Malverne/West Hempstead Herald by Richner Communications, Inc

Malverne/West Hempstead

HERALD teen wins Wonder Girl award

a heart-filled book collection

malverne native dies at 69

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vol. 27 No. 17

aPril 23 - 29, 2020

Spreading hope and joy Malverne Chamber of Commerce launches digital quilt project By Nakeem GraNt ngrant@liherald.com

Courtesy Malverne Chamber of Commerce

malverNite Yissel saNchez shared her drawing with the Malverne Chamber of Commerce, to be included in their digital quilt project.

With the Malverne Chamber of Commerce’s annual Art Walk delayed amid the coronavirus pandemic, the group wanted to find another way to celebrate artistic talent in the village. So the chamber, along with the Malverne Jewish Center, launched a digital quilt project earlier this month, in which residents can submit their artwork. “This project is such an amazing opportunity for the community to come together

using art to unite and show appreciation,” said Chamber Vice President Maria Casini. “We wanted to say thank you to all of the essential workers that are out there risking their lives for us. We thought this quilt could bring another dimension of hope, creativity, unity and joy to all in Malverne.” Casini added that Benny Montalbano, of Elite Painting, suggested that the focus of the project should be on expressing gratitude to the village’s essential workers. Rabbi Susan Elkodsi, spiriContinued on page 13

Covid-19 cases continue to rise in Malverne, W.H. By Nakeem GraNt ngrant@liherald.com

The number of cases of Covid-19 in Malverne and West Hempstead has steadily increased over the past month. As the Herald went to press on Monday, Malverne had 114 positive cases, while West Hempstead had 297, according to Nassau County Department of Health records. The statistics come from the department’s interactive Covid19 map, which tracks the number of cases by neighborhood. Malverne and West Hempstead’s neighboring community, Lakeview, had 118 cases, and Malverne

Park Oaks had 12. The map did not include cases pending confirmation by the state Department of Health. The county has reported more than 24,000 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began last month, with nearly 2,500 hospitalizations and 910 deaths attributed to the virus. So far, 145 people countywide have been discharged after having been hospitalized. Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett has continued to urge residents to stay home during the pandemic. “The more we stay home, the quicker we can get through the steepest part of the hill,” he said on April 3, “and

he more we stay home, the quicker we can get through the steepest part of the hill. keith corBett Mayor, Malverne

more importantly, the steeper the decline will be on the other side.” First responders, such as the Malverne Volunteer Ambulance Corps, have faced challenges in responding to emergencies.

Corps President Areeb Yaseen said there had been several changes in how responders identify suspected Covid-19 calls and treat those patients, and how they transport others who suffer cardiac arrest unrelated to the coronavirus. “There is confusion with patients and [health care] providers because of their knowl-

edge from the news or friends about the virus,” Yaseen said, “versus ours from the Department of Health.” He added that the changes in cardiac-arrest protocols would lead to much frustration among health care providers and family members of the patients they treat. “Because of the overContinued on page 12

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April 23, 2020 â€” HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

OBITUARY Renowned orthopedic surgeon advised pro sports teams By MATTHEW FERREMI mferremi@liherald.com

When it came to professional sports in New York and medical related issues, Dr. Barry G. Fisher was at the forefront of advising teams and athletes in his career. Fisher, 69, died on April 17 from Covid-19 related issues. He grew up in Malver ne, lived in Atlantic Beach for more than 40 years and then Old Brookville. Fisher graduated from the University of Cincinnati and received his medical degree from the University of Chicago. The orthopedic surgeon, who had his own medical practice, was the team medical doctor for several metropolitan area professional sports teams such as the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders and

DR. BARRy MIllER with, Molly, one of his two dogs, in 2019.

Brooklyn Nets. He also treated countless domestic and foreign politicians, celebrities and many athletes. Dr. Fisher was involved in several medical charities to help ensure that those who were unable to receive medical attention got such medical treatment. He has a true passion for the medical profession, but his true love was his family, friends of the family said. Fisher is survived by his wife Joann Fisher; children Samantha, Haylee, Jordan, Ryan, Charlie, Erika, and Corey; his grandchildren Ethan, Austin, Matthew and Kyle. It is requested that donations in his memory be to the MD Anderson Cancer Center and specifically to Dr. Robert Wolff Pancreatic Cancer Research. Courtesy Fisher family

MSSN sees Covid-19 curve flattening By BRIAnA BonFIglIo bbonfiglio@liherald.com

The curve of coronavirus cases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside is flattening, according to Joe Calderone, the hospital’s vice president of corporate communications. As of Friday, the hospital had 290 patients being treated for Covid-19, down from 383 on April 13, which hospital officials said they believe was the peak. “The good news is the number has been steadily flattening,” Calderone said. “The social distancing that people are doing, as difficult as it is, is definitely producing results. We are really urging people to not let up.” Of those patients, 64 were on ventilators. MSSN has more than 100 ventilators available. In addition, Calderone assured that the facility has enough personal protective equipment, or PPE, for all hospital staff. “We purchased some [ventilators] ourselves and were able to get some through Mount Sinai Health System,” Calderone explained. “Our partnership with them has been incredibly helpful through this pandemic, supporting both in a clinical standpoint in terms of new drugs being tested and plasma therapy. They also have a very good, robust supply chain operation.” As of Friday, the hospital had 238 Covid-19 deaths, while 357 patients who were previously diagnosed with the virus

Courtesy MSSN

MounT SInAI SouTH Nassau hospital officials said there has been a flattening of the curve in coronavirus cases, however, the community must still be vigilant in practicing social distancing. were treated and discharged. When cases began to climb last month, Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Aaron Glatt spoke of the importance of social distancing during a Facebook Live session at the hospital. “I want to stress the single most important thing that everybody can do is really understand what social distancing means,” he said at the time. “That’s the

buzzword of 2020. That will be the word of the year.” One month later, Calderone urged residents to continue to heed that advice, even as the numbers continue to improve. While the toll the virus has taken is unprecedented and beyond what most hospital workers have ever seen, Calderone noted that there is still much they are grateful for. The hospital has received

food donations from more than 50 local businesses. “Many have come forward and funded food for the staff,” he said, “which is really helpful because they’re working 16-hour days and barely have time to take a break. This way, [the food] is readily available and they don’t have to think about it. “But really, it’s not about the food,” he added. “It’s the message that it sends to the staff that people on the outside recognize what’s happening inside this hospital and the incredible challenge the front-line workers have faced during this pandemic, putting themselves and families at risk to care for often critically ill Covid patients. It sends a great morale boost.” Nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital are also spreading positivity with their “message board of hope,” which they debuted in the hospital lobby last week. Nurses Teresa Ebehart, Angelica Hoyos and Christine Doud handcrafted the board, which displays the number of Covid-19-positive patients that have been discharged from the hospital, and how many coronavirus patients have been taken off ventilators at the facility. As each patient is discharged from MSSN, “Here Comes the Sun” is played as the board is updated. Each time a patient is taken off of a ventilator, the staff plays “Breath.” Mike Smollins contributed to this story.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Malverne native Dr. Barry Miller dies

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Neighbors iN the News Rotary Club collects new, used books

state sen. Kevin Thomas, left, and Imran Pasha, chairman of the Federation of American Indian Relief, delivered 500 N95 masks to the Nassau University Medical Center.

