Freeport
HERALD Leader
Woman hits officer, civilians
Thousands join local boycott
Music staff sings for students
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Vol. 85 No. 24
JUNE 11 - 17, 2020
Honoring the class of 2020 High school holds small ceremonies for seniors families. “The class of 2020 has gone through so much this year, and Freeport High School seniors with the state of things in our took turns throughout the first nation, we wanted to do this week of June gathering in the event as a way to bring everyone high school auditoritogether and recogum to take part in a nize our seniors and special senior their accomplishvideo project orgaments,” said Giselle nized by the school Campbell-Ham, a district. high school assistant “The virtual principal. graduation simulaDistrict officials tion video allows our said the ceremonies students to have the should not be misexperience of walktaken for the official ing across the stage graduation ceremowhen their name is ny, which is still called to receive being worked on. their diploma,” These mini-cereSuperintendent monies began on Kishore Kuncham June 1 as small said. “Our class of groups of parents giSEllE 2020 are amazing and students arrived leaders and we are caMPBEll-HaM at the high school so proud of their Assistant principal between 8 a.m. and 3 accomplishments.” p.m. Parents and stuIn groups of less dents were seated at than a dozen at a time, students a distance from one another as put on their cap and gowns to they waited for the students to be receive their diplomas and take called up to receive their diplopictures with their families at mas. the school. High school teachers “I’m really happy that we and staff helped film and orga- could have a ceremony for my nize the event, which will be daughter,” said Mercedes Lazo compiled together into one big video for the students and their Continued on page 8
By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
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Scott Brinton/Herald
PRoTESTERS kNElT oN the Nautical Mile for 8 minutes, 46 seconds — the amount of time that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck.
Hundreds of protesters march from Freeport to Merrick By RoNNY REYES, BRidgET doWNES and ScoTT BRiNToN rreyes@liherald.com
An estimated 500 people marched from the Freeport Long Island Rail Road station on Sunday toward Merrick to protest police brutality and the death of George Floyd in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The demonstration was peaceful throughout. Nassau County police officers, who helped guide the
march, shut down parts of Sunrise Highway to make way for the protesters, who, from Baldwin to the Freeport Long Island Rail Road station, walked along the sidewalk, repeating “No justice, no peace!” and other chants. Hundreds more gathered at the Freeport station before continuing down Sunrise Highway to Merrick. Protesters also took a detour to the Nautical Mile. At Freeport’s restaurant row, they knelt for 8 minutes
and 46 seconds, the time that Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd’s neck. Then they made their way north to Sunrise Highway and west into Merrick, to the LIRR station there. “I just wanted to lend my voice to the chorus of voices around the nation and the world,” said Baldwin resident Leah Sanders. “I couldn’t sit home, and I wanted to be a part of the movement — I Continued on page 3
e wanted to do this event as a way to bring everyone together and recognize our seniors.
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Residents march to protest police brutality
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
continued from front page wanted to be present. I’ve been donating and posting, but there’s nothing like physically being here.” Many motorists passing by honked their horns and raised their hands in the air to show solidarity. The protest was one of at least 15 around Long Island planned for the day. “We have to keep protesting and show them that black lives matter,” Baldwin resident Brandon Sanders said. “Because it’s not just one race that matters, or one thing that matters, it’s all of them. And they don’t realize that black lives matter, so we got to tell them. We got to keep telling them, and we got to do something about it.” Before protesters began marching in Baldwin, NCPD Deputy Inspector Michael Hol-fester told a small crowd, “We’re here with you, we believe in you.” Andrea Neal, 22, of Valley Stream, organized the event after she saw videos of residents standing against Black Lives Matter protesters in Merrick last week. Neal, who has attended several protests on Long Island and Manhattan, said she wanted to stand with the local residents and their peaceful protests. “Things have to change,” Neal said. “I don’t want to see neighbors taunting each other. This is a peaceful protest, and it’s bigger than Floyd and the four officers in his case. This is about all the stories that have gone unheard and all those who have yet to find justice from police brutality.” The protestors chanted Floyd’s name, along with other victims like Breonna Taylor and Tamir Rice. I’nyaah Burrell, who grew up in Freeport, said she was pleased the protests were continuing this week. She said that while similar protests have come and gone in the past, these protests were here to stay. “We’re not stopping until we see real change across all platforms of law enforcement,” Burrell said. “Floyd’s death was a catalyst to bring to light all these injustices to everyone,” said Julianna Codispoti, of Bellmore. “We’re already beginning to see some changes, so we have to keep going.” G. Dewey Smalls, the vice president of the National Action Network Nassau County Chapter, said the movement’s growth is now worldwide, as is apparent by the marches of solidarity all over the world. He said he was especially moved by murals of Floyd painted throughout Europe and the Middle East. While Smalls said the national movement was important, he noted that Freeporters also needed to look at local cases, such as that of Akbar Rodgers, a Freeport man who was captured on video being wrestled to the ground and punched and kicked by Freeport village police officers during his arrest in December. “Why did we see this excessive force being used against him,” Smalls said. “The officers involved have yet been brought to justice. It’s unacceptable.” Freeport Village Police Chief Ray Horton said village and county police officers were guiding the protesters to ensure they could march peacefully and exercise their First Amendment right.
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Photos by Ronny Reyes/Herald
Dewey SmallS joineD his fellow Freeporters at the protest.
anDrea neal, of Valley Stream, above left, organized the protest last Sunday. ProteSterS marcheD from Freeport to Merrick, above. hunDreDS gathereD by the Freeport Long Island Rail Road station, left.
Crime watCh Arrests ■ A male, 29, of Freeport, was arrested on May 29, on Brooklyn Ave, for two Nassau County warrants, criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. Officers had prior knowledge of the open warrants when they came across the suspect, and after stopping him on Brooklyn Avenue, the warrants were confirmed, and he was placed under arrest. ■ A male, 34, of Freeport, was arrested on May 30 for criminal mischief. Police report that the suspect had gotten into an argument with his ex-employer and proceeded to punch the side-view mirror of the victim’s car. The damage was valued at about $90. ■ A female, 33, of Freeport, was arrested on June 1, near West Merrick Road and South Long Beach Avenue, for assault and criminal possession of a weapon after stabbing her friend in the chest and forearm.
Larceny
front steps and removed a package that had been delivered by UPS. The incident was captured by the victim’s home surveillance video. ■ A local store manager on East Sunrise Highway and Henry Street reported that an unknown suspect entered his store and stole merchandise on June 3.
Fire ■ Police reported a fire that took place on May 31, on Cary Place. Police said a barbeque fire began after the homeowner had been using propane to grill. The Freeport Fire Department and Nassau County Hazmat responded to the scene and determined that there was a leak coming from the bottom of the tank. The tank was removed and properly disposed of. ■ Police reported a fire that took place on June 1, near North Main Street and Davis Street. The Freeport Fire Department arrived at the scene and extinguished a contained wood fire. No injuries were reported.
■ A local homeowner reported that an unknown person had walked up to his People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Ronny Reyes/Herald
A Freeport womAn crashed her car against a Freeport Police vehicle, injuring the officer inside, in front of police headquarters on June 6.
Freeport woman arrested for assault, reckless driving Nassau County Police Department’s First Squad detectives reported the arrest of a Freeport woman for reckless driving and assault against a Freeport Police officer and other civilians on June 6, in Freeport. Detectives said, Gabrielle Revere, 24, of Freeport, had a brief interaction with Village of Freeport police officers near their headquarters, on 40 N Ocean Avenue, before fleeing the scene and committing multiple traffic infractions. The of ficers said they watched Revere driving erratically before she intentionally struck a nearby police vehicle, injuring the officer inside. Revere then began driving into the flow of traffic and struck a parked taxicab. As officers went after Revere and attempted to stop her, she continued east on Sunrise Highway, after driving over the center median. Revere continued ignoring the officers’ attempts to
pull her over. When she approached the intersection of Sunrise Highway and Merrick Avenue, Revere struck two occupied, stopped vehicles at high speeds. The collision left three adult women and two girls injured. Detectives said all injuries caused by Revere were non-life threatening, including that of the officer, and the victims were transported to a local hospital. Revere was arrested at the scene and also transported to a local hospital. She was charged with four counts of assault, reckless endangerment, three counts of criminal mischief, unlawful feeling of a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and multiple traffic infractions. She was arraigned in Mineola on June 7.
