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Bellmore

HERALD A celebratory car parade

ems donates medical supplies

Antibody testing in merrick

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Vol. 23 No. 17

APRIl 23 - 29, 2020

Robbie’s Run postponed amid pandemic cantly impact funding. However, because schools and other businesses are closed, the AED Robbie’s Run, the largest trainings that the foundation fundraiser for the Forever 9 sponsors have been canceled Robbie Levine Foundation, has until further notice. been postponed “We’ve already indefinitely becanceled four cause of the corotrainings alone,” navirus pandemic, Levine said. She according to coadded that if the founder Jill r u n we r e p o s t Levine, of Merponed until June rick. 2021, the foundaThe 5K run has tion would need to been held for the “look more carepast 14 years at the fully at who we Levy-Lakeside could give AEDs School in Merrick to.” around the first Levine considweekend of June. ered the prospect It is a highly anticof a virtual run, ipated event each but said she would year in the Bell- JIll leVINe prefer to hold it in m o r e - M e r r i c k Co-founder, person this fall. c o m m u n i t y, a t - Forever 9 Foundation “Our run is much tracting thoumore than a run,” sands of particishe said. “The pants and raising nearly $50,000 community looks forward to it, annually for the nonprofit. but at the same time I don’t The money goes to purchase want to ask for an $18 donation and donate automated external when people are losing their defibrillators, or AEDs, to jobs. schools around the world. “If it looks feasible to plan Levine said that postponing the for the fall,” she said, “we’ll do run until the fall — or even that. I don’t want to wait until next year — would not signifi- next year.”

By AlyssA seIdmAN aseidman@liherald.com

Courtesy John Moore’s Deli

JustIN HeAtH, owNeR of John Moore’s Deli in Bellmore, and his wife, Megan, dropped off protein-packed snacks to the overnight workers at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip.

Deli makes special deliveries for overnight hospital workers By AlyssA seIdmAN aseidman@liherald.com

John Moore’s Deli has teamed up with Kilwins Confections in Suffolk County to deliver food to doctors and nurses working the overnight shifts at hospitals across Long Island during the coronavirus pandemic. Owner Justin Heath said he could have closed his Bellmore deli until the pandemic waned — business is down more than 65 percent, he said.

But, he noted, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” “I have a full staff that relies on an income,” Heath said, “so rather than close the doors, I wanted to be able to provide some business.” Kilwins’ owner, John Murray III, began making deliveries to a couple of hospitals in Suffolk after he learned his sister-in-law was eating ice cream sandwiches for breakfast during her overnight shifts. “I knew I had to do something,” he said.

Murray connected with Heath through a mutual Facebook friend, and they teamed up to expand the effort into Nassau. Together, the businesses have served nearly 20 area hospitals (see box, Page 3). Hospital personnel receive protein bars and shakes, fresh produce, sandwiches and other snack items to stay fueled through the long nights. Volunteers use their own vehicles and gas money to make the nightly deliveries, Continued on page 3

he community looks forward to it, but at the same time I don’t want to ask for an $18 donation when people are losing their jobs.

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April 23, 2020 â€” HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Photos courtesy John Moore’s Deli

Overnight nurses at Stony Brook University Hospital with snacks that will help them stay fueled through their shifts.

mOunt sinai sOuth Nassau nurses received fresh fruit, granola bars and yogurt from John Moore's Deli.

GoFundMe raises $19K to feed overnight staffs COntinued frOm frOnt page which support staffers working from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone that has volunteered their time,” Heath said. “We would not be able to accomplish this without them.” Heath’s wife, Megan, is a nuclear medicine technologist at a hospital in Queens — she is also pregnant. When Heath picked her up from work after a 16-hour shift,

Megan insisted on accompanying him to help with the overnight deliveries. Heath remarked that many of the drop-offs have been emotional. “People start crying because of the generosity,” he said. “Whatever type of relief that we can offer to the overnight crew, we’ll do it.” “My son saw a need,” said John Murray Jr., John III’s father and owner of Mulcahy’s Concert Hall in Wantagh. “Like many, he’s home watching his kids during the

day so his wife can work. But he’s got the Murray blood, and in times of crisis, Murrays activate and do what we can for our community.” Mulcahy’s is one of many local businesses helping to fund the overnight deliveries. Local business owners are asked to show support by donating so more deliveries can be made in the future. Individuals can also donate at “Feed the Nurses (PM shift)” on GoFundMe.com. At press time, the effort had raised more than $19,000.

special delivery John Moore’s Deli and Kilwins of Suffolk have delivered food and snacks to overnight workers at these hospitals: ■ Mount Sinai South Nassau ■ Long Island Jewish Medical Center of New Hyde Park and Valley Stream ■ Mercy Medical Center ■ St. Francis Hospital ■ North Shore University Hospital ■ Syosset Hospital ■ Plainview Hospital ■ Nassau University Medical Center ■ NYU Winthrop Hospital

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip Southside Hospital in Bay Shore Stony Brook University Hospital Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue Peconic Bay Medical Center Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson Huntington Hospital New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital

marty heath, Justin's brother, delivered sandwich trays to a labor and delivery nurse at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

The Doctor’s Office in Merrick offers Covid-19 antibody testing By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

The Doctor’s Office is now offering Covid-19 antibody testing at its facility on Merrick Avenue, according to an email sent to patients last Friday. In his daily briefing on April 16, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said widespread testing, including antibody blood sampling, is needed to better track the coronavirus infection rate and assure people that they are safe when returning to work. Antibody testing, conducted via blood test, will be administered to patients and non-patients on a first come, first served basis, the email read. No appointment is necessary, but, “demand will be large and there will likely be some wait.” “Anyone can get tested, even if you are not an existing patient or do not have insurance that we take,” said Dr. Mark Haltrecht. “If we do not accept your insurance it will cost about $150 for the test.”

Courtesy Google Maps

The docTor’s office in Merrick is offering Covid-19 antibody tests to patients and non-patients. Haltrecht added that the practice will begin offering fingerstick antibody testing once supplies arrive. The Doctor’s Office is at 389 Merrick Ave. in Merrick. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call (516) 867-5132, or visit thedoctorsofficeny.com.

We thank you Herald Community Newspapers salutes our ‘hometown heroes’ While many of us have stayed at home to protect our families and loved ones, our health care workers, first responders and others on the front lines wake up each day and leave their families and loved ones behind to respond to those in need. In their selfless devotion to others, these courageous individuals expose themselves to risk for the people in our communities. These are people who stand out in times of crises. They might first responders going above and beyond or even a good neighbor helping another neighbor in need. The Herald joins our communities and readers in expressing our gratitude to these special people making a difference during this trying time. We are all thankful to our police officers, firefighters, mail carriers, grocery employees, restaurant

workers, delivery drivers and essential service providers who put themselves on the front lines of the crisis daily. We will share these outstanding stories of our local “hometown heroes” in a special pull-out section,” Salute to Covid-19 Hometown Heroes,” in the April 30 editions of the Herald. The spirit and heart of Long Island are exemplified every day by the many outstanding individuals who often go unrecognized. The Herald honors them in this inspirational section. Get to know these amazing people who share their insights in their own words. Net proceeds from this special section will be used to partner with local businesses to provide meals and gifts to our local health care workers, first responders and patients.

HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/bellmore ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: belleditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 203 E-mail: belleditor@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: sales@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 The Bellmore Herald life USPS 017547, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Bellmore Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Subscription rates: $36 for 1 year within Nassau County. Out of Nassau County: $58 for 1 year. Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Courtesy MSSN

mounT sinAi souTh Nassau hospital officials said there has been a flattening of the curve in coronavirus cases, however, the community must still be vigilant in practicing social distancing.

