East Meadow
HERALD District budget vote on June 9
Hundreds protest for George Floyd
Entering Phase 1 of reopening
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Vol. 20 No. 23
JUNE 4 - 10, 2020
E.M. family lends a hand Sisters and their dad support local causes with home car wash The Diazes charge $10 to wash large vehicles and $8 for small ones, and have donated 75 perA van pulled into the drive- cent of the proceeds, plus any way of the Diaz home in East additional donations, to Nina’s Meadow on May 30 and, within Deli and the No Kill Project. minutes, Damien Nina’s is an East Diaz and his Meadow caterdaughters Ysa, 10, ing company and Celia, 9, went that has donated to work. meals to medical Celia began and emergency wiping the vehicle services workers down with cleaner, for the past two while Ysa months. And the scrubbed its tires. No Kill Project is Damien sprayed it a Bayshorewith a hose, quietbased animal ly singing along as rescue g roup the Beatles’ “Hey that advocates Jude” played from for an end to the a Bluetooth speakkilling of shelter er. The hot spring animals through sun painted raineducation, sterilbows on the wet ization and adopblacktop as it tion. began to run with “We’ve gotten DAmIEN DIAZ foaming, soapy some pretty sigEast Meadow father water. nificant donaThe Diaz family tions, too,” h a s ke p t b u s y Damien said, through the coroadding that one navirus pandemic by starting resident stopped by for a wash their own car wash business for and added a $500 tip for the two local residents who otherwise charitable causes. couldn’t patronize one due to the Ysa and Celia have been sav“New York on Pause” shutdown. ing the remaining 25 percent of “We’re doing it for charity, but sales for another pet. They curthey’re learning a lot along the rently have a cat they adopted way,” Damien said. “It’s a good from the Town of Hempstead experience for them to learn how Animal Shelter, two orange kitto speak to people and deal with tens that they adopted from the transactions.” No Kill Project and four kittens “I learned how to wash cars,” they are fostering from the same Ysa said. “I also learned how to agency. They also have a pit bull make a difference.” Continued on page 9
By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
w
Courtesy Jamie Mack
ANDRE lEwIS, A security guard at Parkway Elementary School in East Meadow, died of Covid-19 complications on May 16. He was 40.
Remembering ‘Mr. Andre’
Security guard dies of Covid-19 complications By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
Every morning, students at Parkway Elementary School, in East Meadow, would hop out of their cars and start their day with a greeting from Andre Lewis, a.k.a. “Mr. Andre.” According to Jamie Mack, the school’s principal, Lewis not only knew the children by name, but also chatted with them about their interests. “He’d be out there in rain
— he was out there in snow,” Mack said. “It didn’t matter, he’d be out there to greet the kids.” Roughly two months ago, Lewis was hospitalized with C ov i d - 1 9 s y m p t o m s. H e remained in a hospital for 49 days, during which his health declined until he lost the ability to breathe on his own. He died on May 16 of complications related to the virus. He was 40. Lewis had diabetes, but his wife, Shamika Parkinson,
said he was working on improving his diet and went to the gym several times a week at 6 a.m., before work. He was always walking, and couldn’t sit still because of his diabetes. “He always said he had to keep moving around or he might fall asleep,” Parkinson added. Mack created a GoFundMe page the day Lewis died for his wife and their daughter, Tamia Lewis, 12. East MeadContinued on page 4
e’re doing it for charity, but they’re learning a lot along the way. It’s a good experience for them to learn how to speak to people and deal with transactions.
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Advocacy groups hold George Floyd protest
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
By Scott Brinton, ronny reyeS and Darwin yaneS sbrinton@liherald.com; rreyes@liherald.com; dyanes@liherald.com
People started to stream into the demonstration in front of the Nassau County Legislature and Executive Building in Mineola nearly an hour before the scheduled 5:30 p.m. start time on Monday. They had come to protest the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Shouting “I can’t breathe” and brandishing handmade signs, they arrived from parts across the county and beyond. A coalition of Nassau advocacy groups planned the protest, “Justice for George Floyd.” The demonstration followed the Memorial Day death of Floyd, 46, an AfricanAmerican man who died after officer Derek Chauvin, 44, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes before he stopped speaking or moving. Police, according to authorities, responded to a report of a man attempting to pass a counterfeit $20 at a shop. Barbara Powell, an executive board member of the Hempstead NAACP, described Floyd’s death as a “modern-day lynching,” noting, “People are fed up and disgusted with how things are and how they keep repeating.” Patrick Ryder, the Nassau police commissioner, attended the rally. “People are here to speak their minds and get their message across,” he said. “What happened in Minneapolis should never have happened. We have a good relationship with our communities. People are exercising their rights, and we hope to continue to do so peacefully.” Leslie Davis, president of the Westbury NAACP, said, “We want to come together peacefully to support our communities. People all over the world are standing up against this injustice. This is a peaceful movement.” Darleyne Mayers, of Freeport, branch secretary of the Freeport/Roosevelt NAACP, emphasized that Floyd’s death
Darwin Yanes/Herald
patrick ryDer, the Nassau County Police Commissioner, took a knee as a sign of respect at the protest.
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Andrew Garcia/Herald
DozenS of people came to the Nassau County Executive Building and Legislature on Monday evening to protest the killing of Georg e Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on Memorial Da y. has been witnessed by all who have watched the video of it. “George Floyd’s murder was visible,” she said. “We saw all eight minutes of it. It was reprehensible. We have to send a message, but we have to do it peacefully.” Andrew Nelson, of Uniondale, spoke at length about what Floyd’s death means to him personally. “It’s meant a lot, right, because a lot of injustices are being done. It’s unspeakable feelings,” he said. “I’ve witnessed so many murders of so many different people that look like me, and it hurts on a different level.” Among the protest sponsors were the Young Progressives of Nassau County, Indivisible of Nassau County (formerly Indivisible of Rockville Centre), the Hempstead NAACP, Freeport/Roosevelt NAACP, Nassau County chapter of the National Action Network, Anti-Racism Project and Americans of Pakistani Heritage As of Monday morning, protests against police brutality had swept across the nation, in nearly 70 cities, including in New York City, according to The New York Times. At times, they turned violent, as was the case in the city Saturday night. On Saturday in Brentwood, in Suffolk County, there was a peaceful demonstration, attended by dozens of protesters who practiced social distancing. On Friday, Curran tweeted her statement on Floyd’s death. It read, “I was horrified after watching the video of the death of George Floyd and hearing his cries. I believe charges must be brought to ensure the accountability and justice all should expect in our nation.” Chauvin was charged with thirddegree murder and manslaughter, but as of press time Sunday, none of the other three officers at the scene had been
Andrew Garcia/Herald
aBove, a group of protestors with their signs pleaing for justice. charged. “This cruel act,” Curran continued, “does not represent the vast majority of police officers who, with professionalism and honor, serve and protect our communities. Nassau is committed to community policing because it works. Building trust works, and we always strive to do better.” Governor Cuomo spent much of his Sunday coronavirus briefing addressing the protests that had turned violent, including in New York City. Racism is the central issue at hand, he noted. “People are outraged, and I understand that. I’m outraged,” he said, speaking of Floyd’s death. He said, however, that “violence never works. “Burning down your own house never works,” he added. “It dishonors Mr. Floyd’s death.
“The goal has to be effecting change,” Cuomo said. “Don’t tell me we can’t change ... Use this moment to demand real change.” According to the governor, people must demand that federal and state legislation be enacted to: ■ Prohibit local investigations of officerinvolved deaths. Any such investigation should be conducted by an impartial third party, he said. ■ Define one standard of excessive police force across the nation. ■ Require the release of of ficers’ records in cases such as Floyd’s death. “Be smart, be directed,” the governor said. “Help your community, don’t hurt your community. “George Floyd,” he said, “must not have died in vain.”
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Parkway security guard dies at 40 application on his phone. L ew i s wo rke d a s a t r a f f i c ow families immediately began enforcement agent with the New d o n at i n g , a n d s u r p a s s e d t h e York City Police Department for 10 page’s initial $2,000 goal overnight. Mack pushed it to $5,000 years before becoming a security and then $15,000, which the page guard and working at several public schools. has since surpassed. He and Parkinson married in A comment with one donation, attributed to the Pentrancosta 2016 and moved to Georgia for five family, read, “We are so grateful months, where he continued workfor having known Mr. Andre. He ing in security. When they came greeted our children each day back to New York, they moved to with a smile, gave a thumbs-up in Deer Park. He started his job at the halls and made them feel safe Parkway Elementary in the fall of in school each and every day. He 2018. Last fall, his contract with Sumwill truly be missed.” mit Security Services, To d o n at e t o t h e in Uniondale, came to GoFundMe page, go to an end. According to https://www.gofundthe East Meadow me.com/f/20cf5bsjeo. School District’s own Parkinson recalled contract with the comher husband’s commitpany, that meant that ment to his family and Lewis couldn’t work at his passion for meeting Parkway anymore. But and making connecthe district bent the tions with others. “He r u l e s t o ke e p h i m , took pride in his job, in according to Patrick his career — he was Pizzo, the assistant always on time. If anysuperintendent for thing, I was the late business and finance. person,” she said. “But “We chang ed our he was always on time. policy just to get him And smart — he was Jamie mack back,” Pizzo explained. very brilliant. He could Principal, “He was loved by the cover any topic, poliParkway Elementary kids, he was respected tics, religion, sports. by the parents. He was You name it, he knew School the best security guard it.” we had, and probably Parkinson said that her husband’s nickname in the the best employee we had.” “He’s going to be missed greatfamily became “the Philosopher” because of his zeal for learning ly,” Principal Mack said. “What I love to look at is the comments and sharing his knowledge. Lewis grew up in Springfield that people have written. I could Gardens, Queens, and went to read them and it brings tears to Springfield Gardens High School, my eyes.” The school has dedicated its where he and Parkinson met. He took some classes at Queensbor- g raduation song, “I’m On My ough Community College, where Way,” by Phil Collins, and its virhe studied liberal arts. He had a tual spring art installation to dream of writing a memoir about Lewis. In addition to his wife and his childhood in Queens. He had nearly finished it before he died, daughter, he is survived by his and Parkinson said she was still mother, Linda Lewis, two brothers organizing excerpts he had typed and a number of cousins and on his computer and in the Notes nieces.
continued from front page
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e’d be out there in rain — he was out there in snow. It didn’t matter, he’d be out there to greet the kids.