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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 1091720
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
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State Assemblywoman Judy Griffin recognized Freeport High School student Fajr Ali, among thirteen other high school students, during her second annual Student Standout Awards ceremony on June 7. The awards recognize high school students who have stood out in their school and local communities for their leadership, kindness, work ethic, creativity and civic engagement. These students serve as role models and are an inspiration for their peers,”
Griffin said. “I am so proud to give these students the NYS Assembly Student Standout Award and I look forward to seeing where it takes them.” Ali is a hardworking and altruistic student at Freeport High School, where she serves as president of the Health Occupations Students of America, as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She also serves as a volunteer at a local hospital, working in the ER department.
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Courtesy Office of State Assemblywoman Judy Griffin
State aSSemblywoman Judy Griffin honored students with her second annual Student Standout Awards via Zoom.
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Courtesy Freeport School District
memberS of the Freeport High School Music Department performed “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for their students.
The Freeport High School Music Department dedicated a virtual performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” for their students on June 4. “The music staff miss our students and wanted to send one message reaching out to all our students saying we miss them and are always there for them,” said Michael LaSorsa, the high school’s director of bands. “In the midst of the project and the current state of our nation, it
took on a second meaning for me. We will always be there for our students. Keep the music alive!” “We had such a blast putting this video together,” added Adam Rubin, the band director at J.W. Dodd Middle School. “I hope that the enthusiasm and energy that we put into making the video is apparent to everyone who views it and it brightens their day.”
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Music staff plays for students
June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Photos by Christina Daly/Herald
More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of George Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They came to show solidarity and protest in the hope that the laws will change and people of color will be treated equally. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence.
Protest held at Hempstead Town Hall By chriStina daly Dozens of protests have taken palce across Long Island since the death of George Floyd, 46, on May 25. Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held a rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall last Friday in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. Belinda told the crowd, “I’m tired. I’m tired of telling my son it’s not safe to go outside. I’m tired of shedding tears. I’m tired.” More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They gathered to show solidarity. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence. Other signs stated, “It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody,” “No Justice, No Peace,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Silence=Violence,” “All lives can’t
matter until black lives matter,” “My skin color is not a crime,” “I can’t breathe,” “This is not a riot, this is a revolution” and “It’s not white vs black, it’s everyone vs racists.” Hempstead Deputy Mayor Charles Renfroe, the Rev. Sedgwick Easley of the Union Baptist Church and Barbara Powell of the NAACP Hempstead Branch attended the protest outside of town hall. As drivers went by, they honked and yelled in support, which was met with cheers by those gathered along the street. One of the few young protesters at the event, 8-year-old Maleah Malone, said, “I care about black people, and I’m marching for them. They shouldn’t be treated this way.” Her mother, Shaunte Malone, she said her children would be the ones living in the world protesters were working to create. Dorothy Goosby said it’s so important to get people involved. “I’ve been going through this, what they’re going through, my whole life,” she said.
Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held the rally in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. “no juStice, no peace,” chanted Maleah Malone, 8, and her brother Kendrelle, 9, as they held their signs high. Their mother said they would be the ones to live in the world the protesters were fighting for.
During the rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall, Julia and Daniel Tellerman registered participants to vote.
ProteSter SteFanny cardona held her sign toward the police officers across the street who lined the sidewalks outside of Hempstead Town Hall.
What a little girl is teaching the world about racism sbrinton@liherald.com
Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, I stood atop the Long Island Rail Road trestle in Merrick, looking out on the sea of people who filled Sunrise Highway as far as I could see, east and west. Officials later estimated the number of demonstrators who attended the Black Lives Matter protest at 3,000 to 4,000. The next morning, I tried to imagine Sunrise Highway with 20 million people. Would they even fit along its 120.6 miles? Twenty million was the number of Twitter users who had, as of Friday morning, watched a 15-second video I shot of 7-year-old Wynta-Amor Rogers, of Uniondale, marching beside her mother, Lakyia Jackson, at a different Black Lives Matter protest through Merrick and Bellmore, on Wednesday. (The views climbed to nearly 23 million by Monday.) In the video, taken around 6:30 p.m., Wynta-Amor chants with the protesters, “No justice, no peace!” Many among the thousands who commented on the post described WyntaAmor as “fierce.” Yes, she was. Her hands moved to the beat of the chant. Her fingers pointed furiously. At the end, she raised her fist, seemingly in anger. Her fiery spirit was evident in her eyes. Wynta-Amor, it appeared, had fully inter nalized the emotion of the moment. She was breathing it in, living it. I was live-tweeting the protest to chronicle it for the Heralds. When I posted the video, I never imagined it would go viral. By the time the protest ended two hours later, 25,000 people had viewed it. By midnight, a million had. Thirty-six hours later, 20.2 million, and counting. People from all parts of the globe viewed it. In effect, this little girl broadcast a central message of Black Lives Matter for all in the Twittersphere to see: We must have justice to find the lasting peace our society seeks. Later on Wednesday, Wynta-Amor’s mom tweeted to thank me for the support that day. “We have to show our kids the right way,” Jackson said. “Yes, Wynta-Amor,” she added, “mommy will help make your future better and all the rest of the kids in the world.” Thursday morning, my wife said she went to bed the night before with Wynta-Amor’s words ringing in her ears. She couldn’t escape them. There was a certain melody to them, a righteous power. Wynta-Amor wasn’t the only one whose passion you could feel that afternoon. There were also 21-year-old Adriana Brutus, of Elmont, and her 24-yearold brother, Matt, who are black. They gave impassioned speeches at the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station, about a half-hour before I took the video of Wynta-Amor. “I’m scared every time I come outside,” Adriana said through tears. Her words left me thunderstruck.
Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald
AdriAnA BrutuS, 21, of Elmont, a nursing student at NYU, said through tears that she does not feel safe leaving her own home.
ProteSterS At the June 3 demonstration marching on Sunrise Highway toward Babylon Turnpike.
As it happened, I later learned, Adriana had been communicating via Instagram with my own 20-year-old daughter, Alexandra. They’re both NYU students. Adriana is studying nursing, and Alexandra, business and technology management. Why must Adriana be afraid all the time? I thought. What sort of society do we live in that she must worry for her life because of her color? My daughter has never felt that level of fear, nor has my 17-year-old son, Andrew. As black people, Matt Brutus said, “We can’t buy property. They redline us. They say you have to go to school here.” BLM protesters aren’t saying they want to take anything from white people. They’re just saying they want an equal shot at life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness — but that’s hard, if not impossible, for them when racism seems woven into the institutional fabric of our nation. A number of Merrick and Bellmore residents stood on their stoops and on street corners applauding the protesters on Wednesday and Thursday. They cheered and banged on pots. Now and again, though, someone called out, “All lives matter!” Sometimes the protesters ignored those shouts. Sometimes they chanted, “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!” louder and louder. The all-lives-matter folks just don’t get it. The BLM protesters aren’t saying black people’s lives matter more than anyone else’s. What they’re saying is, in
the eyes of a society with a centuriesold history of systemic racism, black lives have never mattered as much as white lives — but they should. They must, if we are to live in harmony with one another. To chant “Black lives matter!” is to affirm that the lives of black people do, in fact, matter. White people don’t have to proclaim their lives matter because they already do, according to society. In the past, a black man could die by noose because he looked the wrong way at a white woman. The George Floyd case, a number of pundits have said, is a modern-day lynching, captured for all to witness on cellphone video. The question is, what will each of us do about it?
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
WyntA-Amor rogerS, 7, marching during the Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick on Wednesday. The Herald’s video of her chanting, “No justice, no peace!” had more than 20 million views on Twitter as of Friday.
