Merrick Life Thursday, June 20, 2013 Page 6
MERRICK LIFE USPS (340-100) 1840 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, L.I., N.Y. 11566 Telephone 378-5320 FAX 378-0287 Subscription Dept.: LMSUBS@optimum.net e-mail: LMPUB@optimum.net Classified Dept. LMCLASS@optimum.net Display Ads LMADS@optimum.net Editorial Dept. LMEDIT@optimum.net Website: www.MerrickLife.com AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER FOUNDED SEPTEMBER 22, 1938
Member Of Chamber of Commerce Since 1928
Publisher Linda Laursen Toscano x 19 Editor Paul Laursen x 20 Supervisor Nicolas Toscano Assistant Editors Erin Donohue x 29 Pat McKay x 29 Sales Manager Jill Bromberg x 16 Production Manager Marilyn Loheide Staff Writer Laura Schofer Webmaster: Erin Donohue Classifieds Manager Olimpia Santaniello x 11 Ann Johnson x 14 Kathleen Murphy x 25 Elaine Spiro x 17 Etta Rosenberg x 15 Mattie Shalofsky x 12 Kathleen Murphy x 25 Elaine Groder x 10 Joyce MacMonigle x 12 Graphic Artists Judy Ammerman, Pat McKay x 22
Circulation Assistant Circulation: Account Executive Bookkeeper Office Staff
Periodicals postage paid at Merrick, N.Y. Price 75 cents a copy, $25 a year, $39 for two years, $59 for three years; (outside Nassau County $40 per year). Postmaster: Send address change to: 1840 Merrick Avenue, Merrick N.Y. 11566. Composition responsibility: Not liable beyond cost of space occupied by error. Not responsible for return of materials submitted for publication. All editorial submissions are subject to editing. Materials submitted may be used in print and online editions.
The community newspaper - the glue that helps hold a community together, and the spur that helps keep it moving forward
SEAN HEVERIN, Sacred Heart Troop 123 and all the helpers came together for a day of digging and planting at the 9-11 Memorial Park on Hewlett Avenue on Saturday. Sean started his Eagle Scout project of fixing up the park a year ago. Right, Sean stands with his parents Ann and John Heverin, who have been by his side during the whole process. See more photos on Merrick Life’s Facebook page.
meandering around merrick Merrick Life photos by Patricia McKay
Advice for graduates This week, area high school seniors will be graduating, and a lot of advice will be coming their way. Each will have to sift through the pile and decide what is best for him or her. Recently, we ran across an article in the Harvard Business Review by Christine M. Riordan that had some points worth sharing, whether you are aiming for the pinnacle of the business world or have a more down-to-earth approach. She reports that research has shown that employees who believe they do not have time for a personal life feel “drained and distracted” while they are at work. So being a workaholic through choice or by necessity is not the right way to go. But that does not mean you need to devote equal time to work and the rest of your life. Catalyst, a research firm focused on women in business, uses the phrase “work-life effectiveness” where work fits with other aspects of your life. Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Airlines, for example, says some of his best businesss ideas came from his children. And of course, it is your work that puts the food on the table. Ryan Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics, says “Each week, I examine the categories of my life — father, husband, CEO, self — and identify the specific actions that help me feel successful and fulfilled in these capacities. This weekly ritual helps me feel like I’m doing everything in my power to address my needs and the needs of those around me. This is important because I can’t lose sight of the business agenda, and we’ve all seen or read about what it looks like when you lose sight of your family’s needs.” The CEO of Starwood Hotels, Frits van Paasschen, in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, warned, “It's important not to be so immersed in your work that there isn’t anything else. Taking care of your body and your mindset, carving out time to be with your family, doing things that recharge you — these all make you more productive in the end.” Figure out what you want out of life, and then make a plan to get it. That may sound simple, but it is not. And it is the first part that is the hardest, because each person needs to define success in his or her own terms, nobody else’s.