MSSN sees Covid-19 curve flattening By BriAnA Bonfiglio bbonfiglio@liherald.com

The curve of coronavirus cases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside is flattening, according to Joe Calderone, the hospital’s vice president of corporate communications. As of Friday, the hospital had 290 patients being treated for Covid-19, down from 383 on April 13, which hospital officials said they believe was the peak. “The good news is the number has been steadily flattening,” Calderone said. “The social distancing that people are doing, as difficult as it is, is definitely producing results. We are really urging people to not let up.” Of those patients, 64 were on ventilators. MSSN has more than 100 ventilators available. In addition, Calderone assured that the facility has enough personal protective equipment, or PPE, for all hospital staff. “We purchased some [ventilators] ourselves and were able to get some through Mount Sinai Health System,” Calderone explained. “Our partnership with them has been incredibly helpful through this pandemic, supporting both in a clinical standpoint in terms of new drugs being tested and plasma therapy. They also have a very good, robust supply chain operation.” As of Friday, the hospital had 238 Covid-19 deaths, while 357 patients who were previously diagnosed with the virus were treated and discharged. When cases began to climb last month, Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Aaron Glatt spoke of the importance of social distancing during a Facebook Live session at the hospital. “I want to stress the single most important thing that everybody can do is really understand what social distancing means,” he said at the time. “That’s the

buzzword of 2020. That will be the word of the year.” One month later, Calderone urged residents to continue to heed that advice, even as the numbers continue to improve. While the toll the virus has taken is unprecedented and beyond what most hospital workers have ever seen, Calderone noted that there is still much they are grateful for. The hospital has received food donations from more than 50 local businesses. “Many have come forward and funded food for the staff,” he said, “which is really helpful because they’re working 16-hour days and barely have time to take a break. This way, [the food] is readily available and they don’t have to think about it. “But really, it’s not about the food,” he added. “It’s the message that it sends to the staff that people on the outside recognize what’s happening inside this hospital and the incredible challenge the front-line workers have faced during this pandemic, putting themselves and families at risk to care for often critically ill Covid patients. It sends a great morale boost.” Nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital are also spreading positivity with their “message board of hope,” which they debuted in the hospital lobby last week. Nurses Teresa Ebehart, Angelica Hoyos and Christine Doud handcrafted the board, which displays the number of Covid-19-positive patients that have been discharged from the hospital, and how many coronavirus patients have been taken off ventilators at the facility. As each patient is discharged from MSSN, “Here Comes the Sun” is played as the board is updated. Each time a patient is taken off of a ventilator, the staff plays “Breath.” Mike Smollins contributed to this story.

County exec: School tax collection delayed so are looking for financial relief. Delaying school taxes, however, could have serious financial consequences Nassau County Executive Laura for the county, Curran said. She explained the county must Curran announced Monday that, by order of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the guarantee all school tax collections, school tax collection deadline has been meaning if the school districts come up short in their collecdelayed by three weeks. tions, then the county “At my request,” Curmust provide the funding ran, a Democrat from Baldto the districts — by law. win, tweeted Monday eveShe said the county is ning, “ [Governor Cuomo] hurting financially, as are is issuing an executive all municipalities, amid order that will push back the coronavirus pandemic. the May 11th property tax Sales and property tax colp ay m e n t d e a d l i n e fo r lections comprise 67 perschool districts in Nassau cent of the county’s more County. More details to than $3 billion budget. come soon.” Sales taxes have plummetThe new deadline is during the outbreak, June 1. Laura curraN ed starving the county of one Earlier in the day, the of its two primary revenue Republican-controlled Leg- County executive sources, Curran said. islature had voted to push She worries about counback the deadline to June ty employees, she said, and 10, but Curran contended the Legislature did not have the wants to ensure the county maintains authority to change the date, only the its force of first responders, including police officers and medics. governor. The federal and state governments, Curran spoke at length on Saturday about the proposal before the County she said, must step in to ensure the county has enough cash on hand to Legislature to delay collection of school taxes that were to come due in meet its financial obligations, including to its employees, so it can continue May. to provide essential services. Many residents have been laid off or have seen their hours reduced, and

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

By scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com

t my request, [Governor Cuomo] is issuing an executive order.

Christina Daly/Herald

Nassau ExEcutivE Laura Curran said she worries that if school tax collections were delayed, the county might wind up paying the bill.

Covid-19 deaths decline over the weekend In Nassau County, new hospitalizations declined for the third straight day, as did ICU cases and intubations, County For the first time since the Covid-19 Executive Laura Curran said Saturday pandemic struck more than a month ago, afternoon. New York state saw sharp declines in the On Sunday, Cuomo appeared alongnumber of overnight deaths because of side Northwell Health President and the coronavirus, and Gov. CEO Michael Dowling to Andrew Cuomo was expressannounce plans to undertake ing cautious optimism over widespread, random antithe weekend that the state body testing to determine was past the peak of the dismore precisely New York’s ease. actual infection rate. He noted, however, that Overnight from Saturday relaxing social distancing into Sunday, 507 people died could lead to a second wave of the coronavirus in New of infection. York, Cuomo said at NorthThe number of deaths well’s Feinstein Institutes for because of the coronavirus Medical Research in dropped a little more than 14 Manhasset. That represented percent across New York an 8 percent drop in the overstate overnight from Friday night death rate. into Saturday, from 630 to New hospitalizations also 540, Cuomo said Saturday declined, from 2,000 the day afternoon. before to 1,300, a 35 percent It was the smallest numdrop. ber of overnight deaths the Gov. aNdrEW And new intubations, state had seen in a day since cuoMo whereby people are placed on early April, and represented ventilators to enable them to a 32 percent decrease in the breath, were down also. overnight mortality rate from April 9, If those statistics hold, Cuomo said, when the number of deaths from one day “we are past the high point,” and all indito the next peaked at 799. cations are the infection rate is “on the Cuomo noted, however, that the state descent.” still saw 2,000 new hospitalizations overStill, he said, “Thirteen hundred is a night, which, he said, was troubling. lot of people coming into the hospital

By scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com

e just pray to God [the infection rate] remains down on the other side … We still have a long way to go.

Governor: Marinas can open New York, Connecticut and New Jersey are allowing marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers to open for personal use, provided they adhere to social distancing protocols and sanitize their facilities, Governor Cuomo announced Saturday afternoon. Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurants at these sites will be limited to take-out or delivery.

system.” State officials are taking a breather with the infection rate appearing to stabilize. Cuomo described the crisis “as a mountain that just kept building and building and building,” and he said, he had “no idea where the top of the mountain” was. “We just pray to God,” he said, that the infection rate “remains down on the other side” of the mountain. He also noted, “We still have a long way to go.” The governor urged people to continue social distancing and practice sound hygiene. He worries that people will see the death and new hospitalization rates

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus,” Cuomo said. “Aligning our polices in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or ‘state shopping’ when it comes to marinas and boatyards.” –Scott Brinton declining, and then attempt to return to life as normal too soon. That, he said, would jeopardize the progress the state has made over the past 40 days in containing the virus. In preparing for a reopening of New York’s economy, he said, the state needs greater testing, and it needs more federal funding. Cuomo estimated the state faces a $10 billion to $15 billion deficit. That money will have to be made up somehow. Without federal funding, cuts are likely, he said, noting school districts across the state could see their state aid slashed by 50 percent in 2020-21 without federal assistance.

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

On the front lines with a Northwell ICU nurse By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

Each time a patient comes off a ventilator in the intensive care unit at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset these days, the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” plays over the loudspeaker, alerting all staff and patients that a life has been saved. Elyse Isopo, an ICU nurse practitioner at North Shore, with 20 years experience, spoke of that moment during a 19-minute Facebook Live interview with Northwell Health video producer Rob Hoell on Thursday. It is an important moment for all in the ICU, as staff members work around the clock battling the Covid-19 virus, which, Isopo said, is yet to let up in the ICU. People throughout the ICU erupt in cheers and clapping when that Beatles song sounds, Isopo said, noting, “We need those wins, because it keeps us going.” The number of new hospitalizations across New York state, including in Nassau, appears to be declining, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and County Executive Laura Curran. The number of ICU patients where Isopo is at, however, continues unabated, she said, “because people who are hospitalized are getting sicker.” Working in the ICU, she said, “is scary, and real, and rewarding at the same time,” adding, “Everybody has been amazing. It feels like a family.”

Courtesy Northwell Health

northwell health icU nurse practitioner Elyse Isopo spoke with video producer Rob Hoell about what it’s like to battle Covid-19 on the front lines. One of the hardest parts that patients must endure is the sense of isolation from their families, because visitors are not allowed into the hospital, Isopo said. Patients receive iPads so they can connect with loved ones, but it is not the same as meeting face to face. If a patient appears near death, only then is family allowed in, she said. Isopo spoke of one recent case, a patient originally from Korea. The patient asked that Korean music be played in his

final moments, and so it was. “It was beautiful,” she said, “and we supported his dying process.” Such images, however, can also be haunting. “I don’t sleep very well at night,” Isopo said. She is married with children. Worried about potentially infecting her family, she is careful each night to remove her clothes and shoes and take a shower before entering her home. “After a long day,” she said, “it’s draining.”

