_______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD Great Homes August 12, 2021
the Ultimate Local Home showcase
$1.00
Great Homes
Residents urge Cuomo to resign
Vaxmobile reaches milestone
Pull-out
Page 3
Page 16
Vol. 28 No. 33
AUGUST 12 - 18, 2021
Hoping to find a donor West Hempstead mail carrier needs kidney transplant born prematurely, and his mother, Rose, suffered from kidney failure shortly after his birth, he Lifelong West Hempstead res- said. She went on dialysis for ident Eric Peluso has earned a about a year and a half, and reputation as a friendly neigh- received a kidney transplant in borhood mail carrier in just 1984. His brother, Thomas, also eight months on the suffered from kidjob with the U.S. ney failure in the Postal Service in early 2000s, and his West Hempstead. m o t h e r ’s k i d n e y Peluso, who has failed again around lived with a chronic the same time. kidney disease for “My father and I nearly 20 years, said got tested to see if he has never let his our kidneys were a illness define him. match,” Peluso “I’d have to thank recalled. “My diagmy mother for that,” eRiC PelUSo nosis came back the 39-year-old said. West Hempstead with an increased “She was the stronamount of protein gest person that I in my blood. That’s knew. She always had a smile on when doctors put me on medicaher face, and she prayed very tion to slow it down.” often.” His brother had a successful In recent months, Peluso’s kidney transplant 14 years ago. condition has worsened. He was His mother died in 2008, at age placed on the kidney donor wait- 57, of complications of kidney ing list at NYU Langone Hospital and heart problems. Their in Mineola on June 25. father, Thomas, known as Big T, “They say it could happen at died last year, of liver cancer, at anytime in your life, so I guess 72. you could say that I was some“There’s days when I get in what prepared for this,” he said. my delivery truck and I don’t “But it’s still a very long road to want to work,” Peluso said. “At go down.” those moments, I think of my Peluso’s family has a long history of kidney problems. He was Continued on page 2
By NAkeem GRANT ngrant@liherald.com
T
hey say it could happen at any time in your life.
Sue Grieco/Herald
Rockin’ at the farm The Verge entertained the crowd at Crossroads Farm in Malverne last Saturday with 1960s and ’70s rock ’n roll as part of the village’s Summer Concert Series. More photos, Page 5.
Making ‘magic’ with live theater Malverne’s outdoor musical set for Friday night By NAkeem GRANT ngrant@liherald.com
Searching for ways to lift the spirits of the school community, Malverne Schools Superintendent Dr. Lor na Lewis and Michael Messina, the district’s chairman of music and fine arts, have had several discussions about the importance of boosting students’ socioemotional health. So Lewis, recognizing the success of the district’s music
program, proposed that it host a summer musical. Messina pitched the proposal to district officials in June, and he received the OK to move forward with the Malverne Summer Theatre. “There’s nothing better than music and theater, and actually getting together and doing something fun at this time,” Messina said. “The kids were really excited about this, and all of the teachers were on board with it.”
The Summer Theatre, which includes current students, alumni and Malverne residents, will stage a free outdoor production, “Little Shop of Horrors,” at Malverne High School on Friday at 8 p.m. The rain date is Saturday. “This is a chance for us to bring live theater back to the community and share that communal experience,” said Messina, who is serving as the musiContinued on page 4