East Meadow
HERALD Military couple get married
Scuba diver writes children’s book
Hybrid learning in focus at webinar
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Vol. 20 No. 39
SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2020
$1.00
Community leaders focus on equitable hiring By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
Brian Stieglitz/Herald
Kiwanis has got your backpack East Meadow Kiwanis members donated over 200 backpacks full of school supplies to the East Meadow School District to distribute to community members in need. Above, from left, were Kiwanis members Diane Krug, Secretary Jennifer Reinhardt, Patrick Pizzo, President Lisa Hallett and Patrice Dobies. Story, more photos, Page 7.
E.M. filmmaker nominated for three awards at local festival By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
East Meadow filmmaker Max Hechtman’s most recent short film, “Abigail,” draws on his experience with the grieving process and the decisions family members must make when a loved one is terminally ill. Hechtman’s father, Alan, responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with the WantaghLevittown Ambulance Corps, and in 2009 he was diagnosed with leukemia most likely caused by his exposure to the
toxins at ground zero. He died a year later, when Max was 13. “The topics of grief and loss and ‘death with dignity’ are important to me because they open a conversation about subjects that are uncomfortable and avoided until it’s too late,” Hechtman said. Hechtman, 23, worked with his mother, Meryl, to co-write a script about a man’s struggle to come to terms with the circumstances of his wife’s death. “Abigail” will premiere at the Long Island International Film Expo’s first virtual festival, where it has
been nominated for Best Short Film, Best Long Island Short Film and Best Director. Hechtman was finishing the film when the coronavirus pandemic hit, and, he said, it made the themes even more salient to him. “I hope after people see Abigail, they could open up conversations about end-of-life decisions and how it affects them and their loved ones,” he said. “I hope it could give people a path to healing and comfort in these unprecedented times.” Hechtman earned a degree in Continued on page 4
A number of East Meadow community members have been working through the coronavirus pandemic to form a task force called Equity 4 LI Youth, which aims to provide employment, vocational training and mentorship opportunities for underserved young people across Long Island. The task force has been in the works for almost a year, since Patrick Pizzo, assistant superintendent of business and finance in the East Meadow School District, spoke to Superintendent Kenneth Card about forming a district committee with those goals. In March, as the pandemic ramped up, Pizzo decided to expand the effort beyond East Meadow and involve leaders of advocacy groups and organizations around Long Island. He sent a letter to community leaders to see who would be interested in getting involved. On June 2, the group began meeting once every two weeks to discuss their ideas and plans. The task force plans to foster collaboration and networking opportunities among the advocacy groups and organizations its members belong to, which include the NAACP Education
Committee, the Nassau County Bar Association, the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and Freeport’s Cedarmore Corporation, among others. “Everyone on the committee is successful in their field,” Pizzo said. “When you have all these leaders working in concert together, you could achieve great things.” The task force’s most immediate efforts include hosting a jobplacement program in the East Meadow School District. It recently helped fill a speech teacher position for the district, and is currently interviewing candidates for a part-time substitute cleaner. Last week, Pizzo launched the group’s website, which outlines its mission, its plans and what each members brings to the table. “This is not a matter of occasional diverse hires,” the website reads. “. . . A consistent commitment to a culture of diversity is needed to establish an organization as a destination for diverse candidates. When a culture of inclusion is achieved, a welcoming environment for diverse candidates will energize our efforts long-term.” The website features a job placement survey that can help students assess their skills and Continued on page 2