$1
Friday, September 4, 2020
Vol. 80, No. 36
LEMONADE FOR LI HARVEST
Assemblyman discusses Covid, reopenings at Chamber meeting BY RIKKI MASSAND
South Woods Middle School students raised funds for Island Harvest. BY SARAH ELKADY ELMORALY Six Syosset South Woods Middle School Students organized and ran their own pandemic-friendly lemonade stand on Monday, in front of the Syosset Post Office on Queens Street. They sold ice cold water, lemonade and unique Syosset branded masks in red and black. Their efforts are branded under the name “Lemon-Aid” and run by them. 100% of the proceeds are going to Long Island Harvest and their efforts to help families in need across the island during the pandemic. Julia Elmoraly, a Syosset
resident entering seventh grade at South Woods Middle School this school year, was pioneering the efforts. “It has kind of been like a childhood dream to run a lemonade stand or yard sale. It felt good to be able to give someone a lemonade or water on a hot day and have the money go towards a good cause,” says Julia. Other participants were Penelope Smith, Saisha Puri, Madison Shum, Tiffany Wong, Riley Shafritz, and Julia’s siblings, Ryan Elmoraly and Noah Elmoraly. Many generous Syosset residents gave money as
Photo by Sarah Elkady Elmoraly they walked out of the post office, expecting nothing in return. The donations will go toward Long Island Harvest’s COVID-19 Response and recovery program. Since the outbreak began, Long Island Harvest help put food on the table for the most vulnerable neighbors. They have distributed more than 2 million pounds of food, and will soon have provided almost 3 million meals, to people in need. Julia and the Lemon-Aid team were satisfied with their success and intend to hold subsequent Lemon-Aid stands in the near future.
The Jericho Syosset News Journal is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801Telephone 931-0012 - USPS 3467-68 Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Syosset Jericho News Journal, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris Publisher
At its August monthly general meeting held on Thursday, August 20 over Zoom, members of the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce welcomed New York State Assemblyman Michael Montesano, who represents the 15th District on Long Island. Assemblyman Montesano’s local office is in Hicksville at 111 W. Old Country Road. The Chamber members discussed everything related to legislative affairs and small business impacts due to the current economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and reopenings of industries as well as recent widespread power outages complicated by poor storm response . Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce President Maureen Nickel said ahead of the meeting, many local businesspeople were eager to hear from the assemblyman on State Legislature initiatives pertaining to the economic recovery effort in downstate New York, “to help small businesses due to COVID-19.” Montesano said the Assembly was called up in mid-summer to handle some election-related “COVID-19” issues, though usually from June to January the assembly members are working from their local offices. Unlike in neighboring New Jersey, in New York State all polling locations will be open as usual and early voting for the November 3 Election will be starting 10 days before.
Assemblyman Montesano says this process worked very successfully in the past. While voters must request absentee ballots from their local Board of Elections, Montesano says the state government has “made them easier to obtain.” Montesano commented on lingering concerns over New York State’s 2020 budget, as the state faces “a gaping hole” after starting with a significant deficit that has grown during the pandemic’s impacts. He cited a reduction in state tax revenue and the expenses New York State incurred in getting through the last several months -- overtime, personnel, medical supplies, subsidizing hospitals and centers for COVID-19 testing as well as contact tracing. According to Montesano New York State is anticipating $35 million in federal funds for a number of reimbursements across various levels of government. “Right now we’ve centered on the question of money New York will receive from Washington D.C. (the federal government). We have received money in the past and the programs from PPP loans to federal disaster assistance, stimulus checks and the extra unemployment. We’re expecting additional funding sometime in the very near future, as soon as they can get their situation together. The logjam seems to be that many elected officials from difSee page 14
Town to host 9/11 Remembrance Center PAGE 10 Interfaith program brings people together PAGE 8