By Scott Brinton
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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One last walk through Freeport High continued from front page as her daughter, Litzy, walked on stage to receive her diploma. “I’m glad we go to do this,” said Melody Brendel, a senior. “It means a lot.” “She’s worked hard and deserves something like this,” added Phil Brendel, Melody’s father. “The fact that we can have something like this is a testament to the Freeport School district.” “Since the schools closed in March, our seniors have not been able to enjoy many of the events they had looked forward to since entering high school,” said Joseph Mille, the high school principal. “We have done our best to provide them with a series of virtual events and celebrations to let them know how proud we are of them and their accomplishments. We are creating this Commencement Moment video as one of those events and an important keepsake for our seniors. “ The final film day for the ceremonies was held June 8. The district will share the completed video in the coming weeks. In addition to a virtual graduation simulation video, the district has planned a graduation ceremony on June 20 in the parking lot of the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. It will be a drive-through event, following state health guidelines, district officials said.
Photos by Ronny Reyes/Herald
Dayley Deleon estevez showed off her diploma at a ceremony at Freeport High School.
seniors stooD six feet apart from one another, above left, as they awaited their turn. Juan arango, above, received his diploma. MeloDy brenDel anD her parents, Phil and Tonia, near left, waited for their group’s ceremony to begin. lauren sMythe, fa left, waited to be called up to the stage.
Nominate a senior for a Herald superlative How to enter Nominate your favorite graduating high school senior today at www. liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives or on Instagram (see @longislandherald for instructions). The categories, among others, include: ■ Most likely to be at the beach ■ Most likely to become a billionaire ■ Most likely to change the world
that I enjoyed in my childhood. Not only does this give me an opportunity to express myself in a new way, it also allows me to prepare artwork for my future college dorm. I will look at these paintings on my wall with pride, knowing I turned an upsetting situation into a positive one. And to be recognized as a Senior Superlative means a lot.” Her father, Michael Stein, said “Adina has loved to paint and draw from an early age and has shown improvement the past few years. She has spent her free time during the quarantine period painting various art projects on canvas with plans to decorate her college dorm in the fall. Her creativity and artistic skills will com-
plement her academic endeavors in the future.” “We thought this was a fun way to honor these high school students who are graduating in extremely atypical times,” said Stuart Richner, president of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. “We would also like to thank the many businesses and organizations from the community that stepped up to sponsor the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives to allow these graduating students to be recognized.” Sponsors to date include Sacred Heart Academy, Oceanside Family Dental, Ritz Jewelry and Tim White Home Improvement.
■ Most likely to find a cure for cancer ■ Most likely to invent the next iPhone ■ Most likely to be an Instagram star ■ Most likely to be a future firefighter ■ Most likely to raise a family on Long Island ■ Most likely to become a movie star ■ Most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize
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We want to honor your grad! BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT Visit https://liherald.honormygrad.com to post and for more information
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Post a FREE photo and listing of your grad’s sports, honors and activities — or make a splash with family photos, highlights and more! Opportunity to publish in June 25 HERALD Class of 2020 Issue.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
Richner Communications, publishers of Herald Community Newspapers, is now accepting nominations for the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives. Nominations are currently open through Instagram (see @longislandherald for instructions) and online at www.liherald.com/ seniorsuperlatives until June 15. Winners will be published in the Herald’s commemorative Graduation 2020 section, presented by Molloy College, on June 25. Parents, family, classmates and friends are encouraged to nominate graduating high school seniors for the chance to be crowned Nassau County’s Most Likely to Succeed, Most Likely To Cure Cancer, Best Artist, Best Athlete, and more. Students can even nominate themselves. Additionally, each Herald 2020 Senior Superlative winner will be entered into a drawing for a $500 VISA gift card, presented by Herald Community Newspapers. Adina Stein, a senior at George W. Hewlett High School, said, “This is a great way to be honored this year. Finding out that my senior year would be cut short was very upsetting to me. I realized I wouldn’t be able to have my last school spirit week, prom, a traditional graduation, and other fun events we have spent many years looking forward to. After realizing that I can use this time to work on my productivity and look forward to my college freshman year, I decided to try painting again, which was an activity
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Thousands boycott three local restaurants By RONNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
More than twenty-eight thousand people have signed a petition online to boycott three businesses on Freeport’s Nautical Mile after residents said the owners of these businesses posted comments on social media that undermined the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death. The petition reads that it is meant to bring accountability to Bracco’s Clam Bar and Capt. Ben’s Fish Market coowner Jon Bracco, and Rachel’s Waterside Grille co-owner Ivan Sayles. “Many of us share the outrage and exhaustion in the face of the George Floyd murder and the many others whose lives have been stolen prematurely due to police brutality and institutionalized racism in this country,” wrote Nicole Engleton on the petition. “We know that this is a time to show our commitment with our actions. We recognize the emotional toll of continuing to witness Black trauma, AND the need for all of us to take the time to take a stand. We will not support business owners.” “Change starts when their business loses profit,” Dinnae Williams added. On the change.org petition, residents said they were outraged when they found posts “glorifying white supremacy” on Bracco’s Facebook timeline. Many residents were also angry over Instagram posts Bracco made commenting on the protests. The posts have since been taken down. Bracco later posted an apology on social media, saying his comments were “insensitive and poorly timed.” Bracco did not reply to the Herald’s
Courtesy Google Mapst
ThOuSaNdS havE SigNEd a petition to boycott Bracco’s Clam Bar, on the Nautical Mile, among other businesses. request for comment. In Sayles’ case, residents were angered by a post he made that called out the burning of a Minneapolis police precinct, calling it an “attack on U.S. sovereignty.” He also posted that “if you don’t like the way you[‘re] treated by the cops, then hire a [expletive] lawyer.” Sayles said his post was not meant to under mine the Black Lives Matter movement, and said he spoke in response to the damage to the precinct and local businesses.
Despite the backlash, Sayles said he does stand by his statements and believes peace can be acquired when residents vote and bring lawsuits against those who perpetrate acts of hate. He added that he did not want residents to boycott the other business on the Nautical Mile. The boycotting certain businesses because of their owners’ comments is a growing trend among the Black Lives Matter movement, as proponents of the
action explain that it’s a way to take back the “black dollar” from businesses that try to undermine their cause. Both Bracco’s and Sayles posts were included in some of the speeches made during local protests. “You have owners of restaurants, where we spend all of our money, making racist comments on social media,” said Dorothea Geiger, of Freeport, during a local protest on June 7. “It needs to be addressed, and we need to boycott these restaurants.”
Meet Academy Charter’s first valedictorian By BRiaNa BONfigliO bbonfiglio@liherald.com
Kimani Panthier, 18, is the first-ever valedictorian of the Academy Charter High School in Hempstead — and he’s off to Harvard University in the fall. The class of 2020 is the Academy Charter school system’s first cohort of graduates. Panthier has been attending the schools since their inception in 2009, when he was in second grade. He went on to be instrumental in establishing programs at the new high school. Panthier earned valedictorian of the class with a 4.06 grade point average. He is one of 96 scholars in the Academy’s class of 2020. “I’ve always been an overachiever since elementary school,” he said. “And it’s a really great feeling now that I’m at the end of my high school career and have achieved and succeeded in my efforts.” During his years at the Academy, Panthier took on several leadership roles at school and in the Hempstead community. He was co-captain of the school’s speech and debate team, president of National Honor Society, leader of Service Learning Club and tenor saxophone section leader of the concert band. Notably, Panthier helped found the Academy’s student government and became its very first president. Under
i
t’s a really great feeling now that I’m at the end of my high school career and have achieved and succeeded in my efforts.
KimaNi PaNThiER
Class of 2020 Valedictorian his leadership, the student government launched the school’s annual Fall Festival for children in the community and Spirit Week pep rally at the school. Throughout high school, Panthier completed more than 500 hours of community service, including making monthly visits to elderly residents at nursing homes. He’s also heavily involved with his church’s youth group and runs the large Influence Day event for children in the community. On Dec. 12, 2019, Panthier was accepted to Harvard University. After an event honoring the Academy’s middle school students who excelled on their tests, at which Panthier spoke to the younger scholars, he returned home and checked his Harvard online application portal.