Working in the ICU is tough, she said. “It’s very challenging. It’s very difficult. It’s very stressful,” she said. “Everybody is as critical as the next person and the next person. “It looks like a MASH unit,” she continued. “It’s bed after bed after bed … You walk in there, and you’re in the trenches.” Isopo said the community has come out in unexpected and welcome ways, showering the nurses and doctors with praise and parades and food. “Seeing everyone in the community looking at us like heroes is very overwhelming and very much appreciated,” she said. She emphasized, though, that “I never thought of myself as a hero.” The first responders in the field, the police and firefighters, are the heroes, she said. Isopo said she believes Northwell has provided adequate personal protective equipment to hospital workers throughout the crisis. At first, workers were limited to one N95 mask per week, but now receive a new one daily, she said. Many place surgical masks over their N95 masks as an extra layer of protection to keep fluids off them. In addition to masks, all workers receive paper scrubs, goggles, face shields and gloves. She ended by saying people should stay home to reduce the infection and hospitalization rates. “The more people stay home, that helps us,” she said. For the full interview, see liherald.com.

Catholic Health Services taking part in clinical trials By Jeff BeSSen jbessen@liherald.com

Catholic Health Services is taking part in two clinical trials designed to develop treatments for Covid-19. A Mayo Clinic trial is using what is called convalescent plasma donated by recovered Covid-19 patents to treat individuals who continue to fight the coronavirus. Convalescent plasma comprises parts of the blood of people who have had the virus and recovered. The second study involves using the medication remdesivir, which was originally developed to treat the Ebola virus and has been successfully used for other coronaviruses, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The convalescent plasma study is being offered at CHS’s six hospitals. The remdesivir trial is taking place at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® in Roslyn and at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, CHS officials said. One 200 milliliters/6.8 ounces dose of the plasma has benefitted a portion of patients, according to the initial data. People who recover from Covid-19 do so, in part, because their blood contains antibodies that are able to fight the virus. Previous research of other viruses found that treating patients with plasma obtained from those who have recovered from the same virus leads to rapid improvement, CHS officials said. Using remdesivir to treat COVID-19 follows limited testing in the United States, Canada, China and other countries that led to an improvement in the condition of some patients. The treatment regimen using remdesivir takes place over 10 days and includes a 200-milligram dose on the first day and a 100-milligram dose on days two to 10.

Herald file photo

catholic health ServiceS of Long Island, which includes Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, above, is involved in two clinical trial seeking to develop a treatment for Covid-19. “Catholic Health Services is excited to be on the front lines and participate in these clinical trials for Covid-19,” CHS Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jason Golbin, stated in a news release. “Our clinical teams have spent several weeks caring for Covid-19 patients. It means a great deal to everyone to take part in these two cutting-edge research efforts.” Potential plasma donors must have a prior, verified diagnosis of Covid-19, but are now symptom-free and

fully recovered. Donors must also be at least 18 and weigh at least 110 pounds. The plasma can be administered only to a consenting Covid-19 patient or a patient whose family member offers consent. The treatment will be given to patients judged by a doctor to be at high risk of disease progression to severe or life-threatening. To donate plasma and for more information on the two clinical trials, call Catholic Health Services at (855) 247-4500.

Cuomo extends N.Y. PAUSE to May 15 By scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

ew York PAUSE has worked, [but] we’re not there yet.

couple can now marry by video in new York state On Saturday, Governor Cuomo issued a directive allowing marriages to be performed via videoconference to help reduce the infection rate amid the coronavirus crisis. Among other conditions, the order requires the following be met:

are present in the New York state jurisdiction where the marriage is to take place.

■ The couple to be wed must present valid photo ID during the videoconference.

Local town and city clerks may provide further guidance. If a couple’s marriage license has or will expire during the Covid19 pandemic, the state is waiving the 60-day waiting period to obtain a new license. It is also waiving all fees to obtain a second marriage license.

■ The town or city clerk, the witness(es), the person to solemnize the marriage, and the couple must interact with one another. No pre-recorded ceremonies are allowed. ■ The couple must affirm that they

■ The couple must send a legible copy of the signed marriage document by fax or email to the town or city clerk, the witnesses, and the person to solemnize the marriage on the same date it was signed.

–Scott Brinton

State releases data on nursing home deaths By James Bernstein jbernstein@liherald.com

The New York State Department of Health released a list of 22 nursing homes on Long Island, including homes in Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook, where residents have died from the coronavirus epidemic. The state said its list included only deaths that took place inside a facility or location where five people or more have died. State health officials said 22 residents at the Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center had died of the virus; eight at the Glen Cove Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and six at the Lynbrook Restorative and Therapy Nursing facility. Across the state, a total of 1,135 nursing home or assisted living center deaths at 72 facilities, officials said. The Health Department lists say 128 deaths took place at a total of 11 nursing homes in all of Nassau County. The Health Department released the list after numerous complaints from the families of residents at the facilities, legislators and members of the media. Gov. Andrew Cuomo was asked repeatedly at his daily briefings about the coronavirus illness at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state. The governor had said the figures were being compiled. Cuomo ordered nursing homes to i m m e d i at e ly i n fo r m re l at ive s o f patients who test positive.

Herald file photo

the state health Department reported 22 cases of Covid-19 deaths at the Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Administrators at the nursing homes in Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook have not released information about Covid-19 cases. But most all facilities have listed on their websites that they are sanitizing all areas within the

homes, maintaining social distancing among staff members, and noting that they are closed to outsiders, to protect the health of patients. Relatives have not been allowed to visit patients at the facilities, and many

told media outlets they had been unable to reach patients by phone. Administrators at the Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook facilities did not return calls seeking comment.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

lion of them are workers. New York on PAUSE — Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone — Gov. Andrew Cuomo last Thursday has kept the infection and hospitalizaextended New York on PAUSE, a 10-point tion rates to manageable levels, the govplan that shuts down “non-essential” ernor indicated. “We slowed the infecbusinesses and schools and requires tion rate by our actions, and that’s why social distancing, through May 15. The we’re in a better position today,” he said. announcement came during Wi d e s p r e a d t e s t i n g , his daily briefing, when he including antibody blood also continued to lay out his sampling, is needed to better vision to reopen the economy track the infection rate and — and the challenges doing assure people that they are so will present. safe when returning to their Previously, New York on workplaces. Cuomo said the PAUSE was to end April 30. state would conduct 3,000 “New York PAUSE has random antibody tests in the worked,” Cuomo said, but he coming weeks. noted, “we’re not there yet,” Last Wednesday, Cuomo referring to the reduction in said he would like to see the Gov. andrew the Covid-19 infection rate economy reopen in phases, needed to allow all people to cuomo in close coordination with retur n to work and ease six other states — Delaware, social distancing requireConnecticut, Massachusetts, ments. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode The governor said the state does not Island. yet fully know what the infection rate is. He asked on Thursday that employers To date, more than 500,000 people have begin to consider whether their workers been tested in New York, more than Cali- can continue to telecommute when their fornia, Florida and Michigan combined, workplaces reopen, as well as think Cuomo said. That figure, however, repre- about the configuration of their worksents a fraction of the state’s population spaces. How far apart might desks be — 19 million people live here, and 9 mil- spread apart, for example?

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Senator freed from prison amid pandemic By Jill nossa jnossa@liherald.com

Former State Sen. Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 and will serve the remainder of his prison term at home, according to court papers filed last Wednesday. Skelos, 72, was reportedly in quarantine at the federal prison in Otisville, according to documents filed in federal court in Manhattan by Southern District prosecutors, and has been symptom-free since April 8. Prosecutors said that medical authorities at the prison have cleared his release. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons said Skelos is expected to be approved for furlough and home confinement once the U.S. Probation Department has approved his proposed residence. A release date had not been set as of press time Monday. L a t e l a s t m o n t h , S ke l o s

requested early release, citing fear of contracting the virus after another inmate tested positive. The motion, filed under seal, was opposed by federal prosecutors in papers filed publicly, saying that an application for release must first be filed with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which can better assess his health situation. His medical condition was not made public at that point. Skelos has more than two years left on his 51-month sentence for extortion, wire fraud and bribery. Skelos was convicted in July 2018 of using his political power to secure roughly $300,000 in jobs and fees for his son Adam, also of Rockville Centre. They were each convicted on eight counts of conspiracy, extortion, and bribery. Adam Skelos was sentenced to four years in prison.

Herald file photo

former state sen. Majority Leader Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 and is expected to be released early to home confinement.