East Meadow
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Photos courtesy Jamie Mack
andre Lewis greeted students every morning, no matter the weather, and knew their names and interests, said Parkway Principal Jamie Mack. Lewis HeLped a girl with her backpack as she got out of her parents’ car.
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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
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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East Meadow budget stays within tax cap By BRIAN STIEGLITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
The East Meadow School District is gearing up for its budget vote and recently sent out its concise budget newsletter as residents prepare to mail in their absentee ballots. The district has been releasing the spending plan in sections at a series of public meetings that began Jan. 8. When schools closed due to the pandemic, it’s Board of Education continued to deliberate before proposing the final budget on May 13. If the budget passes, it will include the hiring of three social workers to alternate among the district’s four elementary schools. “We’ve heard the need for increased mental health resources, and it’s definitely a priority,” said David Casamento, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. The district will be hiring a guidance counselor to rotate among the three buildings on a weekly basis, a part-time district-wide health and safety representative and additional art and music teachers in its elementary schools. The budget expands the district’s integrated co-teaching model at the secondary level, which aims to provide a more inclusive classroom setting for special education students. The proposed budget totals $214.18 million, an increase of 2.66 percent. The 2020-21 tax levy — the total amount the district must collect in taxes to meet expenses — is projected to rise by 2.5 percent, to just under $143.10 million, according to district officials. A tax-levy increase greater than 2.56, or $3.48 million, would exceed the state tax levy cap and require a supermajority of at least 60 percent of voters to pass — which the district has done only once, with the 2015-16 budget, when it implemented its full-day kindergarten program. “And I hope that’s the only time we do it,” said Patrick Pizzo, the district’s assistant superintendent for business and finance. District-wide infrastructure improvements are part of an ongoing plan that takes into account input from
Brian Stieglitz/Herald
ThE EAST MEAdOw School District has been releasing its budg et in sections. Above were Superintendent Kenneth Card, left, school board President Matthew Melnick and Vice President Alisa Baroukh at a meeting ear lier this year. school principals. “Everybody wants air conditioning. Everybody wants new technology,” Pizzo said. “But you need to have the backbone to support it . . . with the proper infrastructure.” Capital improvements at elementary schools include increasing the size of the parking lot at Bowling Green, renovating the bathrooms at Barnum Woods, replacing classroom door locks at McVey, and resurfacing and painting the basketball court at Parkway. Resurfacing of the tennis court at Woodland Middle School is also planned. W.T. Clarke middle and high school, whose buildings are connected, are to have a gymnasium repainted. And East Meadow High School is to have a new carpet in its library. Residents will vote on the final spending plan on June 9, along with Proposition Two and Three. Voting will be exclusively by absentee ballot. All eligible voters will send their ballots, with a postage paid return envelope, to the district no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday. For more
information, contact the district clerk at (516) 478-5746. Proposition Two is an addendum to a $58.8 million joint school and library bond that voters passed in March 2017. The district has been renovating its fields as part of the bond, and its current plan is to install a new $600,000 grass football field at East Meadow High. Based on community feedback, however, officials added an option to install green crumb rubber synthetic turf fields, totaling $2.58 million, at the high school and on another field at Clarke. The tax impact will be $12.69 per year or $1.06 per month. Proposition Three is the East Meadow Public Library budget, which is projected at $7.95 million or a 4.2 percent increase from the 2019-2020 budget. Lastly, residents will vote in the Board of Education and Library Board races. Vice President Alisa Baroukh and Trustee Scott Eckers are running, unopposed, for seats on the Board of Education and Ellen Matishek is running, also unopposed, for a seat on the Library Board.
East Meadow enters Phase One of reopening By BRIAN STIEGLITZ and SCOTT BRINTON bstieglitz@liherald.com; sbrinton@liherald.com
Long Island entered the Phase One reopening of its battered economy on Wednesday and, that night, the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce met with dozens of business owners and residents for its third virtual “town hall” to detail what the reopening process will look like in East Meadow. “The reality is that, while we open today, it’s just the beginning,” said Ted Rosenthal, founder of the law firm Rosenthal, Curry & Kranz. He and Jim Skinner, owner of A&C Pest Management, cochair a chamber committee dedicated to post-pandemic efforts. “We need to be ready and willing and able,” he said. “We’ll hopefully overcome what we’ve had to deal with for the past few months and, as a chamber, we’re gonna find a way to make East Meadow a place everyone wants to visit again.” To celebrate emerging from the pandemic, the committee will be lining a portion of Front Street with American flags. “If you have a flag, put it in your window,” Skinner said. “Let everybody know
that you’re open for business.” The committee also includes Skinner’s son James, also of A&C, and Richie Krug Jr. and Tom and Lyndsey Gallagher, all of Century 21 American Homes. Once it reopens, each chamber business will receive “reopening kits” that include necessary supplies to keep employees and patrons safe and healthy, including facemasks, gloves, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. The committee will also be giving out a total of $5,000 through a contest to incentivize shopping at chamber businesses. Anyone who patronizes member businesses will receive five points for every $20 spent and points could be redeemed for a chance to win cash and prizes. Also at the chamber’s virtual meeting on May 27 was Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, who answered questions from attendees about the reopening process. She also assured that, if Long Island stays on track, each phase of reopening should last two weeks before the next. In hearing of the chamber’s reopening committee, she said, “it proves that business owners are problem solvers and it
gives me optimism that we can come back stronger.” Wednesday meant the green light for construction and wholesale trade companies to restart operations, along with retailers for curbside pickup only. The reopening of the Long Island economy will play out by region in three distinct phases hereafter: Phase Two: Professional services, finance and insurance, retail, administrative support, and real estate, rental and leasing. Phase Three: Restaurants and food services, beyond takeout and delivery. Phase Four: Arts, entertainment and recreation, and education. If the number of deaths, hospitalizations and new Covid-19 cases remains stable or declines for two weeks, a region can move on to the next phase of reopening. “As more regions of the state begin reopening,” Cuomo tweeted Tuesday, “we are carefully monitoring health data to make sure that everything is going in the right direction. We rely on science and
data to guide us — not emotion or politics.” Only New York City remains to start Phase One among the state’s 10 regions. It was unclear, however, when the city would be able to begin. As of May 24, it had met four of the seven criteria. It did not have enough available hospital beds and intensive care beds, and needed more contact tracers. Also of concern, the governor said, New York City was still seeing especially high Covid-19 infection rates in minority neighborhoods — at times as high has 40 percent, compared to the city-wide average of 20 percent. Cuomo emphasized that personal behavior will determine the success — or failure — of the reopening process. “The trajectory,” he said Tuesday, “is decided by people.” He repeated that people should: ■ Wear masks in public spaces. ■ Wash hands frequently. ■ Maintain social distance. “We want [the] economy to come roaring back,” he said.
LICC tackles pandemic’s mental health impact bstieglitz@liherald.com
J
ust connecting with another human is helpful, especially for people who live on there own.
The Long Island Crisis Center has been offering all of its services as it continues seeing an uptick in calls related to the coronavirus pandemic. If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis, you could call the Long Island Crisis Center’s hotline any time at (516) 679-1111. and advocacy group that provides health services to young members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride for Youth has been running all of its usual meetings on Zoom and have been sending food and in-home HIV tests to clients who need them. The LICC also runs a community education program called Building Healthy Lives through Education and has been continuing to offer workshops over Zoom to reach students and parents while schools are closed. Laura Campbell runs the group, which holds workshops on cyber bullying, suicide prevention, self-injury and one called “Let’s Talk Mental Health.” “Help is out there,” Buhse said. “It may look different then it did and in a different form, but it certainly still exists.”
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
ter’s calls specifically mention Covid-19 and even those that don’t involve callers who have lost their traditional coping mechanisms because of the lockdown. As the coronavirus pandemic continues into the Some callers are sequestered with their families and summer, so does the mental health crisis that comes can’t escape, others are triggered by wearing a mask from both the trauma of those directly affected by and others are unable to attend the support groups that Covid-19 and the fear and isolation of those under lock- have been a lifeline for their recovery. down. “Although it feels like this has been The motto of the Long Island Crisis Cengoing on forever, it hasn’t,” Buhse ter is “any problem, any time, any one” and said. “There’s progress being made the agency has adhered to it by continuing every day. Things are opening up and to provide all of its suicide prevention and the basics are available. It’s not easy, crisis intervention services. but we try to help them see what they According to Executive Director Theresa could do and what they do have.” Buhse, the agency closed its Bellmore office About 30 percent of the center’s on March 14. Roughly seven counselors calls deal with substance use. An have continued answering calls from their unprecedented change caused by the homes and about four counselors are on the pandemic is that a lot of people with overnight shift. substance abuse issues rely on AA ImAN Last week, they began polling their 70 meetings and can no longer attend volunteers to enlist more counselors to ExpERT them. work from home answering calls. They also “For some people, that’s their bigbegan re-trainings and briefings on Zoom to Theresa Buhse, gest coping method of all and to have bring the volunteers back to speed on the Executive Director, Long that taken away is devastating,” she coronavirus and the resources the LICC has Island Crisis Center said, adding that some have turned to deal with it. back to substance use to cope and The agency hopes to bring in new counbecause of an increase in free time. selors for virtual training in July or August. But, she said, support groups are And in September, they hope to be back on their office still available virtually and there are still ways for peowith additional health and safety measures. ple to recover from home. “We have several different hotlines and have been “Just connecting with another human is helpful, answering them around the clock,” Buhse said. “We especially for people who live on there own,” she said. haven’t missed a beat when it comes to answering the “And if someone does need therapy or medication, calls.” there are places that are open.” According to Buhse, roughly 80 percent of the cenThe LICC also operates Pride for Youth, a support
By BRIAN STIEGLITZ
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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NCC pulls programs for students with autism County Legislature won’t approve college’s 2020-2021 budget By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Nassau Community College’s decision to remove a pair of popular programs designed to help students with autism spectrum disorder in and out of the classroom has parents and educators concerned. They want the programs restored. Citing finances as the main reason, NCC interim Vice President Valerie Collins sent a letter to the coordinators of both programs, known as ASPIRES and Achilles, to inform them that the programs would not be offered in the 2020-21 academic year. “Please do not make or continue to make any plans to recruit new students going forward,” read the letter from Collins, dated April 20. “The Achilles and Aspires programs will continue through the conclusion of this semester,” it continued. “The decision to end the programs this semester was, of course, influenced by financial concerns.” Roughly 35 students took part in the programs in the 2019-20 academic year. Multiple calls and emails to NCC requesting the amount of savings the cost-cutting move would bring for 2020-21 were not returned. Frances Viscovich, an NCC environmental science professor who coordinates the ASPIRES program, offered to volunteer her time and identified other individuals at the school who could assist at no cost. However, according to a statement released by NCC, volunteer hours could not be accepted. “I thought this would be my chance to give back to the community under Covid-19,” Viscovich said. “I felt like this would be my frontline volunteer work. These are such important programs. These students get essential individual and group counseling.” The ASPIRES program provides comprehensive support to students with ASD in weekly counseling sessions as well as programming designed to address executive functioning and social skill deficits. “The program started with one student six years ago,” Viscovich noted. “Now we have a waiting list. We should be promoting it, not ending it.” Wantagh resident Vanessa Kelly said her son Jimmy, a 2018 graduate of MacArthur High School, has seen con-
Christina Daly/Herald
The removal of two vital programs for students with autism has brought Nassau Community College’s decision into question. siderable improvement both academically and socially as a result of the ASPIRES program. His grade average has jumped from a B-minus in high school to an A-minus at NCC. “It’s a crucial program, and the social support has given Jimmy so much confidence,” she said. “He’s more independent as a student and a person.” The Achilles program has been around for nearly two decades and is for twice exceptional students — those who are gifted but learning challenged. Valerie Lagakis, an English and reading professor at NCC, has overseen the program since 2010.
“Students are specifically attending our school because of the Achilles program,” Lagakis said. “I’m upset for the new students who won’t be able to get into the program.” Baldwin resident Denise Baird is concerned her daughter Rebecca, a 2017 Oceanside High School graduate who just completed her first year at NCC, will not continue to excel at her current pace without ASPIRES. “The program is a Godsend,” Baird said. “Rebecca has benefitted a great deal.” State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Beach, is encouraging the college to reconsider its decision. “The ASPIRES and Achilles programs at NCC support our county’s differently abled students who have just as much desire to succeed as all other young people,” Kaminsky said. “The programs help them develop the tools necessary to thrive at the next level, and there is simply no substitute for what they provide.” On May 27, the Nassau County Legislature, which votes to approve NCC’s yearly budget, sent a letter to college President Jermaine Williams to inform him it would not approve the 2020-2021 as it stands. Presiding Officer for the County Legislature, Richard J. Nicolello, wrote to Williams: “I urge you to restore the funding to these programs for the upcoming academic school year and beyond. Without such action, I do not see a path forward for the approval of the proposed Nassau Community College budget for this year.” The college released a statement. “Nassau Community College is focused on providing all of our students with the support they need to complete their academics at the college,” Lindsey Angioletti, the director of marketing and communications, wrote. “After careful consideration, students in the ASPIRES and Achilles program have been transitioned from the formal program to now receive individual campus services in our Student Personnel Services area and our Center for Students with Disabilities. “While we appreciate the offer of a member of our staff to voluntarily run the program, contractually we were not permitted to do so,” the statement continued. “It is of the utmost importance to the college that the students in the former ASPIRES and Achilles program have access to the tools they need to succeed in their academic journey.”
Dentists reopen as Nassau preps for Phase Two By ScOTT BrINTON sbrinton@liherald.com
With the potential Phase Two reopening of Long Island’s economy approaching, Governor Cuomo issued an executive order Sunday allowing dental offices to return to work statewide June 1. At the same time, the governor said last Friday that barbershops and hair salons would be included in the Phase Two reopening. Previously, they had not been. The updated reopening timeline represents a continued drop in new coronavirus hospitalizations, intubations and deaths, according to the governor. Over the weekend, the number of overnight deaths fell to 56 — down from a high of 799 on April 9, he said. That is a 93 percent decline. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called the planned opening of barbershops and hair salons “great news,” and said the governor’s order allowing them to reopen gives “our business owners the
certainty they need to reopen safely.” In addition, Phase Two reopening, now scheduled on Long Island for June 10, will include: ■ Office-based work. ■ Real estate services. ■ In-store sales — currently curbside pickup is allowed. ■ Vehicle sales, leases and rentals. ■ Retail rental, repair and cleaning. ■ Commercial building management.
Laura
A big question on many Nassau residents’ minds has been, when will restaurants reopen for dining? Only takeout and curbside pickup are allowed now. In-person dining can resume during the Phase Three reopening, which is scheduled to begin in Nassau June 24, if
the number of hospitalizations and deaths remains steady or continues to drop. Already Curran is planning for the reopening of restaurants. On Friday, she announced a plan to allow villages, towns and cities to shut down certain streets to facilitate al fresco dining, thus reducing the need for table capacity within eateries, enabling them to maintain six-foot social distancing. She is calling it “Open Streets.” “Continuing the county’s efforts to support the revival of our downtowns and busicurran ness districts,” the Nassau website reads, “the county will be fast-tracking permitting approvals for temporary road closures, with a decision within a week of receiving an application. To apply, visit www.nassacountyny. gov/OpenStreets. The Nassau County Industrial Devel-
opment Agency is also spending roughly $500,000 to provide 1,000 local small businesses and nonprofits with personal protective equipment. Businesses with fewer than 20 employees, minority- and womenowned, and businesses in economically distressed areas are eligible. Businesses can apply at www.nassauboost.net starting June 1. All Nassau County businesses must, by state mandate, prepare reopening plans, detailing how they intend to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus and ensure the safety of workers and customers. The plan must include: ■ * Wellness checks for employees and customers. ■ Disinfection and cleaning routines. ■ Social distancing protocols. PPE supply for employees and customers. All businesses must also affirm to the state that they agree to operate according to state safety mandates.
East Meadow Family washes cars for charity named Chandler that they adopted from the Binghamton-based nonprofit Pibbles and More Animal Rescue. The sisters wanted to start their own business venture in March, before the shutdown, to save up for a new pet. After businesses closed and they started seeing the impact on their community, the Diaz family wanted to give back, and brainstormed the car wash idea. Ysa and Celia have been scheduling
YSa ScruBBED THE tires of a van.
all the appointments, and washing the cars with their father. They researched the best methods to clean the vehicles effectively. They use special microfiber cloths that don’t scratch the finish, and employ the two-bucket method: ringing out the dirty water in one bucket and soaking up clean water from another before scrubbing the car again. “You also have to keep up a fast pace,” Damien said. “You don’t want the soap to dry or it will leave a stain.” Two years ago, Ysa and Celia set up a lemonade stand. Another cat of theirs had just died, and they wanted to raise money in her memory for the Last Hope Animal Shelter in Wantagh. Over the past three months, Damien and his wife, Stacey, have been working from home. Damien is a project manager for a furniture company, and Stacey is a teacher at Gotham Avenue Kindergarten in Elmont. They didn’t take a financial hit in the pandemic, Damien said, “so it made sense for us to help others.” They have been washing as many as 12 vehicles each weekend for the past eight weeks. So far they have raised just over $2,100, and plan to continue the effort as long as they see a demand for it. Benny Diaspar ra, the owner of Nina’s Deli, said he was overwhelmed by the volume of donations he has received from community efforts like the Diazes’ car wash. Damien recalled a conversation the two had about the philanthropy they have seen in East Meadow over the past three months. “I told him that I hope the generosity becomes more contagious than this virus,” Damien said.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
continued from front page
Photos by Brian Stieglitz/Herald
SISTErS cElIa, far left above, and Ysa Diaz started a car wash business with their father, Damien, to raise money for Nina’s Deli, in East Meadow, a catering company that has been feeding front-line workers, and the No Kill Project, in Bayshore, an animal rescue and advocacy group. YSa aND HEr father at work on May 30.
Comptroller releases ‘troubling’ projections of retail activity in the county — businesses that have been at nearly a standstill in the past nine weeks. “Covid-19 has dealt the county economy an unpreceAs Nassau County neared a phase-by-phase reopen- dented gut punch, and these numbers show the potening of nonessential businesses, county Comptroller tial effect on county government,” Schnirman wrote Jack Schnirman released a report last week that ana- in a statement. “Based upon our available data, our lyzed projected sales tax losses, as a result of the shut- new sophisticated modeling tool currently projects down that began in March in response to the novel worse consequences than previously anticipated.” coronavirus. The report, entitled “[[[tk]]],” also ran The extent of the losses would depend largely on stresses based on possible outcomes if the the timing and pace of reopening, SchnirCovid-19 virus were to recur later this year. man said on releasing his agency’s report. “The county currently depends on sales With more than 2 million New Yorkers curtax for 40 percent of its revenue,” Schnirrently unemployed, he thought it unlikely man said, calling the losses already susthat restarting the economy could be quick tained as a result of business closures or seamless. “We’re in no position to make “really troubling.” predictions about that,” Schnirman said, According to Schnirman, the report adding that the role and responsiveness of showed that in a best-case scenario, the the federal government would also be crucounty is already facing losses of 12.25 percial in determining outcomes. cent for the year, or more than $156 million. On a more positive note, the county’s In a worst-case scenario, the report posited solid financial condition, reflected in its Jack Schnirman losses in sales tax revenue of more than 28 high investment-grade credit rating; its percent, or $360 million, for 2020. In the ability, restored in this year’s state budget, event of a recurrence of the virus, Schnirto capitalize on the Nassau Independent Finance man said losses for the two fiscal years 2020-21 could Authority’s even higher credit rating to borrow at amount to between $665 million-$1 billion. lower rates; and its almost limitless tax base, giving it The largest source of sales tax for the county is the ability to bond far beyond any currently imaginretail, at 58.4 percent. Accommodation is next, able scenario suggested the county would be able to accounting for 11.4 percent. Automobile dealers, retail weather the fiscal typhoon, however painful the proclothing and gasoline stations account for 40 percent cess might be.
By TIMOTHY DENTON tdenton@liherald.com
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Sales tax breakdown Retail
58.35 %
Accommodation
11.37
Wholesale
5.14
Information
4.88
Other services
8.74
Manufacturing
2.77
Administration, support, waste management
2.66
Real estate
2.07
Utilities
2.07
Professional services, scientific, technical
1.95
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
brothers elias, far left, and Asher Katz, from Martin Avenue Elementary School, wore Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quote shirts to spread positivity as students throughout North Bellmore celebrated physical and mental wellness.
Photos courtesy North Bellmore School District
North Bellmore schools promote personal wellness The North Bellmore School District promoted healthy minds and bodies throughout the month of May, with virtual activities ranging from Parent University workshops to Wellness Day in observance of Mental Health Awareness Month. The district hosted several virtual workshops as part of its Parent University program, with topics including: parenting through crisis; coping with the stressors and unknowns of the new normal; mental health literacy for parents; promoting resiliency in schools; becoming a resilient family amid Covid-19; and children’s mental health. North Bellmore also offered free telephone chats with licensed mental health professionals through Western Suffolk BOCES, and provided parents with contacts for numerous mental health support agencies on Long Island. “Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to support one another so that we can best support our children,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Janet Pollitt said. May 22 marked Wellness Day in North Bellmore. Students were asked to do at least one activity from each of the five categories — mindfulness, healthy habits, connection, gratitude and nature — on the Wellness Day “choice board.” Using the digital learning platform Seesaw, they posted the activities they did and shared photos, too. The district’s music teachers also creat-
ed a mindful music activity by encouraging students to play their favorite songs or albums, listen closely to the lyrics and their meaning and pay attention to the sounds of the different instruments to make new musical discoveries. One popular activity from the choice board was gratitude jars, so children could reflect on their many reasons to be thankful. Several teachers at Newbridge Road Elementary School had their students create virtual gratitude jars. Second-grade teacher Jennifer Campbell-Toomb asked each child to pick two things, but they all went above and beyond by filling up their jars. Fifth-grade teacher Karen Barrins and her students participated in a Zoom chat to talk about the meaning of gratitude and discuss how giving thanks and focusing on the positives can have a profound impact. She said the gratitude jars will serve as a visual reminder of all the “good things in their lives” and are something they can dip into at any time they need a lift. Barrins noted that many Wellness Day activities promoted personal well-being without using technology, from writing sidewalk chalk messages to going on a nature scavenger hunt to eating mindfully. “Taking the time to focus upon striving to be healthy in body and mind by disconnecting from our devices in order to reconnect is a true gift,” Barrins said. Compiled by Tony Bellissimo
Newbridge road elemeNtary School second-grader Sadie Heim created a gratitude jar to show what she is thankful for as part of the North Bellmore School District’s Wellness Day activities.
Virtual Originality
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is an East Meadow resident and a direct marketing/advertising executive who teaches advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, LIU Post and SUNY Old Westbury.
PTA supports mental health with virtual workshop Parents and students in the East Meadow School District recently took part in a virtual workshop called “Coping and Balancing,” hosted by the PTA Curriculum Council’s Project ACCESS (A Community Committed to Educating Students for Success). David Hymowitz, a social worker from the Nassau County Department of Human Services, educated attendees on managing emotions, expressing feelings and creating a rou-
tine to stay healthy during through the coronavirus pandemic. Hymowitz led the discussion, encouraging participants to share their personal experiences. He pointed out key differences between the current crisis and others, noting the larger impact on humanity due to the global scale. He also discussed helpful ways for students, parents and educators to manage stress and anxiety.
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Have a great story? Call our editors today 516-569-4000 or email bstieglitz@liherald.com
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When she returned home from the experience she was carrying a cardboard and marker creation that captured the days before this virus and clearly the days ahead. It read, “Life, Love, Lev” and “Thank you.” No, thank you.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
It’s starting to get ugly. Not because we’ve been home for a while, but because our family has shared more of our perspectives on so many more things now that we have extra time and opportunity to do so. And no topic has gotten more attention than creativity. First, there was a two-day debate on the skill of op-ed writers — their writing style, political agenda and downright inability to communicate without being degrading, unclear or lacking humor at this precarious time. auren ev Then there was the streaming videos that can fill up hours, including my recent introduction to marble racing and marble Olympics (Yeah you read that right). Ingenious or insipid? And the choices of virtual religious services: some that use lots of visuals and brief readings while others screen-share the prayer book for a virtual read-along. Before there was a shelter-in-place and pause in the land, I had a student who fought with me for nearly an hour regarding the grade she got on an advertising assignment. She seemed to be used to wearing down instructors until she got her way, obviously she never met a marketer like me who spent a professional lifetime defending her position. I justified my interpretation of her work element by element and she was stunned. “But that’s so subjective,” she cried. “Of course it is,” I acknowledged. “It’s creative.” The grade stood. Finally, this past week, there was a unanimous winner of creativity and resourcefulness. The honor went to a fifth-grade student in a local student/ teacher parade. My daughter was one of the many teachers who lined the sidewalk with social distancing by the school while parents and kids rode by with messages of caring and encouragement.
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Covid-19
hoMetown heroes John scannello cannello
Jennifer Krug reinhardt einhardt
J
east Meadow secretary, east Meadow Kiwanis
seaford
W
ennifer Reinhardt is the secretary of the East Meadow Kiwanis club and, since the pandemic began mid-March, she has been delivering meals to the community at McVey and Parkway elementary schools. The Kiwanis club has donated a rough total of $5,500 in food. Reinhardt has lived in East Meadow for roughly 30 years with her husband Jeff, a first responder with FDNY. They have three sons who are 5, 3, and 1. We’ve been working every week to deliver food, gift cards and other donations. We’ve been working with Island Harvest to get supplies and things that are needed for the schools to the community. The biggest thing for me is just making a different and doing my part. I’m lucky to be a part of such a wonderful club. I’m also on the PTA of McVey Elementary School. [Kiwanis has] been accepting donations and then we go shopping and deliver the meals on Fridays. Our president, Lisa Hallett, goes to [W.T. Clarke High School]. I deliver to McVey and Parkway [elementary schools]. We’ve been doing this for weeks and weeks, since this pandemic started. We make deliveries from the schools and anyone who wants could pick up from there. I drop it off before 9 a.m. and the schools put it out on a table for people to come and take what they need. It’s a group effort, our club is very active in the East Meadow community and do whatever we can do make a difference. We’ve been hosting virtual meetings on a biweekly basis.
owner, seaford Bagels
e have always been, in every decade we’ve been open, community-minded. Whether its PTAs, school clubs, Knights of Columbus, temples, anything, we’ve always been supportive of the community that has been so supportive of us. As a result of this pandemic, we were all worried about family, but I was also worried about employees. My employees were nervous. We had people without any source of income. There are more people in the community in the same position. I reached out to St William the Abbott and Donna Jebaily and said whatever you guys need, we got you covered. Depending on who Donna would send us to, we’ve been giving food and gift cards. We’ve given outright donations. We’ve given money for supermarket gift cards. This hit home. We know a lot of people who are or have been sick. We know people who have died. I’ve been on the other side of the coin. I know what its like to be broke, to be lonely, to be down to your last dime. Out of college, working at Grumman Air Space. I was divorced. I had no money for gas. I rode to work on a bike in a suit. I was eating macaroni and cheese and tuna fish. It was the generosity of friends and family that helped me out. Sandy, so I believe it’s our responsibility to give back.
hoMetown hero
hoMetown hero
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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On this week’s
Front Page
Peaceful demonstration met with detractors
see front page of main section
Thousands gather to demand justice for Floyd
see front page of main section
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FOOD GUIDE
2754 North Jerusalem Road North Bellmore, NY
516-679-4805 • 516-679-4806 • ElisasRestaurant.com
ELISA’S FAMILY MEALS PACKAGES
3-course meal ready to go as low as $49... serves between 4-6 people Leave the cooking to us with this super value, super tasty meal!
ELISA’S CURBSIDE PICKUP TAKEOUT & SAFETY Our newly expanded menu is available for lunch and dinner, we’ve added a bunch of heros and now our thin crust pizzetti is available everyday. Elisa’s has always taken cleanliness and food safety serious, and now more than ever we’ve increasing our vigelance. The use of gloves and masks to ensure your safety, as well as ours, and we request that you call upon arrival, we’ll bring the food to you. Because you’re more than customers to us, you’re family.
Take-away on tipping The pandemic has changed the way we think about how and when we tip
F
ar too many local restaurants will not be able to stay in business during the pandemic or reopen after we receive the “all clear” signal and life begins to return to a new normal. For many restaurant owners, business is down 95 percent. It’s almost unfathomable. If you do order take-out, consider tipping as much as you can. Tip at least 20 percent. However, if you can afford it, tip a lot. A whole lot! Say, even 50 or 100 percent. The money you give is helping them get through today and maybe even keeping them afloat for tomorrow. Do you really want to lose one of your favorite restaurants? If not, consider the money a donation of goodwill in hoping they can see it through this physical and economic pandemic. That way, when we’re given the all-clear signal, we can come out of our homes, gather together, and celebrate with our friends and family at our favorite restaurant — the one we helped keep open for just such a day!
Our new restaurant hours are Noon - 8pm Monday, and Wednesday through Sundays.
Dessert Menu Add a little extra to your order and surprise your family with desserts from Elia’s. Our entire menu is available for takeout. See our website for details.
Need a Bottle of Wine from the Bar? Our entire wine list and full bar are both available for takeout. See our website for details.
IN ADDITION TO OUR DINNER MENU ELISA’S SPECIALTY NIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOUT MONDAY: SHRIMP NIGHT
Choose any of the following shrimp dishes served with a choice of salad or soup du jour and accompanied by a side of pasta with tomato sauce or vegetable du jour for only $18.95
Gift yourself or someone special with a gift certificate Support your favorite restaurant by buying a gift certificate or even more than one to use after restaurants reopen. The restaurant gets to use your money now to help stay afloat, and you get a delicious meal to look forward to once they’re allowed to welcome dine-in guests again.
WEDNESDAY: CHICKEN NIGHT
Any chicken dish from our specialty night menu, served with a choice of salad or soup du jour, and accompanied by a side of pasta with tomato sauce or vegetable du jour for only $16.95
THURSDAY: PASTA NIGHT
Any pasta dish served with house salad for only $13.95
Visit our Web Site: elisasrestaurant.com to see our complete menu. Specialty night menus and our family specials.
Check out our Face book Page to see additional Weekly Dinner specials Created by Chef Paolo (Posted Every Thursday)
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June 4, 2020 — TO GO FOOD GUIDE — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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About that tip Any time you’re picking up a to-go order from anything other than a drive-through window, it’s standard practice to leave a gratuity for the service from the person who boxed your meal, made sure all is included, bagged everything, and then either had it ready at the counter for you or brought it to your car. Sometimes, all of this is done by one person, and sometimes it’s a team effort. Employees who earn tips have always relied on balancing out averages over the course of a shift or several shifts. For every miser who tips 10 percent, you might have a big spender who tips 25 or even 30 percent. In Continued on next page Above photo: Servers and delivery drivers are working hard so you can stay home and safe. Tip them generously.
Continued from previous page
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normal business, any given slow shift will be balanced by a busy shift that follows. For servers, they have an opportunity to build face-to-face rapport with the people they are serving, which can make all the difference when it comes to their tips. But the workers who have always suffered the most are delivery folks or takeout servers, because many people seem to feel that without the table-side service aspect, there is no need to offer more than a token gratuity, if anything at all. This has sadly gotten worse for some in recent weeks. With contactless pickup and delivery, without that personal touch of seeing the person who is giving you your food, some people have either reduced or eliminated tipping altogether. The same is even more true for people who are currently doing grocery deliveries. Most of the services that are facilitating these deliveries are not passing along service fees to their employees, so now is not the time to get penny pinching around your tipping. Be sure that you are being generous with all of the people who are keeping you fed.
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516-679-1313
1274 Wantagh Ave • Wantagh, New York
1089543
FRESHlY SqUEEzED
THE LITTLE KISS - SEAFORD’S HIDDEN GEM
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What you can do For starters, the most important thing you can do is remember that by going to work to make and package up the food you are picking up, doing your grocery shopping for you, or by going out to deliver your food to your home, the lowest paid people are quite literally putting their health and safety at risk. So, tip them accordingly. A minimum tip of 10 to 15 percent of your bill for grocery delivery and 20 percent of your bill to a restaurant is the least you should be tipping. If your bill is very low, be extra generous, especially if your food was delivered to your home. That $18 pizza that showed up magically on your doorstep, without you having to put on a mask and gloves and get in your car and drive to the pizza place? That has got to be worth at least a $5 tip, and frankly, if you have the means, $10. That $100 bag of groceries that required someone go into a store and shop for you while physically distancing, taking twice as long as it normally does, that is worth at least $15, and again, $20 to $25 if you can afford it. Take into consideration any extra challenges, whether it is a delivery from a restaurant that is far from you, or if your delivery requires entering a building, going through security, etc. The more complicated the delivery, the more contact points for your delivery person. The higher the risk, the higher the tip. Ditto for grocery shoppers; if your order is extra complicated, or very heavy, up that tip amount.
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June 4, 2020 — TO GO FOOD GUIDE — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Tipping etiquette has changed Here are some of the most important things to consider about gratuities during this time. Overall restaurant sales are a fraction of what they used to be. It is more important than ever to realize that if the restaurant is doing 25 percent of their usual business, the staff is making only 25 percent of their usual salary, and if they are a tipped employee, an even smaller fraction of their tips. Not every restaurant has a consistent group of customers. For newer restaurants, or restaurants that don’t serve a particular community, people do not feel the same personal connection as they do to one that’s been around a long time or with a loyal local customer base. It is one thing when a restaurant is the spot where you are considered a regular, or where you go for special occasions and feel an emotional connection; it is something else when you are just trying to get dinner on the table. For places that do not have that nostalgia attached, consumers seem to be tipping less. Delivery people often have to pay for their own expenses. It might seem like no big deal for someone to pick up your food at the restaurant or at the grocery store and drop it at your doorstep. But did you know that many delivery drivers are covering 100 percent of their vehicle expenses, including gas? And often, the “service” or “delivery” fee associated with your order is not passed along to your delivery driver. Sometimes that goes to the restaurant to offset packaging or other overhead expenses. Sometimes, it goes to the corporation on the other end of the app or web site.
FOOD GUIDE
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FOOD GUIDE
June 4, 2020 — TO GO FOOD GUIDE — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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1887 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh, NY
516-785-5000
318A Sunrise Hwy, Rockville Centre, NY
516-205-8040
e
diREctoR, St. JanE FRancES dE chantal Food pantRy Wantagh
i
MERRick nyu WinthRop hoSpital MinEola
’ve been a nurse at Winthrop for more than 14 years. The outbreak of Covid-19 changed a lot at the hospital. We’ve had to use almost every bed; it’s really unprecedented. But our medical staff still takes great care of patients. All the way down to the cleaning staff, everyone at Winthrop works together. As nurses, we have to worry about bringing the virus home to our families. Everyone has their ritual — many take off their uniforms and sanitize themselves before going into their house. A room was established at Winthrop where you can change before leaving for the day. I work about three days a week and work night shifts. The virus is downtrending right now, and now that things are opening up, I’m concerned about people being out and about. We have to be smart about it, because there could be another outbreak. I’m an assistant manager, so I oversee all of the nurses. Everyone, at the heart of it, is taking a toll from the outbreak. It’s especially hard on young nurses just starting out, hoping that their patient survives. It’s very emotional. Luckily, we’ve had traveling nurses from almost every state, including Alaska. Moving forward, I want everyone to be safe. I know everyone wants to jump outside, but we have to do it wisely. While it’s affected many of the elderly, there are also young people who have ended up on respirators — you can never tell who will be hit the hardest.
le Ruth Melendez has been through her share of emergencies. As the long-time head of social ministries and director of the parish food pantry at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, she remembers events like Hurricane Sandy and the recession of 2008-09 as if they happened last week. But those disasters pale in comparison not only to what she has seen, since the beginning of the Covid-19 onslaught, but also to what she believes is coming now. “The cushions people had from evictions or power shut-offs are starting to expire, but a lot of people are just as badly off today as they were yesterday,” Melendez said. “They’re going to be facing the same kind of insecurities —or worse. “We’ve seen the need grow during the last two months beyond what I could have imagined. Thank God for all our friends in the community who’ve helped us. “[President] Cathy Powell, of the [Wantagh] Chamber of Commerce and [Second Vice President] Marilynne Rich started a T-shirt campaign that’s raised $6,000 for us so far. And all our usual donors have continued to give, plus a lot of new ones, and not just from our parish. A man from the synagogue [Temple B’nai Torah] called to ask what he could do to help and brought us a wonderful contribution.
hoMEtoWn hERo
hoMEtoWn hERo
Questions we’ve been asked... Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?
There is absolutely no fee or other charge in New York State when you make “prearrangements”. Moreover when you pre-fund those Thomas L. Kearns arrangements through the Pre-Plan Trust there is no additional expense in establishing the trust account. A trust account that remains under your control and your funds are FDIC insured. No commission, no set-up fees, no extra expenses. Just accurate, helpful information, and a plan that conforms to all New York State Regulations and SSI-Medicaid regulations as well. An enhanced rate of interest on the Pre-Plan Trust enables us to guarantee the funeral home costs when a complete funeral is arranged and paid for. If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions. You’ll receive clear answers, and itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind.
“While you are home, quarantined
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KEARNS , Inc. Funeral Directors
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1090879
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters ElE Ruth MElEndEz ndE nd E aMy dEMMEt t BEthpagE
13
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
14
South Shore hamlets find bonds with food BY J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com
When the coronavirus pandemic hit Nassau County in March, many worried about their families’ health. They worried about keeping their jobs. They were told to stay inside and avoid contact with their neighbors. But many Seaford and Wantagh community members refused to be held back from helping their neighbors. On March 30, community leader and Seaford Chamber of Commerce board member Donna Jebaily called on her community to donate to a cause. “It started as a way to give back to medical workers by delivering food to them,” Jebaily said. “The first one was to Nassau University Medical Center. From there, we started taking collections.” Jebaily asked her neighbors for $200 to feed a unit at NUMC. They raised around $1,000. She took that money to Cara Mia, in Seaford, one of many restaurants hit hard by the pandemic. “I brought it to Sergio at Cara Mia, and I said, ‘This is what we have, feed as many people as you can for this,’” Jebaily recounted. “It initially started as one meal, and then it hasn’t stopped since March.” Nearly three months later, donations collected solely through community activism DonnA JEBAilY and neighborly generosity have amounted to a total of $11,500 Board member, worth of food and gift cards. Seaford Chamber of The donations went to medical facilities, churches, g roup Commerce homes, supermarket workers and needy families. Jebaily said that the donors have mostly been Seaford and Wantagh residents. At the same time, she raised $1,450 for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation and $400 for Karen’s Hope, a nonprofit that provides housing, as well as educational and social programs, for those with disabilities. Jebaily’s next goal was to drive business back to local restaurants. She and her team have used the collections to buy food from Seaford Bagels, Bayview Tavern, Dang! BBQ, Guac Shop, Cara Mia, Rosario’s, Mario’s, Gusto Divino, Il Bacetto, Salpino, Little Kitchen, Tarallo’s, Gino’s, Brooklyn Square Pizza and Philadelphia Pretzel Factory. They have even ordered selfcare and beauty supply product goodie bags from CVS. “As a Chamber of Commerce member, when we decided to do this, we wanted to try to take care of businesses in need,” Jebaily said. “The only ones really open were restaurants. These local restaurants have always helped and supported schools, PTAs and the community, so I felt it was the community’s turn to try and give back.” She added that “every single place” she ordered from was accommodating and appreciative. “They would add more food, more water to every order,” Jebaily said. “Every single place sent at least 25 percent more than what I asked for.” “Donna really is a great asset to the community and to the board,” said chamber President Nick Bilotta. She really is making a difference.” Donations from Jebaily’s team have directly helped NUMC, New York University Winthrop Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, North Shore Long Island Jewish, St. Francis Hospital, Cohen Children’s Hospital, Northwell Manhasset, Mount Sinai South Nassau, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Schmitt’s Funeral Home, St. William the Abbot Church, John Theissen Children’s Foundation, Karen’s Hope, local supermarkets and their employees, Starbuck’s employees, nearby group homes and local essential workers.
Y
ou’re only as impactful as the people who surround you.
Photos courtesy Donna Jebaily
SincE MARch 30, community members have banded together to provide food and self-care donations for essential workers and those in need. “I reached out to [Jebaily] and St. William and said, ‘Whatever you need, I got you covered,’” said John Scannello of Seaford Bagels. Scannello and his partners, Ralph and Claudio Facchini, have been donating bagels, cold cuts and deli goods since the onset of the pandemic. Now, donations have begun to finally slow. Jebaily still checks her Venmo daily. She still hopes to feed sanitation workers and local fire departments before her latest foray into fundraising is done. “If I was living in a community of people that didn’t care, this fundraiser, these donations, they would never happen,” Jebaily said. “I’m not a millionaire. I can’t feed everybody by myself. You’re only as impactful as the people who surround you. “This is a very tight-knit and caring community,” she added. “I’m so grateful to raise my kids here.”
DonnA JEBAilY, oF Seaford, has collected $11,500 for these donations.
15
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Spread the news(letter) not the virus!
1085562
What you need to know today.
1085016
Stay up to date with the latest Nassau County news. Sign up for an online account at www.liherald.com to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox.
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
16
What’s up next door and around the corner
Herald neigHbors
Photos courtesy Kristen Cassidy
Millie alBerti waving to family and friends as she celebrated her 100th bir thday in Wantagh on May 16.
Wantagh woman celebrates ‘cento anni’ By Kristen Cassidy cassidyk@moravian.edu
alBerti Blew a kiss one of the more than two dozen cars that drove by in a birthday parade. tina russo, 94, offered birthday greetings to her longtime friend. alBerti oBserving soCial distancing during birthday celebrations.
Longtime Wantagh resident Millie Alberti celebrated her 100 years of life on May 16 by ringing in her historic bir thday Covid-19 style. – The colorful, lively, and, according to Millie, seemingly endless parade took place at the Wantagh City Senior Citizens Center, where she was joined by friends. Alberti and her friends sat six feet apart, family members and friends drove slowly past, calling out expressions of their love. Family members from as far away as Tennessee enjoyed the parade via FaceTime. Alberti was born on May 11, 1920, in Italy and grew up in Brooklyn. The mother of three has six g randchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Courtesy the Hoeffner Family
School Growth from the Roaring Twenties to Midcentury Between the two world wars, when East Meadow was still a sleepy rural hamlet, the school population stabilized and 400 to 500 students were enrolled each year in District No. 3. Schools were modernized and upgraded to include conveniences such as electricity and telephone service. and students attended either Front Street School (Public School No. 1), which was rebuilt in 1911 and greatly expanded in 1922, or Newbridge Road School (Public School No. 2). The area of the most significant development following World War I was off Newbridge Road. When that neighborhood’s school opened to children east of Newbridge Avenue (now East Meadow Avenue) in 1928, classes took places on the first floor while the second floor was still under construction. Initially, students used the basement to play and ate lunch at their desks. Through the Depression and war years, each building educated students from grades one through eight, with one teacher per grade in each school. Both buildings were overseen by one principal, Mr. Frank E. Church. Students had many more opportunities than in the past, with extracurricular clubs, instrumental
music classes (by 1933), and organized Republican political club. An addition to Prospect Avenue douphysical education classes (beginning 1939). Under teacher and coach Charles bled its size one year after opening; the Noble, boys learned sports such as boxing same with Meadow Lawn School (1951). Meadow Lawn, now George H. McVey and wrestling and girls learned to dance. Explosive population growth following School, was used as a combined elementary-junior high school for World War II resulted in several years. Bowling double sessions in 1948. Green School opened in The district purchased sev1952 and was doubled one eral lots for future schools year later by taking the but taxpayers were hesiplans and creating a mirtant to spent so much ror image school extension money on new buildings. known as Bowling Green The first of the modern II. Barnum Woods School structures, all of which opened in 1954 (financed in were designed by architect part by the U.S. governFrederick Wiedersum, was ment because of Mitchel Prospect Avenue School Manor Army housing) and (1950). Less than three was the first school in five months later, a spectacular years to have single-session fire destroyed the Front r cott ckErS classes, but only because Street School, displacing grades four through six 635 students. Kindergarten were temporarily housed at classes, just recently instituted, were canceled for several years, the new Woodland Junior High School and students were taught in triple ses- when it opened the following year. Newsions (three hours per day) in creative bridge Road School was expanded in both spaces such as school gymnasia, Calvary 1952 and 1954, adding classrooms, a gymLutheran Church, firehouse, and the nasium, and a cafeteria. The year 1955 was the climax of school construction in East Meadow with a total of six buildings opening: East Meadow High School in January; Salisbury, Parkway, and Meadowbrook Elementary Schools in April; and Woodland and Meadowbrook (later McCleary) Junior High Schools in September. W. Tresper PUBLIC AND PUBLIC AND Clarke Jr.-Sr. High School opened in 1957, LEGAL NOTICES… LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication the first in the county to offer a full proPrinted in this publication can be found online. To can be found online. To gram in technical trades. Peak enrollsearch by publication name, go search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com ment in East Meadow schools was approxto: www.mypublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL TO PLACE AND AD CALL imately 19,000 students in 1963. At the 516-569-4000 x 232 516-569-4000 x 232 time, we were the largest district on Long
A LOOK BACK
D .S
Public Notices
LEME1 0604
LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that a license “1324290” for beer and cider has been applied for by RODOLFO DANILO REYES to sell beer and cider at a Retail in a restaurant
under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 1099 FRONT ST, UNIONDALE, NY 11553, for on premises consumption. EL RETUMBO REST CORP 121978
Island and the third largest in the state. The Baby Boom generation brought modern programs in guidance, special education, the arts, vocational and adult education. A study of the challenges, successes, and controversies surrounding opening and closing these schools will be discussed in future articles. © Scott Eckers Dr. Scott Eckers is the author of East Meadow in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series. He is Vice President of the East Meadow Board of Education as well as Social Studies Chair for the East Williston School District. Scott is also an entertainer and recording artist.
E
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 bstieglitz@liherald.com
17
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
ABOve is NewBridge Road’s eighthgrade class of 1942.
HERALD
Employment
CLASSIFIED
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.
To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5
Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify and ad.
Homes
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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© 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 principle 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
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19
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Place Homes HERALD Market •
HERALD
Who can we trust? Q. We met with three architects, three contractors
and an interior designer and also went to our building department because we just want everything to go smoothly, with no problems, since we’re doing a big job, adding a full second floor on our cape, a family room, garage and kitchen extension. The problem we’re now facing is that we got a lot of the same answers from everyone, but we also got a lot of conflicting information. One contractor and the interior designer told us that many things we were doing could be done by them, and the architect would just draw from their sketches. The building official told us basics, but Ask The said it’s best to speak to the Architect architect (we choose). Family members who have used the interior designer say they’re very knowledgeable and can handle everything, but some of the answers didn’t square with the building official. We’re very confused, so how do we sort out what advice each one is giving us before we start?
A. I know I’ve written
Monte Leeper
this many times, that when I sat in classes in architecture school, design studios, art classes, art history, physics and calculus, I never knew that what lay ahead for me was that others who have no background, no qualifications and only a smidgen of training would be the ones to wrongly steer the projects I would be developing. I thought I’d be able to freely create. Instead, I often find that I have to spend most of my time trying to straighten out messes, fill out paperwork and try to troubleshoot. Why this happens isn’t a mystery. Armed with computers and the internet, everyone who wants to believe they can design and solve building problems feels empowered. In any endeavor, there must be one responsible leader. The word responsible isn’t to be taken lightly, because it doesn’t mean the one most easily able to dump the blame on. That individual must be the most capable of solving every angle of the project, starting with the most restrictive issues, like the law, otherwise known as government regulations, and also the laws of nature, such as structural, mechanical and technical issues. Who would that person be? While the interior designer may be comfortable and confident at advising you about space planning and finish selections, can you trust them to engineer the building loads, snow and wind loads or even the project’s energy and ventilation calculations? And while the contractor is great at hands-on problem solving, putting every detail of the building together, will they be able to follow all the regulations and be called on to sign documents guaranteeing your safety? Government, at every level, has imposed a ton of restrictions on the building process, mostly as a reaction, over centuries, to building disasters. You must decide whether overly confident, under-qualified people will be there not only to be creative, but also to protect you. Good luck!
HERALD Home Improvement
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Have ADHD/ Executive Function Disorder? Take a Free Virtual FOCUS Assessment Test to better understand your attention challenges 516-984-9365 OrganizeU4Life-Learn to Live Better
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OpiniOns
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ur country is suffering through the worst health crisis since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, and the worst economic crisis since the 1929 crash and subsequent Great Depression. Under a federal government emergency program dubbed Warp Speed, scientists are offering hope that promising vaccines will beat back the coronavirus over the next year. In the meantime, the economic damage America has suffered needs a similar major ongoing commitment from Washington. alfOnse Much has already been done d’amaTO to help keep the economy functioning during the past few months of lockdown. Congress has enacted over $3 trillion in support, including substantial help for both workers and businesses. The Payroll Protection Program provided major grants and loans to small businesses to keep them afloat and able to retain workers. Yet even with this help, 40 million Americans are out of work. The jobless are being helped with a $600-a-week federal supplement in addition to state unemployment benefits, but this program will expire in two months.
The economic situation shows no sign of getting better soon. White House economic advisers project that unemployment could top 20 percent before the economy begins to revive. And the chairman of the Federal Reserve has pointedly noted that even though the Fed has already pumped $2 trillion into the financial system, “It may well be that the Fed has to do more,” Jerome Powell told “60 Minutes.” “It may be that Congress has to do more … [to] help businesses avoid … insolvencies and … do the same for individuals — keep workers in their homes, keep them paying their bills. Keep families solvent.” That’s very important advice from the world’s most powerful banker. Congress and the White House should take it seriously and act on it. The key to achieving another round of federal stimulus relief will be a willingness of all parties to put aside political differences to deliver meaningful help to the country. That means the Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives should drop its insistence on loading up the next relief bill with every item on the liberal wish list. The rescue package should focus on continued funding of research to defeat the coronavirus and support for a strong economic recovery. President Trump and the Republican
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leadership of the Senate have signaled their support for additional federal spending during this extraordinary crisis. Yes, the deficit and the national debt will climb, but failing to resuscitate our economy could have even more dire economic consequences. The economy right now is like a Covid-19 intensive care patient hanging on life support. This is no time to argue about how much more effort should be made to save the patient. Washington should not get sidelined by political arguments. Here’s a prescription for dealing with the crisis:
es, the deficit and the national debt will climb, but that’s not the big worry.
■ Authorize generous spending on speeding up the development of a vaccine and a way to deliver it to every American as soon as it’s ready. ■ Provide another round of direct $1,200 stimulus checks to individuals and their dependents to help families pay mortgages and rents and put food on their tables. Trump has indicated that he’s open to this proposal. It’s worth the extra cost. Cash in the hands of desperate families is key to saving many from destitution. ■ Renew and improve the Payroll Protection Program with additional funding and key reforms to its operation. Small businesses, especially, need more flexibility on
how the grants they receive can be used. Keeping employees on the payroll won’t protect their jobs in the long haul if businesses are forced to close because they can’t meet other operating costs. ■ Along with reforming the PPP, convert the current $600 additional federal unemployment insurance supplement into an employment supplement. Instead of paying employees to stay home from their jobs, let’s pay them a “job bonus” to get back to work. ■ Provide substantial assistance to states and localities to help with the extraordinary costs imposed by the pandemic and to help them cover their operating costs. State and local tax revenues have dropped drastically since the pandemic began in every state. Helping them to keep providing critical services is not only reasonable, it’s necessary. That doesn’t mean writing a blank check to every state. ■ Finally, finally come to agreement on a national infrastructure program, putting jobless people to work rebuilding America. These are extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary measures. Washington must step up to the challenge, now. 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.
When, and how, do you recover a lost first kiss?
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here is no Plan B for young love. Through this pandemic, we are all living some version of Plan B, but my heart aches for our teenagers, for whom Plan B doesn’t work so well. They have been locked down and shut out by the Coronavirus, and they have far fewer coping mechanisms than adults. Some parents are struggling with teens who are sleeping all day or refusing to pitch in with chores. Being a teenager in the best of times is hugely inconvenient, and acting out is normal. I think any human who just survives the years between 13 and 19 reasonRandi ably intact is doing kReiss a splendid job. I actually remember what it was like to be 13. Everyone has his or her own hell. Mine was being tiny. I was so small that my mother couldn’t find “teenage” clothes in my size, so, of course, I hated my mother. I threw my Mary Janes at her one day because she thought I would put them on my feet and actually
be seen in public, when everyone knew that you don’t wear Mary Janes when you’re 13. I was generally miserable from ages 13 to 16, when I discovered boys and the pimples subsided and I fell in love. How might that have played out if we had gone through a global pandemic between 1958 and 1964, when I was “becoming”? I would have been holed up in my house with my mother and father and younger sister. We weren’t the let’s-bring-out-theMonopoly-board kind of family. Our parents didn’t play with us. They loved us and fed us and told us what to do. Sequestering without 600 channels of TV, no Internet and no phones would have been a claustrophobic experience. Today, kids do have many more opportunities to launch Plan B. They just don’t want to. No school? Well, heavens, in the virtual world, kids with access to the internet can tour museums, wander the galaxy, practice new recipes and star in musicals. Every day, I send my grandkids links to magic shows and master classes for
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kids and invitations to Facetime and books that tell the stories of teenagers who lived through adversity and came out stronger and bolder and happier. In other words, I send them stuff they ignore. And I understand the lassitude. I’m just doing the grandma thing, trying to engage, but part of me knows the kids are surviving as best they can. They’re suffering from the isolation, and they have no place to vent their anger and their fear because the cultural message is to push through and do your work and don’t complain when others have it worse. One of my grandkids is about to enter his senior year in high school, and I also remember what it was like to be 17, when passion ruled. Do you remember your first kiss? Take a moment. Remember. You were probably a teenager and I hope it was thrilling, and sweet. Now, teens are being told to social distance, a suggestion that is antithetical to their very existence. No kissing or fooling around for months, or a year? Being told that if you hang out with a friend or find love, you
eing told to social distance is antithetical to teenagers’ very existence.
might be endangering your family or killing your grandma? I have four grandkids in various stages of moving up in school. One is leaving elementary school for middle school. One is going from seventh to eighth grade, one is leaving middle school for high school and one is the rising senior. They have been “attending” school at home and passing the time as best they can, while parents weave in and out of their days and multiple screens shine an everlasting light on them. They are isolated from the only other human beings who know how they feel — other teenagers. I see them on Facetime and, really, they look slightly unfamiliar, a bit stunned, after days of little interaction with other people. I wish they would keep a diary or a photo journal. The gift they already possess is a great story to tell, but I understand the inertia of this moment. So, for now, kids, it’s enough just to get through, and you will Then, because you’re young and strong and smart, you will move on and make up for lost time. In the meantime, take notes. You are caught up in the drama of a lifetime. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Americans need more help from Washington, now!
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Herald editorial
East Meadow
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
HERALD
Established 2001 Incorporating: Meadowbrook Times 1963-2001 East Meadow Beacon 1950-2020 brian stieglitz Editor audrey cohen robert cummings 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: emeadoweditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ clifford richner stuart richner Publishers michael bologna Vice President - Operations ■ scott brinton Executive Edtitor Jim harmon
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We must end systemic racism to find peace
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wave of angry protests over the merciless alleged killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a wave of more than 70 angry protests in cities across the nation last week and into the weekend. The majority were peaceful, but others turned violent, with vandals looting and burning businesses. It was a sadly familiar scene, a nightmare that has been repeated time and again for decades. We must end this national shame. White police officers brutalizing and killing black men who are in their custody is criminal, period. Derek Chauvin and the three other officers who held Floyd down deserve to be sent to prison. As one African-American commentator rightly pointed out, what we witnessed in the cellphone video of the killing was the slow, painful lynching of a black man by a white officer in the light of day, surround-
ed by witnesses. This was not Jim Crow America. This was Minneapolis, 2020. And what caused it all? A counterfeit $20 bill that Floyd was alleged to have tried to pass at a store. Yes, most police officers are good, honest and hardworking. Even one officer the likes of Chauvin, however, is one too many. Protests turned to riots over the weekend in cities across the country, including New York City. We must condemn the looting we witnessed. Rioting is wrong. It is illegal. It should never have happened. As a nation, however, we must pause a moment and reflect on why people in communities of color would, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo remarked, burn down their own house. We do not presume to speak for them, but we can imagine that the killing they witnessed turned long-simmering anger into rage, and the riotous behavior
was a way to vent it. It is a rage pent up not only because of a single killing, but also because of a long-time pattern of police killings. Taken together, they constitute what is called structural, or systemic, racism, the racism that is built into our very institutions — our police departments, our hospitals, our schools, our governments. Last year, the Herald undertook a nearly yearlong investigative series, “The Racism Around Us,” reporting on the structural racism in institutions here in Nassau County. The results were, in many ways, not surprising, but at the same time entirely shocking. The bottom line is that racism is to be found at all levels of our so ciety, including in the media. Until we solve the issue of structural racism, we will never find the peace that our nation seeks — the peace that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prayed for.
Vote ‘yes’ on East Meadow school, library budgets
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he coronavirus pandemic vastly complicated the East Meadow School District’s process of presenting and discussing its 2020-21 budget with the public. But the Board of Education has been meeting to develop the spending plan since January, and created an airtight proposal that stays under the state tax cap, maintains all current programs and focuses on mental health, security and art and music education. The district presented the budget with the utmost transparency: Each presentation to the board is available on the district website, along with a concise newsletter simplifying every component. The spending plan totals $214.18 million, an increase of 2.66 percent. The tax levy — the total amount the district must collect in taxes to meet expenses — is projected to rise by 2.5 percent, according to
district officials, which falls below the state’s cap for the district. The budget includes the hiring of three social workers to alternate among the district’s four elementary schools. Superintendent Kenneth Card describes this approach as equitable, as opposed to equal, because it will distribute this resources based on schools’ needs. The social workers will help students who are struggling with mental health issues. Residents are also casting absentee ballots, which must be returned by June 9, on Propositions Two and Three. Proposition Two is an addendum to a $58.8 million joint school and library bond that voters passed in March 2017. The district has been renovating its fields as part of the bond, and the current plan is to install a new $600,000 natural-grass football field at East Meadow High. Officials added Propo-
letters The state is fighting pandemic-related fraud To the Editor: As Long Islanders suffer from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, it is simply disgraceful that some unscrupulous people have swindled New Yorkers’ hardearned money during this time of need. Recent press reports indicate that at the peak of the pandemic, our state was duped into paying nearly $86 million for life-saving ventilators that never showed up. Meanwhile, my office was inundated with reports of price gouging on everything from cleaning supplies to masks and hand sanitizer.
sition Two to, instead, install syntheticturf fields, totaling $2.58 million, at the high school and on another field at W.T. Clarke High School. Such a move is necessary to give student athletes and marching band members a staple of pride and a safer, more aesthetically pleasing place to compete and perform. We urge voters to approve the proposition. Proposition Three is the 2020-21 East Meadow Public Library budget, which is totals $7.95 million, an increase of 4.2 percent. The library is a valuable resource for residents that has continued to offer diverse, educational and entertaining programs even during the shutdown necessitated by the pandemic, and we believe that, like the school district, it has created a tight but beneficial spending plan that is well worth passing.
opinionS
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omehow, in April, I missed observing National Siblings Day, and then the time rolled by and along came Memorial Day. So I’m taking this opportunity to talk about my brother, David Kremer, and salute the many other brothers and sisters who really shouldn’t need a special day. This first week of June will mark a year since Dave (he liked that better) died at age 89. I’m sure that every one of our readers who enjoy a special relationship with a sibling understands how significant a role they play in JERRY our lives. Those KREMER of you who are lucky enough to have a living sibling know how important they can be, provided you haven’t let some petty grievance get in the way. As a rule, most of us reach out to a sibling at almost any time of the day or week for a kind word or just reassurance that all is well. Two of my friends recently lost sib-
lings, and they described to me at length missed opportunities or a lifetime of strong bonds that are irreplaceable. All of their comments reminded me of my loss, and the fact that Dave is no longer a part of my life. A day doesn’t go by without a moment when I think about reaching out to him, just to exchange a few simple words. It took quite a few years for my brother to express his love, but getting older does that to people. Dave had a lot of unique qualities. He was the family historian, and had an encyclopedic memory of just about everything. He knew not only the day, but also the hour that I was born, and where he was as he anxiously waiting to greet his baby brother. He would regale me with facts about distant relatives and their family history. His knowledge of family trivia was bottomless. He had photos of relatives who I didn’t know existed. When I ran for public office, Dave was always there, pushing me to take care of all the minute details of success-
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eep special family members close, no matter how far away they may live.
LETTERS Every taxpayer is disgusted to see this during a pandemic. As a former federal corruption prosecutor, I know this fraud and abuse needs to be curbed immediately — and these are the steps we can take to fight back: I recently cosponsored several pieces of legislation to combat profiteering amid the pandemic. One bill would ban price gouging for medical supplies — from masks to medications — imposing hefty penalties on those who jack up the price of these items in excess of 10 percent of what they cost prior to a public health emergency. Another measure would bar companies caught and convicted of price gouging during a pandemic from receiving state contracts, economic relief funds and tax deductions. Most recently, I introduced legislation to incentivize whistleblowers to report the defrauding of state tax dollars by allowing judges to award them a substantial financial reward for information leading to the prosecution of wrongdoers during times of need. Fraud in the midst of a pandemic. is unconscionable. Our state government stands ready to fight back. TODD KAMINSKY State senator, 9th District
ful campaigning. When I would arrive at some campaign event, he was waiting outside the building, staring at his watch and reminding me that I was two minutes late. He would usher me into the building quickly, making sure that I didn’t linger too long with a faithful voter. I consider myself a devout Yankees fan. I check the baseball scores whenever the team is playing, even if it’s early in the season and the games don’t really mean that much. I would spot him at some dinner listening to the game with earphones, while everyone else was chatting away. On days when I called him to announce some Yankee mistake or achievement, he would tell me he’d heard about it hours earlier. I always thought I was up on all things Yankees, but he eclipsed me. Last year, we decided we should observe Dave’s birthday at a place he would really enjoy. So as a family, we bought a bunch of tickets to Yankee Stadium on the week of his 89th birthday.
FRaMEwoRK by John O’Connell
Protest, yes. Turn to violence, no. To the Editor: I share the pain of all Americans regarding the senseless and tragic killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. No one should ever have to worry that such a nonviolent encounter with the police might end in death. At the same time, I stand with the hardworking and dedicated officers from the Nassau County Police Department, and the neighboring New York City Police Department, who protect us daily here in the Village of Lawrence. I am appalled by the images of NYPD vehicles being destroyed by anarchists. There is a need to protest injustice, but such protest should never turn to violence. I thank Nassau County’s 4th Precinct Inspector Joseph Barbieri as well as Commissioner Patrick Ryder for always stepping up to keep our village and its residents safe.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
A Tribute to All the Daves
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The plan was to get his name on the scoreboard and salute him for another milestone in his life. As fate would have it, he didn’t make it to the game. But the whole family went, and shared a special the 192 moment when his name flashed on the Depres screen. The nieces and nephews cheered emerge the loudest for Uncle David. scienti I write this not as a sad remembrance, but rather as a reminder of the importance of siblings in our lives. Having a special brother or sister can be an enormous blessing. It’s an experience that can’t be replicated, so long as you stay close to those special family members and are willing to meet them halfway on life’s issues. Make those short phone calls just to say hello. Keep them close no matter how far away they may live. If you’re lucky to have the right relationship, then every day will be National Siblings Day.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman few mo for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s enacte Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. ing sub He now heads Empire Government Strat- busine egies, a business development and legisThe lative strategy firm. Comments about vided m this column? JKremer@liherald.com. busine retain million jobless $600-ation to this pr
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Michel Fragin Deputy mayor, Village of Lawrence
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WE WERE HERE FOR YOU BEFORE COVID AND WE’RE HERE FOR YOU NOW.
Don’t put off seeking medical care, including elective surgery, in fear of COVID-19. Mount Sinai South Nassau has dedicated non-COVID patient care areas, including within our Emergency Department. All units have undergone a deep cleaning to ensure your safety. All patients undergoing procedures are tested for COVID-19 within three days prior to admission. Our frontline staff of physicians, nurses and support personnel are equipped with full Personal Protective Equipment to help halt the spread of infectious diseases. Your health shouldn’t be defined by COVID-19.
DON’T PUT YOUR HEALTH ON HOLD. COME WITH CONFIDENCE.
mountsinai.org/southnassau
Mount Sinai South Nassau is certified as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (CoE) by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Photo top left courtesy of Jeff Basinger, Newsday.
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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