When he logged in, he was met with a screen that read, “Congratulations!” “Little did I know that that same day I would be accepted to the best university in the world,” he said. “So it was an encouragement to me because I was in the same place as those middle schoolers a few years ago.” After clicking “view status of application” and seeing the congratulatory message, Panthier threw his iPad in excitement and cried tears of joy with his mother. Panthier was also accepted to Princeton, Columbia, Cornell and several local colleges, but Harvard was the clear choice for him. In addition, he was a national semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship. Panthier will study political science and government. He is excited to meet new people and make professional connections at one of the world’s most prestigious colleges. “You’ll definitely see me in Washington,” he said with a smile. “In whatever capacity, I’m definitely going to be serving the public as a public official.” But he’ll always remember where he started — the Academy Charter School. “I know that even while I’m away, they’ll still be supporting me from a distance,” he said. “That sense of family and comfort I will miss, surely, but I am comforted knowing they are always supporting me.”
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
GETTING BACK TO OUR LIVES BEGINS WITH OUR HEALTH. To our fellow Long Islanders: For months, we’ve all endured a crisis that has reshaped our world. And, although our daily lives will be affected for some time to come, we’re beginning to move towards some sense of normalcy and optimism. Along with the desire to protect lives, we all want to get back to living. And living well starts with your health. Your total health. That’s why we’ve instituted extensive safety measures throughout our hospitals and physician offices. There’s no need to ignore health issues or postpone procedures, because we’ve made it safe to get the care you need. The new summer is here. Now is the right time to refocus on your greatest asset of all—your health. Just know that, at Catholic Health Services, we’re here for Long Island and, most of all, we’re here for you. Sincerely, The Catholic Health Services Medical Staff
St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® • Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center • St. Charles Hospital St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center • Mercy Medical Center • St. Joseph Hospital
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Covid-19
HoMetoWn Heroes
LuLa Patterson I
ian danby
freePort retired educator freePort
Long beacH cHairMan, Long beacH cHaMber of coMMerce
was watching TV with my grandchildren one day when we saw stories about people bringing in food and safety equipment to first-responders. And they said, ‘What about desserts, grandma? They have to have desserts, too.’ They were right. We wanted to make something sweet for them, so we started making cookies. For the last four weeks, we’ve been baking cookies for first-responders. We start on Tuesdays and finish up by Thursdays. My grandson Elijah and granddaughter Elisha bag them up. We usually fit four per bag and make about 60 bags a week. Then we go out every Saturday morning to deliver them to the local hospitals. We’ve also baked cookies for the police department, because they’ve done a lot to keep us safe during this pandemic. And we’ve had a lot of people in our neighborhoods who have lost someone to this illness, or who have been sick themselves and had a hard time recovering. We decided to bake for them, too. We want them to know that they’re loved. All in all, we must have baked about 1,000 cookies so far. When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me around Queens, where I grew up, helping others, so I wanted to do the same for my grandchildren. I want them to understand that they need to give back to their community.
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hen Long Beach decided to close the Recreation Department in March, we knew the coronavirus pandemic was here, and the chamber had to act on behalf of the business community. We walked around sometime after and asked the businesses what they wanted. The restaurants wanted signs announcing they could offer pick-up service, so we arranged for signs. We have an announcement page on our website, TheLongBeachChamber.com, and it has become a Covid-19 site. We post almost every day because things change almost every day. We held a Zoom meeting in May to discuss the results of a survey we had taken of Long Beach businesses. The survey showed the businesses were eager to re-open, but they wanted to do it safely. We will be doing another survey in the next few weeks. We must keep up because things change fast, and there are lots of gray areas. For example, the State of New York said beaches could be open, but not concessions. Their names were changed to kiosks, and they are now open. A lot of people worked to make that happen. We talk on a daily basis with Long Beach City officials and the city's economic development department. We're trying to do the best we can to educate the businesses and do all we can for the businesses. The reason it's all so important is that if we don't have open businesses in Long Beach, especially for the summer, those businesses will go away. As far as the chamber goes, I am really just a figurehead. I have a fantastic board that works tirelessly, with many of them having been on the board over the last three years with me building the chamber. Without them, the chamber would not be where it is .
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social worker garden city
i
ovid-19’s ubiquitous wrath has left people across the world devastated, confused and scared. My family has been no exception to its horrifying effects — I nearly lost my father to the virus. Thankfully, due to the dedicated work of heroic front-line workers and the unwavering support of our community, he has since recovered. In the midst of my family’s struggle, the rest of society was similarly tasked with coping with the pandemic’s resulting devastation. But several community members, including myself, had the humbling privilege of simultaneously observing humanity at its finest. By running a contact-free food drive in which donations were personally picked up from donors’ homes, I have witnessed communities, families and individuals come together to help total strangers in need. I have seen people give astounding monetary donations simply because a need existed that they were willing and able to fill. I have watched community members give their last box of pasta or canned good because “someone else needed it more.” Some of the kindest and most compassionate souls have contributed more than anyone could have anticipated, and, consequently, the amount of deliveries I have made to local food pantries are innumerable at this point. Due to all of Nassau County’s willingness to donate, I have gassed up my truck more times in the past four weeks than in the past four months. As horrific as the pandemic has been, it has left me with unshakable faith in humanity’s grace, generosity and resiliency, and it is my hope that others may share in the same faith.
don’t consider myself a hero. I consider myself a professional who has a responsibility to her community. I am just one of the many front-line workers who feel equally dedicated to their duty. As a critical-care registered nurse and qualified Spanish interpreter at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside, I have never experienced anything like the Covid-19 pandemic in my personal life or my entire 20-year professional career, 11 of which were spent in the Critical Care Unit. It began with one, then two critically ill suspected Covid-19 patients. Then, what felt like overnight, we converted multiple patient care units to critical care units to meet the specific and specialized care needed by the exponentially increasing number of critically ill patients admitted to the hospital. The surge of patients was so rapid and persistent that the entire hospital staff – doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, medical residents, patient care technicians, technicians, transporters, unit clerks, food and nutrition staff, phlebotomists, engineering, security, managers and administrators – banded together to provide the non-stop, 24/7 quality, compassionate care and helped our patients to overcome this stubborn and vicious virus Our institutional directors, managers and educators were ever present working with us at our side to inform, instruct and implement new treatment processes, plans and therapies as we learned more about the virus, its many pernicious traits and its deleterious impacts on patients with underlying conditions.
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A H W EN? OP
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their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters annette raMos os Molly Miskiewicz Franklin square Baldwin
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Our offices across Long Island are open for in-person visits. Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Weekends: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Virtual telehealth visits are also available, seven days a week. MRI and therapy offices are open as well.
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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5/8/20 2:24 PM
By Melissa Koenig mkoenig@liherald.com
As a mother of a young black son, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages worries about his safety. “It pains me to think that one day he walks out the door and he might not return, and not by the hands of an accident, but by the hands of a police officer,” Solages, a Democrat from Elmont, said at a rally on June 4 to gain support for legislation that would reform police practices throughout the state. “It hurts me to know that we all, in this great country, do not have access to peace, justice and liberty.” The rally came a little more than a week after George Floyd, an AfricanAmerican, died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis. Police Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes before he stopped speaking or moving, and in a video of the incident, Floyd could be heard saying he could not breathe and pleading for the officer to stop. It is just the latest incident of police violence against black people in the United States. In 2014, Michael Brown Jr. was fatally shot by a white police officer in Missouri, and in New York, Eric Garner died after New York Police Department officer Daniel Pantaleo put him in a chokehold while arresting him. Now, state officials are doubling down on their efforts to pass police reform legislation. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on June 5 that he would work with members of the State Legislature this week to pass a ‘Say Their Name’ Reform Agenda, including revising Section 50-A of the Civil Rights Law to allow for greater transparency of police officers’ prior disciplinary records, banning chokeholds, prohibiting false race-based 911 reports and designating the attorney general as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the deaths of unarmed civilians at the hands of law enforcement. Additionally, members of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus have proposed a legislative package comprising a dozen bills that would increase transparency, create more oversight of police departments, ensure suspects get medical attention, establish strangulation as a crime in the state and ban police from using racial and ethnic profiling. All of these bills are currently sitting in committees. “This is not sexy legislation,” said Assemblyman Phil Ramos, a Democrat from Suffolk County who chairs the caucus said at a rally to increase support for these bills on June 4, “but these are things that are necessary to dismantle and take down that blue wall of silence.” To do so, they are advocating for the full repeal of Section 50-A of the state’s Civil Rights Laws. The provision makes all police officers’, firefighters’ and corrections officers’ personnel records “confidential and not subject to inspection or review” except by court order. “We don’t want to reform 50-A,” Solages said, “we want to repeal it.”
Photos by Melissa Koenig/Herald
MeMBers of the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church’s WANTED Project and elected officials gathered outside the Nassau County Supreme Court on June 4 to express their support of police reform legislation.
the legislative package Members of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus are pushing for legislation that would: ■ Repeal 50-A, which makes police records confidential ■ Making falsely reporting an incident as a hate crime an offense ■ Establishing the Office of Special Investigation for deaths following a police encounter
MeMBers of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus include Sen. Kevin Thomas, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Assemblyman Phil Ramos and Assemblywoman Taylor Darling. That law prevented the New York Civil Liberties Union from receiving records from the Nassau County Police Department it requested under the Freedom of Information Law. “It’s time for a real cultural change by and for the police, and for those who need their protection,” said Susan Gottehrer, director of the Nassau County chapter of NYCLU, “and it’s time for oversight and accountability.” But in order to get these bills passed, she said, the legislators need to gain support in the State Senate. “If you are marching with protestors,” Gottehrer said, “you better be in legislating tomorrow.” Nia Adams, a community organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition, added that the repeal of Section 50-A is “the least” state legislators could do, and said, “Today and tomorrow and every day, Black Lives Matter.”
asseMBlyMan Phil raMos led the rally.
■ Allowing the Chief Administrator of the Courts to release data to evaluate criminal justice policies ■ Affirming the right to record police officers ■ Repealing limitations on the removal of police officers ■ Requiring law enforcement to provide needed medical attention to those in custody ■ Establishing the crime of strangulation, and creating penalties for the disregard of banned procedures ■ Imposing criminal liability for the failure to obtain medical care for a distressed person in custody ■ Banning racial and ethnic profiling ■ Reducing arrests for low-level offenses ■ Expanding the use of body cameras
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
State officials call for police reform
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS Freeport Union Free School District 235 N. Ocean Avenue Freeport, New York 11520 The Board of Education of the Freeport Union Free School District hereby invites sealed proposals for providing transportation for the 2020-2021 school year for the following contracts: Home-to-School Transportation for Out of District Transportation for Public/Private/Parochial/Special Needs and Homeless/Displaced students with/without the District providing fuel. Future one-year or multiple-year contract extensions may be awarded at the discretion of the Board of Education. The award of multi-year contracts is subject to and shall be conditioned upon the approval of the Freeport Union Free School District voters. Dr. Rella invites you to a scheduled Google meet JOIN GOOGLE MEET Meeting ID meet.google.com/uqk-qfmh-kox Phone Numbers (US?)+1 971-225-7463 PIN: 358 668 718# The Request for Proposal, including forms for proposal, certification, conditions, specifications may be obtained from the School District’s Business Office located at 235 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520 between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, prior to the time and date specified for the receipt of said proposals. In all cases, it must be understood that the conditions set forth in the request for proposals issued by the Freeport Union Free School District shall apply. Sealed proposals shall be sent to the School District’s Purchasing Office at 235 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520 and shall be clearly marked “Pupil Transportation Proposal - Do Not Open Until 10:00 am on June 30, 2020”. Such proposals will be received until 10:00 am on June 30, 2020, in the Purchasing Department at which time and place all proposals will be publicly acknowledged. In no event shall the School District consider any proposal that is mailed but not actually received by the School District’s Purchasing Department at or before 10:00 am on June 30, 2020. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject all proposals, waive any informalities or technicalities in proposals where the best interests of the respective school district may be served. Questions regarding this Request for Bids will be accepted by the District Purchasing Agent until June 15, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. and answers to all questions will be distributed in the form of an addendum to all potential Proposers by email or fax. Please submit your questions in writing via fax at 516-623-1286 or email at brella@freeportschools.org. The Board of Education reserves the right to consider experience, service and reputation in the student transportation field, as well as the financial responsibility and specific qualifications set out herein of the prospective bidder, in considering proposals and awarding the contracts. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all proposals in whole or in part, when in its sole discretion it deems that it will serve the best interests of the School District to waive technical defects, irregularities and omissions; and to select in its sole discretion which of two or more identical bidders shall be awarded the contract. The Board of Education shall evaluate each proposal from a responding contractor according to criteria established by the Commissioner, which criteria shall include at a minimum (i) the previous experience of the contractor in transporting pupils, (ii) the name of each transportation company the contractor has been an owner or a manager and previous experience, (iii) a description of any safety programs implemented by the contractor, (iv) a record of accidents in motor vehicles under the control of the contractor, (v) driving history of employees of the contractor, (vi) inspection records and model year of the motor vehicles under the control of the contractor, (vii) maintenance schedule of the motor vehicles under the control of the contractor, (viii) financial analysis of the contractor, (ix) compliance with insurance requirements, and (x) total cost of the proposal. Proposals will be evaluated and awarded based on the following criteria established by the School District pursuant to Section 305 and 3625 of the Education Law and Section 156.12 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, together with all other applicable laws, rules, regulations and ordinances. Category Weight 1 Previous Experience of Contractor in School Transportation 15 2 Names of Previous Transportation Companies where the Contractor has been an Owner or Manager 5 3 Description of Safety Programs Implemented by the Contractor 5 4 Record of Accidents in Vehicles under the control of the Contractor 5 5 Driving History of Employees of the Contractor 10 6 Fleet Inspection Records, Model Year of each of the Vehicles under the Control of the Contractor 10 7 Maintenance Schedules of Vehicles under Control of the Contractor 5 8 Financial Analysis of the Contractor 5 9 Documentation of Compliance with Motor Vehicle Insurance Requirements 5 10 Total Cost of Proposal- Total Cost to Provide the Transportation Services under the Contract 35 TOTAL 100 The above-referenced scoring of the criteria will be used for the contract awarded under this Request for Proposals for transportation services. In the best interest of the School District, the Board of Education reserves the right to award the transportation contracts for the 2020-2021 school year with the option to extend for a period of one (1) year, three (3) years or five (5) in accordance with applicable law and subject to and conditioned upon the approval of the voters of the School District. In the event, the voters do not approve a multi-year agreement; the School District will entertain the award of a one year contract. The Commissioner of Education, in addition to his/her existing statutory authority to approve or disapprove transportation contracts, may reject any award of a transportation contract that is based on an evaluation of proposals submitted in response to a request for proposals if he/she finds that (1) the contractor is not responsive to the request for proposal, or (2) the proposal is not in the best interests of the district. The School District requires a minimum score of 75 (seventy-five) for award. Security in the form of a bond or certified check in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the contract is required to be submitted with a proposal. A performance and payment bond in a sum of 100% of the annual amount of the contracts will be required as set forth in the request for proposal. Board of Education Freeport Union Free School District 235 N. Ocean Avenue Freeport, New York 11520 122091
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF TIME CHANGE OF REGULAR MEETING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Meeting of the Board of Trustees’ of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 18, 2020 has been canceled and RESCHEDULED to Monday, June 15, 2020, at 6:30 P.M., in the Municipal Building, Main Conference Room, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, it is anticipated that the Board will adjourn the Legislative Session and enter into Executive Session until 7:00 P.M. Pamela Walsh Boening Village Clerk DATED: June 11, 2020 Freeport, New York 122098
PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE SITE PLAN REVIEW BOARD MEETING - JUNE 23, 2020 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that a TELECONFERENCE Public Hearing will be held before the Site Plan Review Board on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 7:00 P.M., on Site Plan applications as they appear on the calendar; public comment invited. The Board will commence at 6:00 P.M. to discuss cases not requiring a public hearing; open to the public, no public comment. To join the Zoom Meeting on June 23, 2020, please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/88338360725?pwd=Slp udjMrc2FGWWhqNDZUUj h4WDhuQT09 Meeting ID: 883 3836 0 7 2 5 Password: 11520 Dial I Number: 1-929-205-6099 SP-3386 - 91-95 S. Main Street, Section 55/Block 205/Lot 113. Business B, Maha Realty Inc., Replace flat roof with gable roof. Adjourned 1/28/2020 SP-3394 - 840 S. Long Beach Avenue, Section 62/Block 156/Lot 42. Residence A. John Krush. Construct new singlefamily 3-story 3,104 sq. ft. dwelling. SP-3395 - 417 S. Main Street, Section 62/Block 044/Lot 13. Manufacturing. Main & Ray LLC. Update façade. SP-3398 - VL SO 110 Garfield St, Section 62/Block 091/Lot 186. Residence A. James Guardino. Construct new single-family ranch style elevated 1,493.08 sq. ft. dwelling. BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 122096 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com
Ronny Reyes/Herald
NCBA gives $7.5K to Long Island Council of Churches The Nassau County Bar Association gave $7,500 to The Long Island Council of Churches emergency food pantry program on May 28. The food pantry, located in Freeport, helps currently feed more than 12,000 people a month across Nassau County as the largest emergency food pantry in the county. “We are extremely thankful for all of
the blessings and the continued support in our ministry to those that we serve and the generosity of the WE CARE Advisory Board,” said Anthony Achong, LICC Director of Administration and Operations. “As the demand with those suffering from food insecurity grows during this unprecedented pandemic, their support allows us to continue in serving our neighbors in need.”
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING The Freeport Housing Authority will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 4:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at 100 North Main Street, Community Center, Freeport, NY 11520 with limited seating. 122094 LEGAL NOTICE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING - June 25, 2020 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that a teleconference Public Hearing with the Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for Thursday June 25, 2020 at 6:00 P.M., on the appeals and applications of cases as they appear on the calendar; residential applications that do not extend their prior nonconforming status may be called first; public comment invited. It is anticipated that the Board will adjourn the legislative session and teleconference into Executive Session until 6:30P.M. To view the meeting live please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/84023437749?pwd=Wk NEMVhsRnluSkhBUkE2SU Q3N0FUUT09. For audio please dial 1 929 205 6099 US. The Meeting ID is 840 2343 7749. The meeting password is 707389.
All applications are nonconforming with zoning regulations herein specified for the districts in which they are located. Application #2020-3 197(A) Atlantic Ave., Business A - Section 62/Block 168/Lot 69 Chris Mills - Proposed change of use from retail to micro brewery. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-71A(3)a - Prohibited Uses. Bars and grills, discotheques, nightclubs, cabarets or any other c o m m e r c i a l establishment, which supplies entertainment and/or dancing to live music or recorded music. Application indicates a business use wherein alcohol will be served. Application #2020-4 135 Union St., Residence A - Section 55/Block 362/Lot 553 - Omar Norabuena and Ana Cabrera Proposed detached garage 20’ x 14’ and maintain a 12’ x 12’ gazebo. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-39 Building Height. No accessory building and/or detached garage shall exceed 15ft in height, application indicates 16ft. §210-43A(3) Required Yards. Side yard minimum 5ft. Application indicates 3ft.
Application #2019-20 198 Delaware Ave., Residence AA - Section 36/Block 521/Lot 20 Garfield Manragh Proposed 65 sq. ft. addition, proposed 848 sq. ft. second story addition, convert rear porch to living space. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-31B(2) Sky Exposure Plane. No building shall penetrate the sky exposure plane. Application indicates interference with the side yard sky exposure plane. Application #2020-6 142 Glenada Ct., Residence A - Section 62/Block 076/Lot 13 Jovanny Gill - Construct a 521 sq. ft. wood frame with vinyl one-story addition on north side of existing 2-story family dwelling. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-39B Sky Exposure Plane, no building shall penetrate the sky exposure plane. Application indicates interference with front and rear sky exposure plane. Application #2019-25 73-75 and 77 Guy Lombardo Ave., Business B - Section 55/Block 288/Lots 2 & 29 - Juan Ledon - Proposed 5,681 sq. ft. of interior alterations with change of use at 77 Guy Lombardo Ave. from dry cleaners to a physical therapy office as an
expansion of the existing medical office at 73-75 Guy Lombardo Ave. with less than required parking. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-172(12) Required parking spaces. 17 spaces required. 0 spaces provided. Application #2020-5 405 N. Main St., Service Business Section 55/Block 393/Lot 30 - Luis Teran - Proposed change of use from office to mixed use of residential with warehouse and new 2nd floor addition 1,958.034 sq.ft.. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-90 Permitted Use. All uses permitted in Business A and Business B districts except residential, hotel, motel, clubs and lodges. §210-172A2(A) and §210-172A(9) Required Parking. 5 spaces required. Application indicates 2. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 122097
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
17 The Long IsLand Council of Churches food pantry, in Freeport, is feeding more than 12,000 people a month.
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his grand stately home is for the discerning buyer looking for spacious living inside and out. All it needs is loving care to reclaim its potential. You will enjoy extraordinary park-like property. This home boasts original details signaling the era of gracious living. A true Center Hall Colonial that has a large family room off oversized living room. There is an extra large dining room adjacent to eat in kitchen and enclosed porch along with three full baths, four bedrooms and a third floor bonus room. This home also comes with a two car detached garage, new water main and gas burner. It is located in the incorporated village of Rockville Centre, a vibrant town loaded with restaurants and shopping and is close to LIRR. This home is waiting for you! The potential and possibilities are endless with a property size of over a half an acre! $850,000
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
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Installing a bidet: no simple project Q. Because of this crazy time, we couldn’t get toi-
let paper, so I saw an advertisement for a bidet that attaches to the bottom of the toilet seat and ordered one. After weeks of waiting, there seemed like toilet paper was back in the stores, but then the bidet arrived. With no job to run off to, I decided to put the bidet on, and the instructions looked simple enough. That’s when I discovered that, like you often say, nothing is simple, and you’re right. My toilet is the kind that is sleek and modern, called “low profile.” Since we have never replaced the toilet seat, I didn’t know that the seat was Ask The attached with hidden bolts Architect that can’t be loosened or taken off. After going on YouTube, I saw in an instructional video by Kohler, the maker, that with a special-order kit that includes a flat tool, new bolts and special expanding sleeves, which I would need to use with a bunch of drill bits, a screwonte eeper driver and a mallet, I could do this “simple” job. I called a plumber, who looked at it and made one of those sounds like air rushing out of a balloon, and he said, after he couldn’t get the screw to loosen, either, that the toilet might get damaged if they drilled it out but they could try. If it got damaged, he said, as a backup, be prepared to replace the toilet and select what you would want to replace it. Even though I’m now searching for a new model toilet, I thought other readers would want to know about this problem before they go through this, as well. It all started with a simple roll of toilet paper that could have been available if people hadn’t swept them off the shelves in a panic. What would you do in this case?
M
L
A. I not only got calls from people I knew that they ordered the bidet attachment around early April, but I ordered one myself, and learned from your question that there were many who are experiencing the same issues. I’m often told by prospective clients that they want a simpler look, something more modern and “updated.” People seldom want to hear the truth when they have an idea about how to make things simpler, and I didn’t imagine that the engineers of that type of sleeklooking low toilet, with no indents or hidden places to clean, would actually be more complicated to work with. Who would have imagined that changing a toilet seat would mean changing a toilet? When people see something in a magazine, like an incredible staircase with no walls underneath or a fancy sports car, I wonder if they really understand the amount of complicated engineering that goes into the “simple” design. I would drill out the bolts with the kit standing by from the manufacturer and have the toilet selected, readily available to purchase for installation. Good luck!
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opinionS
S
table neighborhoods are the backbone of every community. But in places like New York state, where housing costs continue to rise dramatically, housing stability is threatened for far too many, particularly families and individuals who rely on public assistance. On any given day, more than 92,000 New Yorkers are homeless. The gross inadequacy of housing subsidies is a critical factor in the rise of homelessness and housing instability. Long don Island is home to FRiedMan about 1,800 homeless households staying in shelters, while another 3,200 or so families and individuals struggle to get by on public assistance allowances that cover only 40 percent to twothirds of their monthly rents. These households are on the brink of becoming homeless, and most will find themselves facing eviction, having to double up with family or friends, or living in shelters or places not fit for human habitation. This crisis is manifest throughout our
D
state, where, for example, more than 150,000 children experience homelessness over the course of the school year. Many of the more than 80,000 public-assistance households that struggle to pay their rents every month will constitute the next wave of families and individuals to lose their housing. These families will need to find shelters, hotels, tents, abandoned buildings, cars or sofas where they can spend a night, a week, a month, a lifetime after literally losing the roofs over their heads. We have learned a great deal about the impact of housing instability and homelessness on individuals and families. Children who experience the intense stress of these hardships don’t do as well in school, and are more likely to have behavioral issues; adults are less likely to secure jobs and keep them, and more prone to mental and physical health problems; and families are often less able to succeed as cohesive units. But it doesn’t need to be this way. There is a solution in the form of legislation that has been pending in Albany for the past few years called Home Stability Support. HSS is a common-sense remedy
H
to the homelessness crisis that is supported by 129 members of the State Assembly, 37 state senators, more than 100 faith leaders, including the New York State Council of Churches and the New York State Catholic Conference, as well as dozens of local officials and scores of human services agencies and other advocates. The design is simple: HSS would bridge the divide between public-assistance housing allowances and reasonable rents in order to enable homeless and at-risk New Yorkers to leave or avoid the impermanent shelter system and secure stable housing of their own. Critics of the bill point out that the state had no resources for a program like HSS even before the coronavirus pandemic. But with homelessness in the state at record levels, shelters are overcrowded, and it costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year to leave this problem unsolved. HSS would not only help our homeless neighbors and those at risk of becoming homeless to become stably housed, it would also contribute to neighborhood stability and benefit taxpayers by preventing evictions, helping those
ousing instability turns the lives of children and adults upside down.
fleeing unsafe homes and reducing the use of costly shelters. Moreover, the pandemic has exposed longstanding systemic inequities: wealthy families have been weathering the crisis away from dense metropolitan areas, while low-income workers have lost their livelihoods or continue to be exposed to the virus. While some have been able to work from home, others have neither a computer nor access to the internet. For the rich, the pandemic presents investment opportunities never seen before, but for the poor, it means the total depletion of their savings. Now that New York state is slowly coming back to life after the lockdown, it is critical that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders recognize the need to end the vicious cycle of homelessness for families. Almost everyone in the Legislature agrees that Home Stability Support would be the immediate solution to our statewide, cyclical homelessness crisis. Now it’s now time for Cuomo to ensure that the post-pandemic comeback isn’t built on the backs of low-income communities. Don Friedman is a former managing attorney of the Long Island office of the Empire Justice Center, a statewide legal services and advocacy organization for low-income New Yorkers.
My own silver lining is in the mirror
on’t go changing to try and please me . . . Don’t change the color of your hair.” —Billy Joel
Why would women stretch out on their backs with their hair floating behind them in vats of lye? Apparently, in the 1600s that was the price of beauty for fashionable women in Venice. It was what one did on the Rialto to bleach one’s hair into “golden” locks. I mention this because my husband and I recently had “the talk.” There are lots of pandemic-fueled talks going on now Randi in America, and while this one kReiSS started in a jokey kind of way, with a slow burn, it quickly ignited. The accelerant was oldschool ageism. I realized we were talking about identity. I asked him if he liked my hair, which has been growing in gray since I decided not to risk Covid-19 by going to a hair salon. (As businesses open, I realize this
is now my personal choice.) Yes, it is a loaded question from spouse A to spouse B. Of course, just by asking, I’m making his opinion of my appearance important. And it is. As an older, pretty traditional couple, that has been the way we roll. We tell each other if a sweater looks too worn or pants are too tight. We accept opinions on new shoes or eyeglasses. We have an actual agreement that we don’t say anything negative about each other’s appearance before we go out for the evening, but upon returning, we are allowed to say, “Burn that shirt.” When I asked about my going gray, he said, “I like your hair dark.” Well, I liked it better when my hair was dark, too, but it can’t get dark unless I go to a salon, or color it at home, which is a project I am not taking on. Besides, why should I? Why was I hitched to a wagon that dragged me to a salon every eight weeks for a “touch-up”? When I said I didn’t plan to change my hair, he said, “Well, OK, but I like it better the other way.” “Well, OK,” I said, “I liked it better when you had wavy black curls and rip-
i
pling muscles in your arms.” The double standard suddenly popped out in high relief. Why is it OK for him to have gray hair and not think that it diminishes him in any way, and I have to dye my hair in order to “improve” my appearance when I start to show signs of aging? If the pandemic had not struck, confining us to home base and prohibiting socializing, I probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done. Every eight weeks I’ll go to the theater instead, for the same money, should the theaters ever open again. Meanwhile, stuck in the house, I’m getting comfortable with the me in me. I’ve outgrown that woman with highlighted hair and ritualized applications of makeup. While we’re at it, let’s burn the bra. I see my husband’s eyes scan my upper torso and I know what he’s thinking. I go for it: “I’ve decided not to wear a bra anymore.” “I noticed,” he says. “Don’t you think your clothes look better when you wear a bra?” “My clothes would look better on a mannequin with Barbie Doll measure-
probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done.
ments,” I say, “but I am an imperfect human woman, and bras are uncomfortable, and I don’t want to be pinched and wired into place anymore.” I mean, why don’t fat guys wear Spanx? I know some men color their hair, but most don’t, whereas some 70 percent of American women color theirs. The selfimprovement industry comprising hair coloring, makeup and dieting has been largely aimed at women. We have been all too willing to believe that we aren’t thin enough or pretty enough or sexy enough in our own skins. Especially as we get older, it’s big business to convince women to cover the evidence of aging by dyeing hair, applying more makeup and submitting to surgeries. This is a very old story, but it has been made new again by the coronavirus, which reminds us what is important in our lives. In the age of masks, it is unmasking us. When your partner asks what you think of her going without makeup, a bra or hair color, or he asks if he can forgo the haircut, there are only eight acceptable words to utter: “I love you just the way you are.” Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
Include Home Stability Support in the recovery phase
22
Herald editorial
Freeport
HERALD June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Leader
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Ronny Reyes Editor Michelle AuclAiR Advertising Account Executive
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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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Protests should lead to reforms in New York
N
assau County wound ing on the sidewalk. That led down a whirlwind police to escort the BLM proweek of Black Lives testers around the counterproMatter protests testers. through local neighborhoods The next day, roughly 2,000 last week that were, with one BLM protesters turned out in exception, peaceful and upliftMerrick and marched through ing. local streets, from Sunrise Tens of thousands marched, Highway to Merrick Road, on to from Valley Stream to Bellmore Bellmore and back to Merrick. and from Hempstead to Long They chanted and cheered, Beach. They came seeking jusrapped and sang. This time, tice for George Floyd, killed by many local residents came out a Minneapolis police officer to welcome them. who pressed his knee into The day after that, 4,000 proFloyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 testers turned out, and they seconds. kept coming every day through At the same time, the protestlast Sunday. Outstanding! ers said they wanted social jusOn Saturday, a group of tice for all people, regardless of about two dozen protesters skin color. rushed at Nassau County police It’s about time that protests officers while to protest on the of this magnitude happened Meadowbrook Parkway in Merhere in Nassau. Often in the rick in the rain, according to past, when protests of this kind authorities. One officer’s ankle took place in response to an was broken. Another suffered a injustice, they happened in big bruised nose and a scratched cities like New York, Washingcornea. ton and Los Angeles. That left This should never have hapGov. Andrew Nassau residents with the dispened. No one should have Cuomo tinct impression that the social attempted to protest on the injustices that black people parkway, particularly when it have faced were not their concern. This was wet and slick. As one Facebook user time, protesters brought the demonstracommented, to do so would have been a tions to our otherwise quiet suburban “death wish.” neighborhoods, making them impossible More important, police never should to ignore. have been injured. The NCPD did an excelBravo! lent job of maintaining the peace and And these protesters weren’t taking no keeping everyone safe throughout the for an answer. In Merrick, a group of week. They didn’t deserve this. about 30 people, a number of whom were There were only 11 arrests of protesters from local neighborhoods, tried to stop 150 last week, all in Merrick, and all were Black Lives Matter protesters from march- among those who tried to jump onto the
i
don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.
■ DiAnne RAMDAss Circulation Director ■
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letters D.A.: Reforms are greatly needed To the Editor: The horrific murder of George Floyd has moved millions of Americans to action, seeking to end systemic racism and mistreatment by law enforcement and a fairer criminal justice system. These issues are not new to our country, our community or to me as district attorney. We have seen large, peaceful protests across Nassau County that showcase the diversity of our communities dedicated to justice, alongside the professionalism of our law enforcement agencies, working under challenging circumstances. As the county’s chief law enforcement official, I believe this is an important moment to listen to those voices in our community calling for change, to reflect on how we can improve and to affirm our commitment to do better. I wanted to share with you what action we’re taking in my office, how we’re working with our law enforcement partners to better serve the public, to announce my sup-
Meadowbrook. We seem in this nation to be in a perpetual cycle of violence against people of color, followed by protests that at times turn violent, as they did in major cities around the country last week. It’s time that we end that cycle. Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed his call for enactment of the “Say Their Name” reform agenda, saying that police have to do their jobs, but do not have the right to abuse those they police, and that society will no longer tolerate delayed justice. The Say Their Name agenda would: ■ Make public prior disciplinary records of law enforcement officers by reforming Section 50-a of the state’s Civil Rights Law. ■ Ban chokeholds by law enforcement officers. ■ Prohibit false, race-based 911 reports and make them a crime. ■ Designate the attorney general as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the deaths of unarmed civilians caused by law enforcement. We fully support passage of this legislation, and we call on the State Legislature to act on it immediately. “Police have to do their jobs, protect public safety,” Cuomo said. “There’s also police abuse. There’s abuse of power. Protesters — most of the protesters are peaceful — they are indignant. It is righteous indignation. I don’t see anybody who can see the Mr. Floyd video and not be indignant. I don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.”
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he largest pandemic in 100 years gave us a crash course in public health. We quickly learned the epidemiological concepts of “flattening the curve, the risk of exposure, asymptomatic carriers, incubation periods, and why we must quarantine. Even though everyone may not have understood these concepts, we all learned what to do: isolate and minimize contact with others to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This was enforced here through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “New York State on Pause” — even marTine if you wanted to HackeTT go to school or a bar or a movie, you couldn’t because of the policies that closed them all for the sake of the public. Individuals had to sacrifice for the greater good. Eventually these policies, and changes in behavior, worked. On Long Island, the percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 has dropped from 20 percent to 2 percent over the past six weeks. The number of daily deaths in New York City
dropped to zero last week for the first time since March. Nassau and Suffolk were among the hardest-hit counties in the United States, and we have been meeting the metrics of declining hospitalizations and deaths, and are moving toward reopening. We also learned that even though a virus cannot be seen by the naked eye, we can see its effects on the body. We understand that this invisible agent can be spread without the knowledge of those who have it, and that it can be deadly. The same is true for police brutality and its root cause, structural racism. Invisible to some and supported by many who are unaware of its impact, the overwhelming police presence in communities of color takes a continuing toll on people of color. Just as electron microscopes made it possible for viruses to be visible 90 years ago, police brutality is now visible is cellphone documentation that is viewed and shared on our myriad screens. The shocking and deeply disturbing video of George Floyd’s death as a direct result of a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck made it painfully clear how racism
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icroscopes have made viruses visible, and cellphones allow us to see brutality.
LeTTers port for pending legislation to promote trust and accountability, and to remind every Nassau resident that our doors and our hearts are open to all those we serve. Please continue to share your ideas with me. I am listening. ■ My office will partner with the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University to analyze comprehensive charging and case disposition data to identify racial disparity and bias, and publicly report the findings of that review as well as any corrective action warranted. ■ We will also address the appearance of a conflict by seeking the appointment of a special prosecutor for all new cases in which police officers are credibly accused of criminal conduct in the course of their duties. ■ We will expand and enhance annual mandatory implicit bias training for all staff, and review our training curriculum to ensure that anti-bias education is an ongoing component. ■ We will continue our work to recruit and promote prosecutors, investigators and staff that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. ■ We will expand our Community Councils, which already include our African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, South Asian American, Faith Leaders, Student and Community Partnership Program advisory councils to
and law enforcement violence intersect. The fact that Floyd’s autopsy revealed that he also had Covid-19 the month before he was murdered further connects the vulnerability of black people to public-health threats. The protests that followed across the United States and the world demanded an end to systemic racism. The American Public Health Association states that racism structures opportunity and assigns value based on how a person looks. The result is conditions that give an unfair advantage to some and unfairly disadvantage others. Racism hurts the health of our nation by denying some people the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. We know that in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Covid-19 deaths have disproportionately affected black residents. In 2018, the APHA also recognized that law enforcement violence was a publichealth issue. Racism and injustice have resulted in the deaths of more people than the 110,000 that Covid-19 has caused thus far in the U.S. We have seen that public-health solu-
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020
A virus and police brutality: two public-health problems I
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tions can work to reduce the virus’s toll. However, just talking about what to do — wearing masks, social distancing, disinfecting — does not work unless those recommendations are followed rigorously. tinue t Without conscious and vigilant action, ty is th Covid-19 would continue to spread and larly fa cause sickness and death. But as we wait on pub for a vaccine and the building of herd immunity, we may one day gain control of the virus, and live our lives without thinking too much about it. There is no similar one- or two-shot solution to an unjust societal system. Eliminating the public-health problems of police brutality and systemic racism will require public-health-sized solutions: consistent monitoring; education about how structural racism, especially on Long Island, came to be a force in our schools, communities and health care system; policy changes; and changes in citizens’ behavior and attitudes. Police brutality, and the underlying causes of systemic racism, require the 3,200 or same unprecedented level of action and gle to g ances t resources we used to address the pandemic. We are all connected, whether we thirds househ see it or not. homele Martine Hackett is an associate professor facing family of public health at Hofstra University. places Thi
Framework by Christina Daly
ensure broader geographic representation of Nassau’s communities. Many jurisdictions, including New York City, have established civilian oversight boards to provide independent review of complaints against police officers. These boards investigate and recommend discipline for officers accused of misconduct, refer potential criminal conduct for possible prosecution, and use tools like mediation to help improve relationships and trust between law enforcement and the public. To promote transparency and independence, we encourage Nassau County to establish a civilian police review agency. We encourage the Legislature to increase juror pay from the antiquated rate of $40 per day to $150 per day to promote more diverse and representative juries. For those who are self- employed, rely on tips or hold multiple part-time jobs, the cost to serve is simply too high. Legislation is pending to repeal Section 50-a of the New York State Civil Rights Law, which shields the personnel records of police from disclosure. Greater transparency regarding police misconduct and discipline is important to improve policies and oversight and promote public confidence. I support significant reform to Section 50-a. However, police officers do dangerous work. The overwhelming majority do their jobs with courage and integrity. And repeal that does not afford protection of officers’ personal information could endanger officers
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An installation in Pratt Park — Glen Cove
and their families. As we work to address police misconduct, it is important to be mindful of the essential role law enforcement plays in protecting our communities, and the difficult and often dangerous situations officers face. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, substance abuse and other conditions, exacerbated by work stresses, necessitate the ready availability of mental health services to ensure that officers can continue to safely perform their jobs. Officer suicides have occurred at an alarming rate in recent years, and wide-
spread protests and broad-based criticism will undoubtedly compromise morale. It is important that policymakers engage with law enforcement leaders and rank-and-file officers to ensure that as we move forward to address wrongdoing, we create an environment that sup-quickly ports the good work of the thousands of school police officers who serve the people of I rea Nassau County with professionalism andty. integrity every day. I ask has bee MADELINE SINGASnot to r Nassau County district attorneysalon. (
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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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