Trump lawyer, Lawrence native, to be released from prison By Jeff Bessen jbessen@liherald.com

Michael Cohen, a Lawrence native and former personal attorney for President Donald Trump, who was convicted of several felonies and sentenced to three years in prison in 2018, will be released because of the coronavirus pandemic after a 14-day quarantine period, prison officials said. He will serve the remainder of his sentence confined to home. He was serving his sentence and expected to be released in November 2021 from federal prison in upstate Otisville, where 14 inmates and seven staff members at the facility tested positive for Covid-19, as of press time. A federal judge had previously rejected Cohen’s request for a sentence reduction because of coronavirus on March 24. Cohen was found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, tax evasion and lying to Congress, among other charges in 2018. He was also ordered to pay $1.39 million in restitution, forfeit $500,000 and pay a $50,000 fine. The guilty pleas to the federal felony charges resulted in his disbarment as a lawyer in New York state. Serving as Trump’s personal attorney, Cohen, 53, arranged sixfigure payments to a por n star known as Stormy Daniels, whose

Jeff Bessen/Herald

lawrence native michael Cohen who was serving three years in prison on multiple federal charges will be released because of the coronavirus outbreak. Above, testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last year. real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to buy their silence about their one-time affairs with the president. Cohen testified multiple times in front of Congressional commit-

tees on Capitol Hill last year, including the public hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, before which he famously called his former boss a racist and a cheat, and admitted,” I am a fool.”

News brief Long Island Trauma Recovery Network to provide free therapy The Long Island Trauma Recovery Network will provide free therapy to health care workers, first responders, essential employees, their families, and those whose loved ones are facing or have died from the coronavirus. All services will be provided remotely by trained and licensed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapists. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a form of psychotherapy in which a trauma patient is asked to recall a distressing image. It has been proven to help address the trauma symptoms that medical professionals and first responders face. The Long Island EDMR Trauma Network will offer the Integrative Group Treatment Protocol, which provides individual EDMR therapy in a group setting. The program is administered to groups of people who have experienced the same type of trauma or who share a major life challenge. There will be several groups weekly, and some individual appointments are available. For more information, email LongIslandTrauma@gmail.com and contact Cathy Menzies, LCSWR Trauma Recovery Coordinator at (631) 466 - 7053 to register. –Melissa Koenig

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Photos Courtesy North Bellmore School District

Ryan Bachman, a John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School fourth grader, participated in the Wild Wednesday spirit day by taking a picture with his toy cat and his real cat.

School spirit is strong in North Bellmore Although instruction and learning are taking place from home, teachers and students remain full of spirit in the North Bellmore School District, as weekly spirit activities on the web have kept everyone digitally connected. For the first spirit activity in March, children were asked to hang a picture of their school mascot in their front window, which they could either print out or draw. Students could then go around the neighborhood to get some exercise, while practicing social distancing, and see how many pictures they could find. The last week of March featured the first Virtual Spirit Day. Students and staff were encouraged to submit pictures of themselves in their school gear, which were then shared on each school’s Twitter account. April 8 was Wild Wednesday, when everyone sent in a selfie of themselves with their favorite stuffed animal. Principals also generated excitement for literacy by recording Flipgrid videos, which students and families can watch on their devices at home. — Compiled by Andrew Garcia

newBRidge Road elementaRy School first grader Cameron Fiskaa, above, shared his favorite Pokémon for Wild Wednesday, one of the North Bellmore School District’s Virtual Spirit Days. twins olivia and Emma Sloven, left, kindergartners at Newbridge Road Elementary School, showed their stylish school spirit.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Herald ScHoolS

Merrick’s Rubin honored by French magazine By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Ranked as high as No. 125 in the world of professional men’s tennis, Merrick native Noah Rubin finds himself in even more elite company when it comes to making an impression off the court. Earlier this month, French sports magazine L’Equipe named Rubin, who attended Kennedy High School, among the top 20 most influential people in the world of tennis. Future Hall of Famers Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams top the prestigious list. “I want to thank L’Equipe for the honor of even being mentioned on the same page as the 19 other people who ‘matter most in tennis,’” the 24-year-old Rubin posted on Twitter. “It really means a lot. It’s like a trophy for me.” In translation, L’Equipe lauded Rubin as someone players share their intimacy with in “Behind the Racquet,” his innovative social media platform. “He’s the one that talks about the ‘broken system’ of professional tennis and warns about depression and alcoholism issues. He’s the ‘unionist’ of the Tour,” the magazine wrote. “It’s been an incredible jour ney with ‘Behind the Racquet,’ and I’m exploring many different directions [in which] it can expand,” said Rubin, a Wimbledon junior singles champion (2014) who played one season at Wake Forest University and earned Atlantic Coast

Conference Player of the Year honors. Rubin, who turned pro at age 19, conducts all the interviews for “Behind the Racquet,” which launched in January 2019. Featured subjects have included Madison Keys, who disclosed her teenage battle with an eating disorder, and Ernesto Escobedo, who opened up about his stutter. “Players are connecting with everyone on a deeper level,” Rubin said. Off the court projects are helping Rubin keep busy since tennis, along with all sports, shutdown indefinitely as the world fights the Covid-19 pandemic. Rubin, who has four Association of Tennis Professionals Tour Challenger titles under his belt, had just completed a tournament at Indian Wells in California when he received an email on March 12 from the ATP announcing the suspension of play. “It was a complete shock and many of us thought it was fake,” he said. Rubin hasn’t hit a ball since and has spent the past six weeks putting his Rockville Centre home gym, which includes a bike, treadmill, weights and more, to good use. Pleased with his performances in three straight tournaments, Rubin is looking forward to getting back on the court but knows it could be a while. The French Open was postponed from May until September, Wimbledon was canceled, and the status of the U.S. Open, scheduled for Aug. 24 through Sept. 6, is up in the air as well, with facilities being used for coronavirus relief efforts. “The world’s situation is much larger than tennis,” he said.

Christina Daly/Herald Life

EarLIEr ThIS MONTh, French sports magazine L’Equipe named Noah Rubin, who attended Kennedy High School, among the top 20 most influential people in the world of tennis.

? N E ʼ P O S T HA

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

GET ANSWERS YOU CAN TRUST WITHOUT LEAVING HOME. With so many questions about COVID-19, it’s hard to know where to turn for answers you can trust. If you or a loved one is feeling sick, use Mount Sinai NOW to access all of our virtual care options. TM

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All of us, throughout New York City, Long Island and the entire tri-state area, are here for you.

Local EMS donates equipment to N.J. emergency hospital

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

The members of Bellmore-Merrick Emergency Medical Services loaned much-needed medical equipment to a temporary emergency hospital in New Jersey. The temporary field medical station, or FMS, located at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison and houses 500 beds, is manned by the United States Army Reserve’s Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force. “Each FMS is supplied by FEMA and provides equipment for a 250-bed hospital, and we have two,” said First Lieutenant Matthew Delaney, a physician assistant, in a news release. “But we realized we needed an ambulance stretcher.” Delaney, who hails from Florida but grew up on Long Island, reached out to his friends in the Bellmore-Merrick EMS — he was a member in the 1990s, according to Assistant Chief Scott Resnik. The request was approved “immediately,” according to Resnik, and members of the EMS delivered two stretchers to the New Jersey facility within four hours on April 10. Bellmore-Merrick EMS’s manual stretchers had been stored as backup when the department upgraded to

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick EMS

ColoNEl MAtthEW BRIDGEs, left, the task force commander for the temporary facility, and First Lieutenant Matthew Delaney, far right, were on hand to receive the equipment from Bellmore-Merrick EMS members Paul Nelson and Alex Dooley and Vice President Paul Omichinski. newer ones that automatically load patients into ambulances, Resnik said. “We told the task force to let us know whatever they need — we are happy to support them,” said Paul Omichinski, a paramedic and vice president of the

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EMS. “In this crisis, we’ll do anything we can do,” Resnik added. Colonel Matthew Bridges, the task force commander, was on hand to receive the equipment. “We are very thankful to Bellmore-

Merrick EMS for lending us these items,” said Colonel Bridges, a general surgeon, in a release. “Their generous assistance helps support our mission, which is to assist the people of New Jersey in their fight against Covid-19.”

NOW THERE’S AN EASY WAY FOR YOU TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HEROES Donate at www.liherald.com/heroes Every dollar donated will be used to provide food & other goods to doctors, nurses, patients and other frontline essential workers in the local community. All food & items will be purchased from locally owned and operated businesses so we can support our business community, too Look for the HERALD HEROES special edition in your mailbox April 30

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The Herald and Richner Communications family thank our amazing heroes!

TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.LIHERALD.COM/HEROES

North Bellmore School District continues to support families

Have a great story?

