_________________ BALDWIN ________________
your HEALTH body / mind / fitness
November 18, 2021
With a focus on
Heal thy Holid ays
HERALD Here’s to healthy holidays Inside
W,C,E
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Vol. 28 No. 47
American legion honors veterans
Baldwin native turns 100
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NoVEMBER 18 - 24, 2021
Police talk made easy for Baldwin kids By CRistiNA ARRoyo RodRiguEz carroyo@liherald.com
Cristina Arroyo Rodriguez/Herald
dR. AlfREd titus Jr., far left, read his new children’s book about police to the children of the 3 D Aftercare in Baldwin, where he wanted to start the “talk” that many parents of color have with their children about the police.
On Nov. 12, retired New York Police Department Detective Dr. Alfred Titus Jr. read his newest published children’s book, “The Police Are Part of Our Community,” to kids attending 3 D Aftercare at its newest location on Merrick Road. “This book is written for the children growing up in a world where police and community conflicts occur far too often,” Titus wrote in the afterword of his book. As an African-Ameri-
can himself, he told the Herald that he wanted to write the book especially for children of color, because they are constantly exposed to negative messages abount police. About two dozen children gathered on a rainy Friday afternoon under the guidance of Dr. Zodelia Williams in a big room lined with chairs. They put on their “listening ears” as Titus read aloud from his illustrated book, fielding questions between turns of the pages, making for an engaging and interactive reading. Continued on page 14
Local children join the ranks of the Covid vaccinated By CRistiNA ARRoyo RodRiguEz carroyo@liherald.com
Baldwin pediatricians’ offices recently started to receive the Covid-19 vaccine after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on its use Nov. 2 for children as young as 5 in a 14-0 vote. Baldwin mom Rachel Silberstein Guarneri took her 10-yearold quadruplets to get vaccinated within the first week after approval. Kyra, Aaron, Zoey and Athena, who attend Meadow Elementary School, all told the Herald that they were happy to be vaccinated. “I’ve had my kids tested more
times than I can count,” Silberstein Guarneri said. She cited concerns over the spread of Covid-19 in schools as the primary reason to have her kids vaccinated, saying, “A lot of children in school don’t wear their masks properly; some take them off completely.” Almost 6.2 million children nationwide have been infected since the start of the pandemic, and more than 65,000 have been hospitalized and 718 have died, according to federal data. In the past year, Covid-19 is one of the top 10 causes of death for this age group. The American Academy of Pediatrics has seen more than a 6 percent increase in
inoculation guidelines What parents should do before having their kids vaccinated: ■ Talk to your child about what to expect. ■ Don’t give pain relievers to prevent side effects. ■ Tell the doctor about allergies your child may have. ■ To prevent fainting, your child should be seated or lying down for 15 minutes after.
cases among children from this past week, and kids made up about one-quarter of all new cases in the past month. On Long Island, the Covid-19 positivity rate has increased to more than 3 percent, after falling to under 2 percent. The number of Long Island children infected, however, remains a mystery, as New York is one of the few states
that does not report children’s statistics. Medical experts concur that Covid-19 will not go away until people get vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. The Baldwin School District is ready to address the new vaccination rollout for children. “The Baldwin Union Free School District is working with Mount Continued on page 10