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Volunteers help seniors get vaccinated if more doses became available, but I was told I would have to start the process over again,” “I would go on the computer Lettie said. “It was arduous.” and be in a sweat,” Lettie Werbel The Werbels’ luck changed recalled. when they got an email from Last month, Werbel’s hus- Congregation Ohav Sholom, in band, Steve, 82, spent six days in Merrick, directing them to a the hospital after Google Docs form contracting Covidon the synagogue’s 19. The severity of we b s i t e. T h e re, his case panicked congregants put Lettie, she said, so their information when Steve became into a database, eligible for the vacwhich volunteers cine, “I wanted to use to secure vaccimake sure that he nation appointgot it.” ments for seniors But scheduling 65 and older. (Peoan appointment ple in that age proved to be diffigroup qualify for cult. The Merrick the Covid-19 vaccouple spent weeks shAWN GRoss cine under Phase looking for avail- Congregant, 1b of the state’s able time slots vaccination proOhav Sholom online, an effort gram.) that was often “It was somestalled when a website crashed thing that had to be done, and we or a phone line was busy. Lettie, just did it,” said congregant 75, was scheduled to receive her Shawn Gross, who spearheaded first dose of the vaccine from a the initiative. Having helped his Northwell Health facility in friends who qualified under Woodmere, but the appointment Phase 1a secure appointments in was canceled with two weeks to mid-December, Gross learned go. how to navigate the online “Because I was already in the scheduling systems, which he system, I called to see when I could get another appointment Continued on page 4

By AlYssA sEIDmAN aseidman@liherald.com

Courtesy Boy Scout Troop 186

tRooP 186 EAGlE Scout Amritha Jacob, right, of Bellmore, planted new greenery along with other volunteers outside Bellmore Presbyterian Church.

Teens among first female Eagle Scouts in the nation By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

Boy Scout Troop 186 of Wantagh made history last week when three of its 28 female members rose to the Eagle Scout rank, scouting’s highest honor, achieved by only 4 percent of scouts. They are among the very first female Eagle Scouts in the nation. Amritha Jacob, of Bellmore, Julia Kirpalani, of Merrick, and Lea Feiner, of

Levittown, were officially awarded the rank at a special ceremony, known as a Court of Honor. The trio, along with Scoutmaster Mike Sarlo, gathered at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building on Feb. 11 to receive congratulatory certificates from County Executive Laura Curran. “It’s such a great honor,” Kirpalani said. “I never expected that in my youth I’d have the opportunity to do this — I thought maybe my

daughters might be able to do this. To be part of that change was unexpected, but it’s been an amazing opportunity and an amazing leap of faith.” “Getting to Eagle is rooted in service — that’s the whole point: to learn leadership and dedication to your community,” Jacob said. “Being able to say that we have achieved that highest level of service in scouting is a huge honor, and it means so much to me that we get to be an example for Continued on page 3

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lea feiner, second from left, Amritha Jacob and Julia Kirpalani, members of Boy Scouts of America Troop 186 of Wantagh, are among the first young women in the nation to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. On Feb. 11 they received citations from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, left, and Chris Coscia, BSA scout executive director and CEO.

First female Eagle Scouts make history continued from front page the next generation of scouts, both boys and girls.” “They’re pioneers,” Sarlo said. “They’re encouraging those girls to put themselves on the right path.” Jacob, Kirpalani and Feiner had been members of Troop 186’s Venturing unit before the Boy Scouts of America welcomed girls into the Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA. BSA’s co-ed programs, such as Sea, Venturing, Exploring and STEM Scouts, have been offered to young women for decades. Before joining the Scouts BSA program — previously known as Boy Scouts, serving youth ages 11 to 17 — the girls were “teased,” Sarlo said. Each had to watch their brothers, who are also scouts, take part in fun and adventurous programs for years. The opportunity for girls to join the Scouts BSA began in February 2019. Since then, tens of thousands of young women of have joined Scouts BSA. To qualify for the Eagle rank, scouts must take on leadership roles in their troops and community; earn a minimum of 21 merit badges for everything from first aid to civics to business and the environment; and and complete a large service project for which they must lead a group of other volunteers. It takes a minimum of 18 months to progress to the rank of Eagle, according to Sarlo, but most scouts require three to six years. “We know that we are part of history being made in this country, and for the Boy Scouts of America organization,” Jacob said. “To know that we get to have our names . . . on this little piece of history is indescribable.”

“It’s so much more than just yourself,” Feiner added. “To get to each level and earn each merit badge, you have to be a part of a community. To do that, and set an example for the younger kids, was a big thing for me.” For her project, Jacob beautified Bellmore Presbyterian Church on Martin Avenue, her childhood church, by constructing a quiet place for reflection alongside the building. She also landscaped the area in front of the event hall and constructed planter boxes. Next year, Jacob plans to study law and public policy in college to later benefit her community on a local and global level. “The journey to Eagle is no one person’s — it’s an amalgamation of so many people — a community of effort,” Jacob said. “When you look back through that journey of scouting, you see all of those people that pushed you forward.” Kirpalani supported veterans at the Northport VA Hospital for her Eagle Scout project. She gathered toiletry care packages and clothing alongside volunteers and raised money to purchase Uber gift cards to help transport veterans to their doctor visits. She also organized a garden cleanup and planted new shrubs and flowers along the Vietnam War and Wall of Wars memorials on the hospital’s grounds. Kirpalani will attend Washington University in St. Louis in the fall. She plans to serve as an officer in U.S. Army. “My dream was never to be an Eagle Scout, believe it or not — I just wanted to be a scout. Even that opportunity was more than I could ever ask for,” she said. “Titles and ranks are just the cherries on top. A title doesn’t mean anything if

Courtesy Boy Scout Troop 186

Jacob constructed planters for her childhood church. there’s no one else around you.” Feiner’s Eagle Scout project benefited the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh. She built perches for cats using shelving and tires to create a dynamic environment for the felines at the facility. Feiner now attends Nassau Community College, where she is working toward an associate’s degree in education. She plans to continue her studies at Queens College. “While it was for the cats, I think it was one of the first activities we got together since Covid hit,” Feiner said. “You could see it on everyone’s clothes and faces that they had so much fun. That’s really what it meant to me at the end of the day.”

Jacob, Kirpalani and Feiner will remain active in Troop 186, where they have become close friends. The three reminisced about their scouting years, including a tradition of singing “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King.” Kirpalani’s ukulele accompaniment has already been passed down to a younger scout. “Having grown up indirectly in scouting because of my younger brother, I saw how many girls tried to participate — and I was one of them,” Jacob said. “I acknowledge my being here at all as a huge privilege that so many girls missed out on. If I get to be an example, I want to be a great one.”

Effort has helped 400 seniors across L.I. ContinueD froM front page

described as “convoluted.” “I thought, ‘There is no way 75-yearolds are going to be able to figure out these websites,’” said Gross, of Merrick, “so we set out to simplify the process for them.” Gross works with 10 volunteers — including his wife, Hedy — who monitor state- and- locally run vaccination websites, nycvaccinelist.com and @TurboVax on Twitter to keep track of availability. As appointments open up, volunteers sign up seniors using the information from the database. “There were some nights we’d book 45 appointments in a matter of two hours,” Gross said. “There were periods where I slept with my laptop.” Once an appointment is secured, registrants receive an email confirmation that includes a ticket to present at their vaccination site. For those seniors without email addresses, printouts of their tickets are delivered safely to their homes. In some cases, volunteers have even provided transportation. Congregant Rob Liebman, of Merrick, drove one woman to Queens so she could get her shot. “Wherever we can find an appointment for them, they’re willing to go,” Gross said. Thanks to Ohav Sholom’s volunteers, Steve Werbel received his first dose of the

vaccine at the Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead on Feb. 11. He was one of 400 seniors who was helped by the effort, which includes congregants and non-congregants from Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford and other surrounding communities. “The feedback has been so moving,” said Rabbi Ira Ebbin, of Ohav Sholom. “These seniors have suffered so incredibly during this pandemic . . . They’ve been so vulnerable, so isolated, and to be able to give them the feeling that people care about them — that strangers are willing to do something for them — that’s been the greatest thing.” “The synagogue came through for so many people,” Lettie Werbel said. “They expedited the process and took all the stress away. We can’t say enough about the outreach. It was just incredible.” Gross said his group would continue to connect residents with vaccination appointments as eligibility continues to expand, adding that Ohav Sholom has partnered with the Chabad Center for Jewish Life to expand their reach. “In one word, we’re giving hope to these people,” he said. The vaccine “gives them the ability to turn back to normal, whatever that is now.” If you are 65 and older, or have comorbidities, and need help scheduling a vaccine appointment, go to www.ohav.org.

Photos courtesy Shawn Gross

Myrna De Silva, above, traveled to GoHealth Pediatric Urgent Care in Hewlett for her first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. She secured an appointment with the help of volunteers from Congregation Ohav Sholom, who recently started an initiative to get seniors vaccinated. terry Slavin, left, of Merrick, used Ohav Sholom’s system to secure a vaccination appointment. Her son-in-law, Shawn Gross, spearheaded the initiative.

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A ‘charming’ addition to Bellmore Village East Meadow moms relocate healing shop amid Covid-19 pandemic By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

After swapping psychic readings for massage therapy sessions in the early days of their friendship, East Meadow residents Lori McGuire and Ilana Slavin decided to offer their services to the community in the form of a storefront. Not knowing a global pandemic was on the horizon, the two opened Charmed The Eclectic Healing Shoppe in the hamlet on Feb. 15, 2020. While dealing with Covid-related closures last spring, the East Meadow mothers realized their business needed room to grow. They soon found a “perfect little spot” in Bellmore Village, Slavin said. At Charmed’s new location (305 C Bedford Ave.), residents can shop from an array of holistic health items and novelty gifts or sign up for healing therapies and wellness classes to stay sane during the pandemic. “We know people need us,” McGuire said, “and we like to pride ourselves on everything being made by other moms.” Almost all the items at Charmed are handmade or produced by local women, McGuire said. Inside, customers can peruse hand-poured candles infused with reiki healings or adorned with dried flowers and tiny crystals; organic hair and body care products; essential oils; and CBD products. The store also sells handcrafted, gemstone jewelry designed by a local silversmith, for which custom orders are available. Located near the register are three shelves worth of healing crystals contained in glass bowls. Each crystal is imbued with its own unique set of healing properties, which are listed on little cards sold with the stones. Rose quartz, for example, is said to restore trust and harmony in relationships and encourage unconditional love, and open the heart to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and peace. Charmed also doubles as a holistic care center, offering meditation, yoga, reiki and crystal classes and healing ser-

Photos by Alyssa Seidman/Herald

eAst meAdow residents Ilana Slavin, left, and Lori McGuire, have relocated their business, Charmed The Eclectic Healing Shoppe, to Bedford Avenue in Bellmore Village. vices on a weekly basis. Having practiced as a psychic medium for more than 10 years, McGuire gives tarot card readings on “Tarot Tuesdays” and hosts “Psychic Saturdays” alongside other mediums, where participants can get readings from multiple psychics in one sitting. Slavin leads yoga and meditation classes on Thursday nights and provides massage therapy using crystals, essential oils and other alternative healing remedies. As reiki masters, both women promote healing of the mind, body and soul by channeling positive energy into their clients. “It’s all about transmuting energy

into positive energy, and it really helps people out of depression and just motivates them,” McGuire explained. “Even just the circulation from the touch of the reiki, that’s healing,” Slavin added. “It’s taking that moment or that time for yourself, and I think that that’s crucial to people and their mental health.” With many people grappling with secondary effects of the pandemic, including social isolation, loss and loneliness, the cozy space inside Charmed is a peaceful sanctuary to those looking for light amid the darkness.