— Compiled by Andrew Garcia

1086854

Dear neighbor:

We live and work in this community. The lives of each and every one of you is important to us and we are here to tell your stories — from beginning to end. That includes the final chapter. At this difficult time, I want to remind you that obituaries in all Herald Community Newspapers are, and have always been, completely free. COVID-19 has taken far too many, far to soon. Let us help you commemorate the life of your loved one with a story and photo celebrating their life. Contact our Executive Editor Scott Brinton, sbrinton@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000, ext 203, if you would like to memorialize a loved one in the Herald, regardless of their cause of death. Stuart Richner Publisher srichner@liherald.com 1087105

Call our editors today 516-569-4000 or email execeditor@liherald.com

Take A Walk And Save Lives

Participate in North Shore Animal League America’s virtual walk for a chance to do something positive and active, while raising crucial funds for homeless animals that need your support now more than ever. Walkers can participate anytime, from anywhere.

Real Estate Assistance for Buyers and Sellers! Dear Readers, My name is George Haase and after a short-term retirement, following a 35 year Real Estate Career in finance, I am back in business! I will be announcing the South Shore Real Estate Firm I am joining, soon!

REMEMBER: Be safe and practice social distancing along the way.

GEORGE G. HAASE georgeghaase@gmail.com

516-647-4813

1086656

Please feel free to call, text, or email with any “unofficial” questions you may have. I am happy to share my knowledge and expertise on topics like how to prepare your home for sale to best strategies to purchasing a home! Stay Safe!

Every life matters to us …

Pet Bandana

Fun Contests and Activities

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Andrea Colandrea, owner of Mama Gina’s Italian Restaurant and Café in Bellmore, to help provide meals for the community. The Bellmore Lions Club purchased gift certificates, at a reduced price, to be distributed to 80 families in picking up their grab-and-go lunches at Martin Avenue. North Bellmore Superintendent Marie Testa said this will allow families to bring home a hot pizza from Mama Gina’s at their convenience. “I knew we had to do something,” Lanci said. “People are struggling to feed their families and are worried for the future. The Lions believe that kindness matters, which is why I reached out to Mama Gina’s so we could bring a hot meal to those in need in our community and to let them know we care.” “This wonderful partnership with the Lions Club allows us to continue fulfilling our mission of supporting the North Bellmore community,” added Testa. “Although we are apart, our connection remains united and strong.” In another way of supporting the community, the district has partnered with SCOPE Education Service to provide childcare for parents who are first responders or medical professionals. The emergency extended childcare program is offered five days a week in several neighboring communities. More information is available on the district website at www.northbellmoreschools. org. North Bellmore is also ensuring that the social and emotional needs of children and families are still being met. The district’s staff of counselors, psychologists and social workers continue to provide guidance and support for students and families, and partnerships continue with the Long Island Crisis Center and New York State Office of Children and Family Services.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

The North Bellmore School District continues to support the community through the Covid-19 pandemic as essential services remain for children and their families while schools are closed. The district is providing grab-and-go meals on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Martin Avenue Elementary School, with two days of lunch given out on Mondays and three days’ worth on Wednesdays. Since the first week of the program, the average of daily meals provided has increased from 70 to 165. Meals include both hot and cold items including bagels, chicken nuggets, French toast, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, tacos and a variety of sandwiches. The lunches are being prepared by North Bellmore’s food services staff, who have been working on a rotating basis and continue to practice social distancing as they prepare food. Overseeing the grab-and-go meal program are Assistant Superintendent for Business Jacqueline Rehak and Food Services Director Helena McKenna. The district’s custodial staff has also been providing valuable support by picking up inventory from other schools to support food preparation at Martin Avenue. “It has been such an amazing group effort,” Rehak said. “The food services staff has been excellent, and our custodial staff has been so helpful. The staff has really come together, without actually coming together. Additionally, Ms. McKenna has been extremely innovative with creating these meals and scheduling the staff while maintaining social distancing.” Through the efforts of Superintendent of Schools Marie Testa and Board of Education President Nina Lanci, the district has also partnered with the Bellmore Lions Club to provide pizza dinners for families. Lanci, also treasurer of the Lions Club, reached out to

$500,000 IN GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING GRANT

Apply for your share of the $500,000 marketing grant available to assist locally owned businesses.

STUART RICHNER Publisher Herald Community Newspapers

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We are a small business ourselves, so we understand the pain that small business owners are going through right now. We at the Herald want to do our part to make sure that members of our small business community can continue to promote themselves during this trying period.”

Herald Team

WHO For all locally owned and operated small businesses on Long Island that have been negatively impacted by coronavirus.

WHAT A $500,000 grant program to support local small businesses. Each local business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for Herald Community Newspapers print, digital and direct mail products in April through July 15, 2020.

WHERE Apply at www.liherald.com/grant.

WHEN Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020 or until maximum grant funding has been distributed. Businesses will be contacted within two business days of submitting their application.

WHY Studies show that businesses that continue to market themselves during down times are the ones that fare the best long-term. This grant program will allow Long Island small businesses to continue promoting themselves and any new services they are offering during these unprecedented times.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: • Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on marketing in Herald products will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied towards marketing costs. • Businesses must be locally owned and operated. • Grants range from $300 to $15,000. • Grants can be applied to any Herald Community Newspaper marketing product or service during April through July 15, 2020. • Grants applied to direct mail products are net of postage/mailing costs.

RHONDA GLICKMAN VP Sales

LORI BERGER Sales Manager

rglickman@liherald.com

lberger@liherald.com

ELLEN REYNOLDS Sales Manager

AMY AMATO Executive Director

ereynolds@liherald.com

aamato@liherald.com

COURTNEY MYERS Media Consultant cmyers@liherald.com

For more information call Rhonda at 516.569.4000 ext. 250

APPLY TODAY AT

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A Special Collaboration With The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores

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April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

What’s up next door and around the corner

Christina Daly/Herald Life

IAN’s pARENts, MElANIE and Greg, helped set up the surprise.

Birthday parade brings joy to Bellmorite By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

Although a traditional celebration was out of the question, Bellmorite Ian Dominick was still able to enjoy his second birthday in a big way. As the toddler held a sign crafted by his grandm o t h e r, w h i c h r e a d “Happy Birthday Ian,” on his front stoop, he was greeted by dozens of cars blaring their horns in a celebratory fashion. C a r p a r a d e s h ave become a popular alternative to social gatherings on Long Island as residents have largely remained isolated indoors. Ian’s parade, on April 17, was organized by members of the Facebook group, “Strong Island Car Parades 4 Kids.” Ian’s parents, Melanie and Greg, helped set up the surprise, which was also a celebration for Ian’s sister, Allison, who turned six the week before.

BEllMoRItE IAN DoMINICk got ready for his birthday car parade, which celebrated his second birthday. thE BIRthDAy pARADE also celebrated Ian’s sister, Allison, above, who turned six the week before. MEMBERs of thE Facebook group, “Strong Island Car Parades 4 Kids,” honked down Wilson Avenue in Bellmore to help Ian celebrate his second birthday.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Herald neigHbors

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Courtesy North Bellmore Fire Department

the north Bellmore Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire last Thursday night.

NBFD pulls man from burning vehicle on the Southern State

Courtesy Hallie Sherman

speech-lAnguAge pAthologist hAllie Sherman, of Merrick, posted a reading of her book, “Ella Bella Just Can’t Tell Ya!” to YouTube as an online teaching tool for fellow educators adjusting to remote learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

SLP from Merrick helps fellow educators adjust to remote learning By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

Like most teachers, Merrick resident Hallie Sher man, a speech-language pathologist at Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School in Freeport, is teaching students from a distance amid the coronavirus pandemic. She is also helping fellow educators adjust to remote learning by promoting digital teaching tools available on her website, speechtimefun.com. “As speech pathologists, there’s a crazy learning curve to transition to online learning since we don’t use these platforms on a regular basis,” she said. “We’re accustomed to face-to-face learning, so we have to adjust to this whole new frontier.” Sherman’s resources have been utilized by thousands of teachers worldwide. She first began developing digital teaching tools back in 2012 after she noticed a lack of online resources for SLPs. On