Courtesy office of State Sen. Kevin Thomas

Community groups donate to NUMC In a community-led effort to help protect front line medical workers, State Sen. Kevin Thomas, who serves Malverne and West Hempstead, partnered with the Federation of American Indian Relief and the Muslim Community of New York to donate 500 N95 masks to Nassau University Medical Center. Thomas and FAIR chairman Imran Pasha delivered the masks to NUMC President and CEO Dr. Anthony Boutin on April 14. “We are proud to donate personal protective equipment for these front-line

workers, who are putting their lives at risk for us,” Pasha said. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see our community come together to support one another in times of need,” Thomas in a news release. “I want to thank Federation of American Indian Relief and the Muslim Community of New York for their amazing efforts in securing these masks, and thank all of our health-care workers who are out there fighting for us.” Courtesy State Sen. Kevin Thomas’s office; compiled by Nakeem Grant

The Central Nassau County Rotary Club featured Hindi’s Libraries co-founder Leslie Gang at their meeting last month. Gang spoke about h ow t h e g ro u p w a s founded. In 2018, Dr. Hindi Krinsky died at 32. To continue Krinsky’s legacy, family and friends chose to build three free-standing libraries in her children’s school. To fill t h e s e l i b r a r i e s, t h e Rotary Club reached out to the community for gently used books. Within two weeks, the Rotary Club collected nearly 500 books. The group knew then that this was going to be Courtesy Central Nassau County Rotary Club much bigger than just three small libraries, as Central nassau County Rotary Club first vice president a small school project Regina Mascia, left, joined Hindi’s Libraries co-founder q u i c k l y b e c a m e a Leslie Gang during their meeting last month. national literacy initiasky’s legacy and share her love of literative. The Rotary Club now collects and donates new and gently ture with thousands of children. used children’s books to more than 380 organizations throughout the world. Courtesy Central Nassau County Rotary Together, they work to continue Krin- Club; compiled by Nakeem Grant

Griffins holds digital story time at libraries State Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, of Rockville Centre, has been hosting digital story times with local libraries within Assembly District 21 since early this month. Griffin, who serves Malverne and West Hempstead, has read stories with Oceanside, Malverne, Freeport, Baldwin and Lynbrook public libraries. In the coming weeks, she will read to the following libraries at the specified date and time for children who wish to join and listen in: ■ Thursday, April 23: Digital Story Time

with Rockville Centre Public Library at 10:30 a.m. ■ Tuesday, April 28: Digital Story Time with West Hempstead Public Library at 11 a.m. For more information about how to access each reading, please go to each library’s website or visit Assemblywoman Griffin’s Facebook page. Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Judy Griffin; compiled by Briana Bonfiglio.

Malverne/West Hempstead

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Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Judy Griffin

state assemblywoman Judy Griffin held one of the books that she has read thus far, which was one of her own child’s favorites when they were little.

County exec: Delaying school taxes could hurt sbrinton@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran spoke at length last Saturday about a proposal before the County Legislature to delay collection of school taxes that come due in May. Curran, a Democrat, said Monday that she would speak with Governor Cuomo about the possibility of pushing back school tax payments to June 1, but the Republican-controlled Legislature proceeded passed the measure that day. Many residents have been laid off or have seen their hours reduced, and so are looking for financial relief. Delaying school taxes, however, could have serious financial consequences for the county, Curran said. Curran explained that the county must guarantee all school tax collections, meaning if the school districts come up short in their collections, then the county must provide the funding to the districts — by law. She said the county is hurting financially, as are all municipalities. Sales and property tax collections comprise 67 percent of the county’s more than $3 billion budget. Sales taxes have plummeted during the pandemic, starving the county of one of its two primary revenue sources, Curran said. She worries about county employees, she said, and wants to ensure the

county maintains its force of first responders, including police officers and medics. The federal and state governments, she said, must step in to ensure the county has enough cash on hand to meet its financial obligations, including to its employees, so it can continue to provide essential services. In Nassau County, new hospitalizations declined throughout the weekend, as did ICU cases and intubations, Curran said. Over the weekend, the county was closing in on 30,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Many of them have resolved, the county executive said. She also said hospital “discharges continue to be robust,” indicating the county may be past the plateau. “We become more eager and ready to reopen our society,” she said, adding the county must begin planning to reopen marinas, golf courses and beaches, including the county-owned Nickerson Beach in Lido. Over the weekend, Gover nor Cuomo reopened marinas and golf courses. Curran said a strategy to reopen all of the economy must be developed. “I do believe we can strike the balance” between opening up society and controlling new infections, particularly among the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, she said.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

By scott BriNtoN

Christina Daly/Herald

Nassau ExEcutivE Laura Curran said she worries that if school tax collections were delayed, the county might wind up paying the bill.

Covid-19 deaths decline over the weekend In Nassau County, new hospitalizations declined for the third straight day, as did ICU cases and intubations, County For the first time since the Covid-19 Executive Laura Curran said Saturday pandemic struck more than a month ago, afternoon. New York state saw sharp declines in the On Sunday, Cuomo appeared alongnumber of overnight deaths because of side Northwell Health President and the coronavirus, and Gov. CEO Michael Dowling to Andrew Cuomo was expressannounce plans to undertake ing cautious optimism over widespread, random antithe weekend that the state body testing to determine was past the peak of the dismore precisely New York’s ease. actual infection rate. He noted, however, that Overnight from Saturday relaxing social distancing into Sunday, 507 people died could lead to a second wave of the coronavirus in New of infection. York, Cuomo said at NorthThe number of deaths well’s Feinstein Institutes for because of the coronavirus Medical Research in dropped a little more than 14 Manhasset. That represented percent across New York an 8 percent drop in the overstate overnight from Friday night death rate. into Saturday, from 630 to New hospitalizations also 540, Cuomo said Saturday declined, from 2,000 the day afternoon. before to 1,300, a 35 percent It was the smallest numdrop. ber of overnight deaths the Gov. aNdrEW And new intubations, state had seen in a day since cuoMo whereby people are placed on early April, and represented ventilators to enable them to a 32 percent decrease in the breath, were down also. overnight mortality rate from April 9, If those statistics hold, Cuomo said, when the number of deaths from one day “we are past the high point,” and all indito the next peaked at 799. cations are the infection rate is “on the Cuomo noted, however, that the state descent.” still saw 2,000 new hospitalizations overStill, he said, “Thirteen hundred is a night, which, he said, was troubling. lot of people coming into the hospital

By scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com

e just pray to God [the infection rate] remains down on the other side … We still have a long way to go.

Governor: Marinas can open New York, Connecticut and New Jersey are allowing marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers to open for personal use, provided they adhere to social distancing protocols and sanitize their facilities, Governor Cuomo announced Saturday afternoon. Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurants at these sites will be limited to take-out or delivery.

system.” State officials are taking a breather with the infection rate appearing to stabilize. Cuomo described the crisis “as a mountain that just kept building and building and building,” and he said, he had “no idea where the top of the mountain” was. “We just pray to God,” he said, that the infection rate “remains down on the other side” of the mountain. He also noted, “We still have a long way to go.” The governor urged people to continue social distancing and practice sound hygiene. He worries that people will see the death and new hospitalization rates

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus,” Cuomo said. “Aligning our polices in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or ‘state shopping’ when it comes to marinas and boatyards.” –Scott Brinton declining, and then attempt to return to life as normal too soon. That, he said, would jeopardize the progress the state has made over the past 40 days in containing the virus. In preparing for a reopening of New York’s economy, he said, the state needs greater testing, and it needs more federal funding. Cuomo estimated the state faces a $10 billion to $15 billion deficit. That money will have to be made up somehow. Without federal funding, cuts are likely, he said, noting school districts across the state could see their state aid slashed by 50 percent in 2020-21 without federal assistance.

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

On the front lines with a Northwell ICU nurse By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

Each time a patient comes off a ventilator in the intensive care unit at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset these days, the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” plays over the loudspeaker, alerting all staff and patients that a life has been saved. Elyse Isopo, an ICU nurse practitioner at North Shore, with 20 years experience, spoke of that moment during a 19-minute Facebook Live interview with Northwell Health video producer Rob Hoell on Thursday. It is an important moment for all in the ICU, as staff members work around the clock battling the Covid-19 virus, which, Isopo said, is yet to let up in the ICU. People throughout the ICU erupt in cheers and clapping when that Beatles song sounds, Isopo said, noting, “We need those wins, because it keeps us going.” The number of new hospitalizations across New York state, including in Nassau, appears to be declining, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and County Executive Laura Curran. The number of ICU patients where Isopo is at, however, continues unabated, she said, “because people who are hospitalized are getting sicker.” Working in the ICU, she said, “is scary, and real, and rewarding at the same time,” adding, “Everybody has been amazing. It feels like a family.”

