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They’re helping rescue families But Franklin Square-based organization needs funds By MElIssA KoENIG mkoenig@liherald.com
Courtesy Gina Centauro
CREws REPAIRED tHE patio of the Helfenbein family home in Hempstead.
When Gina and Vinny Centauro agreed to renovate and repair the Helfenbein family home in Hempstead in the summer of 2019, they didn’t know just how extensive the project would be. The Centauros, who live in Franklin Square, were aware that Claire Helfenbein, the matriarch of the family, uses a wheelchair and spends most of her time caring for her autistic son, Jacob, who often damaged the walls of the house. They knew that Claire’s husband, Irving,
used to take care of the necessary repairs. But since Irving had died of pancreatic and lung cancer in 2012, Claire had been responsible for the house’s upkeep. It had since had an infestation of mice, mildew in the bathroom, bathroom floors that were breaking apart, a deteriorating deck and a leaking roof — all of which the Centauros were ready to tackle when they announced in August 2019 that their nonprofit organization, Rescuing Families Inc., would begin renovating the home in January 2020. But what they weren’t preContinued on page 7
Attorney, volunteer will vie to replace Muscarella Parties choose candidates for 8th District seat in Nassau County Legislature By MElIssA KoENIG mkoenig@liherald.com
The race to represent Nassau County’s 8th Legislative District is heating up, as both Republicans and Democrats have selected their nominees to succeed Legislator Vincent Muscarella in November’s election. Muscarella, of West Hempstead, has served the district — which encompasses Franklin Square, Floral Park, West Hempstead and parts of Elmont and Stewart Manor — since the Coun-
ty Legislature was founded in 1995, but has now decided to run for county District Court judge in the 2nd District, which includes the Town of Hempstead and the City of Long Beach. County Republicans are hoping to replace Muscarella with John Giuffré, a nearly 30-year resident of Stewart Manor, whom Joseph Cairo, the county Republican chairman, called “a latter-day Vinny Muscarella.” Like Muscarella, Giuffré, 57, is a trial lawyer. He is a graduate of Columbia and the University of
Pennsylvania Carey Law School, where he was editor of the Journal of International Law. He worked for a corporate law firm in Manhattan before deciding in 2007 to start his own firm in Stewart Manor focusing on personal injury cases. He serves on the Nassau County Bar Association’s Ethics Committee. Giuffré has worked on the Village of Stewart Manor’s 75th Anniversary Committee, and is a member of the village’s zoning board. He is also involved in the local Lions Club, and when many
graduation ceremonies were canceled last year because of Covid19, Giuffré and his wife, Lauren, bought every local graduate — whether they were graduating from preschool or high school — a Carvel gift card. “He’s just a nice guy,” Cairo said. “He’ll do a good job, we feel,
in representing the 8th District.” But Giuffré said he did not expect the Nassau Republican Club to ask him to run for Muscarella’s seat, and when it did, he said he was humbled and honored. Continued on page 23