“We just want to be a constant source for people to be able to reach out and receive . . . healing that’s suitable to them,” Slavin said. “A lot of people come in here and say they’re happy to have a place like this nearby, so we’re happy to be able to [provide] this access for [them].” The shop will celebrate its grand opening in Bellmore this Saturday. For more information, visit “Charmed Eclectic Healing Shoppe” on Facebook and Instagram.

ChArmed offers An array of eclectic items, far left, including handpoured candles, organic hair and body care products, essential oils and CBD products, most of which are produced by other women business owners. the shop’s wAll of crystals, near left, adds a magical touch to the cozy space, which also hosts weekly meditation, yoga and reiki classes.

Inside LI webinar focuses on estate planning nalcindor@liherald.com

The coronavirus pandemic has, like never before, demonstrated to families that they must prepare now, not later, for any eventuality. Herald Inside LI recently held a webinar, “2021 Estate and Medicaid Planning,” to provide guidance to Long Islanders on how to do just that. The event, sponsored by Family Care Connections LLC and by D’Angelo Law Associates, included guests Frank D’Angelo, of Family Care Connections, and his daughter, Stephanie D’Angelo, of D’Angelo Law Associates. Stephanie, who has been a trust and estates attorney for 10 years, spent the first 30 minutes speaking on the importance of having a will. “Everyone should have a will, and if you have a bank account, it makes you able to distribute your finances,” she said. “If you don’t have a will, you will have to go through a process called administration—which means the law dictates where your money goes. With a will, you can distribute the assets in the way you want to.” Be sure, she said, to store a will in a fireproof box when keeping it at home, and keep it in good condition, without staples or tears. “We look to see if the will is in good

condition, and this impacts how we view the person’s intent, and just because you wrote something out does not make it a will,” she said. “People should create a will with an attorney that focuses and specializes in this area of law.” D’Angelo advises married couples with children to meet with a trustworthy attorney to review their estate and draft a will. D’Angelo added that adult children with disabilities would require special treatment in a will. “Look for a power of attorney for that person with disabilities, and you may have to get guardianship over that child if they can’t vouch for themselves by signing documents,” she said. “People can get a special-needs trust for their children to protect their child’s finances.” D’Angelo said that despite the difficulty of talking about death, it’s vital for people to hold conversations about their wills with loved ones. “We all know that at some point our parents will be gone, and if your family doesn’t normally talk about things like this, go to an attorney and then reach out to your elderly loved ones,” she said. After, Frank shared about his work at Family Care Connections helping people qualify for Medicaid, which provides medical insurance for low-income people. Eligible populations include chil-

dren, pregnant women, single individuals, families, and individuals certified blind or disabled. “Family Care Connections is a comprehensive service that aims to aid people who are facing many things that come with aging,” he said. “Generally, a home-care Medicaid application is processed in about one to two months tops, which includes eligibility and getting the care.” For 2021, he said, a single individual who is 65 years or older must have an income of less than $2,382 per month to qualify for Medicaid. This applies to nursing home Medicaid, as well as assisted-living services, “This number went into effect last January, and the qualifications for Medicaid change every year at the beginning of the year,” he said. “If you make a higher income than the Medicaid qualifications, then you have the option to do a pooled income trust—which is a trust that can be set up with a nonprofit organization where you can put your income, and then you identify your monthly income and expenses, and expenses get paid through that income.” Fo r t h e p o o l e d i n c o m e t r u s t , D’Angelo said, people are typically required to pay a monthly fee for trust management. The trust allows people to take their excess income and apply it to monthly expenses or payments, and

2021

Know

News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com

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February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

Mary Trump leads quiet life in RVC Best-seller on her uncle, the former president, catapulted her into the spotlight By James Bernstein jbernstein@liherald.com

Although she is a member of a wealthy and well-known family, Mary Trump, niece of former President Donald Trump, has led a quiet life in Rockville Centre for the past two decades, putting her daughter through local schools, dining at North Village Avenue eateries and riding her bike through local parks. Life was peaceful, she said. Then, last summer, her blockbuster best-selling book, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” was published. Instantly, Mary Trump, 55, became a household name, and she star ted appearing regularly on cable TV news programs. Despite her virtually overnight fame, Trump generally shies away from the spotlight. She enjoys spending time at home, including reading the Rockville Centre Herald. “I’m a regular reader,” she said. “It keeps me up to date.” In an interview with the Herald last Friday, Trump said she came to the village in 1998, from Garden City, because she had heard good things about the schools. Amid the Co-vid-19 pandemic, she rarely ventures outside, and “has lots of stuff ordered.” She said she has not publicly encountered hostility from her uncle’s supporters on village streets. But, she said, “I get some of that on Twitter.” When she does leave the house, Trump wears double masks and sunglasses, and thus she is rarely recognized. A clinical psychologist who earned a doctorate from Adelphi University, Trump no longer practices. Instead, she is working on a second book, about the trauma caused by the pandemic and how people might overcome it. “Hopefully, the book will be timely and helpful,” she said, adding that she planned to include the trauma that has resulted from the attack on the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6. “When I was wrapping up my first book, George Floyd was killed,” she said. Her first book had to include the killing of the unarmed Black man at the hands of the Minneapolis police last May. The recovery from the pandemic and the Jan. 6 insurrection will be slow, Trump emphasized. “It’s as if this country were at war, and we were all called up at the same time and we all came back at the same time,” she said. “That should be helpful — that we’re all in this together — but we have to mobilize resources” both psychological and social. “And we’ve never been good in [this] country mobilizing psycholo gical resources. “The trouble is in this long pandemic, we’ve forgotten how to be social beings,” she said, and getting back to

mary trump, niece of former President Donald Trump, has lived in Rockville Centre for the past two decades. normal “will depend on how dedicated we are and how the current administration responds to the crises.” She worries that once many people receive their Covid-19 vaccinations, they will believe everything is back to normal, and it really won’t be. When her book was published, Trump said, her own life would have changed more had it not been for the sheltering that the coronavirus forced on her. “Everything’s at home now,” she said. Asked if she regretted not having written the book sooner, to alert the public about her uncle’s behavior, she said, “If I had written it before, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Donald was getting away with everything.” She acknowledged that it’s impossible to know whether her book played a role in his loss in November’s election. “I hope it did,” she said. Trump said that she and her uncle got along when she was growing up, but “I can’t say we were close.” He hired her to work on his second book, “The Art of the Comeback,” but neglected to inform his publisher, who had another writer in mind, ending her involvement in the project. Donald Trump has insisted he won the election in a “landslide.” Does she believe he really believes that? “It’s not that he believes it,” Mary Trump said. “But it’s that he can’t believe he lost. That’s not acceptable in my family. It’s hard to underestimate the [influence] my grandfather has had on Donald.” In her book, she writes that Fred Trump Sr., ruled the family with an iron fist, and was extremely harsh to his oldest son — her father, Fred Trump Jr., whom the senior Trump had pegged to take over the family real estate busi-

Photos courtesy Mary Trump

mary trump’s Best-seller, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” brought her widespread acclaim — and some derision on Twitter. ness. But as Fred Jr. drifted away from the business, becoming an airline pilot, his father turned to Donald, his second son. It wasn’t a happy choice, Mary Trump wrote: “When things turned south in the late 1980s” for the family business, “Fred could no longer separate himself from [Donald]’s brutal ineptitude,” but “had no choice but to stay invested.” Fred Jr. died of a heart attack in 1981, at age 43. Her uncle, she said, is “psychologically disordered” and became “more unhinged” after his election loss. She described feeling “miserable” about the impeachment trial last week,

because many Republican senators did not appear to be listening, and some even consulted with the former president’s lawyers on the case. Jan. 6, Trump said, “was not a joke. People died. A police officer was murdered.” She believes her uncle must be held accountable for his role in riling up the mob before the riot. Work on her second book, she said, will take up much of her time. And now that her daughter is away at college, she is thinking of moving back to Manhattan, where she attended Columbia University, to earn a master’s in English literature.

Pride for Youth celebrates Black History Month

the pandemic and PFy

Historically, the Black and LGBTQ+ communities have been marginalized, resulting in limited access to life’s basic necessities, including health care, education, jobs, housing and even food. The pandemic starkly revealed these inequities, as rising unemployment affected many in PFY. Seeing that its members were struggling to afford meals, the agency launched a door-to-door grocery delivery service, and eventually began mailing out grocery store gift cards. Zappasodi added that a lack of housing “hit our LGBTQ Black community harder than any others.” Since people were ordered to stay at home due to the pandemic, some Black LGBTQ youth took advantage of PFY’s housing amenities to escape familial tensions. “They’d spend a week at a hotel just to get away, to decompress, and have that safe space for themselves [where they were] not stigmatized as a person,” Zappasodi said. Almost a year later, with PFY’s support, the local Black LQBTQ community is rebounding, allowing the agency to focus more on its true goal: empowerment. “We really try to empower our clients that are Black to take on these leadership roles and start mobilizing their own social networks,” Zappasodi said, “because it’s really about creating change, and change is an evolutionary process.”

Celebrating Black history

The activities for Black History Month 2021 are largely designed by PFY clients themselves, under PFY’s guidance. Among the many virtual events have been postings on the agency’s website and Facebook page about general Black history, historical Black LGBTQ figures and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. On Feb. 24, members of Mpowerment, a subgroup of PFY, will hold a virtual event called “Wake Up and Get Woke!” from 6-8 p.m. The celebration will include an art slide show, raffles, a Black History Month trivia game and the chance for LGBTQ members to strengthen their bonds as a community. Allies are also

neXt WeDneSDay, memBeRS of Mpowerment, a subgroup of PFY, will hold a virtual event called “Wake Up and Get Woke!” from 6-8 p.m.

Courtesy Pride For Youth

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For the leadership at Pride for Youth, a division of the Bellmore-based Long Island Crisis Center, Black History Month is more than just a period to acknowledge the achievements and advancements of African Americans. According to PFY Suffolk Project Director Devon Zappasodi, February allows the agency to promote understanding of Black people within the LGBTQ community, and “how the intersectionality of race and socioeconomic [status] plays out in their lives, especially on Long Island,” he said. Since many of PFY’s clientele are people of color, the agency seeks to provide programs catered to promoting Black history all month long.

invited. For more information, visit longislandcrisiscenter.org/prideforyouth or PFY’s social media pages.

FEB

bsteiglitz@liherald.com

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

By Reine Bethany

PRODUCED BY

To sponsor a webinar or for more information contact Amy Amato at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x 224 RICHNER

HERALD Covid-19 EMERGENCY WORKERS OAHN HANDEL

KATIE RODRIGUEZ

MERRICK Behaviorial Health Specialist, St. John's Episcopal Hospital Far Rockaway

NORTH MERRICK Nurse Practitioner, Manhasset Primary Care

y role at Manhasset Primary Care includes administering exercise stress tests and EKGs while providing general patient care for adults. When Covid-19 came to Long Island, my office couldn't accept Covid patients because we didn't have the tests or the swabs or the proper personal protective equipment. When our office temporarily closed, I and other staff members went to work at a ProHealth urgent care center to administer drive-through Covid-19 swab tests to people waiting anxiously in cars. I was about 30 weeks pregnant then. As my due date approached, I was reassigned to telemedicine. I went over patients' results with them, as well as Covid protocols and how to quarantine and review their antibody test results. These actions helped

flatten the curve. My baby, Ellie, was born safely on June 6. I am now vaccinated and back on duty at Manhasset Primary Care. Occasionally, patients gripe at things like wearing masks during treadmill tests, but most of them cooperate with our protective protocols. An ongoing issue we face is that many people are avoiding health care appointments or external tests like X-rays for fear of contracting Covid-19. I constantly remind my regular patients that primary care work is preventive, and that we don’t want people to miss out on any of those screenings and tests. No matter if it’s your doctor’s office or an imaging location, everyone’s doing their job to keep you safe during the pandemic.

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y role on the emergency department’s psychiatric team is to help determine the appropriate discharge plans for patients and connect them to resources, services and whatever community support they might benefit from. That didn’t stop with Covid — we never closed down. The pandemic highlighted the need for patients to have one-on-one social interactions, not just with their treatment providers, but in general. We find that a lot of our patients are struggling because they can’t see their family or friends; their routines are completely disrupted. The pandemic has definitely exacerbated whatever struggles people may have had prior, and we’re seeing that a lot in kids particularly. We’re seeing more self-harm; they’re having

arguments at home with their family since they’re unable to express themselves, so they’re turning to social media and regressing into unhealthy coping mechanisms. We’ve also had a few patients that have experienced a recent loss who needed to re-engage in treatment. For example, one of our patients who was stable for a while lost her father and needed to be reconnected to services since she went back into a depression. I don’t know what the new normal will be, but I hope everybody realizes that our resources are still available. We’re working to help people be as healthy as possible mentally, with the hope that once things do go back to normal, they’ll be able to assimilate more easily. The patients recognize that we're here for the community, and that won’t change.

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February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

THEIR FRONT-LINE STORIES IN THEIR OWN WORDS SCOTT BIRDIE MERRICK

WANTAGH Surgical P.A., Long Island Jewish Medial Center

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

ERICA FINK

Volunteer, Merrick Fire Department EMS

t the height of the pandemic, I worked with our sickest Covid-positive patients in critical care, including those on ventilators. Working in critical care, we learn to put up a wall between our emotions and the difficult things we go through with our patients, but coding someone who’s your own age, only to turn around and see a unit packed with other patients headed down the exact same path, can make those walls crumble pretty quickly. Calling the experience “overwhelming” doesn’t cover it: I lost more patients in three months than I had in all of the previous 15 years of my career. The days were physically grueling, but I found the emotional toll a far heavier burden. Speaking to the same family members day after day with news that was rarely uplifting was so daunting. Making the

worst phone call of someone else’s life never got easier. Through it all, I discovered the amazing hidden strengths of my P.A. team as well as the rest of my health care colleagues at the hospital — from unit receptionists to environmental service workers to surgeons. There, in the most terrifying days of my career, I also experienced a camaraderie I had never seen before, and it stays with us still. I’ve learned to be thankful for all that I have, especially my health and my family’s health. I don’t take the little things, like hugs, for granted, and I’m counting down the days until I can simply hug my friends again. We can get there if we do it together.

would say the only thing that's really different is that the calls that we're responding to are more Covid-related. We have to make sure we're taking good care of ourselves by wearing protective equipment, to make sure we don't get sick as well. But to be honest, not much has changed otherwise. I'm a little overkill — I wear a special 3M mask, like a gas mask with a special filter, and it does get cumbersome and annoyingly hot. When patients were really sick toward the beginning and we didn't know how communicable the virus was and how it transferred from one person to the next, I figured I'd rather go overkill than underkill. I kind of get mocked all the time for wearing this ridiculous gas mask wherever I go, but it seems to have kept me pretty safe

HERALD HOMETOWN HERO

until I got vaccinated. From a procedure standpoint, nothing has really changed, because we always make sure we take care of ourselves. I think we're just more hyper-vigilant about doing it. Taking the temperatures of patients when we walk through the door isn't something we would normally do, and we do that on pretty much every call. I've been with the Merrick Fire Department for 13 years, and I was in the North Merrick Fire Department before I moved for 13 years — 26 in total. We're all human, and advanced life support is something that's rare in the volunteer world. There's not many people who volunteer that have those skills. I like to think the community needs those kinds of folks to step up.

HERALD HOMETOWN HERO

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One to keep...

Mepham H.S. hoopsters take to the hardwood

February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

By tOny BellissimO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Courtesy Town of Hempstead

last Wednesday, hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin, at lectern, announced that the town will allocate more than $340,000 of federal CARES Act funding to support several libraries within the township.

Town earmarks $340k in CARES funds for libraries By Reine Bethany and alyssa seidman aseidman@liherald.com

Last Wednesday, alongside local library directors, Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald Clavin announced that the town has approved more than $340,000 in grants to support several public libraries within the township (see box). The allocation was made possible by funding through the federal CARES Act, which was secured by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer last year. Each library will receive a more than $20,000 grant to help pay for unbudgeted expenses incurred during the pandemic. Clavin said the funding will also allow these institutions to continue to provide essential programs and services to their communities. “They might have lost some sort of benefit they’d given the community,” he explained. “No one in our town was spared from the impacts of this pandemic and the financial toll it has taken, [and] we are proud to be able to provide this funding to our neighborhood libraries so they can continue serving the residents of Hempstead Town.” Most libraries have continued to offer a full complement of services throughout the pandemic with Covid-19 safety measures in place. These include high-grade Plexiglas shields for circulation and reference desks, personal protective equipment for staff, daily sanitizing procedures, UVlighting to disinfect books and printed materials and reconfiguration of library spaces to maintain social distancing. The announcement came from outside the Levittown Public Library on Feb. 10. Levittown Library Trustee Steve Dalton commended town officials for their support. “There are two broad purposes for this money,” he said. “It’s one, to make inperson library use safer for our patrons and our staff, and two, to expand digital and virtual access to library materials.” Digital and virtual access includes lending hotspot devices and installing Wi-Fi routers and boosters so patrons can

help for local libraries East Meadow Public Library Elmont Memorial Library Franklin Square Public Library Hempstead Public Library Island Park Public Library Island Trees Public Library Lakeview Public Library Levittown Public Library Merrick Library Peninsula Public Library Seaford Public Library Uniondale Public Library Wantagh Public Library West Hempstead Public Library Baldwin Public Library Rockville Centre Public Library North Bellmore Public Library access the library’s Wi-Fi during off hours. Town Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby pointed out that the libraries could also use the funds to keep developing virtual literacy programs, which are increasing children’s skills with computer programs like Zoom and strengthening their adjustment to remote learning. Town Councilman Christopher Carini recalled fond memories of leading civic association meetings at the Seaford Public Library, further proving their importance. Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito regarded the institutions as “a central location for meetings” that have the ability to bring community members together. “No one could have anticipated the impact that Covid-19 would have on libraries and so many other aspects of our daily lives,” he said, “and these relief funds will go a long way to helping them get back on their feet.”

A condensed season without playoffs hasn’t been a topic of conversation among the members of Mepham High School’s boys’ basketball team, which opened Feb. 10 with a 60-51 victory over New Hyde Park behind a 17-point performance from junior Robert Tansey in his varsity debut. “I think the kids are looking at the big picture and just happy to be playing as many games as we can,” said Pirates head coach Patrick Fallon. “We played a nice opener, all things considered. The kids wore masks to the best of their ability and we’ll always put safety first.” Mepham comes off a memorable season that included 15 wins and a trip to the Nassau Class A quarterfinals. Senior Mekhi Beckett, a third-year starter who averaged 20 points per game, is an explosive 6-foot-3 forward looking to play at the next level. Beckett earned All-County honors and sparked the Pirates’ playoff success. “He’s a very strong all-around player who can be explosive,” Fallon said. Senior Billy Kender, a three-sport athlete who also excels as the football team’s quarterback and baseball team’s ace pitcher, steps into a starting backcourt role after contributing key minutes off the bench last winter. Senior point guard Nick Santiago shoots well from the outside and helps lead the defense, while senior forwards Rob Caminiti and Jake Davis are being counted on to contribute some points and rebounds in the paint. On the girls’ side, Mepham didn’t tip off its season until last Friday when it traveled to Long Beach and came away with a 34-26 victory. The Pirates were led by senior Julia Rawlinson and junior Hailey Guerrero, who each scored 11 points apiece. Eighth-grader Makayla Daube impressed in her varsity debut with eight points and four blocked shots. “We were prepared for the season to start,” said head coach Jim Mulvey. “Our district did a great job conducting intramurals. It’s a lot of everyone’s plate. We have mandatory weekly testing for Covid, but you also have to worry about other teams because not every district is doing testing.” Rawlinson is a four-year varsity player who as a sophomore captured Conference

Tony Bellissimo/Herald

seniOR Julia RaWlinsOn scored 11 points in Mepham High School basketball’s season-opening victory against Long Beach last Friday. Player of the Year honors and also has an All-County season under her belt. She’s a consistent double-digit scorer who also contributes at least five rebounds per game, Mulvey noted. Guerrero, who earned an Honorable Mention in All-County last season, is an improved shooting guard who led the team in steals and sparks the transition offense. At the point, senior Victoria Della Croce returned with varsity experience. Senior forward Ali Heller, who’s headed to Albany to play lacrosse at the collegiate level, is a strong defender who’s likely to get the toughest shutdown assignment every game. “That’s her job,” Mulvey said. Junior Riley Clark, who missed the opener due to injury, came on strong last season and became an All-Conference selection. She’s a key in the paint along with junior Alanna Morse, a softball standout.