Courtesy Northwell Health

northwell health icU nurse practitioner Elyse Isopo spoke with video producer Rob Hoell about what it’s like to battle Covid-19 on the front lines. One of the hardest parts that patients must endure is the sense of isolation from their families, because visitors are not allowed into the hospital, Isopo said. Patients receive iPads so they can connect with loved ones, but it is not the same as meeting face to face. If a patient appears near death, only then is family allowed in, she said. Isopo spoke of one recent case, a patient originally from Korea. The patient asked that Korean music be played in his

final moments, and so it was. “It was beautiful,” she said, “and we supported his dying process.” Such images, however, can also be haunting. “I don’t sleep very well at night,” Isopo said. She is married with children. Worried about potentially infecting her family, she is careful each night to remove her clothes and shoes and take a shower before entering her home. “After a long day,” she said, “it’s draining.”

Working in the ICU is tough, she said. “It’s very challenging. It’s very difficult. It’s very stressful,” she said. “Everybody is as critical as the next person and the next person. “It looks like a MASH unit,” she continued. “It’s bed after bed after bed … You walk in there, and you’re in the trenches.” Isopo said the community has come out in unexpected and welcome ways, showering the nurses and doctors with praise and parades and food. “Seeing everyone in the community looking at us like heroes is very overwhelming and very much appreciated,” she said. She emphasized, though, that “I never thought of myself as a hero.” The first responders in the field, the police and firefighters, are the heroes, she said. Isopo said she believes Northwell has provided adequate personal protective equipment to hospital workers throughout the crisis. At first, workers were limited to one N95 mask per week, but now receive a new one daily, she said. Many place surgical masks over their N95 masks as an extra layer of protection to keep fluids off them. In addition to masks, all workers receive paper scrubs, goggles, face shields and gloves. She ended by saying people should stay home to reduce the infection and hospitalization rates. “The more people stay home, that helps us,” she said. For the full interview, see liherald.com.

Catholic Health Services taking part in clinical trials By Jeff BeSSen jbessen@liherald.com

Catholic Health Services is taking part in two clinical trials designed to develop treatments for Covid-19. A Mayo Clinic trial is using what is called convalescent plasma donated by recovered Covid-19 patents to treat individuals who continue to fight the coronavirus. Convalescent plasma comprises parts of the blood of people who have had the virus and recovered. The second study involves using the medication remdesivir, which was originally developed to treat the Ebola virus and has been successfully used for other coronaviruses, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The convalescent plasma study is being offered at CHS’s six hospitals. The remdesivir trial is taking place at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® in Roslyn and at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, CHS officials said. One 200 milliliters/6.8 ounces dose of the plasma has benefitted a portion of patients, according to the initial data. People who recover from Covid-19 do so, in part, because their blood contains antibodies that are able to fight the virus. Previous research of other viruses found that treating patients with plasma obtained from those who have recovered from the same virus leads to rapid improvement, CHS officials said. Using remdesivir to treat COVID-19 follows limited testing in the United States, Canada, China and other countries that led to an improvement in the condition of some patients. The treatment regimen using remdesivir takes place over 10 days and includes a 200-milligram dose on the first day and a 100-milligram dose on days two to 10.

Herald file photo

catholic health ServiceS of Long Island, which includes Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, above, is involved in two clinical trial seeking to develop a treatment for Covid-19. “Catholic Health Services is excited to be on the front lines and participate in these clinical trials for Covid-19,” CHS Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jason Golbin, stated in a news release. “Our clinical teams have spent several weeks caring for Covid-19 patients. It means a great deal to everyone to take part in these two cutting-edge research efforts.” Potential plasma donors must have a prior, verified diagnosis of Covid-19, but are now symptom-free and

fully recovered. Donors must also be at least 18 and weigh at least 110 pounds. The plasma can be administered only to a consenting Covid-19 patient or a patient whose family member offers consent. The treatment will be given to patients judged by a doctor to be at high risk of disease progression to severe or life-threatening. To donate plasma and for more information on the two clinical trials, call Catholic Health Services at (855) 247-4500.

Cuomo extends N.Y. PAUSE to May 15 By scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

ew York PAUSE has worked, [but] we’re not there yet.

couple can now marry by video in new York state On Saturday, Governor Cuomo issued a directive allowing marriages to be performed via videoconference to help reduce the infection rate amid the coronavirus crisis. Among other conditions, the order requires the following be met:

are present in the New York state jurisdiction where the marriage is to take place.

■ The couple to be wed must present valid photo ID during the videoconference.

Local town and city clerks may provide further guidance. If a couple’s marriage license has or will expire during the Covid19 pandemic, the state is waiving the 60-day waiting period to obtain a new license. It is also waiving all fees to obtain a second marriage license.

■ The town or city clerk, the witness(es), the person to solemnize the marriage, and the couple must interact with one another. No pre-recorded ceremonies are allowed. ■ The couple must affirm that they

■ The couple must send a legible copy of the signed marriage document by fax or email to the town or city clerk, the witnesses, and the person to solemnize the marriage on the same date it was signed.

–Scott Brinton

State releases data on nursing home deaths By James Bernstein jbernstein@liherald.com

The New York State Department of Health released a list of 22 nursing homes on Long Island, including homes in Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook, where residents have died from the coronavirus epidemic. The state said its list included only deaths that took place inside a facility or location where five people or more have died. State health officials said 22 residents at the Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center had died of the virus; eight at the Glen Cove Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and six at the Lynbrook Restorative and Therapy Nursing facility. Across the state, a total of 1,135 nursing home or assisted living center deaths at 72 facilities, officials said. The Health Department lists say 128 deaths took place at a total of 11 nursing homes in all of Nassau County. The Health Department released the list after numerous complaints from the families of residents at the facilities, legislators and members of the media. Gov. Andrew Cuomo was asked repeatedly at his daily briefings about the coronavirus illness at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state. The governor had said the figures were being compiled. Cuomo ordered nursing homes to i m m e d i at e ly i n fo r m re l at ive s o f patients who test positive.

Herald file photo

the state health Department reported 22 cases of Covid-19 deaths at the Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Administrators at the nursing homes in Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook have not released information about Covid-19 cases. But most all facilities have listed on their websites that they are sanitizing all areas within the

homes, maintaining social distancing among staff members, and noting that they are closed to outsiders, to protect the health of patients. Relatives have not been allowed to visit patients at the facilities, and many

told media outlets they had been unable to reach patients by phone. Administrators at the Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook facilities did not return calls seeking comment.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

lion of them are workers. New York on PAUSE — Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone — Gov. Andrew Cuomo last Thursday has kept the infection and hospitalizaextended New York on PAUSE, a 10-point tion rates to manageable levels, the govplan that shuts down “non-essential” ernor indicated. “We slowed the infecbusinesses and schools and requires tion rate by our actions, and that’s why social distancing, through May 15. The we’re in a better position today,” he said. announcement came during Wi d e s p r e a d t e s t i n g , his daily briefing, when he including antibody blood also continued to lay out his sampling, is needed to better vision to reopen the economy track the infection rate and — and the challenges doing assure people that they are so will present. safe when returning to their Previously, New York on workplaces. Cuomo said the PAUSE was to end April 30. state would conduct 3,000 “New York PAUSE has random antibody tests in the worked,” Cuomo said, but he coming weeks. noted, “we’re not there yet,” Last Wednesday, Cuomo referring to the reduction in said he would like to see the Gov. andrew the Covid-19 infection rate economy reopen in phases, needed to allow all people to cuomo in close coordination with retur n to work and ease six other states — Delaware, social distancing requireConnecticut, Massachusetts, ments. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode The governor said the state does not Island. yet fully know what the infection rate is. He asked on Thursday that employers To date, more than 500,000 people have begin to consider whether their workers been tested in New York, more than Cali- can continue to telecommute when their fornia, Florida and Michigan combined, workplaces reopen, as well as think Cuomo said. That figure, however, repre- about the configuration of their worksents a fraction of the state’s population spaces. How far apart might desks be — 19 million people live here, and 9 mil- spread apart, for example?