A COMMUNITY EFFORT: Sean Heverin completed his Eagle Scout project on Saturday, as he and Sacred Heart Boy Scout Troop 123, plus many volunteers, worked to beautify the 9-11 Memorial site on Hewlett Avenue. Sean, a senior at Calhoun High School, started this project to earn his Eagle Scout award a year ago. It was pure dedication working to get the many volunteers and donations to make this project come to life. And come to life it did. On Saturday morning the memorial site was bustling with workers digging, hauling dirt and planting the many plants that were donated or that were bought with donations. Sean held fundraisers to earn money for this project and also used his own money to buy plants. Rachel Broder of Gardens by Rachel donated $1,000 worth of plants and was right there helping plant the garden. After it was done, the Merrick Fire Department hooked up to the hydrant to water the plants. Many thanks go to Geronimo Tree Service, My Hero, Guy Anthony’s Restaurant, La Strada Restaurant, Bagel Boss, Spiga Bakery and Santorini Restaurant for all their donations. – Patricia McKay ©©© FUNDRAISER FOR ALEX MURTHA: This Friday, June 21, there will be a fundraiser for returning soldier Alex Murtha at Shamrock’s Bar and Grill. Mr. Murtha is from Merrick and serving his first tour in Afghanistan. Army Private Murtha of the 101st Airborne Division was injured after a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. He was in Afghanistan for one month; his injury occurred in the beginning of June.
Mr. Murtha’s unit was escorting a NATO convoy when a man on a motorcycle blew himself up right next to them. Mr. Murtha was very close to the bombing and received shrapnel all over his body. Mr. Murtha believes that if he had been sitting one seat farther back in the Humvee he would have been killed. His right leg was injured, but he is healthy and doing well. He has had multiple surgeries in Germany and he returned to the United States three days ago. He is rehabilitating in Georgia. The bomb killed two Americans and 10 Afghan schoolchildren. For his injury he was awarded the Purple Heart medal. The Merrick native graduated Calhoun High School in 2008. The address for the fundraiser at Shamrock’s Bar and Grill is 708 Merrick Avenue, and the phone number is 992-1818. He will continue his rehab and physical therapy for his right leg in Fort Campbell in the coming days and then Walter Reed Army Medical Center afterwards. A friend of a friend, Raquel Kabatsky, is running the fundraiser – Colin Hekimian ©©© TRAIN DERAILMENT: The train derailment in an Amtrak tunnel under the East River on Monday night causing limited Long Island Rail Road service proved to be a nightmare for local commuters. Jag Rajpau, a Bellmore resident and daily commuter, said at the Bellmore train station it took an hour and a half to arrive at Bellmore station after waiting three hours at Penn Station for a train home. New York police closed
Penn Station and turned away commuters for about a halfhour because it was at maximum capacity, said Maria Nunez, a ticket agent at Freeport’s LIRR station who was working in the ticket office at Penn Station Monday night. Ms. Nunez has worked ticketing on the Long Island Rail Road’s Babylon train line for 25 years. She explained that though the station was packed, people remained calm. Tuesday morning’s commute was not much better. The LIRR diverted 35 of 144 morning trains to Atlantic Hunterspoint Terminal, Avenue and Jamaica. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also cancelled some early morning trains, inconveniencing Mr. Rajpau once again, forcing him to take a noon train rather than his normal 8 a.m. train. – Colin Hekimian, Danielle Sopchak and Janurie Ulett ©©© MUSIC UNDER THE STARS at Merrick Road Town Park for two special evenings of music! Wednesday, July 24, features the “Ultimate Tina Turner Tribute Band” and on Thursday, August 22, “Beginnings,” a Chicago Tribute band, will perform. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. ©©© HONORED: The Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC) recently honored Rose Tait of Merrick for her adult volunteer services and lifelong achievements with the Girl Scouts. Rose received the GSUSA Tenure Pin, which recognizes her 30 years of membership in the Girl Scout movement both as a girl and adult member. The ceremony was held at the Hillwood Commons Auditorium at the LIU- Post campus in Brookville.