Friday, November 27, 2020
Vol. 98, No.14
FOUNDED 1923
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Make the Right Move
Danielle Zan g
Li c. R. E. Sa le sp er so
O 51 6. 30 7. 94 06 M 516. 44 6.15 73
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danielle.zang re@elliman.c om
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Field of Flags
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Go Green PAGE 8
© 2020 DOUGLA 110 WALT WHITMAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOU N ROAD, HUNTING TON STATION, NEW SING OPPORTUNITY. YORK 11746. 631.549 .7401
Schools seek aid if mandated to test for Covid-19
CURBSIDE FOOD DRIVE
State might require student, staff testing BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Garden City High School seniors sponsored a curbside food drive to help the Mary Brennan INN on Saturday, 21st. Above, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran with students at the drive.
Photo courtesy Garden City Public Schools
Board approves rent relief for GC Pool concessionaire BY RIKKI MASSAND After consideration of the harsh economic impacts of the pandemic, the Village of Garden City is going to provide rent payment relief to its pool and recreational facilities’ concessionaire -- D & J Refreshments, Inc., which is owned by village resident John Parks.
The small business has served families and guests visiting the Garden City Pool, as well as employed local teens for summer jobs, for many years. It also operates a stand at the St. Paul’s fields. The discussion on the rent relief had been tabled at the prior two meetings of the Garden City Board of Trustees, as Trustees considered the request.
During an overview of finances presented at the November 19 meeting of the Board of Trustees, Treasurer Irene Woo noted that the pool season saw a drop in revenue for the pool enterprise fund. Revenues were $950,000 short of the budgeted target. “Due to social distancing and other requirements there were See page 58
Garden City Public Schools’ officials are questioning the logistics of a state mandate for schools to test for Covid-19 and are asking the public to contact elected representatives to provide funding and support for tests that might have to be administered in the schools. Under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s orders, geographic areas that have a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of more than 2.5% will be placed into a “yellow zone” to trigger various measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. One of the measures is that schools must test 20% of the students who attend in-person, staff and faculty within two weeks. If the results of the school tests are below the rest of the community, testing can be discontinued. However if the positivity rate is higher, then the schools must continue to test 20% of their populations bi-weekly. Earlier this week Great Neck and Massapequa Park were declared “yellow zones.” For even higher rates of positivity there are orange and red zones, with additional restrictions. According to a memorandum on the New York State Department of Health’s website, the state provides free test kits to local health departments and school districts can request them. However, regarding administering and processing the tests, the memo just says, “Schools, particularly those in a yellow zone, should contact their local health departments and other local health care partners to establish partnerships and make arrangements for deployment of these tests in their school setting.” Garden City’s district leaders are concerned that the testing mandate would carry exorbitant costs and challenging logistics. They say they have an unwavering goal to keep Garden City’s schools open, but are informing residents of the procedures and potential costs that may be required. A letter sent to parents this week by GCUFSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha stated: “We know See page 58
It’s now or never for property folders PAGE 21 DAR plants daffodil memorial garden PAGE 54