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Senator freed from prison amid pandemic By Jill nossa jnossa@liherald.com

Former State Sen. Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 and will serve the remainder of his prison term at home, according to court papers filed last Wednesday. Skelos, 72, was reportedly in quarantine at the federal prison in Otisville, according to documents filed in federal court in Manhattan by Southern District prosecutors, and has been symptom-free since April 8. Prosecutors said that medical authorities at the prison have cleared his release. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons said Skelos is expected to be approved for furlough and home confinement once the U.S. Probation Department has approved his proposed residence. A release date had not been set as of press time Monday. L a t e l a s t m o n t h , S ke l o s

requested early release, citing fear of contracting the virus after another inmate tested positive. The motion, filed under seal, was opposed by federal prosecutors in papers filed publicly, saying that an application for release must first be filed with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which can better assess his health situation. His medical condition was not made public at that point. Skelos has more than two years left on his 51-month sentence for extortion, wire fraud and bribery. Skelos was convicted in July 2018 of using his political power to secure roughly $300,000 in jobs and fees for his son Adam, also of Rockville Centre. They were each convicted on eight counts of conspiracy, extortion, and bribery. Adam Skelos was sentenced to four years in prison.

Herald file photo

former state sen. Majority Leader Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 and is expected to be released early to home confinement.

Trump lawyer, Lawrence native, to be released from prison By Jeff Bessen jbessen@liherald.com

Michael Cohen, a Lawrence native and former personal attorney for President Donald Trump, who was convicted of several felonies and sentenced to three years in prison in 2018, will be released because of the coronavirus pandemic after a 14-day quarantine period, prison officials said. He will serve the remainder of his sentence confined to home. He was serving his sentence and expected to be released in November 2021 from federal prison in upstate Otisville, where 14 inmates and seven staff members at the facility tested positive for Covid-19, as of press time. A federal judge had previously rejected Cohen’s request for a sentence reduction because of coronavirus on March 24. Cohen was found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, tax evasion and lying to Congress, among other charges in 2018. He was also ordered to pay $1.39 million in restitution, forfeit $500,000 and pay a $50,000 fine. The guilty pleas to the federal felony charges resulted in his disbarment as a lawyer in New York state. Serving as Trump’s personal attorney, Cohen, 53, arranged sixfigure payments to a por n star known as Stormy Daniels, whose

Jeff Bessen/Herald

lawrence native michael Cohen who was serving three years in prison on multiple federal charges will be released because of the coronavirus outbreak. Above, testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last year. real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to buy their silence about their one-time affairs with the president. Cohen testified multiple times in front of Congressional commit-

tees on Capitol Hill last year, including the public hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, before which he famously called his former boss a racist and a cheat, and admitted,” I am a fool.”

News brief Long Island Trauma Recovery Network to provide free therapy The Long Island Trauma Recovery Network will provide free therapy to health care workers, first responders, essential employees, their families, and those whose loved ones are facing or have died from the coronavirus. All services will be provided remotely by trained and licensed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapists. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a form of psychotherapy in which a trauma patient is asked to recall a distressing image. It has been proven to help address the trauma symptoms that medical professionals and first responders face. The Long Island EDMR Trauma Network will offer the Integrative Group Treatment Protocol, which provides individual EDMR therapy in a group setting. The program is administered to groups of people who have experienced the same type of trauma or who share a major life challenge. There will be several groups weekly, and some individual appointments are available. For more information, email LongIslandTrauma@gmail.com and contact Cathy Menzies, LCSWR Trauma Recovery Coordinator at (631) 466 - 7053 to register. –Melissa Koenig

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Photos courtesy West Hempstead School District

Erin Holtkamp, an English as New Language teacher at George Washington School in West Hempstead, and her daughter, Payton, safely delivered donated books to her students’ homes.

A project ‘full of heart’ in West Hempstead Erin Holtkamp, an English as a New Language teacher at George Washington School in West Hempstead, took it upon herself to ensure students’ needs are being met at home by donating books to families in the community. “While making phone calls to some of my students’ homes, I asked one of them if they had books to read at home,” Holtkamp said. “To my surprise, they were confused by the question.” Many of her students’ families spoke Spanish as their first language and were having some difficulties in communicating with her in English. Holtkamp utilized her conversational Spanish skills and was able to clarify that she needed to know if her students had any books they like to read at home. She was saddened to hear their answers. “My students answers ranged from no books at all, to only books they had taken quickly from school, which was one or two,” Holtkamp said. She decided she had to do something to provide her students with more reading materials at home. Holtkamp and her family got to work, collecting books to donate from their own home. She reached out to her fellow fourth-grade educators and middle school colleagues and within two days, she had boxes of books for her students delivered to her front door. Holtkamp’s husband runs a company that sells books and educational materials and has a huge storage locker filled with resources. Here, she found some fantastic

books in Spanish and even some in both English and Spanish. “We raided the storage locker and collected another 50 books from the collection of different publishers,” she said. “In the end, we had over 160 books.” She and her family then sorted the books amongst 13 students in 12 families, doing their best to organize them based on interest, skill and providing an equal amount for all. In each hand-decorated bag of books, she included a letter and a notice of 10 ideas of what to do while reading these new books, written both in English and Spanish. Holtkamp contacted the families again and told them she would be coming by to drop off the books. So she requested they come out to collect them. “It was a successful and fantastic day full of appreciation and smiles from my students and their families,” Holtkamp said. “Just to see their smiling faces was all I needed.” Holtkamp thanked George Washington School Principal Michelle Notti, Jackie Andrejko Diana Parillo, Stacey Boshnack, Michelle Lambraia, her friend Teresa McCarthy and her husband’s company ERC Sales for donating the variety of books given to students. She also stressed the team effort that went into the book donations. “This is not my project, but a West Hempstead School District project full of heart from so many educators,” Holtkamp said. Courtesy West Hempstead School District; compiled by Nakeem Grant

Holtkamp collEctEd morE than 160 books to donate to families in the community.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Herald ScHoolS

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Medical center gets car, fire truck parade By BriAnA Bonfiglio bbonfiglio@liherald.com

Sounds of sirens, car horns and cheers did not let up as the community came out in droves — in their vehicles — to show their appreciation for Mercy Medical Center workers on April 13. Friends of Mercy, a fundraising nonprofit organization, led the “Morale Booster Day” car parade. More than 300 cars and 30 trucks from seven fire departments showed up, including the Rockville Centre, Lakeview, South Hempstead, Lynbrook and East Rockaway fire departments, as well as the Rockville Centre Police Department. Hospital workers knew fire trucks would be coming by that morning, but were overwhelmed by the amount of residents that rode by in cars, waving signs, cheering and honking their horns. “I can’t even explain how awesome it was,” said Barbara Gibbons, Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy. “Without the support of each other and community, I don’t think we’d be able to get through this.” Health care workers at Mercy have been on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis for about six weeks now. The hospital treated some of Nassau County’s first confirmed Covid-19 patients in the beginning of March and saw one of the county’s first deaths to the virus, as well. “I see these nurses and doctors, how mobbed they are right now,” said Andy Healey, a member of Friends of Mercy. “People are stressed.” The community waved homemade signs of support during the parade, then dropped them off to be hung around the hospital. “When they walk out at the end of the day, we hope it’s uplifting for them to see the signs that say ‘thank you,’” Healey said. “Sometimes it’s difficult, I think, for

AlyssA CAin, An emergency room registered nurse, sat next to one of the many signs at the hospital to celebrate the workers, above right. More thAn 300 cars with homemade signs paraded past Mercy Medical Center, far right. As the CArs drove by, Shannon Walcott from the physical therapy department rang a cowbell and cheered with staff members.

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

seven fire depArtMents and almost 30 fire trucks lit up their lights and sounded their sirens to honor the staff at Mercy. the staff to come to work,” Gibbons added. “When they see the signs and an event like today, it reminds everybody what they’re doing this for — it’s for the community, the county, the town and our kids.” Gibbons said the health care workers on the staff are true “heroes.” “I am so proud of the staff and every person that works here,” she said. “It’s a team effort. We’re in this all together, and you can tell that Mercy is like a family.”

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

GET ANSWERS YOU CAN TRUST WITHOUT LEAVING HOME. With so many questions about COVID-19, it’s hard to know where to turn for answers you can trust. If you or a loved one is feeling sick, use Mount Sinai NOW to access all of our virtual care options. TM

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All of us, throughout New York City, Long Island and the entire tri-state area, are here for you.

Take A Walk And Save Lives

Participate in North Shore Animal League America’s virtual walk for a chance to do something positive and active, while raising crucial funds for homeless animals that need your support now more than ever. Walkers can participate anytime, from anywhere.