Let us know News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to aseidman@liherald.com

The Power of Play: How to Make the Most of Your Children’s Playtime

Photo: Pond Saksit via shutterstock.com

You may have heard that “play is the work of children” (famously touted by one of the first child development experts, Jean Piaget). Not only do we trust our kids to have fun while playing, but we also know that through play, they learn countless skills. But did you know that playing with your children is also one of the best ways to communicate? We’re breaking down the why, how, and what of creating growth and connection through play.

Why Should Children (and Parents!) Play?

Play isn’t a broad category for anything that’s “not learning;” on the contrary, play allows children to practice what they’ve learned and experiment with new skills and ideas. You may have noticed your children playing games that reflect other aspects of their life - your 6-yearold uses Legos to build a summer camp (he’s missing his camp friends), or your 8-year-old is always on a superhero mission (her new friends at school love Marvel). Watching your kids play can be like a window into their world. Better yet? Playing with your children will give you a foot-inthe-door; you’ll suddenly be an active participant in their most important work, and this role will give you credibility and insight when you need it to work through future situations.

You can see why play is central to a child’s development and that your role in play is crucial for building connection and communication, but what if you don’t like to play? You’re not alone. Many parents find that playing pretend or collecting your 100th Pokémon isn’t an enjoyable way to spend time – and that’s okay. You don’t have to love playing these games, and you’re not a “bad” parent if you’d rather do something else. Just keep three things in mind: 1. Negotiating is one of the skills that your child learns through experience, so feel free to collaboratively decide what’s on the agenda. 2. You don’t necessarily have to play for a long time for it to be meaningful, so opt for short 10-minute sessions of your least favorite games. 3. You get to choose what games and tools are in the house, so make the most of this power by choosing wisely!

How Play Builds Skills

Giving your children space to play not only introduces some fun but also allows them to explore feelings, thoughts, and questions that may be too complex for words. It’s often easier to see what a toddler learns from play

Photo: George Rudy via shutterstock.com

Play can happen spontaneously or at a planned time, with toys or without, alone or in groups – its versatility means that there are almost infinite tools available that market themselves as “the best.” Because play provides so much of your child’s foundational experience and creates a way to build connection and communication, it’s important to spend time thinking about the tools that you provide for playing. Consider a few questions when building your home’s play toolbox: 1. Are there tools and opportunities for outside play? 2. Is this toy open-ended or is it limited in scope? 3. Do we have toys and tools that address various aspects of learning (social, emotional, physical, etc.)? 4. What are my child’s interests, and do we have ways for them to explore these? 5. Feel like you’re “supposed to” shy away from digital tools/games? Don’t! Often, online games provide an approach that can help fill in the gaps. When choosing digital options, look for things that are created by child development experts. A great example of a digital tool is Mightier. A research-backed video game platform that helps kids to practice navigating emotions through play. Along with teaching emotional regulation skills, it can help to enrich play and communication between kids and parents in a way that’s often hard to target through traditional toys. If the work of children is to play, then it’s up to parents to provide the best tools for the job. By actively participating in our children’s play and offering games and opportunities for exploring a whole range of skills, we can ensure that they are well-equipped to continue their most important work of growing up! To learn more about Mightier, go to our website at www.mightier.com/newyear Sponsored Content

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What if I Don’t Like Playing?

Photo: George Rudy via shutterstock.com

Choosing the Right Tools

Why an annual checkup, a meaningful succession plan and other best practices are a must. The best family businesses understand how to mitigate the unique set of challenges they face and how to make the most of their potential opportunities. This episode of Inside LI will cover key legal and financial steps that may ultimately spell the difference between multi·generational success and a failed business that can also impact family harmony. Whether you’re an established family business or you’re thinking about launching one, register now to join the conversation! Register to submit your questions for the panelists or ask them live during the webinar. REGISTER @ LlHerald.com/FamilyBusiness CAN’T MAKE THE LIVE WEBINAR? REGISTER AND YOU’LL RECEIVE THE RECORDING! 1121034

– fine motor skills, colors, object permanence. What’s more challenging is seeing the value that comes from an older child’s playtime: when kids play low-stakes games, they can freely practice high-importance skills. When play is self-directed without an adult agenda, children are more likely to persist when confronted with challenges. Practicing patience, persistence, and resilience ultimately lead to success and confidence-building. Similarly, risk-taking during games can help kids learn what it feels like to forge ahead even when scared and seek out resources during difficult situations. Playing with others is a prime space for navigating social roles and developing empathy.And when kids play with their parents? They learn that adults can have fun and make mistakes, and that communicating with their parents is not always adversarial.

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

Engaging in playtime with your kids can be more powerful than you think! By seeing play for the skill-building practice that it is, getting involved with your kids when they do it, and expertly crafting your toy toolbox, you can unlock the power of play for your family!

February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

OBITUARIES

Longtime resident Giuseppe Levanti dies at 76 Beloved ‘Uncle Joe’ owned Violetta’s in Merrick for 40 years By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

Those who remember Violetta’s would recall it as one of the more popular hangout spots in Merrick in the 1970s. It had an old-fashioned jukebox, a sought-after salad recipe and an owner who would sing and hum Italian songs behind the counter, putting on a show as he tossed pizza dough into the air. This entertaining act earned Giuseppe Levanti the nickname “Uncle Joe” among customers and employees alike. His passion for food, cooking and feeding others created a familial feeling within the restaurant, which was in business for 40 years. Levanti, a longtime Merrick resident, died suddenly on Jan. 24 at the age of 76. He was the youngest son of Maria and Francesco Levanti, who raised their five children — Filippo, Paolo, Salvatore, Giuseppe and Concetta — in the town of Palazzolo Acreide on the Italian island of Sicily. In May 1963, just before his 19th birthday, Levanti moved to the U.S. to join his brothers who were working at pizza restaurants in the outer boroughs. Two years later, he met his wife, Sebastiana “Nella” Valenti, in Queens. She had come to America from another town in Sicily, Catania — just 45 minutes away from Levanti’s hometown. Levanti proposed to Nella three months after they met, and they married a year later on Feb. 13, 1966. This year would’ve marked the couple’s 55th wedding anniversary. One year after Giuseppe and Nella’s first daughter, Mary, was born, the brothers opened Violetta’s in the Holiday Park Shopping Center on Merrick Road in 1968. After the birth of their second daughter, Fran (now Ciniglio), in 1971, the couple purchased their first home on Central Boulevard in Merrick, which was within walking distance of the restaurant. “My dad was the kind of guy that if you didn’t have money for a slice of pizza, he would give it to you for free,” Ciniglio said. “Everyone who walked into the restaurant and started working there became family.” “People loved to hear him sing to himself when he was making the pizza,” Mary added. “He was passionate to make people happy, and he succeeded in that.” In 1988, the family moved Violetta’s into a bigger space on Sunrise Highway, where it remained until 2008. After selling the restaurant, Levanti was able to spend more time with his one and only grandson, Joseph Ciniglio, who was born in 2005. “He used to make pizza with Joseph when he was 3 . . . and threw a birthday party for him every year,” Ciniglio said. “He’d throw the radio on in his car and start the tarantella in the driveway.” Ciniglio’s husband, Pat, regarded Levanti as a second father. “I’ve known

Photos courtesy Mary Levanti

longtime merrick resident Giuseppe Levanti, seen here preparing a pizza at his restaurant, Violetta’s, died last month at the age of 76.

levAnti’s pAssion for food, cooking and feeding others earned him the nickname “Uncle Joe” among his employees and patrons — all of whom were like family to him. levAnti And his siblings, from far left, Concetta, Paolo, Salvatore and Filippo, opened Violetta’s in the former Holiday Park shopping center on Merrick Road in 1968. The restaurant was open for 40 years. levAnti is survived by, from below left, Pat Ciniglio (son-in-law), Fran Ciniglio, Mary Levanti (daughters), Sebastiana Levanti (wife) and Joseph Ciniglio (grandson).

the family for over 30 years, and I’ve never seen [another] man so happy and joyous,” he said. “The man had a heart of gold.” Levanti is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Filippo. He is survived by his siblings, Paolo, Salvatore and Concetta; his wife, Nella; his daughters, Mary and Fran; his son-in-law, Pat; his grandson, Joseph; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

February 18, 2021

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

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February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

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BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

Be good to your heart

Don’t miss a beat for cardiovascular health

ebruary is about far more than conversation hearts and romantic rendezvouses: the month of love also marks American Heart Month, which calls major attention to heart health. And for good reason: as the fifth largest and most important organ in your body, your heart beats a hundred thousand times a day, pumping blood to all of your organs and enabling you to perform everything from driving a car to performing downward facing dog. In other words, when your heart is in jeopardy — of the physical sort, mind you — so is your life. Indeed, heart disease — which affects more than 43 million American women per year —is the number one killer in both men and women, rendering it a greater hazard than breast and prostate cancer. While genetics may play a role in your predisposition to heart disease, a quarter of deaths from cardiovascular failure are preventable. Lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of heart disease by a whopping 80 percent. What’s more? Key tweaks to your daily activities allow for a richer, more fulfilling existence. Here are some leading changes you can implement today to keep your ticker safe tomorrow. Skip the pasta Italian might be more your thing, but the point is this: eating more fish — specifically low-mercury fish—can be a boon for your heart, thanks to its healthy doses of omega-3 fats. Take it from the American Heart Association: “Omega-3 fatty acids fatty acids benefit the heart of healthy people, and those at high risk of—or who have —c ardiovascular disease. Research demonstrates that omega-3 fatty acids decreases the risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), which can lead to sudden death.” Further, upping your consumption of fish supports normal blood pressure. Low-mercury is critical here, however. Mercury — a heavy metal found naturally in the environment and absorbed by fish — can irritate the lining of your blood vessels and serve as a potential cause of atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that may render you more susceptible to stroke. Salmon, freshwater trout, herring, tilapia and tuna are all excellent choices, while high-mercury choices like ahi and tuna, King mackerel and swordfish should be minimized. Floss your teeth Studies have shown that periodontitis raises your risk of heart disease, in part because of inflammation and the increased thickness of blood vessels in the neck. While further research remains to be done, oral health — accomplished by brushing after meals and flossing once a day, preventative care and cleanings — is often indicative of how well a person takes care of themselves in general. Forgo the salt Let’s get one thing out of the way: salt is critical for life. It’s an essential mineral for every cell in the body — it helps regulate your heartbeat, blood pressure, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, stomach acid and pH balance. The problem, however, rests in the average American’s consumption of salt, which exceeds the daily recommendation of 1,100 to 3,300 mg of sodium each day for adults. (To picture this, one teaspoon of salt gives you 2,300 mg of sodium.) And, as you probably know, high amounts of salt in the

diet have been associated with high blood pressure, which can cause ischemic heart disease. The solution lies not in removing salt from your diet completely but in finding the right balance of sodium to potassium — two components that work together in a unique way to regulate your water balance, which, in turn regulates your blood pressure. Indeed, studies demonstrate that when sodium is decreased and potassium is increased, blood pressure can drop. In short, aim to increase the potassium in your diet by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are rich in potassium and low in sodium. At the same time, be mindful of the type of salt you consume. Commercial salt goes through a dramatic metamorphosis before it reaches your dinner table — it’s heated, bleached, stripped of its minerals and oftentimes treated with anticaking agents that contain aluminum. Reach for unrefined salt that comes from the sea instead, and use it sparingly. Dine early A wholesome diet is crucial for maintaining (or improving) heart health. But recent research suggests that it isn’t just what you eat but also when you eat that matters. According to the American Heart Association, eating more calories earlier in the day and fewer calories at night may decrease your chances of stroke, heart attack or other heart and blood vessel diseases. Take it from Marie Pierre St. Onge, a nutrition researcher at Columbia University. “We may not process sugars as well at night as we do during the day, and studies of shift workers have linked this schedule with a greater risk of obesity and heart disease than a typical day job,” she says, going on to cite that 30 percent of Americans skip breakfast. Which is a shame, given that eating breakfast is associated with lower weight, a healthier diet overall and a lower risk of heart disease. Join the healthier side of the statistic by making your morning meal a priority. Aim to eat protein, fruits and/or veggies, and some heart-healthy omega-3s. One dish that hits all three? A slice of chia-seed or whole wheat toast topped with nut butter and a sliced banana. Schedule in some ‘me time’ The link between chronic stress and heart disease cannot be underemphasized. Such negative stress has a profound impact on your body, from higher levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, to changes in the way your blood clots. What’s more, chronic stress — whether derived from a grueling work schedule or troubles at home — tends to spur lifestyle changes that may further increase your risk for heart disease, including over-eating, under-exercising, smoking and over-imbibing. To mitigate the stress in your life, it’s imperative that you carve out time for you —and you alone. “Me time,” however that may be defined, allows you to catch your breath, decompress, assess where you are (physically, spiritually and emotionally) and enjoy life’s riches. Above photo: Caring for your heart through a healthy diet and regular physical activity is the secret weapon. While many may assume that popping a few pills that your healthcare provider prescribed is enough to quell symptoms or prevent a heart attack, the real preventative power lies with real changes to your lifestyle,

Exercise matters Find a routine you’ll stick with

Exercise, along with heart healthy eating, is essential if you want to keep your ticker at its best. To get heart-healthy benefits, you need to get your heart rate up. There are dozens of activities you can do to help your heart. Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all physical activity adds up. Consider these tips from personal trainers to get the most out of your exercise program. Pick up your pace Aerobic exercises done 30 minutes a day is excellent for increasing your heart rate. Climbing the stairs, a brisk walk, cross trainer exercise machine or treadmill, anything to get your heart rate up. Any moderate-intensity exercise like swimming, jogging, zumba and yoga is good. Exercising your heart muscle means exercising your body. You don’t need a gym, just a bit of motivation and a good pair of walking shoes. Tone up Strength training is a great complement to aerobic training and helps to prevent age-related bone and muscle-mass losses. Keep in mind that strength training doesn’t increase heart rate but does increase stamina. Use it to target areas where muscletone is needed and don’t forget the other muscle groups. If you already do a vigorous aerobic routine or enrolled in an exercise class, then three days a week for 20 minutes a day is good.

For adults that are 65 and older or anyone with chronic conditions or limited mobility, you need the same amount of exercise as younger people — the activity can be less intense. Use good judgment and follow your doctor’s advice. Stick to a schedule If you “don’t have time” then fit shorter but more frequent periods of time, like 5-10 minutes several times a day throughout your day. Take the stairs, park your car further away from the door, and definitely count in those house chores such as mowing the lawn, vacuuming, or a short brisk walk around the block at lunch or for a break. With any plan, start strength training slowly and build up to heavier weights and repetitions especially if you are new or out of shape. The old adage “no pain, no gain” is more often inappropriate and can be dangerous. Stretching exercises done twice a week helps keep flexibility, which is very important. Consider 10 minutes of stretching twice a week to improve your flexibility With any exercise program, it’s good to start slowly by warming up, then increasing the pace. A good cooling down afterwards is also equally important. Above photo: It’s easier than you might think to improve your health with exercise. You don’t have to jog for an hour a day. In fact, some studies have shown greater health benefits from light to moderate exercise simply because people are more likely to stick with it.

HEALTH MEMO

Neurosurgeon Yusef Mosley joins NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery

usef I. Mosley, M.D., a Dr. Mosley uses the most neurosurgeon innovative procedures to ensure specializing in that his patients recover faster, complex and minimally invasive experience less post-operative spine surgery, has joined NSPC pain, and return to their normal Brain & Spine Surgery. With lives as soon as possible. seven offices on Long Island, When he’s not treating and 22 neurosurgeons available patients on Long Island, Dr. to see patients, NSPC is one of Mosley has a passion for the country’s largest private volunteer work. Each year, he brain and spine surgery joins a group of neurosurgeons practices. who spend two weeks providing “Dr. Mosley is an operative care to adults and outstanding addition to our children at the Black Lion Hospital Yusef I. Mosley, M.D. practice,” says Michael H. in Addis Abba, Ethiopia. Dr. Brisman, M.D., Chief Executive Mosely has also traveled to Officer (CEO) and a senior partner at NSPC. “He’s hospitals in Guatemala, China, Tanzania, and an experienced neurosurgeon who most recently Ghana to perform complex pediatric and adult was Associate Director of Complex & Minimally spine cases. Invasive Spine Surgery at the Saint Luke’s Marion Dr. Mosely sees patients in Rockville Centre. He Bloch Neuroscience Institute in Kansas City, MO. Dr. will perform surgery at Oceanside’s Mount Sinai Mosley’s arrival further enhances our group’s South Nassau and Mercy Medical Center in ability to provide,” he notes, “highly-specialized, Rockville Centre. university-level care in a community setting.”

About NSPC Braine & Spine Surgery Founded in Freeport in 1958, NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery has grown to become one of the largest, private neurosurgical practices in the U.S. with seven conveniently located offices on Long Island. The practice’s experienced neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiologists are experts in “Bloodless” brain and spine surgery, including laser spine surgery, ultrasonic spine surgery, endoscopic spine surgery, vascular coiling, stereotactic radiosurgery, and other advanced minimally invasive techniques which are used to treat brain tumors, brain aneurysms, trigeminal neuralgia, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, chronic back pain, and other neurosurgical conditions. Please visit www.nspc.com to learn more.

100 Merrick Road, Suite 128W, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 • 844-NSPC-DOC Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

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HEALTH MEMO

At the heart of your hearing It may seem unlikely, but your heart and your hearing are connected! Increasingly, studies show that people with compromised cardiovascular health are at increased risk for impaired hearing and even decline of cognitive function, underscoring the need for broad scale health and wellness management. Because both your hearing and your heart rely on healthy blood vessels, individuals with poor circulation, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, should be particularly vigilant about checking their hearing and sharing this information with their audiologist. In fact, nearly 70 percent of adults with diabetes over the age of 40 have some level of hearing loss, which can be well-managed when found and treated early. Optimal heart and hearing health can be maintained with

regular exercise, a balanced diet, proper sleep, good hygiene, and no smoking. At Comprehensive Audiology, we thoroughly review your cardiovascular history and are committed to helping you achieve your best self — heart and hearing included. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 516-387-4000 or at comprehensiveaudiology. com/make-appointment/. Follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Google, or Instagram @comprehensive_audiology, or visit us at www.comprehensiveaudiology.com.

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Dr. Esther Fogel Owner/Director, Comprehensive Audiology

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

MOUNT SINAI HEART CARE, WITHOUT THE COMMUTE. You can get quality heart care without going to Manhattan or the North Shore. Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only Long Island hospital associated with The Mount Sinai Hospital, which has a U.S. News Top 10 cardiac care department. Offerings include: -

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HEALTH MEMO

February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

Ranked “High Performing” in heart failure by U.S. News & World Report, Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s team of accomplished specialists includes (L to R) Dr. Kanner, Dr. Athan Smyrlis, Dr. Jason Freeman, Dr. Sherry Megalla and Dr. Pilar Haynes.

A healthy heart

Know your symptoms and do not delay lifesaving cardiac care

ust before Valentine’s Day 2019, as her husband prepared a cozy fire, Linda McCabe, 74-year-old grandmother of three, felt short of breath. She went to the local urgent care center, which called 9-1-1 to transport her to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Emergency Department. Linda was admitted to the ICU with a rapid pulse, shortness of breath, sweating, and vomiting. Cardiologist Dr. Sherry Megalla ordered an angiogram that revealed she had heart failure and an EKG showed an irregular heart rhythm. Dr. Lawrence Kanner, Chief of Cardiology, Director of Electrophysiology/ Arrhythmia Services, performed an ablation to restore her heart to a normal rhythm. Feeling better than she had in months, Mrs. McCabe went to a follow-up appointment that fall, where Drs. Kanner and Megalla diagnosed her with a coronary branch blockage, which delays the delivery of electrical impulses that make the heart beat efficiently. A defibrillator and pacemaker were implanted by Dr. Kanner to correct what could have resulted in worsening heart failure or even a fatal heart attack. “This has changed everything…I feel really good,” said Mrs. McCabe. “I have to thank Drs. Kanner and Megalla. They are great doctors.” In addition to Drs. Kanner and Megalla, the Mount Sinai Heart program at Mount Sinai South Nassau features a roster of accomplished cardiologists and cardiovascular specialists. This includes specialists from Mount Sinai Heart’s program at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, including Noah Moss,

MD, heart failure specialist; Robin Varghese, MD, cardiovascular surgeon; William Whang, MD, electrophysiologist; Ali Zaidi, MD, adult congenital heart disease specialist. In addition to the expanded staff, Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau uses the latest advancements in cardiovascular technologies and procedures, including: Rotational atherectomy, a revolving diamond-tipped instrument that spins at a high speed to effectively break up complex calcified plaque in a clogged coronary artery, restoring blood flow to the heart. The Impella is the world’s smallest temporary assistive heart pump for patients with severe coronary artery disease and diminished heart function who are undergoing a coronary intervention, such as stenting to unblock a clogged artery. CardioMems is a small receiver placed in the pulmonary artery for patients with congestive heart failure that transmits vital data of the heart’s function back to the cardiologist that can be used to adjust the prescribed treatment plan, without a visit to the hospital. Requiring no radiation or surgery, cardiac MRI is 3D imaging technology that helps cardiologists pinpoint exactly where the heart is not pumping well and diagnose what is causing the problem. The information produced by the cardiac MRI results in treatment plans tailored uniquely for each patient. Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau is among the nation’s leaders in providing balloon angioplasty in an emergency.

Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s cardiovascular specialists, including Dr. Sherry Megalla, left, provide advanced care that patients such as 74-year-old Linda McCabe need to overcome debilitating and potentially life-threatening heart diseases. It consistently completes the procedure in approximately 58 minutes, 32 minutes faster than the national standard door-to-balloontime benchmark of 90 minutes. (Door-toballoon time is the time measured in minutes from the moment the patient walks in the door to the point the artery in the heart is reopened with a stent procedure). Designated a 4-star achiever by the American College of Cardiology and ranked “High Performing” in heart failure by US News & World Report, Mount Sinai Heart at Mount Sinai South Nassau is accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories; is designated an Aetna Institute of Quality for interventional cardiology and rhythm disease diagnosis and

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

treatment; and has The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for its heart failure program, For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 516-632-3670.

One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) www.mountsinai.org/southnassau

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It’s pretty safe to say that many people fell off the healthy eating wagon during 2020 — stress from the pandemic to remote learning at home for the kids to actual quarantining left lots of us reaching for the chips and cookies. Regularly scheduled meal times also fell by the wayside as Zoom meetings and Google Classrooms took over the house. As we settle in to 2021, let it be a reset for all kinds of things, including nutrition. Jessica Crandall, registered dietician, says this is a great time to get back to the basics of healthy eating. And, she adds, if you’ve gained weight during the past year for whatever reason, it’s important not to be tempted by fad dieting. “Trendy things to avoid include keto, fasting and cleanses,” she said. “There is no quick fix! And there is little data to support longterm benefits for any of these trendy diets. A high-fat diet (like keto) is not recommended for anyone with cardiac issues. And the keto diet is often low in fiber, which has long studied and proven health benefits! “Fasting can have a negative effect on your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight in the long term,” said Crandall. “It can make it difficult to get your nutritional needs met as well. And there is no scientific research to support the benefit of most cleanses. The best way to detoxify your system is to eat a balanced diet with as little processed foods as possible! We all know that improving our diet can drastically improve overall health. Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet can reduce your risk for heart disease, reduce your risk for many types of cancer, and can help you experience a better quality of life and even live a longer life. Unfortunately, when many people think of improving their diet, they think of “going on a diet.” They imagine something similar to a New Year’s resolution where they cut back on everything and make sweeping changes to their lifestyle. And while it is definitely a good idea to want to change your lifestyle and eating habits, most of us realize that “going on a diet,” as we tend to think about it, is really difficult and can even make us feel worse about

ourselves if we fail. Instead, those drastic, sweeping changes should be thought of as an end-goal of a healthy nutrition plan, and instead of changing everything about your diet all at once, it’s much more manageable to make small improvements along the way to help reach that end goal of a healthier diet. Consider these some important tips to get back on track and focused on a heart-healthy lifestyle. Drink more water. Water helps as an aid in digestion, and helps to flush bacteria from the bladder, normalizes blood pressure, stabilizes heartbeat, as well as maintaining hydration. Eat more fiber. Don’t fear carbs! A highfiber diet helps you feel full, lowers cholesterol, helps control blood sugar levels and maintains bowel health/regularity. Good sources of fiber include whole fruits, vegetables, potatoes (especially the skin), beans/legumes, whole grains (such as brown or wild rice, quinoa, barley, farro and whole grain pasta). Eat more plants. Purchase whole fruits and vegetables in their natural state and prepare as desired (raw, roasted or sautéed). Include bean/legumes and nuts. Try to include at least one fruit or vegetable with each meal. Eat enough for breakfast. Think of it as fueling your day! Having a good (as in balanced, with some fiber and protein) breakfast will help control your appetite throughout the rest of the day. Eat fewer processed foods. Processed meats are high in sodium and usually high in saturated fat. Processed plant-based meats are also high in sodium and often high fat also. Snack foods, sugary cereals and candy are nutritionally void and do not satisfy your hunger. Prepared foods — such as boxed, flavored rice mixes, instant potatoes and canned soups — have added sodium. Above photo: Every choice you make to improve your nutrition matters. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy to have a healthy diet. The long term goal is to feel good, have more energy, and reduce the risk of heart disease, among other health risks.

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Feed your heart well

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BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO SAVE A SPECIAL PET

February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

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OBITUARY

agarcia@liherald.com

Ryfka Schacherl, a longtime Merrick resident with a storied history as a Jewish escapee from Nazi Germany, died on Jan. 28. She was 98. In the United States, Schacherl was able to build “the American dream,” her daughter Berta Weinstein said. With her husband, Walter, they entered the country with no more than $80 in their pockets. “They were determined to exceed the dream,” Berta said. Schacherl left Dresden, Germany in 1933 to flee the mounting anti-Semitism of the Nazi Party. She escaped first to Palestine, where she fought to liberate the area, which is now Israel. Schacherl worked several jobs, at times as a waitress or seamstress, while raising her family — “Any job that would allow us to succeed,” Berta said. “She was a warm, loving, proud Jewish woman,” said Geri Weinstein, Schacherl’s granddaughter. “She would inspire me with her stories from Germany and experiences in America.” In Israel, Schacherl enjoyed being a ping-pong star. She was a local champion, Berta said, and placed first in a tournament held on the boat that brought her to America. Schacherl met Walter in Israel through his practice of gymnastics. In 1946 — the year before they paraded the streets of Tel Aviv to celebrate the establishment of Israel — the two shared a special moment at a New Year’s Eve party. After leaving the party before midnight, they wandered around a local park, stopping to sit on a bench. “I fell asleep with my head in her lap,” Walter told the Herald before his death in 2019. “She let me sleep until 1 a.m., then said, ‘It’s time to go home.’” The two married after dating for three months. Schacherl is survived by her son Meir and his wife, Melissa; their daughter, Heather, and son, Matthew; Berta and her

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Obituary notices, with or without photographs, can be submitted by individuals as well as local funeral establishments. They should be typed and double-spaced. The name of the individual or funeral establishment submitting the obituary should be included. A contact phone number must be included. There is no charge for obituaries. Send to: rreyes@liherald.com or 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530jkjfjk

husband, Joe, and two daughters, Geri and Danielle; and two great-grandchildren, Audriana and Samara. “She was a proud matriarch of our family, and she was always proud of the success of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren,” Geri said. “We are blessed to have been able to spend our time with her.”

Brian Racow/Herald

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By ANDREW GARCIA

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

Longtime Merrick resident Ryfka Schacherl dies at 98

LoNGtImE mERRICk REsIDENt Ryfka Schacherl, far left, proudly displayed a collage of images and awards from the 1950 Maccabiah World Games, in which her husband, Walter participated.

HERALD

Employment

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Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail you ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

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BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

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43 N. Park Ave. Rockville Centre • 516-764-2601 REAL ESTATE Apartments Wanted

APARTMENT WANTED

Reliable, mature professional looking for a reasonably priced one or two bedroom apartment in a building or private home. Excellent credit. Excellent references. Same employer for 20 years. Would be willing to do upkeep for a frequent traveling homeowner. Please reply to HeraldApt1@gmail.com

Open Houses EAST ROCKAWAY 1 Thompson Dr, OPEN HOUSE BY APPT, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK. O/S Prop w/Deck. Att Gar. SD#20..$599,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

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Open Houses HEWLETT HARBOR ba, 236 Richards Lane 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Home on an Acre Of Resortlike, IGP, Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14...$1,499,00 Ronnie 516 238-4299 Douglas Elliman WOODSBURGH 185 BAY Dr, OPEN HOUSE BY Appt, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Q u a r t e r s , F u l l B s m t , 2 C a r G a r. SD#14...$1,450,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

House For Sale HEWLETT BAY PARK 40 Heron Dr, NEW TO MARKET!! 10,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Proper ty on an Acre of Parklike Grounds Tucked away in Cul de Sac. 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary. Soaring Ceilings. IG Pool, Hot Tub. 285' Vinyl Bulkhead Raised & Redone, Dock. 3 Car Garage...$4,650,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

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HEWLETT HARBOR NEW EXCLUSIVE! 7 BR, 4 Bth Exp Ranch w/ Full Fin Bsmt on Quiet St in SD#20. 2 Car Att Gar. Won't Last! ......... $1,198,000 105 Lake Dr, BA, NEW TO MARKET!! Spectaular Water & Golf Course Views. 4 BR, 4.5 Bth 4500 sq Ft Contemporary w/ Open Layout & Soaring Ceilings, 2 Car Gar, SD#14 $1,995,000 236 Richards Lane, BA, 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Home on an Acre Of Resortlike Prop with IG Pool. Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14 ... REDUCED! $1,499,000

WOOdSBURGH 185 Bay Dr, BA, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Quarters, Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#14 ....................................................................... $1,450,000 EAST ROCKAWAY 1 Thompson Dr, BA, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK. O/S Prop w/Deck. Att Gar. SD#20 ......................................................................... $599,000 WOOdMERE 1 Meadow Dr #2B, BA, NEW TO MARKET! Updated 2 BR Coop in Elevator Bldg. Spacious Rms, Hi Ceiling. Prime location........................................................................ $289,000 One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country.

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Houses seem to be growing taller

Homes

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Verdeschi & Walsh Realty 1025 W. Beech St. | Long Beach, NY

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House For Sale

Karen Elefante, CBR Real Estate Salesperson Karen Elefante, CBR 516.678.1510 Real Estate Salesperson c.516.398.5055 516.678.1510 karenelefante@danielgale.com Karen Elefante, CBR c.516.398.5055 Real Estate Salesperson karenelefante@danielgale.com 516.678.1510 Brendan Gallagher c.516.398.5055 Real Estate Salesperson Brendan Gallagher karenelefante@danielgale.com 516.678.1510 Real Estate Salesperson c.917.676.3985 516.678.1510 brendangallagher@danielgale.com Brendan Gallagher c.917.676.3985 Real Estate Salesperson brendangallagher@danielgale.com Rockville Centre Office 516.678.1510 36 S. Park Ave, Rockville Centre, NY c.917.676.3985 Rockville Centre Office danielgale.com danielgale.com brendangallagher@danielgale.com 36 S. Park Ave, Rockville Centre, NYEach Office is Independently Owned and Operated. danielgale.com danielgale.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Rockville Centre Office 36 S. Park Ave, Rockville Centre, NY danielgale.com danielgale.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-5694000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

HEWLETT HARBOR 105 Lake Dr, NEW TO MARKET!! Spectaular Water & Golf Course Views. 4 BR, 4.5 Bth 4500 sq Ft Contemporary w/ Open Layout & Soaring Ceilings, 2 Car Gar, SD#14..$1,995,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

CoOps & Condos/Sale LAWRENCE PRESTINE CO-OP 2 Bds, 2 Baths, Completely Renovated Kicthen & Baths,Terrace, Garage, Near House Of Worship, Great Area. For Sale By Owner. 516-313-9694

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February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

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Elmont $650,000 Theodora Street. Colonial. 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom. Taxes: $10,902 Merrick $699,000 Ellen Drive. Splanch. 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and skylight. Custom garage doors. Taxes: $16,025.44 Long Beach $590,000 W. Olive Street. Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom. Taxes: $12,271.45

Herald

Home Sales A sampling of recent sales in the area

Bellmore $838,000 Judith Drive. Hi Ranch. 5, bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Taxes: $17,059.45 East Meadow $700,000 Gates Avenue. Colonial. 5 bedrooms 4 bathrooms. Finished basement with accessory apartment with separate entrance. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and skylight. Taxes: $13,567.35 East Rockaway $650,000 Waverly Avenue. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen. Formal dining room. Spacious great room with fireplace. New central air conditioning. Taxes: $15,062.50

Oceanside $750,000 Murdock Avenue. Hi Ranch. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Skylight. On deep water canal with large yard. Taxes: $21,403.64 Valley Stream $508,000 Marlow Road. Cape. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. L-shaped dining room. First floor master bedroom. Taxes: $12,294.54 Rockville Centre $729,000 Tarence Street. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Taxes: $22,590.04 Woodmere $765,000 Ocean Avenue. Farmhouse. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room. Taxes: $14,606.78 Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Q. A few homes in my neighborhood are much taller. What are the rules for how tall a house can be — like how many floors, and what’s legal? I mostly see only two stories, but the new ones are at least three stories. Is this a new thing that you can build taller? Was it just traditional to only build two stories until now?

A. Recently, influences have changed the thinking on allowed height. Hurricane Sandy’s flooding caused New York to promote house lifting in flood zones. Influence also came from the Federal Emergency Management agency, which, in essence, is a publicly funded insurance company, covering people in areas where regular onte eeper home insurance companies avoid the risk of insuring. to lift or build higher is to avoid huge flood insurance cost increases by building above flood levels, with the lowest level only allowed to be for a garage and storage, not living space. By making the first livable floor higher, above the flood level, insurance rates are kept lower. People have shown me that their rates went from $500 to $5,000 a year, increasing annually since Sandy in 2012. Some homes are much higher than codes and incentives intended, due to misinterpretation of reasons to build higher and misrepresentation in the review process. For example, a home’s first floor is no longer a first floor if it’s higher than 6 feet above the ground. Over 6 feet high, the floor level automatically becomes a second floor, meaning the next floor above is a third floor, which requires zoning board approval, interior sprinklers, escape terraces and wind strengthening. I’ve seen home plans misrepresented as being two stories by not correctly showing the floor level heights or describing a second floor as a first floor, the next floor as a second floor that is really a third floor and even where a fourth floor is shown as a mezzanine or roof level balcony. There’s a small country town in Tuscany, in central Italy, San Gimignano, that is famous for its skyline of towers that people built on their homes during medieval times. As the story goes, one prominent homeowner built a tall tower to watch for potential attackers. His neighbor jealously built a tower a little higher, and, not to be outdone, several adjacent homeowners began building towers higher and higher than one another. History repeats itself. Thirty feet from the ground or the center of the road is your maximum roof height. The safety code intends to protect people from perishing in fires. The first code chapter addresses wind resistance, since the taller you build, the more turbulence from adjacent buildings and wind destruction, not just to your building but also to adjacent buildings. With the 75-mph gusts of wind we’ve been known to have, wind, like flooding, is a real concern. Manhattan towers aren’t wood and nails for a reason. Decisions to build higher have to take community safety and appearance into account, and until recently, they did.

Ask The Architect

© 2021 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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Crossword Puzzle

OpINIONS

e lost our sense of normalcy in recent years, didn’t we? Nearly every morning of his presidency, Donald J. Trump treated us to one outlandish tweet after another, one more extreme, more incendiary, than the next, until finally that routine became our new normal. We were conditioned, as if in a Pavlovian experiment, to jeer or cheer, depending on party affiliation, when his tweets appeared in big, bold letters on the TV news, usually first thing in SCOTT the morning. So we began each day BRINTON feeling angry and despondent, or elated and victorious, depending on whether we disagreed or agreed with the president’s rhetoric. I, like so many others, felt fear in my heart when the U.S. appeared on the brink of nuclear war with North Korea. I felt helpless rage when babies, many the children of narco-violence refugees, were ripped from their parents’ arms and separated and caged in sterile detention facilities. I felt numb last summer when the president sent federal forces to disperse peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters near the White House with tear gas and rubber bullets so he could stage a photo op, holding up a Bible, then simply walk-

ing away. And I felt mournful and depressed — and, again, helpless — as I watched him mock basic hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and convene mass rallies to boost his already hyper-inflated ego, while hundreds of thousands of Americans died and the economy tanked. Since he first announced his candidacy for president in June 2015, it has been all Trump all the time. The circus should have ended Nov. 3, the day Joe Biden was elected our 46th president with the largest popular vote in the nation’s history — more than 81 million ballots cast for him. It didn’t, however. Trump sought, by any means necessary, to overturn an election that, by all official accounts except his, was an efficient and lawful exercise in democracy. Many had predicted that violence would erupt. When you condition a dog to maul, it will when called on to do so. On Jan. 6, the mob of Trump supporters, conditioned by the president’s continual tweeting and provoked by his now infamous “fight like hell” speech, attacked, unleashing collective fury on a Congress that had gathered to count the Electoral College votes and once and for all certify the results of the election. And so, last week, when we should have been focused on Covid-19 vaccine distribu-

tion and economic stimulus, Trump was once again front and center in the national consciousness. None of us were happy about it. His detractors felt deep loathing. His supporters, I imagine, were riled up, angrier than ever to see him tried in the Senate for the second time. For those who oppose Trump, the impeachment trial was a necessary exercise in futility, knowing there likely wouldn’t be 17 Republican senators courageous enough to vote to convict him, but believing he should at least be shamed publicly for his role in the Capitol insurrection. For those who love Trump, meanwhile, the trial was yet another occasion to revel in his seeming invulnerability, no matter what he might have done. The question is, how do we recover from the past five years of uninterrupted political turmoil, and now very real death and destruction? How do we find peace again? I, for one, desperately want to feel normal again. I hate feeling angry and depressed. I need to start enjoying my life once more, without a sense of impending doom. I want to wake up feeling free — free of Trump and the angry mob of Jan. 6. We must end the coronavirus pandemic for any of us to feel entirely free again, but resolving our political differences would go a long way toward restoring our sense of normalcy.

ow do we recover from the past five years of uninterrupted political turmoil?

Personally, I want what we had in America long ago, before House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Fox News declared war on our political establishment in the 1990s, leading us down a slippery slope that, over time, sent us hurtling into the Trump presidency, which ended, predictably, with Capitol rioting. I want what I had as a teenager and young 20-something back in the 1980s and early ’90s — the ability to debate critical issues — abortion, environmental regulation, monetary policy — with friends and acquaintances, of all political stripes, and then hang out over pizza and a game of basketball. Politics played an important role in people’s lives back then, but it wasn’t the center of our universe. Trump, as the nation’s first shock-jock president, forced his firebrand politics into the very core of our being. His presidency became our national psychosis. Setting politics aside, what I love about Biden thus far is this: He doesn’t need to be the center of our collective attention at all times. Day by day, he is quietly leading, offering straight talk, and perhaps — perhaps — that is how we recover from the recent years of fear and rage: four years of honesty and compassion. Let the healing begin. Scott Brinton is the Herald Community Newspapers’ executive editor and an adjunct professor at the Hofstra University Herbert School of Communication. Comments about this column? SBrinton@ liherald.com.

Grab your ladle: The soup’s on the table

This column is back by popular demand. Well, in truth, only one reader, shivering through the freezing weather, remembered that I once wrote about winter soups, and asked me to do another one. My pleasure. I cook every night, and over the years, I’ve gathered a collection of recipes, tweaked to a healthier way of eating. Mind you, we aren’t fanatics, but I’m happy to avoid any soup made with cream or excessive amounts of butter. Also, there’s no meat in these prepRANDI arations. KREISS These days, weeks and months through the pandemic, I have been making big, and I mean big, pots of soup, and then, before my husband can see how much is there, I siphon off a quart or more and hide it in the freezer. This neutralizes his portion-control issues and addresses my what-if fears, like if we both get sick at the same time, how will we eat?

But let’s not go down that dark path. Let me share a few faves:

Manhattan clam chowder ■ 2 tablespoons olive oil ■ 1 large onion, chopped ■ 1 clove garlic, minced ■ 1 red or green pepper, diced ■ 2 celery stalks with leaves, diced ■ 2 small cans chopped clams, including juice ■ 2 bottles clam juice ■ 1 16-ounce can crushed tomatoes ■ 1 bay leaf ■ ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves ■ ¼ teaspoon dried marjoram leaves ■ 1/8 teaspoon black pepper In large pot, heat garlic, add onion, celery, peppers and sauté. Drain clams and set aside. Add all other ingredients and simmer 30 minutes. Add clams and adjust seasoning. Serve with wedges of toasted homemade sourdough bread, which is another whole story.

Chicken tortilla soup

■ Buy a roasted or rotisserie chicken, or use raw chicken thighs or breasts, cut into pieces (about 3 cups)

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, minced 8 cups chicken broth 1 large can chopped tomatoes 1 teaspoon cumin 1 can fat-free refried beans 1 can mild green chilies 1 tablespoon lime juice ¾ cup diced avocado ½ cup chopped cilantro ½ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon salt Parmesan cheese

Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil. Add all the other ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips broken into the soup. Add more spices and cheese to taste.

Mushroom barley soup ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

14 cups chicken stock or broth 1¼ cups pearl barley 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 cups chopped onions 1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced

■ 1/3 cup chopped dried shiitake mushrooms ■ 1 carrot, peeled and thinly sliced ■ 1 parsnip, peeled and thinly sliced ■ 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced ■ Salt and pepper to taste Sauté garlic and onion in olive oil. Add fresh mushrooms and sauté 5 minutes. Add sautéed mix with all other ingredients to large pot of chicken stock. Rinse barley before adding. Simmer for 1 hour. Adjust spices.

Spinach egg drop soup (can be doubled) ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

4 cups chicken broth or stock 1 bag fresh spinach 4 cloves garlic, minced Juice of 1 fresh lemon 1 egg, beaten Salt and pepper Fresh parsley or cilantro to taste

Sauté minced garlic. Add all ingredients except egg to broth and simmer 5 or 6 minutes. Just before serving, pour egg into simmering soup, forming the egg drop threads. Serve immediately. Copyright 2021 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

Finding peace again, post-Trump

Herald ediTorial

Bellmore

February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD

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Vaccine distribution needs improvement

he rollout of New York state’s Covid-19 vaccine distribution has been, at times, disorganized, even chaotic, but in fairness, the state has received a mere 300,000 doses per week, while the need is significantly greater than that — there are nearly 19.5 million people living in the state, and more than 7 million of them are currently eligible to receive the vaccine. Three hundred thousand represents 1.5 percent of the state’s population. The actual percentage of people receiving the vaccine, however, is less than 1 percent per week, as each person must receive two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine to achieve 95 percent immunity to the coronavirus. So, at the current rate of vaccination, we would need more than 100 weeks — about two years — to vaccinate everyone in the state, and at least 60 weeks, or a little more than a year, to achieve “herd immunity.” As is the case with all other states, New York’s weekly allocation is determined by the federal government. Last week, President Biden announced that his administration had finalized deals to buy 200 million more vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna by this summer, so it appears increasingly likely that he will be able to make good on a promise to ensure that all Americans who choose to be vaccinated can be. These are frustrating months. Life-saving vaccines started streaming into the public in early December, but slowly. That is behind us, though. Now we must focus on the future. We urge people to be patient as more vaccine is manufactured and sent out to the states. Your turn will come — soon. In the meantime, keep following the critical

Who’s next for an inoculation? New York state began the second part of Phase 2b of its Covid-19 inoculation distribution plan on Monday. Those in the phase include women who are pregnant and people with: ■ Cancer, current or in remission, including 9/11-related cancers ■ Chronic kidney disease ■ Pulmonary disease ■ Intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome ■ Heart conditions, including high blood pressure ■ Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) ■ Severe obesity (body mass index of 40 safety protocols that we have heard repeated again and again over the past year — stay home as much as possible, keep at least six feet of distance between you and others, wear a mask (or two) when in public (KN95 masks are five-layered and tight-fitting), wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer when you cannot. And even after you receive the vaccine, be sure to continue these measures. We were surprised to see that food bank workers were not included in New York’s staged vaccine distribution plan. Those who work at food banks, many of them volunteers, are doing God’s work, feeding the hungry and the poor. If they don’t show up to work, people don’t eat, lowering their immune systems, making them

leTTers The truth on abortion To the Editor: For many years I have enjoyed reading Randi Kreiss’s column. Although we differ on many of her opinions, Kreiss is clearly well read, knows how to use the English language effectively and can be very funny to boot. In her recent column “2020: What did you do while you waited?” Kreiss observed all the ways we’ve had to “wait” during the coronavirus pandemic. What struck me most was her comment, “For women, the iconic wait of our lives is pregnancy, the time we go inward and focus attention on the seed of life growing inside.” I know she’s a supporter of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and the right to terminate a pregnancy, but I think her description of a “seed of life growing inside” inadvertently speaks the truth of the abortion issue: that the seed growing inside a pregnant woman is a life. I know this issue has been enthusiastically debated on

kg/m2 or higher), obesity (body mass index of between 30 kg/m2 and 40 kg/ m2) ■ Sickle cell disease or thalassemia ■ Type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus ■ Cerebrovascular disease ■ Neurologic conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia ■ Liver disease Previous phases included health care and emergency workers, educators, essential workers and those over age 65. For more information and instructions on how to schedule your vaccine, go to the New York State Department of Health website, covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov. more vulnerable to disease, including Covid-19. Clearly, food bank workers are among our most essential workers, and should have been included in any vaccine distribution plan. We are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and our state legislators to rethink the plan — and include them in the current round of inoculations, labeled Phase 1b. Finally, when your turn comes to be vaccinated, be sure to schedule your inoculation as soon as you can. People have reported reactions that include muscle soreness and mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, but these side effects pale in comparison with the virus itself, which, strangely, leaves some unharmed, while ravaging — and killing — others.

opinions

here are many benefits to getting older, although I often wish that I were a lot younger. When it comes to Long Island politics, I have pretty good recall going back to the mid-1950s. As a fledging reporter for a weekly newspaper, I met County Executive A. Holly Patterson, and in later years had some battles with his successors Ralph Caso and Fran Purcell. I served in the Assembly with the late Tom Gulotta, another former county executive, and of course know U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, JerrY who also occupied the executive’s kremer office. While all of those characters had different personalities, by and large they were good county executives who performed their jobs responsibly. They made sure the streets were plowed after snowstorms and the potholes on county highways were filled. They all had their challenges, and like all human beings, they made their share of mistakes. All of this leads me to some observations about current County Executive Laura Curran.

Nassau County, like all suburban counties, isn’t an easy place to govern. It has a major police force, a large workforce and facilities all over the place. There are county parks and numerous recreation facilities. We are blessed with beautiful beaches and waterfront facilities, which require maintenance and supervision. But if I had to pick the toughest part of Curran’s job, it is managing the county’s finances, and that includes tax collections. On the few occasions that I dealt with the county’s tax assessment system, I usually met with some department employee who worked with old yellow assessment cards that looked like they’d been used since the Civil War. The agency has never been easy to run, and its assessment of homes has been a source of anxiety for Curran, as it was for her predecessors. There is no way to make any aggrieved homeowner happy, and Curran has done the best she could to keep the system from imploding. Long before she came to the job, the county was in deep financial trouble. For years and years, it ran up major deficits, and for political reasons kept deferring any increase in real estate taxes. Executive after executive tried to paper over the

f she doesn’t know the answers, she promises to get them, and keeps her word.

LeTTers both sides, but I think Kreiss’s comment actually acknowledges the truth. Please, watch the Rev. Frank Pavone on www.youtube.com, illustrating an abortion procedure with a model and quoting an abortionist who speaks about what actually happens in a dismemberment abortion. You cannot watch a fetus being dismembered or sucked out through a vacuum without facing the truth. This isn’t just about religion. Pavone says, “If we’re going to talk about abortion in this country, let’s make sure we know what we’re talking about.” Once acknowledging what abortion is, America cannot continue this infanticide. It’s like the little boy exclaiming, “But mama, the emperor has no clothes on!” while the crowd blindly cheers. Please check the www.priestsforlife.org website for much more enlightening information. Science has proven the facts. If a plant is growing and no one pulls it out, it will continue growing because it is a living thing. Wake up, America, please. THERESA DAUBE Franklin Square

Kreiss column was ‘preposterous’ To the Editor: Randi Kreiss’s column “When it comes to Trump, newspapers go BIG” (Jan.

growing deficits, but eventually the chickens came home to roost. In 2000, the county was near bankruptcy. In order to save it from itself, the State Legislature created the Nassau Interim Finance Authority to monitor Nassau’s finances and serve as the equivalent of a control board. NIFA is similar to boards that have been created for New York City, Yonkers and Buffalo. It keeps a close eye on the county’s operations, and a mere threat from NIFA can give the county executive and the Legislature a major migraine. NIFA isn’t a paper tiger. It has the ability to force dramatic changes in the county budget and operations. The past two years have been especially tough for Nassau and Suffolk counties. Sales tax collections have been declining at the same time that mandated expenses have been ballooning. Expenses have increased dramatically during the pandemic, which no one could have anticipated. The county’s share of Medicaid expenses is dictated by the federal and state governments, and there’s no source of funds to counterbalance them. Just keeping the county afloat is enough to keep Curran busy.

14-20) was preposterous. Kreiss asserted that former President Trump incited his supporters to violence, yet she brought no examples and no proof. I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt, because maybe she didn’t see his speech. But even so, she wrote, “I sure hope we do more as a society than take away his freaking Twitter account.” So Kreiss wants us, as a society, to do more than censor someone’s opinion on a private app? That idea would be fascist. Kreiss also brought up the man at the Capitol who wore a ocratic politicians support such behavior. In addition, the man wearing the Nazi T-shirt wasn’t in a position of power. But Louis Farrakhan has met with Democratic elected leaders, some of whom have potential ties to the Nation of Islam leader. Kreiss’s description of the riots was full of misinformation and lacked context. There were tens of thousands of people there, perhaps as many as 100,000, but only hundreds were not peaceful. Furthermore, FBI investigations show that the violence was planned weeks in advance. The rioters’ behavior was unacceptable. However, was it acceptable that stores and businesses were looted and people were killed during the BLM protests, which were encouraged by then Sen. Kamala Harris? Kreiss called the election “fully legitimate.” Yet in 2005, a bipartisan commis-

The other criteria I use in judging any public official’s performance is their public personality. Curran is bright, outgoing and genuinely pleasant. She is out in the community frequently, and when she faces the press, she is confident and factual. If she doesn’t know the answers, she promises to get them, and keeps her word. I’ve seen her speak outside Long Island, and she gets high marks from total strangers who think she comes across as very professional. I’m aware of one other facet of Curran’s performance in office. She speaks her mind, and on occasion has tangled with Gov. Andrew Cuomo over county issues. It’s hard to govern a county of over one million people and not have differences with the people in Albany or Washington. I have no dealings with the Nassau County government, so I’m not seeking any special favors. After four years of President Donald Trump and a lot of Washington ineptitude, it’s nice to focus on local competence for a change, and Curran is a good example of that. Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Framework by George Schuchman

The sky clears after another storm — Valley Stream

sion, chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker, concluded, “Absentee ballots remain the largest source of potential voter fraud.” If that’s the case, then universal mail-ins are even less reliable, leaving me more skeptical about the outcome

of the 2020 presidential election. All misinfor mation needs to be brought to light, and reporting must have proper context. MORDECHAI NEWMAN Oceanside

BELLMORE HERALD — February 18, 2021

Laura Curran is handling Nassau County with aplomb

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February 18, 2021 — BELLMORE HERALD