended Circle of Mercy to embrace these special values and enjoy the beauty of the OLMA property. We are so grateful to Troop 71 Eagle Scout candidate Patrick Sheehan for making this a reality.”

An Eagle Project is an opportunity for a Boy Scout applying for Scouting’s highest honor to demonstrate leadership of others while performing a service for the benefit of hiscommunity. For his service project, Sheehan raised the funds, recommended a design and recruited and organized the labor himself to benefit OLMA, the 90-year-old Sisters of Mercy college preparatory institution for girls. This latest addition is just one of many Eagle Projects that have benefited the community in Troop 71’s over 90-year history. Learn more at www.plandometroop71.com.

New York State Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon (R-C-I, Nassau) announced the introduction of new legislation (S8189) to ensure access to affordable EpiPen alternatives following a 400-percent price increase for the popular brand-name allergy medication.

“Given the recent unconscionable price increases of EpiPens by Mylan Pharmaceutical, we must look to more affordable alternatives for families dealing with allergies,” said Hannon. “Last month I wrote the attorney general asking that he pursue all actions against Mylan, and I am pleased he has responded with his announcement that he will begin an official investigation to put an end to the way they are taking advantage of New Yorkers. While that legal process is ongoing, the new legislation I introduced last week would also help address this costly problem by ensuring families have better access to epinephrine.”

The EpiPen is an auto-injector filled with the inexpensive generic drug epinephrine administered to an individual suffering anaphylaxis. Mylan Pharmaceutical acquired EpiPen in 2007 and has continuously raised the price, with a list price now exceeding $600 for a package of two EpiPens. Mylan recently announced it would release a generic of the EpiPen for $300, which is still more than three times the price of the EpiPen when they acquired it. Given that individuals need multiple EpiPens for home, school, daycare, work and travel, and the fact that they expire after a year, Hannon called the current price “exorbitant.”

“There are less expensive alternatives out there that many people are unaware of,” Hannon explained. “Mylan has spent billions of dollars making EpiPen a household name synonymous with epinephrine, but there are lesser known products such as generic Adrenaclick which can be purchased for approximately $140 for a two-pack.”

Adrenaclick is also an epinephrine auto-injector. The difference between EpiPen and Adrenaclick is in the injector itself. Adrenaclick has two caps, while EpiPen has one. Due to the difference in injector technology, the products are technically two different drugs which prevent a pharmacist from substituting one for another. Since there is technically no alternate version of the EpiPen, a pharmacist could not substitute generic Adrenaclick if the prescriber issued a prescription specifically for an EpiPen. However, if the prescriber were to issue a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector, the pharmacist could dispense the less expensive version.

“Many prescribers are unaware of alternatives or unaware of the fact that a prescription written for an EpiPen cannot be substituted for a less costly alternative. Likewise families are often unaware of alternatives and do not know to ask their doctor for a prescription for an epinephrine auto-injector rather than an EpiPen,” said Hannon.

Hannon’s legislation authorizes a pharmacist to dispense a generic epinephrine auto-injector under a brand-specific prescription without having to obtain a new prescription from the prescriber.

“Under my bill, a family can request and a pharmacist can dispense the less expensive generic version of epinephrine auto-injector regardless of whether the prescriber says EpiPen or epinephrine,” said Hannon. “We cannot let technicalities in the law prevent families from having this option. To the extent safe and effective alternatives are available, they should be an option.”

The Allergy Advocacy Association fully supports Hannon’s legislation, stating, “Access to life-saving epinephrine is a critical public health issue that must be addressed at all levels of government. Epinephrine Auto Injector (EAI) devices must be made affordable to all families with individuals at risk for anaphylaxis. We commend Senator Kemp Hannon for his leadership role on this crucial initiative and encourage its enactment into law.”

—Submitted by the Office of Sen. Kemp Hannon

Winthrop-University Hospital’s Department of Neuroscience is offering support groups that are free and open to the public for individuals living with Brain Tumors, Dystonia, Epilepsy, and Multiple Sclerosis.  The Department is also offering a Huntington’s Disease Caregiver Support Group.   All groups offer attendees the opportunity to share experiences, gain emotional support, learn about community resources, and practical tips for coping with their situations.  Some sessions may include guest speakers. Specific details are as follows:

• Brain Tumor Support Group for Patients:  First Monday of the Month

10:30 am to 11:30 am (October 3, November 7, December 5, 2016)

Winthrop Wellness Pavilion, 1300 Franklin Ave., Suite ML-5, Garden City

• Dystonia Support Group for Patients – Fourth Monday of the Month

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm (October 24, November 28, December 19, 2016))

Winthrop Wellness Pavilion, 1300 Franklin Ave., Suite ML-5 Garden City

• Epilepsy Patient Support Group – Third Wednesday of the month

7:00 pm to 8:00 PM (October 12, November 9 and December 14, 2016)

Winthrop Research & Academic Center, 101 Mineola Blvd.., Room G-020 Mineola

• Huntington’s Disease –  2nd Monday of the month

10 am to 11:15 am (October 10, November 14, December 12, 2016)

Winthrop’s Research & Academic Center, 101 Mineola Blvd., Room G-013

• Relapsing & Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Newly Diagnosed MS

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm (October 13, November 10, December 8, 2016)

Winthrop Wellness Pavilion, 1300 Franklin Avenue, Suite ML-5, Garden City

Groups are facilitated by Lucia DiSpirito, LMSW, Neuroscience Social Worker.  Sessions are free, but reservations are required.  For further information or to reserve your space, please call Ms. DiSpirito at (516) 663-4593.

How strange that in one of the most metropolitan areas of the U.S., it took a federal judge to restore our basic voting rights. In a rare win for democracy in NY, an upstate federal judge ordered a Republican primary in our congressional district, stopping the Nassau GOP’s attempt to stymie the election. This is good for Republicans, because the last cycle saw the proxies of party boss Mondello get blown out. One would have expected hell to freeze over before Republicans couldn’t get elected in Nassau. The fact that voters don’t have to suck it up and vote for whatever retread is foisted upon them by the Nassau GOP machine evidently annoys Jack Martins.

In Newsday’s “The Point” section (8/31/16), Martins griped about having to take conservative positions in order to win a primary. Egads! What a shock that when the Nassau GOP can’t insulate one of its robots from competition, it actually has to respect us. Martins specifically complained of having to tack to the right to please the voters of Smithtown, which is about as Republican as Manhasset. Now he has to break his extended liplock with Cuomo to explain why he’s such a fan of his, often featuring the liberal Democrat on websites and mailers. In 2014, the Martins campaign touted him as “non-ideological.” So if Martins has no basic philosophy of what government should do, or if he’s fluid and “tacks” with the prevailing wind, then exactly what are people voting for? For Republicans who actually want their candidate to be, well, Republican, the answer is—not him.

We have a God-given right to choose our own leaders which can be violated in two ways. The first is by disenfranchising a group of voters. The second is when no one can be nominated except for a lapdog (or son) of some boss. In both schemes, the election is a joke as the official is really handpicked by a party boss. The candidate need only please him, not the voters. But when those puppet strings are cut, as in this case, by a federal judge, accountability to voters, to us, is the result. This new reality may suck for Jack Martins, but in every other state, it’s simply known as “democracy.”

—Martin Dekom

Timothy F. Dowd, a resident of Manhasset, passed away on Sept. 16. He was 45. Timothy was a devoted father, brother, and son, that lived his life with honor, service to country, and was a person of deep faith. He was the only son of Timothy and Janice Dowd, of Manhasset, NY, beloved brother of Jennifer Dowd, and proud father of Aidan, Taidgh, and Margaret (Maggie) Dowd. He was pre-deceased by his grandmother, Mary Thompson, on Sept. 15, 2016.
Timothy was a 1989 graduate of Chaminade High School, and attended Valley Forge Military College, where he was the recipient of the Falcon Foundation’s Brigadier General Charles E. Yeager Scholarship. Timothy went on to receive an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, and graduated in 1994 as a Second Lieutenant with a B.S. in Military History. Timothy also received an M.A. in Strategic Intelligence, with a Middle East focus. During his career with the United States Air Force, Timothy attained the rank of Captain, and served at Osan Air Base, South Korea, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK, Howard Air Force Base, Panama, Ft. Meade, MD, Maxwell Air Force Base, AB, and Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Subsequent to his military service, Timothy was employed in the private sector, where he continued to focus on his area of expertise.
Timothy had a great love for the outdoors, including skiing and camping. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 71 in Plandome, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Timothy’s Eagle Scout Project was an Organ Donor Awareness Drive within the community.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following:

Chaminade Development Fund
(Donation in Memory of Timothy F. Dowd)
Chaminade High School
340 Jackson Ave.
Mineola, NY 11501
Attn: Brother Richard Hartz, S.M.

Shepherd’s Fund
(Donation in memory of Timothy F. Dowd)
Kellenberg Memorial High School
1400 Glenn Curtiss Blvd.
Uniondale, NY 11553
Attn: Mrs. Denise Miles

Wounded Warrior Project
P.O. Box 758516
Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516
www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Wake Information:
Fairchild Funeral Chapel
1570 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset, New York 11030
Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Funeral Mass:
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
1300 Northern Blvd.
Manhasset, New York 11030
Monday, 9/26 at 10 a.m.
Burial at Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island, New York

As college students arrive on campus this fall, it’s a time of new experiences, new friendships and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for many, it is also a time of excessive and high-risk drinking which can negatively affect their health, safety and academic success.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), anecdotal evidence suggests that the early weeks of the first semester are critical to academic success. Because many students initiate heavy drinking during this time, the potential exists for excessive alcohol consumption to interfere with successful adaptation to campus life. The transition to college is often difficult and about one-third of first-year students fail to enroll for their second year. Manhasset CASA suggests parents continuously talk with their college-age sons and daughters about the consequences of excessive drinking.

During these crucial early weeks, parents can do a number of things to stay involved and communicate with their children. They can inquire about campus alcohol policies, keep in touch with their sons and daughters, and ask about roommates and living arrangements. They should also discuss the penalties for underage drinking, and how alcohol use is often involved in sexual assaults, violence and academic failure.

For parents who want to discuss underage drinking with their college-bound sons and daughters, a variety of resources are available at www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov. These resources include a parents’ guide with helpful advice on staying involved during the freshman year and getting assistance if faced with an alcohol-related crisis. The website also provides links to alcohol policies at colleges across the country, an interactive diagram of how alcohol affects the human body and a blood alcohol content (BAC) calculator. On Manhasset CASA’s home page, www.manhassetcasa.org, you can also find the parent handbook: Talking with College Bound Students about Alcohol by Rob Turrisi, PhD, Prevention Research Center at Pennsylvania State University.

In addition, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act requires colleges and universities to publish an annual report disclosing campus security policies and three years’ worth of selected crime statistics, including liquor-law violations resulting in arrest or disciplinary referral. Parents can access their child’s college or university campus crime and security policies at http://ope.ed.gov/security.

According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 59.8 percent of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month; 37.9 percent engaged in binge drinking (five or more drinks on an occasion); and 12.2 percent engaged in heavy drinking (five or more drinks on an occasion on five or more occasions per month). These rates are higher than those for their non-college attending peers.

The consequences of excessive drinking by college students are more significant, more destructive and more costly than many parents realize. Moreover, these consequences affect students whether or not they drink.

The Nominating Committee consisting of past Commander Richard Miller and Legionnaires S. Joseph Domina and William Urig were appointed by Commander Falcone to recommend nominations for the 2016-17 Legion Year. The following Legionnaires were elected:

• Post Commander Peter Killian

• First Vice Commander James T. Brooks

• Second Vice Commander Matthew Falcone

• Third Vice Commander Anthony W. Buzzitta

• Adjutant William P. Urig

• Treasurer Joseph Labella

• Chaplain James E. Sharkey

• Sgt.-at-Arms Thomas J. Buzzitta

BY JOSEPHINE BORUT

I admit it. I am a lavender lover. I have traveled with my friend Barbara, who lives in Roslyn, to visit the Lavender on the Bay farm, on the North Fork of Long Island, to drink in the fragrant and visual feast of blooming lavender.

There are many good reasons to grow lavender in your garden. Lavender is an herb that attracts butterflies and other pollinators to our gardens while repelling other garden pests. In addition, they are often seen in xeriscaped gardens, which use little supplemental water because once established they thrive in sunny, dry conditions. Lavender is an evergreen perennial offering much garden flexibility. Since it can create a border of purple fragrance that attracts pollinators, it can become a focal point in a rock garden or a knot garden, be grown in a container, can form a low hedge, it is available in many colors from white to pink to purple and it comes in a variety of growing habits.

Heat-tolerant lavender loves a warm, sunny spot with good drainage since it does not like “wet feet.” The three most often seen cultivars are English lavender (L. angustifolia), Lavender hybrids (L. x intermedia) and French Lavender (L. stoechas). They prefer an alkaline soil with good air circulation to prevent root rot, which is a fungal disease. Start with purchased plants of the variety you wish to grow. This will ensure obtaining the correct variety since most lavender seeds do not come to true. Once established, these plants are largely pest-free and easy to grow without much intervention. Though Lavendula is hardy in our zone 7 area, I have found that the French varieties do best in a sheltered location in my garden due to our harsh winters.

Through trial and error, I have found pruning to be very important for lavender plants. If you ignore pruning the plant the first year, the plant will begin to look out of balance and shabby. Here is a plan of action that is recommended to avoid an untidy appearance. In the first year after the flowers have faded and before fall arrives, cut off the flower stalks back to the leaves and lightly trim the shrub. In the second year, prune back all the new growth to strengthen the original plant and encourage flowers but do not cut the flowers until the fall. In the fall, after you have harvested the flower stalks, prune the plant into an pleasing, neat shape. In the third year, you will have a lovely blooming plant that only requires a light pruning in the fall.

To harvest the flowers, cut the stems after the morning dew has dried but before the sun gets very hot. Cut the stalks when the flowers are nearly open and then hang them in bunches with the flower heads hanging down in a dry, well-ventilated location. I have found that some varieties, such as Provence, do not dry well for bouquets because their flower buds fall off easily. If you wish to add lavender to your bouquets, try other English or French lavenders such as Betty’s Blue, Royal Velvet or Gros Bleu.

Many people add fresh or dried lavender to their baked goods, tea mixes and condiments such as vinegars, jams, jellies, syrups and sugars. The list of craft projects that use lavender is extensive, so here are just a few: lavender wands, wreaths, swags, fire starters, cleaners and oils. The lavender which is most used for its strong fragrance in oils is L. x intermedia Grosso and due to this fact it is also the preferred cultivar for wands and sachets. Recommended lavenders for culinary use are L. angustifolia Buena Vista, Melissa, Hidcote Pink, Folgate or Royal Velvet.

As I said in the beginning, I love lavender. More than one lavender plant flowering in my garden or in pots on my patio makes me a happy gardener.

Josephine Borut is currently on the board of directors of the Long Island Horticultural Society and is a past board member of the Long Island Rose Society. She is a current member of The American Rose Society, The Herb Society and The Long Island Horticultural Society, which meets on Sunday afternoon, with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. at Planting Fields Arboretum Conference Center in Oyster Bay. The next meeting is Sept. 18, with speaker Rick Mikula, noted author, presenter and butterfly habitat consultant. His topic will be Raising Butterflies. For more information, go to www.lihort.org.

All those who race, sail or motor in western Long Island Sound know about Hart Island. But many readers may not be award of this island that is directly across from the mouth of Manhasset Bay. The island is 131.22 acres, 1 mile long, .25 miles wide and .2 square miles.

The name of the island is somewhat in dispute. British cartographers named it “Heart Island” in 1775, due to its organ-like shape. Other sources indicate that the “hart” refers to an English word for “stag.” Another version is that the island was given its name when it was used as a game preserve. Still another version has the name referring to deer that migrated from the mainland during periods when ice covered that part of Long Island Sound.

In the middle of the 19th century, the island was called Lesser Minneford Island. Oliver Delancey purchased the island in 1774 and named it Spectacle Island because the island looked like a pair of spectacles. Three owners followed Delancey: Samuel Rodman (1716-80) of Rodman’s Neck, John Hunter of Hunter Island and architect Charles C. Haight. Many boxing matches were held on the island, including the 24-round fight between Irishman James “Yankee” Sullivan and Englishman Bell in 1842. In 1869, New York City purchased the island from Edward Hunter, Bronx, for $75,000.

Over the years, Hart Island has had a workhouse, a hospital, several prisons, a Civil War internment camp (1865), a reformatory, insane asylum, sanitarium, a drug rehabilitation facility (1966-76), Nike Ajax and Hercules surface-to-air missiles (1956-74) and a small sewage treatment plant that treated about one-million gallons of wastewater per day. Today, all sanitary waste from Orchard Beach and City Island is pumped to the Hunts Point Water Pollution Control Plant located on the East River. Presently, Hart Island serves as the city’s potter’s field and is run by the New York City Department of Correction.

The island is still a great fishing spot for fluke, bluefish, porgy and striped bass. The shore habitats, as well as the weeded bluffs, give bird waters an unlimited source of pleasure. The island is also a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes and a source of floatables. The east and north shores have many derelict vessels and potential floatable debris that can be re-suspended during extreme tides and storms.

Manhasset Bay Yacht Club (MBYC) held their annual race week, which was reported in last week’s column. What wasn’t included were the Perpetual Trophies that were awarded at the end of the regatta. The winners are:

Black Jack Trophy (for keep type boat, a member of the Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound (YRALIS), best percentage performance with at least five yachts starting in at least 60 percent of races): Sonar Class, USMMA, Charlie Lomax, boat #817, 0.963; The Edward P. Alker Trophy MBYC boat, LWL (water line length) >=15’6”, highest performance percentage, five yachts in 60 percent of races): Sonar Class, Ted Toombs, Whimsey, .889; Arthur E. Barnard Crew Trophy (Crew of the Alker Trophy): Colin Fitzpatrick and Paul Wefer, Whimsey, .889; Louise T. Haney Memorial Trophy (Ideal 18 winner): Guy Crawford, MBYC; George H. Wick Trophy (Female skipper, YRALIS member club, best performance percentage, five yachts in 60 percent of races): Sue Miller, Ping; Robert Harvey Wessmann, Jr. Trophy (age under 25, YRALIS member, best showing, competitive standing, sportsmanship): Sonar Class, USMMA, Charlie Lomax, boat #817, .963; David Craig Trophy (Women’s Day winner during Race Week): Aviva Pinto and Roxanne Leaman; Lure Trophy (keelboat in most competitive class, smallest percentage margin over the next three boats, 10 boats each race in three races): Sonar Class, USMMA, Charlie Lomax, boat #817, .963.

Here are the latest scores for the Cow Bay Cruising Association (aka Thirsty Thursday). Please note that the season it not over and these are not the final scores for the season. Division I: 1. Nordlys, J109, Bob Schwartz, MBYC; 2. Scacciapensieri, Hanse 470e, Daniel Catanzaro, MBYC; and 3. Avalanche, Farr 395, Al Albrecht, PWYC. Division II: 1. Vision, J105, Marc Epstein, NSYC; 2. Speed D8, Evelyn 32-2, Chuck McCarthy, PWYC; and 3. Liquid Courage, J105, Dan Herron, NSYC. Division III: 1. En Passant, Islander B30, Rob Ebenau, NSYC; 2. Osprey, Alerion Express 28, Richard Raskin, NSYC; and 3. On the Beam, Colgate 26, Bruce Joseph, MBYC.

The most recent scores for the Sonar Class-Overall Standings Championship Series as of Sept. 1: 1. Ping, Sue Miller/John Browning; 2. Boat #3, USMMA, Charlie Lomax; and 3. Whimsey, Ted Toombs/Cindy Jordan/Claes Larsson.

The Manhasset girls’ tennis team may have a target on their back after earning their champion status last year, but a home opener win against Syosset proved that they remain unfazed. On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the girls finished with a 6-1 victory over the Syosset Braves.

In the 2015 season, the team went undefeated in Conference I, the highest and most difficult conference in Nassau County, and did not disappoint when they went on to win the Nassau County Championships. The bar was certainly set high last year, but Coach Eileen Cuneo has no doubt that this year’s team will produce equally impressive results.

“I’d like to see a repeat of last season’s championship win,” said Cuneo. “We’re definitely a top hitting team, but we also have depth with so many new players coming on.”

New and returning players have big shoes to fill, as last year six players from Manhasset were selected to enter the All County Tournament, the highest number of girls in the county from one team. Amanda Foo and Lia Frankis also received All State honors.

Despite a loss of nine seniors from last year, seven of which held starting positions, the team still boasts a heavy upperclassmen roster, with 11 seniors out of a 17-person team. Cuneo is counting on both her junior and senior captains to lead the team and keep the girls motivated throughout the season.

Senior captains Kyleigh Harmon and Lia Frankis are just two of the team’s top players to keep an eye on. Other power players include junior captain Maddie Clinton, who did not play last year but is returning to the team stronger than ever, and fellow junior captain Brianna Rienze, who has been a devoted varsity player since her freshman year.

As usual, the most challenging teams the Indians will face are Roslyn and Friends Academy. They will also have the added difficulty of going up against Cold Spring Harbor, a team new to the conference this year. Cuneo expects that Cold Spring Harbor will put up a bold fight, as Manhasset defeated the team in the Nassau County Championship game last year to extend their 17-0 record.

Cuneo is confident that the girls have both the ability and willpower to unite as a team and outmatch anyone standing in their path toward championships.

“People look at tennis as being an individual sport, but it really is a team sport,” said Cuneo. “It’s a collaborative effort, so staying together and maintaining that level of commitment all the way through the line up will be very important.”

The next home game will be Monday, Sept. 19, against Great Neck North at 4:15 p.m.

Maybe it’s a side effect of getting older, but I find it harder and harder to keep my mouth shut when I see injustice.

As a teen, I remember editing the expression of my opinions. As an adult, I can hardly keep my opinions to myself.

During a visit to the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove a few years ago, I was introduced to the term “upstander.” Unlike a bystander, an upstander recognizes when something is wrong and acts to make it right. In fact, the speaker made the powerful assertion that the Holocaust never could have occurred had there been more upstanders.

She went on to explain that during the Holocaust, there were the victims and perpetrators, but the largest group, by far, were the bystanders. She concluded that if some of those bystanders had actually spoken up and become upstanders, the injustices never could have occurred.

She turned this into a lesson for the children, encouraging them to stand up to bullies. She said that if they witnessed someone being mean in the school lunchroom or on the playground, it was their job as a human being and good person to stand up for the person being bullied.

According to the National Education Association, approximately 160,000 students stay home from school each day out of fear of being bullied; 86 percent said they’ve seen someone else being bullied; and 90 percent do not like seeing someone bullied. Nevertheless, fewer than 20 percent try to stop it. When bystanders intervene, more than half of the time they can stop bullying within 10 seconds.

So, as we send our children back to school, let’s send them back with this valuable lesson: Every time you speak out for what’s right, you’re making the world a better place.

Wishing you all a wonderful school year.

—Sheri ArbitalJacoby

On Monday, September 26th, Hofstra University will be hosting the first of three Presidential Debates. Traffic in the area of Hofstra University will be severely impacted.

Roadways bordering on Hofstra University will be closed to all vehicular traffic as follows:

From 5 AM until midnight on Monday September 26th Charles Lindberg Boulevard, and Earl Ovington Boulevard will be closed.

Beginning at 11:30am on Monday, September 26 and ending at midnight:

Hempstead Turnpike will be closed to all traffic between Oak Street and Merrick Avenue by Eisenhower Park.

Oak Street will be closed from Hempstead Turnpike, North to Westbury Boulevard.

Eastbound and Westbound traffic in this area should use alternate routes such as Front St, Old Country Road., or Stewart Avenue.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump kept it civil, yet did get in a few digs, as they faced off during the first presidential debate this week at Hofstra University.

Moderated by NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt, the highly anticipated event drew more than 100-million viewers looking to hear the candidates’ plan for the country and what antics would unleash on stage. The night began with the candidates talking about their plans for achieving prosperity in America; Trump talked about cutting taxes for businesses and bringing jobs back to America, while Clinton focused on growing the middle class.

Read our full coverage of the first presidential debate at www.longislandweekly.com.

Clinton, Trump Face Off At Hofstra