Courtesy Nassau County Department of Health

Covid-19 Cases in Malverne and West Hempstead have steadily increased over the past month. Malverne has 114 positive cases, while West Hempstead has 297.

REMEMBER: Be safe and practice social distancing along the way.

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Communities hopeful for decline in Covid-19 cases 1086707

#GetYourRescueOn Rescue Tag

continued from front page

social distancing and practicing sound hygiene. He said he worried that people would see the death and new hospitalization rates declining and try to return to life as normal too soon. That, he said, would jeopardize the progress the state has made over the past 40 days in containing the virus. In preparing to reopen the state’s economy, Cuomo said, much more testing, and more federal funding, is needed. He estimated that the state faced a deficit of $10 billion to $15 billion, and that without fedCuom0 eral funding, cuts would be likely. School districts across the state, the governor said, could see their state aid slashed by 50 percent in 2020-21 without federal assistance.

crowding in [emergency rooms], we are told to treat cardiac arrests on scene,” Yaseen explained, “and call our medical control doctor to determine whether we should transport the patient, if they have a good change of living.” In his recent daily press briefings Gov. Andrew Cuomo has noted that the number of new Covid-19 cases has leveled off, and that discussions about reopening the economies of New York and neighboring states have begun. “New York believes we andrew have reached a plateau” of Governor new cases, Cuomo said on April 13. “This is relatively good news in a world of bad options.” He also noted, “We still have a long way to go.” The governor urged people to continue Scott Brinton contributed to this story.

ew York believes we have reached a plateau of new cases.

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Digital quilt to honor first responders

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

continued from front page “It will also provide an immeditual leader of the Malverne Jewish ate, emotional support to the essenCenter, was working on a knitting tial workers so that they can see project of her own before the pan- right now — while they’re having demic began. It was based on Sefer their own challenges going to work — that we really appreciate them,” Yetzirah, which means Casini said. the Book of Creation, Chamber President and Elkodsi asked CasiKathi Monroe said that ni about the idea of subwhile the group was mitting it to the Art hopeful that this would Walk. be a short-term project “They liked the idea, and that the pandemic and somehow it would soon be over, for morphed into this idea now it is important to of people sharing their find ways to bring the own artwork and putcommunity together. ting it into a digital “Our goal is to unite the quilt,” Elkodsi said. community and have “The chamber is worksomething that will ing so hard, and they’re Rabbi SuSan uplift everyone,” Monso creative in coming up ElkodSi roe said, “especially the with things, but that’s people on the front what I love about the vil- Malverne lines.” lage. We all have talents Jewish Center “We’re hoping that that can help make the this quilt could someday world a better place.” Now, Casini said, the chamber hang in Village Hall, to really show and the Jewish center plan to collect a moment in time and how the comimages to start creating the digital munity came together during a chalquilt, print them out and display lenging crisis,” Casini said. Those interested in contributing them in storefronts throughout the village. By featuring an early, unfin- to the digital quilt project can send ished version of the quilt, she said, JPEGs to mcasini@visualfueldeshe hoped it would encourage others sign.com. to contribute to the project.

e all have talents that can help make the world a better place.

JOIN US AS WE SALUTE

COVID-19

HOMETOWN

HEROES APRIL 30

Courtesy Malverne Chamber of Commerce

RESidEntS alSo ShaREd signs of thanks with the chamber to express their gratitude.

NOW THERE’S AN EASY WAY FOR YOU TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HEROES Donate at www.liherald.com/heroes Every dollar donated will be used to provide food & other goods to doctors, nurses, patients and other frontline essential workers in the local community. All food & items will be purchased from locally owned and operated businesses so we can support our business community, too Look for the HERALD HEROES special edition in your mailbox April 30

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The Herald and Richner Communications family thank our amazing heroes!

TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.LIHERALD.COM/HEROES

$500,000 IN GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING GRANT

Apply for your share of the $500,000 marketing grant available to assist locally owned businesses.

STUART RICHNER Publisher Herald Community Newspapers

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We are a small business ourselves, so we understand the pain that small business owners are going through right now. We at the Herald want to do our part to make sure that members of our small business community can continue to promote themselves during this trying period.”

Herald Team

WHO For all locally owned and operated small businesses on Long Island that have been negatively impacted by coronavirus.

WHAT A $500,000 grant program to support local small businesses. Each local business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for Herald Community Newspapers print, digital and direct mail products in April through July 15, 2020.

WHERE Apply at www.liherald.com/grant.

WHEN Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020 or until maximum grant funding has been distributed. Businesses will be contacted within two business days of submitting their application.

WHY Studies show that businesses that continue to market themselves during down times are the ones that fare the best long-term. This grant program will allow Long Island small businesses to continue promoting themselves and any new services they are offering during these unprecedented times.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: • Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on marketing in Herald products will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied towards marketing costs. • Businesses must be locally owned and operated. • Grants range from $300 to $15,000. • Grants can be applied to any Herald Community Newspaper marketing product or service during April through July 15, 2020. • Grants applied to direct mail products are net of postage/mailing costs.

RHONDA GLICKMAN VP Sales

LORI BERGER Sales Manager

rglickman@liherald.com

lberger@liherald.com

ELLEN REYNOLDS Sales Manager

AMY AMATO Executive Director

ereynolds@liherald.com

aamato@liherald.com

COURTNEY MYERS Media Consultant cmyers@liherald.com

For more information call Rhonda at 516.569.4000 ext. 250

APPLY TODAY AT

WWW.LIHERALD.COM/GRANT

A Special Collaboration With The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores

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April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Malvernites raise money for local heroes ngrant@liherald.com

Malverne Feeding Our Heroes’ campaign has continued to collect donations to send food to groups of first responders, volunteers and essential service workers throughout the village. Since the group launched on March 25, they have raised almost $18,000 and have fed more than 3,000 first responders, medical professionals and essential workers. Malverne sisters Lori Lang and Bridget Jelovcic teamed up to launch the campaign. The group has donated food from local eateries to the Malverne Department of Public Works, the Police Department and local hospitals such as Mercy Medical Center, LIJ Valley Stream Northwell, Cohen Children’s Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Lang said that through the drive, she and Jelovcic hope to recognize all of the village’s groups for their contributions to the community over the years. Once the pandemic is over, Jelovcic said, she would like to throw a party on Hempstead Avenue, similar to the village’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting, to celebrate its merchants and give away leftover donations. People interested in donating can join the Facebook group and they can mail or drop off a check at 16 Coolidge Street, Malverne.

Courtesy Feeding Our Heroes

Helping servers that rely on tips in Malverne By Nakeem GraNt ngrant@liherald.com

With the hopes of aiding servers in Malverne, the Malverne Chamber of Commerce urges residents to purchase a $5 tote bag. All proceeds will go towards servers in the village, and tote bags will be available when residents pick up their to-go orders at local eateries in the village. “While the Chamber doesn’t pretend we can make up a lost paycheck, we are hoping to help monetarily in some small way for the people who have served us for years on a daily basis in our Malverne businesses,” the Malverne Chamber said in a Facebook post. Chamber President Kathi Monroe said that their initiative came from growing concerns about servers who rely on tips in the village. “Most of us make our wages straight up, but those who are depend on tips are really hurting right now,” Monroe said. “We’re hoping that this can support them both emotionally and financially.” Tote bags are available to purchase at Connolly Station, Pomodorino, Angelo’s Pizza, Malverne Diner, Antonio’s Deli, Village Juice Garden and Our Town Grille.

tote BaGs CaN be purchased at numerous stores throughout the village.

Herald file photo

the malverNe ChamBer of Commerce urges residents to purchase a $5 tote bag to support servers in the village.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

PeoPle of all ages, including 7-year-old Clara Lang, have thanked first responders during the Feeding Our Heroes campaign in Malverne.

By Nakeem GraNt

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

News brief

Christina Daly/Herald

During Her tiMe at Malverne High School, Marco founded and currently serves as president of the Girls Club.