The North Bellmore Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire on the Southern State Parkway, eastbound between Newbridge Road and Bellmore Road, on April 16 around 10 p.m. Chief David Marschall was the first to respond to the scene, where he noticed a victim trapped inside the car. Assistant Chief Mark DiRenzo arrived afterwards and helped Marschall contain the fire and extricate the victim. DiRenzo used a fire extinguisher to keep the fire at bay until Engine 655 arrived at scene. The crew, led by Captain Thomas White, got a hose-line in place. Marschall, with assistance from Firefighter Nicholas White Jr. and DiRenzo, were able to remove the man from the rear window of the vehicle. The victim was breathing and responsive once

removed from the vehicle. Assistant Chiefs White and Zaharis assisted the victim when Rescue 653 and Engine 656 responded with emergency medical technicians and paramedics. Paramedic Kevin Collins began a thorough assessment, making sure the victim had a clear airway. Trauma dressings were applied to the victim’s back, where the majority of his burns were. The man was transported to Nassau University Medical Center with a New York State Police escort. During the transport, Collins, an ex-captain of the department, was able to perform Advance Life Support, when a positive change in the victim’s status took place. Upon arrival, the trauma/burn team at NUMC took over care of the victim. — Compiled by Andrew Garcia

teacherspayteachers.com, which Sherman calls “Etsy for teachers,” educators can browse her more than 400 “low-prep, effective, engaging” learning materials to use in their virtual classrooms. During the pandemic, Sherman said SLPs may be “struggling” to figure out how to teach on Zoom or Google Classroom if they left their hands-on resources at work. However, digital materials, such as the one she develops, could help SLPs adjust to remote teaching. Her resources include digital flashcards, worksheets and activities for students in pre-K through 12th grade. The materials cover such skills as articulation, auditory comprehension, fluency, grammar, inferencing, sequencing and vocabulary. Sherman also posted a read-aloud of her children’s book, “Ella Bella Just Can’t Tell Ya” on YouTube, which she said teachers and parents can use to entertain or educate their children during quarantine.

Public Notices

LBEL1 0423

fire hazards which might endanger the lives of students, teachers and employees therein, has been completed and the report thereof is available at the District Administration Building,

1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, NY 11566-1500 on any business day between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.” 121629

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

Provided as a community service by:

516-569-4000

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LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection for the 2020-2021 school year of all school buildings of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for

Nassau County is child care desert: official

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

By TimoThy DenTon tdenton@liherald.com

Much of Nassau County is a child care desert, resulting in billions in lost revenue, according to a study released on Friday by Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman. The lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus has highlighted the issue, showing that many Nassau County families depend on schools to provide daycare for their older children. Care for younger children, however, has always been a challenge for many families. “Nassau County is a patchwork, varying widely from district to district,” Schnirman wrote in the study. “Despite nearly $9 billion in public school tax levies, only 10 percent of 4-year-olds have access to publicly funded pre-K programs, compared to universal access in New York City,” Schnirman wrote in the report. Both Seaford and Wantagh are considered child care deserts — any census tract where more than 50 children are without providers, or where providers are so scarce that they are able to serve less than one-third of the total need, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 60 percent of New York State is considered a child care desert. Nassau County has a total of about 43,650 pre-K places, where more than 138,000 are needed, the study found, with minority and low-income families having the least access to pre-K programs. Averaging more than $15,000 per year, infant care represents about 12 percent of a median family’s income of $116,300. For a family earning $52,400, or 200 percent of the official federal poverty level for a family of four, infant care for one child represents nearly 29 percent of the family’s pretax income. According to the Census Bureau, “c=Child care is critical. It either propels or stalls the local economy.” Locally, “child care has one of the highest economic multipliers, with a return of $1.95 for every dollar invested,” Schnirman wrote. Of those who work part-time, lack of child care is

Herald file photo

nassau CounTy shows a wide disparity in access to affordable child care. the most commonly cited reason for not accepting fulltime work. Women make up 94 percent of the involuntary part-time workforce, due to child care concerns, Schnirman wrote, and 46 percent of Nassau County

families have no reliable child care. Child care is an $800 million industry on Long Island, employing roughly 9,000 workers.

Belmont Park delays horseracing season The opening of the Belmont Park’s spring-summer horseracing season will be delayed because of the Covid19 pandemic from April 24 to June 6, when the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes is to take place, said New York Racing Association officials last week. The date of the Belmont Stakes is subject to change, however. “The Belmont Stakes is a New York institution and American tradition,” NYRA CEO and President Dave O’Rourke said. “We are committed to running the race in 2020 and aim to deliver an announcement in the very near future.” The racing season normally runs 51 days. “We are working closely with the New York State Gaming Commission and public health officials to determine a timeline for the resumption of live racing at Belmont Park,” O’Rourke said. “The

health and safety of our racing community is paramount, and any decisions or necessary adjustments to the racing schedule and operations must reflect that priority. I’d like to thank New York’s horsemen and the backstretch community for their dedication and patience as we navigate these uncertain times together.” The Belmont backstretch, which is home to 585 workers who tend to the essential daily care of the more than 1,300 thoroughbreds stabled there, has remained open to the horses’ caregivers and operational for training. Owners are not permitted access to the backstretch until further notice. NYRA posted coronavirusrelated signs in English and Spanish across the backstretch, noting key information about social distancing and hand washing, and a hotline to call for workers feeling the onset of symptoms.

Herald file photo

BelmonT Park’s sPring/summer meet will not open April 24 as originally scheduled.

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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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Must be able to embrace a fast paced environment, with a diverse range of duties including sales order entry, and sales and marketing. . Computer proficiency is a must! Excel (including formulas). Word and Outlook. Strong writing, math and verbal skills necessary. Eligible for health benefits, 401k, and paid time off. Will consider part time. Qualified candidates should sent cover letter and resume to rglickman@liherald.com

COMBINED INSURANCE EXPANDING Long Island operation! Full time W2 sales agent opportunity full company benefits and leads provided. Call Bob (516) 567-7733 for immediate interview.

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No Experience Needed, we will train!!!!! F U L L T I M E M O N D AY - F R I D AY 11:30- 8:00 5-20 HOURS OF OVERTIME!! MEDICAL, DENTAL, 401K. 2 WEEKS VACATION, HOLIDAY PAY. $15.00 PER HOUR PLUS OVERTIME. APPLY IN PERSON AT: CALLAHEAD C O R P. 3 0 4 C R O S S B AY B LV D , QUEENS NY 11693 APPLY MONDAY- FRIDAY 12:00- 7PM JOB OPPORTUNITY $18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI Up to $13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553

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his sunny, light filled 4 bedroom, 3 full bath Colonial has walls of windows and is located on a quiet, beautiful street in SD 14. On the first floor you are greeted by a large entry foyer, living room, formal dining room, oversized eat-in-kitchen, sunroom/bedroom

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through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-569-4000, press 5 for Classified Dept.

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• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

© 2018 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. It is your responsibility to ensure that the marketing materials you choose or create are compliant with real estate and other local laws in your area.

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April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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things can become so complicated? On one hand, your mother simply changed her mind and didn’t have the porch built, and on the other hand, the building department simply wants paperwork from you that seems simple enough to get but isn’t that easy. I’m concerned that none of the children was given authority to act on your mother’s behalf, and you should seek an attorney to resolve the matters of her estate. As for the voiding of the permit, building departments are run by human beings with a heart, and you should write a letter so there’s a document on record explaining the situation. Sign it in front of a notary, and arrange to meet with a senior official before having more discussions with the building inspector. The premises will still need inspecting, to verify the work was never done. To prove the home has no more issues with permits required, to satisfy the bank and the buyer, a new building department search sheet should be requested, showing no open permits. The biggest problem is time, and this isn’t a real situation. In most cases it’s a made-up bank or buyer timeline, because your closing is dependent on another closing, and so on and so on. Because the search and a site review weren’t done early in the sales process, and because most people don’t really believe you need a permit to make changes to a home, great sleepless stress sets in and everyone is pointing fingers. It’s not unusual to get calls from people who need an ambulance architect — you know, the ones with the rotating light on the roof of their car and the siren blaring as they race to your home to start the process of satisfying the bank, their lawyers, etc. We see it all the time, and it’s avoidable if the seller calls an architect to check the home code compliance against recorded permit plans well before the sale has begun. Good luck.

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Q. My mother was admitted to a Florida nursing home and we have to sell her house. She has Alzheimer’s and is incapable of communicating. Our attorney had a title company prepare a report, and the title search showed that there’s an open permit for a porch, which my mom never had done for financial reasons, from about 10 years ago. When my brother and I, separately, called the building department and asked about it, we were told different things about canceling the unused permit. One person said to call a building inspector and have onte eeper them cancel it, but then I heard that I have to get my mother to write a letter saying she didn’t do the porch, and have it notarized. She isn’t able to understand or sign her name, and never gave us power of attorney to take care of things for her before her illness. What can we do?

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

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s the nation emerges from the coronavirus lockdown and begins to return to a semblance of normalcy, many of our cherished institutions will face some harsh realities. Nowhere will this dose of reality be starker than for America’s colleges and universities. While our public school system will go through some wrenching times as it comes back to life, K-12 parents and students will not face the prospect of crushing debt and soaring costs that have been inflicted on consumers of Alfonse higher education. d’AMAto College students, in contrast, will return to campuses not only having missed most of a semester of classes; they will also struggle with exorbitantly high costs that will financially burden many of them for the rest of their lives. How did we come to this sad turn of events, in which college degrees that should create a pathway to opportunity and prosperity instead present a long road of debt and possible financial ruin? Today, tuition and costs at some private colleges hovers in the range of $50,000 to $70,000

per year. College grads carry debt that can run from tens of thousands of dollars for undergraduate degrees to over $100,000 for post-graduate degrees. As they struggle to cover this debt, buying a home often becomes a distant dream. Even buying a new car often gives way to making the monthly college debt payment. Total college student debt today exceeds $1.5 trillion. With the added burden of the current financial crisis, much of this debt is unsupportable. Student loan defaults on a large scale are likely unavoidable. And while the just-passed national financial rescue legislation provides some relief by postponing debt payment and interest for a time, the overall financial burden will remain. Predictably, some in Washington are calling for forgiving much, if not all, college debt. But like the other emergency financial measures passed by Congress, such relief couldn’t go on indefinitely. Future college students will continue to face high costs and mountainous loans. The cycle of debt and default will continue to loom on the financial horizon. The leaders of our higher education system have a moral obligation to break this vicious cycle. Just as the Federal Reserve system has taken extraordinary

measures to shore up the nation’s finances, colleges and universities should also take emergency action to ease the financial burden on their students. College administrators shouldn’t cry hardship and shirk from this responsibility. Nationwide, colleges are sitting on endowments of well over half a trillion dollars, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. They should seriously consider making these funds available to students to help pay down their current loans and reduce future tuition costs. If the Fed can tap into the national treasury for “quantitative easing” to lessen strains on our national economy, higher education treasuries can likewise tap into their great wealth to help ease their students’ money crisis. And going forward, it’s long past time for colleges and universities to get real about not just containing, but lowering their stratospheric spending. Too many campuses have become islands of extravagance and excess amid a sea of hardship in their surrounding communities. In just one glaring example here in New York, a college president makes $5.1 million a year, 35 times what the school’s professors make, on average, and equal to the tuitions of 99 students, according to the Chronicle

an’t colleges use their vast endowments to help students pay down debt?

of Higher Education. Yet the community in which the school is located is one of New York’s poorest, with finances so precarious that it hovers near bankruptcy. In that town, as in so many others, the college is literally the shining, distant fortress on the hill with the surrounding town languishing below. This college, and others like it, should take a hard look at themselves. Every expense should be examined, every bit of excess wrung out. The goal should be to reduce tuition and keep costs manageable over students’ academic careers. In the future, public policy in Washington and Albany must be to stop rewarding higher education’s financial excesses and incentivize affordability instead. Federal and state aid should increase only for schools that bring their costs down. That means fewer top-heavy college administrators tripping over each other, more professors teaching more than only 10 or 12 hours a week, and fewer extravagant campus building sprees. When students return to college this fall, they’ll return to a world changed by nature and hard times. If colleges want students to succeed, it’s time for them to lead. Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.

A loving tribute to my irreplaceable elders

y aunt Sylvia Gentile Brownstein died April 11 in a nursing home in New Jersey, of Covid-19. She was 97 years old, and lived in a room at the facility with her husband of 74 years, Murray Brownstein. He was my mother’s older brother. The last time I saw him was seven years ago, when I visited him in Florida, and he insisted we go to a pub nearby because they were serving free ice cream to World War II veterans. A proud Navy vet who lied about his age to get into the service when he was 16, Uncle MurRAndi ray served on a kReiss minesweeper in the Pacific. Aunt Sylvia died alone, because Uncle Murray had become sick and unable to comfort her. Before the pandemic, which precluded visitors, they were cared for by their daughter, my cousin, who has shepherded them through these last difficult years. But only the ending was sad. Murray met Sylvia in Brooklyn just after the war. He fell in love, and defied

his Jewish family by marrying an Italian Catholic girl. Smart guy. She was a gem, loving and mildly crazy, so she fit right in, seeing as how everyone in our anxious, highly emotive clan is a notch off plumb. When I was a kid, Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray lived in Valley Stream and we lived in Cedarhurst, so the visits were frequent. Murray was a Garment District wheeler and dealer who won big and lost big over the years. Aunt Sylvia was a homemaker extraordinaire. She cleaned that house until it sparkled, every single day. And she was an outstanding cook. Her specialty was Italian food, and an invitation to their table was a gift. When she hosted Thanksgiving, the meal started with homemade minestrone, and was followed by eggplant parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs and veal cutlet parmesan. I don’t recall seeing anything green, as in a string bean, on the table. The last entry was the turkey, an afterthought, a gesture to the new world, fully dressed but largely ignored because we were all so stuffed from the Italian feast. I confess, I didn’t know Aunt Sylvia as

a woman. I have no idea what her dreams or joys or disappointments were. I do know she raised her kid sister, Madelaine, when their mother died very young. Madelaine joined Murray and Sylvia’s family, big sister to their own two kids. I wish I had gotten to know Aunt Syl better, but in those days, people kept to their roles: She was the elder aunt and I was the young niece. Uncle Murray was difficult, but she would never talk about anything as personal as her marriage. She had a twin sister, Anna, and I suspect that that was her most emotionally intimate relationship. They had a brother, too, Johnny, who went to the Naval Academy and was the pride of the family. Every Christmas of my childhood, we went to Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray’s for an event that was part celebration and part child abuse. As dinner drew to a close, we would hear someone stomping up the basement steps and the loud jingling of bells. Eight little kids immediately dived under the dinner table and began screaming, which sent the adults into fits of laughter. Not normal, right?

ndelible memories of holidays and birthdays with Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray.

The stomping came closer, our screaming got louder, and suddenly Santa burst through the basement door. We kids were traumatized. He was a terror in his wild white wig and garish Santa mask. None of us noticed that Uncle Murray had disappeared from the dinner table some time earlier. This intruder was the Santa from hell, and we were scared out of our socks. The elders, however, were greatly entertained, and so this became a cherished tradition, and we did it every year. I think I was finishing my junior year in college when I realized that Uncle Murray was Santa Claus. All of our childhood birthdays were occasions for big parties. Aunt Syl and the other aunts and uncles would raise a glass or three, and before long the women were dancing on the table and the men were telling stories about the war and the old Brooklyn neighborhood. It was a rich experience for a little kid who was all eyes and ears. I don’t know if Aunt Syl was a religious woman, but wherever she went, she wasn’t alone for long. The day after she passed, Uncle Murray died. He was 98. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

For American higher education, it’s time to lead

Herald editorial

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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HERALD HERALD and Bellmore Herald News Established 1994 AlyssA seidmAn Editor Andrew GArciA Reporter robert cumminGs Audrey cohen Advertising Account Executives office 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: belleditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc.

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Small businesses need more federal help

et’s not mince words: The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, which was supposed to hurry loans to small businesses so they can make payroll and stay afloat, has been troubled from the start. With $349 billion in its coffers, the program, administered by the Small Business Administration, ran out of money last Thursday, leaving tens of millions of employers in the lurch, wondering whether they will be able to meet payroll at a time when so many small businesses are limping along because of the coronavirus pandemic. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Main Street America, employing 48 percent of our national workforce. In total, there are 28 million small businesses across the U.S., according to Forbes. They desperately need — and deserve — better, particularly in the hardest-hit regions like the Northeast. According to a CBS News analysis of SBA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, New York, which has by far the greatest number of cases of Covid-19 of any state, was fourth on the list of states to receive PPP loans. Meanwhile, businesses in Texas received more such loans than any other state, even though the Lone Star State has the 10th-largest Covid-19 caseload

in the U.S. Apparently, Texas processed loans faster than New York, as the money went from the federal government to banks on a firstcome, first-served basis, creating a race for funding. But that was unfair, because in places where need was greatest, like New York, businesses were struggling most to run their daily operations, and so were hamstrung in their ability to file for loans. The federal government should have set a date by which all loan applications were due, and then divided the money thereafter based on need. At the same time, some very big businesses received loans under the program. The owner of the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain nabbed a $20 million loan, despite having more than 5,000 employees and $468 million in revenue last year. The PPP was supposed to have been limited to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, but Congress included an exception for hotels and restaurants. Most big-name chains did not apply for PPP loans, but others, including Potbelly, Kura Sushi and Shake Shack, did. (Shake Shack announced Sunday night that it would return its $10 million loan, citing confusion over the program’s regulations and

Thanks for all you’ve done, Governor Cuomo

e have offered high praise to our first responders and medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and no doubt, they deserve every bit of it. Check out our story this week on Elyse Isopo, a North Shore University Hospital Intensive Care Unit nurse practitioner. Her determination to save lives is evident in her every word, and her fear of spreading Covid-19 to her family at her home is palpable. Good people like her are truly heroes.

We must also acknowledge a hero of a different sort: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who, despite finding himself in the center of this unfolding international disaster, has provided levelheaded, science-based leadership that has served as a model for governors across the U.S. Cuomo quickly realized the magnitude of the pandemic and acted decisively, without political rancor. For the most part, he has been careful not to mix up it with President Trump, despite repeated the president’s repeated goading.

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saying that other businesses needed the money more than it did.) There were other problems with the program. Big banks, for example, lent money to their own customers first, and then to others. Many required borrowers to already have an established line of credit with the bank to receive a PPP loan. The thing is, this was a federal government program, and no loan applicant should have received preferential treatment. At press time, Congress was negotiating a $310 billion extension of the program, which would bring the total expenditure to $649 billion. One Forbes analysis, however, estimated the PPP really needs as much as $850 billion to fully fund all of the small businesses now in dire need. We commend Congress for making money available to small businesses quickly. Sadly, however, the program has become another of many political footballs amid the coronavirus crisis. What’s lacking is national leadership. President Trump and Congress should be united in their desire to aid small businesses — now, not later. If the federal government doesn’t act fast, with one voice, our downtowns could soon become ghost towns, and that would be terrible for us all.

letters The hypocrisy of stimulus checks To the Editor: All conservatives and Republicans across the country should return their federal relief checks so they do not become “unproductive, lazy welfare recipients” who are accepting “government handouts” and “something for nothing” — “parasites” who are being “subsidized” by the federal government.

It would be hypocritical for conservatives and Republicans to accept help from the federal government when they constantly oppose such assistance for the middle and lower classes who truly need it, and whom they look down their noses at. Now, many of them are in the shoes of those in need. Our allies in Western Europe and Canada have federal governments that do more to help their people than ours does. To quote Al Pacino in “And Justice for All”: “I have now concluded

Cuomo has not used this crisis to further his own brand. Rather, he has acted in the best interests of all New Yorkers, and this week we are seeing the results of his actions. The Covid-19 death toll is, as predicted, beginning to drop, as are the new hospitalization rate, the ICU admissions rate and the number of new ventilator intubations. Governor, thank you. We will surely need your steady guiding hand in the weeks, months and years ahead as New York recovers from this unexpected catastrophe.

oPinions

rime Minister Winston Churchill offered those words as he led Great Britain during World War II, when citizens became accustomed to nightly bombings by the Nazis. We are in the midst of a different kind of war, against an invisible enemy known as Covid-19. And when people ask me when this grim period is going to end, unfortunately, the answer is that we don’t know. But as we in the Town of Hempstead continue to follow federal and state mitigation measures, such as social distancing, Don we appear to be CLaVin “flattening the curve.” By staying at home, you are doing your part to fight the spread of this virus. Those who have “essential” jobs, however, do not have that option. Indeed, those people are integral to winning the war on the coronavirus. Please be mindful of the rules and stay safe. At Town Hall, we have implemented a social media campaign urging residents

to practice social distancing and proper handwashing, and to wear masks and gloves. We are also providing information on sanitizing techniques. We proactively closed facilities to the public, including town offices and certain parks and public gathering spots. I’ve been working daily with my Town Board colleagues and our Coronavirus Task Force, led by Town Medical Director Dr. Dave Neubert, to make decisions that best promote public health. We’re also in constant contact with village officials, coordinating best practices and monitoring updates from state and local health officials. Rest assured, our dedicated CSEA Local 880 team of coworkers are working hard every day to serve residents and provide essential services safely. The town Building Department is still accepting paperwork via a drop box at Town Hall, sanitation workers are continuing to pick up garbage throughout our township, and many other departments are conducting day-to-day business on behalf of our residents. We encourage neighbors to contact the town via our

hurchill’s words ring true for Town of Hempstead residents in a difficult time.

Letters my opening statement.” STEWART B. EPSTEIN Rochester, N.Y. Epstein is a retired college professor who lived in North Bellmore from 1960 to 1972. He graduated from Mepham High School in 1968 and Hofstra University in 1972.

It’s a good time for bird watching To the Editor: Why not bequeath a lifelong appreciation for bird watching to the next generation? We teach our children wood shop, pottery and contemptible games like dodgeball, but bird watching can give them a greater appreciation for our threatened environment. I’ve done the math, and it would only cost each taxpayer $10 to send every sixth-grader to the Cor nell School of Ornithology for two weeks. There, eminent cultural historians and acclaimed or nitholo gists would instruct them on bird-centric environmental discrimination and inculcate a profound respect and admiration for the avian world. When you consider the frivolities our town spends money on, this would be money well spent. Now well into my retirement, I still derive tremendous satisfaction from spotting the odd hummingbird on my afternoon walk. There is a comforting

public hotline, (516) 812-3600, to set up phone appointments with some of our departments. Other departments can be accessed via email. Please visit hempsteadtownny.gov for updates and how you can connect to town services. You can also call our Helpline, (516) 489-6000, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance. We are doing everything in our power to make life a little easier for residents of America’s largest township during this difficult time. We waived all late fees and penalties for town water customers, and we’ve called on New York state to extend the second-half school tax payment deadline by 30 days, to June 11. And in preparation for getting people back to work in the near future, the town adopted a $40 million economic stimulus plan to undertake road improvements across our communities. I encourage you to join us for our series of Facebook Live sessions. Along with Dr. Neubert, a certified Emergency Department physician, and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, a former fire chief

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

‘Nourish your hopes, but do not overlook realities’

and NYPD detective, we answer many of your questions and concerns about Covid-19. Our next session is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. Please check our Facebook page, @HempsteadTown, for ished i realitie future Facebook Live sessions and for be star town updates. I thank all of our first responders as univer Whi well the front-line workers in the fields of health care, law enforcement, government, media, public transportation, grocery, pharmacy, postal, delivery, food service and so many more. I also commend Dr. Dave Neubert and the town’s emergency management team for their continued work and dedication to the town work force, as well as to our residents. And I offer my condolences to all of the families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. Let’s keep them all in our thoughts as we continue to do our part to stop the spread. Working together, we will continue to loosen the grip of Covid-19, from both a health and economic perspective. Please es not o semest be safe and healthy, and know that the Town of Hempstead is here for you dur- with ex financi ing this challenging time. rest of How Don Clavin is the Town of Hempstead events, supervisor. should and pro of debt tuition hovers

Framework by Christina Daly

sense of accomplishment in knowing that you can see what others cannot. Why deprive the next generation of this feeling of intellectual triumph? The beauty of birds is all around us, and once you learn more about them, your experiences with nature become so much richer. During this lockdown, I have noticed our ecosystem responding positively to reduced human inference, and more exotic birds flying out and about. What joy.

and liv her hu stein. H The las ago, wh

ALWYN STANHOPE Bellmore

MTA ‘lock box’ isn’t really locked To the Editor: Governor Cuomo recently included in the approved state budget a provision that amends the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $15 billion Congestion Toll Mitigation Revenue “lock box.” This provision was originally included to ensure that all proceeds would be used to help fund the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-24 Five-Year Capital Plan. Now these funds can instead be used against any future deficits in the MTA’s annual $17 billion operating expense budget. Language buried in the state budget also allows $10 billion in real estate mansion and internet sales tax revenue to be used for operations rather

At Sagamore Hill, one captivating reason to get out of the house — Oyster Bay

than capital expenses. Combined, these total $25 billion of the $51 billion Capital Plan funding. Cuomo has become the great train robber of capital transit funding. He has taken billions of this funding. His picture should be hung on a wanted poster at commuter and subway stations. Commuters can collect their reward by not electing him to

another term in 2022.

died al becom LARRY PENNER Before Great Neck visitor Penner is a transportation historian, writer daught ed them and advocate who worked for the Federal But Transit Administration Region 2 New York Mur Office for 31 years. after th

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April 23, 2020 â€” HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS