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Neighbors in the News: Fire, DPW
NICE aims at zero carbon footprint
High fuel costs hit food pantries
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Vol. 87 No. 13
MARCH 24 - 30, 2022
Fuel costs strike Freeport businesses By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com
Reine Bethany/Herald
THE CosT oF gas has risen significantly in recent months, and the high prices found at this gas pump in Freeport are reflected throughout the region.
The sticker shock at the gas pump often evokes anger, maybe even a sense of betrayal. It can feel like one’s hardearned pocket money is being mismanaged by governments, or snaked by oil companies that enjoy big profits. “It’s like everything else,” said an angry white-haired man at a Speedway station in Freeport recently. “It’s outrageous. And our president has to go to Venezuela and Iran and Russia so we can get cheaper gas? What is that?”
“Living on Long Island, being a student where you have to travel to get to work and school, it’s pretty hard,” said a young woman who would only give her name as Nadine. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this way. Also, the world is being affected by what’s going on overseas.” One news story after another analyzes the causes of the price spike. Governments — including the Nassau County Legislature — wrestle over proposals to let municipalities suspend their share of the gas tax to lower the costs by at least a Continued on page 12
Ukrainians worry, but are still confident of victory By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com
Masha has in the United States for the better part of 30 years. Her 75-year-old mother, sister and niece, however, still live in a small Russian village, and she worries how Vladimir Putin’s stringent crackdowns on protests and social media — especially since the start of his invasion of Ukraine last month — will affect them. “I can Skype with my mom as of now,” said Masha, who used a generic Russian name out of fear of retribution against her family overseas. “Who knows what happens tomorrow? You
never know. That’s why when I talk to my mom, we talk about puppies and kittens, and not about the situation at all. Because if something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.” Masha’s friend on Long Island, Ania Kulchystka is also concerned because her grandmother still lives in the midsized city near Ukraine’s border with Romania where Kulchystka grew up. Just a few weeks ago, she told a reporter how proud she was of the bravery Ukrainians were showing against the Russian invaders. But now, a month in, Kulchystka has faced a grim reality. “I’m worried if my family is
H
e wants to be king of the world.
REV. WAsYl HRYNkIW on Russian president Vladimir Putin
going to wake up alive tomorrow,” said Kulchystka, a Bellmore real estate agent who grew up in what was then a newly independent Ukraine. “My grandmother is going to be 80 years old. She can’t walk. We’re trying to come up with a plan how we can get her out of Ukraine. The lines on the border
are just terribly huge. You have to wait for days to cross the border.” Kulchystka also has relatives in the heavily bombarded city of Mariupol. “About a week ago, we were able to contact them.” she said. “But there’s no longer any connection with them, so we don’t even know what’s happened to
them.” The family of the Rev. Wasyl Hrynkiw lives in a small mountain village of western Ukraine. Of his 14 cousins, several are men fighting on the front, many miles to the east. His mother, sister and other female relatives help to pack food to send to the soldiers. Continued on page11