Malverne teen honored with Wonder Girl award Richner Communications Inc., publisher of Herald Community Newspapers and The Riverdale Press, named Malverne High School senior Olivia Marco as a recipient of the 2020 The Wonder Girl Award. Each year, the publication selects one female student from Nassau County for the award and Marco was chosen based on her g rades, resume, leadership and dedication to women’s health and empowerment. During her time at Malverne High School, she founded and currently serves as president of the Girls Club, which celebrates female empowerment, and has a fundraising component to benefit Girls, Inc. In addition, this year Marco has started a local chapter of the Menstrual Movement and has organized drives to donate female products to local women’s shelters. She is also captain of the color guard and a member of the varsity tennis team. In addition to this honor, Marco has also received an Army ROTC Scholarship, which will cover full tuition to any university that has a program. Marco

Alyssa Seidman/Herald

new York aMerican Water will postpone the annual flushing of its Long Island water distribution systems due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Courtesy Malverne School District

Malverne HigH ScHool senior Olivia Marco was named as a recipient of the 2020 The Wonder Girl Award. has accepted early decision to attend Vanderbilt University and intends to major in business and economics. Courtesy Malverne School District; compiled by Nakeem Grant

Let us Know News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to ngrant@liherald.com

Public Notices

LMAL1 0423

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that an order granted by the Supreme Court, Nassau County, on the 4th day of March, 2020, bearing Index Number 001216-19, a copy of which may be examined at the office of the clerk, located at 240 Old

County Road, Mineola, New York grants me the right to assume the name of Shaylin Michaela Walsh Sewsankar. The city and state of my present address are Malverne, NY. The month and year of my birth are January, 2015;

the place of my birth is Manhasset, NY; my present name is Shalin Michaela Walsh Sewsankar. 121623

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: 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 AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

Search for notices online at: www.mypublicnotices.com

New York American Water postpones annual flushing amid coronavirus pandemic New York American Water will postpone the annual flushing of its Long Island water distribution systems until the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. They were originally scheduled for April 20. The postponement of flushing will not impact water quality and all water delivered to customers is safe to drink and meets all local, state and federal drinking water standards. Flushing is part of the company’s system maintenance program and will

be conducted in the fall, after the peak water use months of summer have passed. An updated flushing schedule will be provided to customers in advance of the fall flushing. For more information on the utility’s flushing program, visit nyamwater.com Courtesy New York American Water; compiled by Mike Smollins—Melissa Koenig

Long Island Trauma Recovery Network to provide free therapy to support others The Long Island Trauma Recovery Network will provide free therapy to health care workers, first responders, essential employees, their families, and those whose loved ones are facing or have passed away from the coronavirus. All services would be provided remotely by trained and licensed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapists. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a form of psychotherapy in which a trauma patient is asked to recall a distressing image. It has been proven to help address the trauma symptoms that medical professionals and first responders face.

The Long Island EDMR Trauma Network will be offering the Integrative Group Treatment Protocol, which provides individual EDMR therapy in a group setting. The program is administered to groups of people who have experienced the same type of trauma or who share a major life challenge. There will be several groups weekly, and some individual appointments are available. For more information, please email LongIslandTrauma@gmail.com and contact Cathy Menzies, LCSWR Trauma Recovery Coordinator at (631) 466 7053 to register. –Melissa Koenig

Nassau County is child care desert: official

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

By TimoThy DenTon tdenton@liherald.com

Much of Nassau County is a child care desert, resulting in billions in lost revenue, according to a study released on Friday by Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman. The lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus has highlighted the issue, showing that many Nassau County families depend on schools to provide daycare for their older children. Care for younger children, however, has always been a challenge for many families. “Nassau County is a patchwork, varying widely from district to district,” Schnirman wrote in the study. “Despite nearly $9 billion in public school tax levies, only 10 percent of 4-year-olds have access to publicly funded pre-K programs, compared to universal access in New York City,” Schnirman wrote in the report. Both Seaford and Wantagh are considered child care deserts — any census tract where more than 50 children are without providers, or where providers are so scarce that they are able to serve less than one-third of the total need, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 60 percent of New York State is considered a child care desert. Nassau County has a total of about 43,650 pre-K places, where more than 138,000 are needed, the study found, with minority and low-income families having the least access to pre-K programs. Averaging more than $15,000 per year, infant care represents about 12 percent of a median family’s income of $116,300. For a family earning $52,400, or 200 percent of the official federal poverty level for a family of four, infant care for one child represents nearly 29 percent of the family’s pretax income. According to the Census Bureau, “c=Child care is critical. It either propels or stalls the local economy.” Locally, “child care has one of the highest economic multipliers, with a return of $1.95 for every dollar invested,” Schnirman wrote. Of those who work part-time, lack of child care is

Herald file photo

nassau CounTy shows a wide disparity in access to affordable child care. the most commonly cited reason for not accepting fulltime work. Women make up 94 percent of the involuntary part-time workforce, due to child care concerns, Schnirman wrote, and 46 percent of Nassau County

families have no reliable child care. Child care is an $800 million industry on Long Island, employing roughly 9,000 workers.

Belmont Park delays horseracing season The opening of the Belmont Park’s spring-summer horseracing season will be delayed because of the Covid19 pandemic from April 24 to June 6, when the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes is to take place, said New York Racing Association officials last week. The date of the Belmont Stakes is subject to change, however. “The Belmont Stakes is a New York institution and American tradition,” NYRA CEO and President Dave O’Rourke said. “We are committed to running the race in 2020 and aim to deliver an announcement in the very near future.” The racing season normally runs 51 days. “We are working closely with the New York State Gaming Commission and public health officials to determine a timeline for the resumption of live racing at Belmont Park,” O’Rourke said. “The

health and safety of our racing community is paramount, and any decisions or necessary adjustments to the racing schedule and operations must reflect that priority. I’d like to thank New York’s horsemen and the backstretch community for their dedication and patience as we navigate these uncertain times together.” The Belmont backstretch, which is home to 585 workers who tend to the essential daily care of the more than 1,300 thoroughbreds stabled there, has remained open to the horses’ caregivers and operational for training. Owners are not permitted access to the backstretch until further notice. NYRA posted coronavirusrelated signs in English and Spanish across the backstretch, noting key information about social distancing and hand washing, and a hotline to call for workers feeling the onset of symptoms.

Herald file photo

BelmonT Park’s sPring/summer meet will not open April 24 as originally scheduled.

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© 2018 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. It is your responsibility to ensure that the marketing materials you choose or create are compliant with real estate and other local laws in your area.

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things can become so complicated? On one hand, your mother simply changed her mind and didn’t have the porch built, and on the other hand, the building department simply wants paperwork from you that seems simple enough to get but isn’t that easy. I’m concerned that none of the children was given authority to act on your mother’s behalf, and you should seek an attorney to resolve the matters of her estate. As for the voiding of the permit, building departments are run by human beings with a heart, and you should write a letter so there’s a document on record explaining the situation. Sign it in front of a notary, and arrange to meet with a senior official before having more discussions with the building inspector. The premises will still need inspecting, to verify the work was never done. To prove the home has no more issues with permits required, to satisfy the bank and the buyer, a new building department search sheet should be requested, showing no open permits. The biggest problem is time, and this isn’t a real situation. In most cases it’s a made-up bank or buyer timeline, because your closing is dependent on another closing, and so on and so on. Because the search and a site review weren’t done early in the sales process, and because most people don’t really believe you need a permit to make changes to a home, great sleepless stress sets in and everyone is pointing fingers. It’s not unusual to get calls from people who need an ambulance architect — you know, the ones with the rotating light on the roof of their car and the siren blaring as they race to your home to start the process of satisfying the bank, their lawyers, etc. We see it all the time, and it’s avoidable if the seller calls an architect to check the home code compliance against recorded permit plans well before the sale has begun. Good luck.

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s the nation emerges from the coronavirus lockdown and begins to return to a semblance of normalcy, many of our cherished institutions will face some harsh realities. Nowhere will this dose of reality be starker than for America’s colleges and universities. While our public school system will go through some wrenching times as it comes back to life, K-12 parents and students will not face the prospect of crushing debt and soaring costs that have been inflicted on consumers of Alfonse higher education. d’AMAto College students, in contrast, will return to campuses not only having missed most of a semester of classes; they will also struggle with exorbitantly high costs that will financially burden many of them for the rest of their lives. How did we come to this sad turn of events, in which college degrees that should create a pathway to opportunity and prosperity instead present a long road of debt and possible financial ruin? Today, tuition and costs at some private colleges hovers in the range of $50,000 to $70,000

per year. College grads carry debt that can run from tens of thousands of dollars for undergraduate degrees to over $100,000 for post-graduate degrees. As they struggle to cover this debt, buying a home often becomes a distant dream. Even buying a new car often gives way to making the monthly college debt payment. Total college student debt today exceeds $1.5 trillion. With the added burden of the current financial crisis, much of this debt is unsupportable. Student loan defaults on a large scale are likely unavoidable. And while the just-passed national financial rescue legislation provides some relief by postponing debt payment and interest for a time, the overall financial burden will remain. Predictably, some in Washington are calling for forgiving much, if not all, college debt. But like the other emergency financial measures passed by Congress, such relief couldn’t go on indefinitely. Future college students will continue to face high costs and mountainous loans. The cycle of debt and default will continue to loom on the financial horizon. The leaders of our higher education system have a moral obligation to break this vicious cycle. Just as the Federal Reserve system has taken extraordinary

measures to shore up the nation’s finances, colleges and universities should also take emergency action to ease the financial burden on their students. College administrators shouldn’t cry hardship and shirk from this responsibility. Nationwide, colleges are sitting on endowments of well over half a trillion dollars, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. They should seriously consider making these funds available to students to help pay down their current loans and reduce future tuition costs. If the Fed can tap into the national treasury for “quantitative easing” to lessen strains on our national economy, higher education treasuries can likewise tap into their great wealth to help ease their students’ money crisis. And going forward, it’s long past time for colleges and universities to get real about not just containing, but lowering their stratospheric spending. Too many campuses have become islands of extravagance and excess amid a sea of hardship in their surrounding communities. In just one glaring example here in New York, a college president makes $5.1 million a year, 35 times what the school’s professors make, on average, and equal to the tuitions of 99 students, according to the Chronicle

an’t colleges use their vast endowments to help students pay down debt?

of Higher Education. Yet the community in which the school is located is one of New York’s poorest, with finances so precarious that it hovers near bankruptcy. In that town, as in so many others, the college is literally the shining, distant fortress on the hill with the surrounding town languishing below. This college, and others like it, should take a hard look at themselves. Every expense should be examined, every bit of excess wrung out. The goal should be to reduce tuition and keep costs manageable over students’ academic careers. In the future, public policy in Washington and Albany must be to stop rewarding higher education’s financial excesses and incentivize affordability instead. Federal and state aid should increase only for schools that bring their costs down. That means fewer top-heavy college administrators tripping over each other, more professors teaching more than only 10 or 12 hours a week, and fewer extravagant campus building sprees. When students return to college this fall, they’ll return to a world changed by nature and hard times. If colleges want students to succeed, it’s time for them to lead. Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.

A loving tribute to my irreplaceable elders

y aunt Sylvia Gentile Brownstein died April 11 in a nursing home in New Jersey, of Covid-19. She was 97 years old, and lived in a room at the facility with her husband of 74 years, Murray Brownstein. He was my mother’s older brother. The last time I saw him was seven years ago, when I visited him in Florida, and he insisted we go to a pub nearby because they were serving free ice cream to World War II veterans. A proud Navy vet who lied about his age to get into the service when he was 16, Uncle MurRAndi ray served on a kReiss minesweeper in the Pacific. Aunt Sylvia died alone, because Uncle Murray had become sick and unable to comfort her. Before the pandemic, which precluded visitors, they were cared for by their daughter, my cousin, who has shepherded them through these last difficult years. But only the ending was sad. Murray met Sylvia in Brooklyn just after the war. He fell in love, and defied

his Jewish family by marrying an Italian Catholic girl. Smart guy. She was a gem, loving and mildly crazy, so she fit right in, seeing as how everyone in our anxious, highly emotive clan is a notch off plumb. When I was a kid, Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray lived in Valley Stream and we lived in Cedarhurst, so the visits were frequent. Murray was a Garment District wheeler and dealer who won big and lost big over the years. Aunt Sylvia was a homemaker extraordinaire. She cleaned that house until it sparkled, every single day. And she was an outstanding cook. Her specialty was Italian food, and an invitation to their table was a gift. When she hosted Thanksgiving, the meal started with homemade minestrone, and was followed by eggplant parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs and veal cutlet parmesan. I don’t recall seeing anything green, as in a string bean, on the table. The last entry was the turkey, an afterthought, a gesture to the new world, fully dressed but largely ignored because we were all so stuffed from the Italian feast. I confess, I didn’t know Aunt Sylvia as

a woman. I have no idea what her dreams or joys or disappointments were. I do know she raised her kid sister, Madelaine, when their mother died very young. Madelaine joined Murray and Sylvia’s family, big sister to their own two kids. I wish I had gotten to know Aunt Syl better, but in those days, people kept to their roles: She was the elder aunt and I was the young niece. Uncle Murray was difficult, but she would never talk about anything as personal as her marriage. She had a twin sister, Anna, and I suspect that that was her most emotionally intimate relationship. They had a brother, too, Johnny, who went to the Naval Academy and was the pride of the family. Every Christmas of my childhood, we went to Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray’s for an event that was part celebration and part child abuse. As dinner drew to a close, we would hear someone stomping up the basement steps and the loud jingling of bells. Eight little kids immediately dived under the dinner table and began screaming, which sent the adults into fits of laughter. Not normal, right?

ndelible memories of holidays and birthdays with Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray.

The stomping came closer, our screaming got louder, and suddenly Santa burst through the basement door. We kids were traumatized. He was a terror in his wild white wig and garish Santa mask. None of us noticed that Uncle Murray had disappeared from the dinner table some time earlier. This intruder was the Santa from hell, and we were scared out of our socks. The elders, however, were greatly entertained, and so this became a cherished tradition, and we did it every year. I think I was finishing my junior year in college when I realized that Uncle Murray was Santa Claus. All of our childhood birthdays were occasions for big parties. Aunt Syl and the other aunts and uncles would raise a glass or three, and before long the women were dancing on the table and the men were telling stories about the war and the old Brooklyn neighborhood. It was a rich experience for a little kid who was all eyes and ears. I don’t know if Aunt Syl was a religious woman, but wherever she went, she wasn’t alone for long. The day after she passed, Uncle Murray died. He was 98. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

For American higher education, it’s time to lead

Herald editorial

Malverne/West Hempstead

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Small businesses need more federal help

et’s not mince words: The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, which was supposed to hurry loans to small businesses so they can make payroll and stay afloat, has been troubled from the start. With $349 billion in its coffers, the program, administered by the Small Business Administration, ran out of money last Thursday, leaving tens of millions of employers in the lurch, wondering whether they will be able to meet payroll at a time when so many small businesses are limping along because of the coronavirus pandemic. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Main Street America, employing 48 percent of our national workforce. In total, there are 28 million small businesses across the U.S., according to Forbes. They desperately need — and deserve — better, particularly in the hardest-hit regions like the Northeast. According to a CBS News analysis of SBA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, New York, which has by far the greatest number of cases of Covid-19 of any state, was fourth on the list of states to receive PPP loans. Meanwhile, businesses in Texas received more such loans than any other state, even though the Lone Star State has the 10th-largest Covid-19 caseload

in the U.S. Apparently, Texas processed loans faster than New York, as the money went from the federal government to banks on a firstcome, first-served basis, creating a race for funding. But that was unfair, because in places where need was greatest, like New York, businesses were struggling most to run their daily operations, and so were hamstrung in their ability to file for loans. The federal government should have set a date by which all loan applications were due, and then divided the money thereafter based on need. At the same time, some very big businesses received loans under the program. The owner of the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain nabbed a $20 million loan, despite having more than 5,000 employees and $468 million in revenue last year. The PPP was supposed to have been limited to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, but Congress included an exception for hotels and restaurants. Most big-name chains did not apply for PPP loans, but others, including Potbelly, Kura Sushi and Shake Shack, did. (Shake Shack announced Sunday night that it would return its $10 million loan, citing confusion over the program’s regulations and

saying that other businesses needed the money more than it did.) There were other problems with the program. Big banks, for example, lent money to their own customers first, and then to others. Many required borrowers to already have an established line of credit with the bank to receive a PPP loan. The thing is, this was a federal government program, and no loan applicant should have received preferential treatment. At press time, Congress was negotiating a $300 billion extension of the program, which would bring the total expenditure to $649 billion. One Forbes analysis, however, estimated the PPP really needs as much as $850 billion to fully fund all of the small businesses now in dire need. We commend Congress for making money available to small businesses quickly. Sadly, however, the program has become another of many political footballs amid the coronavirus crisis. What’s lacking is national leadership. President Trump and Congress should be united in their desire to aid small businesses — now, not later. If the federal government doesn’t act fast, with one voice, our downtowns could soon become ghost towns, and that would be terrible for us all.

Thanks for all you’ve done, Governor Cuomo

e have offered high praise to our first responders and medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and no doubt, they deserve every bit of it. Check out our story this week on Elyse Isopo, a North Shore University Hospital Intensive Care Unit nurse practitioner. Her determination to save lives is evident in her every word, and her fear of spreading Covid-19 to her family at her home is palpable. Good people like her are truly heroes.

We must also acknowledge a hero of a different sort: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who, despite finding himself in the epicenter of this unfolding international disaster, has provided levelheaded, science-based leadership that has served as a model for governors across the U.S. Cuomo quickly realized the magnitude of the pandemic and acted decisively, without political rancor. He has been careful not to mix up it with President Trump, even when the president appeared to be spoiling for a political fight with him last week.

letters The hypocrisy of stimulus checks To the Editor: All conservatives and Republicans across the country should return their federal relief checks so they do not become “unproductive, lazy welfare recipients” who are accepting “government handouts” and “something for nothing” — “parasites” who are being “subsidized” by the federal government.

It would be hypocritical for conservatives and Republicans to accept help from the federal government when they constantly oppose such assistance for the middle and lower classes who truly need it, and whom they look down their noses at. Now, many of them are in the shoes of those in need. Our allies in Western Europe and Canada have federal governments that do more to help their people than ours does. To quote Al Pacino in “And Justice for All”: “I have now concluded

Cuomo has not used this crisis to further his own brand. Rather, he has acted in the best interests of all New Yorkers, and this week we are seeing the results of his actions. The Covid-19 death toll is, as predicted, beginning to drop, as are the new hospitalization rate, the ICU admissions rate and the number of new ventilator intubations. Governor, thank you. We will surely need your steady guiding hand in the weeks, months and years ahead as New York recovers from this unexpected catastrophe.

oPinions

rime Minister Winston Churchill offered those words as he led Great Britain during World War II, when citizens became accustomed to nightly bombings by the Nazis. We are in the midst of a different kind of war, against an invisible enemy known as Covid-19. And when people ask me when this grim period is going to end, unfortunately, the answer is that we don’t know. But as we in the Town of Hempstead continue to follow federal and state mitigation measures, such as social distancing, Don we appear to be CLaVin “flattening the curve.” By staying at home, you are doing your part to fight the spread of this virus. Those who have “essential” jobs, however, do not have that option. Indeed, those people are integral to winning the war on the coronavirus. Please be mindful of the rules and stay safe. At Town Hall, we have implemented a social media campaign urging residents

to practice social distancing and proper handwashing, and to wear masks and gloves. We are also providing information on sanitizing techniques. We proactively closed facilities to the public, including town offices and certain parks and public gathering spots. I’ve been working daily with my Town Board colleagues and our Coronavirus Task Force, led by Town Medical Director Dr. Dave Neubert, to make decisions that best promote public health. We’re also in constant contact with village officials, coordinating best practices and monitoring updates from state and local health officials. Rest assured, our dedicated CSEA Local 880 team of coworkers are working hard every day to serve residents and provide essential services safely. The town Building Department is still accepting paperwork via a drop box at Town Hall, sanitation workers are continuing to pick up garbage throughout our township, and many other departments are conducting day-to-day business on behalf of our residents. We encourage neighbors to contact the town via our

hurchill’s words ring true for Town of Hempstead residents in a difficult time.

Letters my opening statement.” STEWART B. EPSTEIN Rochester, N.Y. Epstein is a retired college professor who lived in North Bellmore from 1960 to 1972. He graduated from Mepham High School in 1968 and Hofstra University in 1972.

It’s a good time for bird watching To the Editor: Why not bequeath a lifelong appreciation for bird watching to the next generation? We teach our children wood shop, pottery and contemptible games like dodgeball, but bird watching can give them a greater appreciation for our threatened environment. I’ve done the math, and it would only cost each taxpayer $10 to send every sixth-grader to the Cor nell School of Ornithology for two weeks. There, eminent cultural historians and acclaimed or nitholo gists would instruct them on bird-centric environmental discrimination and inculcate a profound respect and admiration for the avian world. When you consider the frivolities our town spends money on, this would be money well spent. Now well into my retirement, I still derive tremendous satisfaction from spotting the odd hummingbird on my afternoon walk. There is a comforting

public hotline, (516) 812-3600, to set up phone appointments with some of our departments. Other departments can be accessed via email. Please visit hempsteadtownny.gov for updates and how you can connect to town services. You can also call our Helpline, (516) 489-6000, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance. We are doing everything in our power to make life a little easier for residents of America’s largest township during this difficult time. We waived all late fees and penalties for town water customers, and we’ve called on New York state to extend the second-half school tax payment deadline by 30 days, to June 11. And in preparation for getting people back to work in the near future, the town adopted a $40 million economic stimulus plan to undertake road improvements across our communities. I encourage you to join us for our series of Facebook Live sessions. Along with Dr. Neubert, a certified Emergency Department physician, and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, a former fire chief

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

‘Nourish your hopes, but do not overlook realities’

and NYPD detective, we answer many of your questions and concerns about Covid-19. Our next session is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. Please check our Facebook page, @HempsteadTown, for ished i realitie future Facebook Live sessions and for be star town updates. I thank all of our first responders as univer Whi well the front-line workers in the fields of health care, law enforcement, government, media, public transportation, grocery, pharmacy, postal, delivery, food service and so many more. I also commend Dr. Dave Neubert and the town’s emergency management team for their continued work and dedication to the town work force, as well as to our residents. And I offer my condolences to all of the families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. Let’s keep them all in our thoughts as we continue to do our part to stop the spread. Working together, we will continue to loosen the grip of Covid-19, from both a health and economic perspective. Please es not o semest be safe and healthy, and know that the Town of Hempstead is here for you dur- with ex financi ing this challenging time. rest of How Don Clavin is the Town of Hempstead events, supervisor. should and pro of debt tuition hovers

Framework by Christina Daly

sense of accomplishment in knowing that you can see what others cannot. Why deprive the next generation of this feeling of intellectual triumph? The beauty of birds is all around us, and once you learn more about them, your experiences with nature become so much richer. During this lockdown, I have noticed our ecosystem responding positively to reduced human inference, and more exotic birds flying out and about. What joy.

and liv her hu stein. H The las ago, wh

ALWYN STANHOPE Bellmore

MTA ‘lock box’ isn’t really locked To the Editor: Governor Cuomo recently included in the approved state budget a provision that amends the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $15 billion Congestion Toll Mitigation Revenue “lock box.” This provision was originally included to ensure that all proceeds would be used to help fund the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-24 Five-Year Capital Plan. Now these funds can instead be used against any future deficits in the MTA’s annual $17 billion operating expense budget. Language buried in the state budget also allows $10 billion in real estate mansion and internet sales tax revenue to be used for operations rather

At Sagamore Hill, one captivating reason to get out of the house — Oyster Bay

than capital expenses. Combined, these total $25 billion of the $51 billion Capital Plan funding. Cuomo has become the great train robber of capital transit funding. He has taken billions of this funding. His picture should be hung on a wanted poster at commuter and subway stations. Commuters can collect their reward by not electing him to

another term in 2022.

died al becom LARRY PENNER Before Great Neck visitor Penner is a transportation historian, writer daught ed them and advocate who worked for the Federal But Transit Administration Region 2 New York Mur Office for 31 years. after th

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April 23, 2020 â€” HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS