Merrick Herald 02-04-2021

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High-risk sports set to begin in BMCHSD tion of high-risk sports as safely as possible,” Caballero wrote.

Testing will begin for studentTryouts for basketball, wres- athletes on Saturday (see box, tling, kickline and cheerleading Page 4). They will report to the were to begin in the Bellmore- building, complete a pre-screenMerrick Central High School ing questionnaire and be tested District on Wednesday, after a in the cafeteria while following two-day snow delay following the all health and safety protocols. nor’easter.

The process should The announcetake no longer than ment came in a let15 minutes. ter to parents from Rank One Athletic Director Sports clearance Eric Caballero last will not be reFriday, two days quired before tryafter county health outs; however, stuofficials approved dents who make a guidance put in team will need to p l a c e b y G o v. complete a new Andrew Cuomo.

“Sports Candidate According to a History” ERIC CABAllERo Health subsequent letter form, as required sent on Monday — Athletic director,

by New York state, when schools were BMCHSD

by Friday. All winclosed during the ter student athletes snowstor m — will receive notifiweekly Covid-19 testing will be cations and reminders about mandatory for student athletes. completing the form from their It will be carried out through a coaches during the first week of partnership with a third-party participation. provider, ATC Healthcare TestSince locker use will also be ing and Screening Services, limited, designated drop-off which employs certified medical areas for athletic equipment practitioners. bags will be established at each “ T h e B e l l m o r e - M e r r i c k school. Locker rooms will be CHSD feels that testing is a critical step in ensuring the resumpContinued on page 4

By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

Alyssa Seidman/Herald

JohN F. KENNEDY High School varsity softball players Lara Indich, left, and Sami Levine, both of Merrick, are co-candidates for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student of the Year campaign.

Their team, Striking Out Cancer, is holding events in the coming months to raise money for LLS.

Kennedy softball players team up to strike out cancer

By AlYssA sEIDMAN aseidman@liherald.com

Two John F. Kennedy High School students are teaming up to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through its Student of the Year campaign. Merrick residents Sami Levine, 15, and Lara Indich, 16, are co-candidates in the program and leaders of the team Striking Out Cancer.

Lara, a junior, said the team name comes from the

girls’ relationship to softball — they play on Kennedy’s varsity team together. “We’re very excited to make a difference and help others at a time where everyone needs a little good,” she said.

Student of the Year is a philanthropic leadership development program for high school students in which participants foster professional skills while fundraising for LLS, a national nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancer. The title Student of the

Year is awarded to the candidate or co-candidates who raise the most money during the competition.

When Sami, a sophomore, was nominated to be a candidate by her family friend Shari Weissbach, she asked Lara to help out. “Raising money for good causes is important to my family,” she said, “and we thought it was a great idea to help others.”

Sami is the daughter of Jill and Craig Levine. The couple Continued on page 3

I

f this is going to be successful, everybody is going to have to play their part.

February 4, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021 Photos by Alyssa Seidman/Herald

Last saturDay, striking Out Cancer hosted a clothing drive at Sami Levine’s home in south Merrick. The collection effort filled a tractor trailer.

Students hope campaign will make a difference Dozens of resiDents dropped bags full of donations onto a collection pile, which stretched the entire length of the Levines’ driveway and took up some of the sidewalk.

ContinueD from front page run Forever 9: The Robbie Levine Foundation, a local nonprofit founded in honor of their late son, Robbie.

Last month, the girls started planning a series of fundraisers and created an Instagram account (@strikingoutcancer_LLS) to promote their events. Because of the pandemic, a majority of the events will be held virtually (see box). So far, the girls have hosted a clothing drive, a virtual yoga class, a virtual bingo night and a fundraiser at Panera Bread in Bellmore, where a portion of the evening’s proceeds was donated to their campaign.

The Striking Out Cancer team consists of about 30 people from the Bellmore-Merrick community. Members are responsible for helping the girls spread the word on social media, reaching out to potential participants via email and running the events.

“We’ve had a great response,” Lara said.

That sentiment was evident last Saturday morning when Striking Out Cancer hosted its clothing drive. Dozens of residents stopped by the Levines’ home in south Merrick to drop off bags of clothes, linens, accessories and other items to be donated to charitable causes. The collection pile lined the Levines’ driveway and filled a tractor-trailer, Sami said. For every pound donated, the team earned 25 cents toward its fundraising efforts.

The girls likened their campaign to running a business, as they have had to make presentations to potential sponsors to support their events. “Building a team of people and having to motivate them has taught me how to be successful in the real world,” Lara said.

Sami added that she and Lara feel as though they are making a difference in the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. “Hopefully these funds that we raise will make a future with no cancer,” she said.

To register for future events, visit linktr.ee/ strikingoutcancer. Those interested in getting involved can reach out to Sami and Lara via email at strikeoutcancer21@gmail.com.

“The more support the better,” Lara said.

Calendar of events Softball Clinics The one-hour clinics will be run by varsity-level softball players at Coleman Country Day Camp (55 Babylon Turnpike, Freeport, N.Y. 11520) on Monday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. (grades K-4) and Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. (grades 5-7). $25 per person (includes T-shirt). Visit linktr.ee/strikingoutcancer to register.

Out Cancer” flier at checkout to donate a portion of your purchase proceeds to the campaign.

Chipotle Fundraiser Wednesday, Feb. 10, 5-9 p.m. at Chipotle Mexican Grill in Merrick (1996 Merrick Road). Present a “Striking Out Cancer” flier at checkout to donate a portion of your purchase proceeds to the campaign.

Virtual Raffle Saturday, March 6 (time TBA). Prizes include tie-dye apparel, mask chains, custom portraits, desserts from My Cookie Dealer and Duchess Cookies, accessories, gift certificates and more. The team will contact participants with a detailed list of all the raffle baskets at a later date and ask which prizes participants would like to submit for. Pricing: one ticket, $3; four tickets, $10; nine tickets, $20. Visit linktr.ee/ strikingoutcancer to register.

Moe’s Fundraiser Wednesday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. at Moe’s Southwest Grill in Bellmore (2701 Merrick Road). Present a “Striking

Zoom Challah Bake Sunday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. Participants will be provided with a list of ingredients and a Zoom link prior to the event. $10 per participant. Visit linktr.ee/strikingoutcancer to register.

High-risk sports start in Bellmore-Merrick John f.

Kennedy High School students used the field for the pre-season conditioning program.

Continued from front page

open for changing only for those who play immediately after school. Students who play later will be asked to arrive at practice or games dressed in the appropriate gear.

“Please know that our primary focus will be to maintain the health and safety of our student-athletes and coaches,” Caballero continued. “All tryouts will be conducted in accordance with guidelines and recommendations made by the New York State DOH and the Nassau County Health Department. Attendance will be taken daily for contact tracing purposes, and all student-athletes will be required to show their . . . NERIC app clearance screen on their smartphone device prior to entering all facilities.”

Temperatures will also be checked before participation, and all guidelines regarding personal protective equipment, social distancing and hand sanitizing will be followed, Caballero added.

Cuomo gave high-risk high school sports the green light to play and practice last week, and approval from local officials was swift. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced on Jan. 27 that if guidelines are met, public and parochial schools could conduct games as soon as Feb. 8.

“I’m excited to get our kids back on the fields, courts and rinks they love so much and to bring a little normal back into their lives,” Curran said.

The guidelines require masks to be worn, unless players are unable to tolerate such coverings while playing.

Those not on the field will need to maintain social distancing, and sharing of equipment or drinks is also prohibited.

Section VIII Executive Director Pat Pizzarelli said that since participation is the primary goal this winter, there will be no playoffs for basketball and no postseason for wrestling. Basketball teams will only play an eightgame season while wrestling will conduct dual meets only.

“We want the largest number of kids playing in the most number of games, and this was the way to do it,” Pizzarelli said.

Caballero emphasized, however, that for the winter season to be successful, it would take the combined efforts of school officials, coaches, players and parents to ensure student-athletes avoid high-risk activities outside of school.

“If this is going to be successful, everybody is going to have to play their part,” Caballero said. “We need the parents — the parents that were just as loud with the ‘Let Them Play’ movement. They have to be just as strict with their own children.”

To view the full letter, visit the district website at www.bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us/.

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

frequently asked questions Appointments for testing within the Bellmore-Merrick High School District will be made through DragonFlyPHD. School officials assembled a list of frequently asked questions for students and families: 1. Do parents have to be present for testing if they have signed a consent form?

No. The consent form will be completed electronically, and student-athletes will present their entrance tickets when they arrive at Brookside School.

2. Is testing mandatory, and will testing occur weekly?

Yes. High-risk BMCHSD winter sports student-athletes and coaches will be scheduled weekly for testing on either Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. or Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. until the winter season ends.

Tony Bellissimo contributed to this story.

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MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/merrick ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: merrickeditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 207 E-mail: merrickeditor@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460

3. Can a student present a PCR or rapid test result from an outside medical office?

must be submitted to the school nurse in the building that your child attend.

Yes. Parents can submit weekly test results from their personal health care providers to the school nurse in the building that their child attends.

5. How will tests be administered?

4. If students have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past, are they required to be tested?

If your child has previously tested positive for Covid-19, you will be required to provide a doctor’s note indicating that it is safe for your child to participate in sports. Additionally, those who have previously tested positive and are within the 90-day window from the date of the positive test, will not be required to test weekly. However, if they are beyond the 90-day window, student-athletes must test weekly. All documentation

Medical professionals from ATC Healthcare Testing and Screening Services will administer a minimally invasive PCR nasal swab test, and results will be made available to student-athletes via a secure online portal within 48 hours from the test date.

6. If my daughter/son is playing a high-risk fall or spring sport in March (fall season) or May (spring season), should he/she be tested now?

No. Testing for fall and spring sports will take place at that time. This month’s testing will only apply to winter athletes in basketball, cheerleading, wrestling and kickline.

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

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Resident charged for participation in Capitol riot

By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

A Bellmore man has been charged for his alleged participation in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

According to officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Justin McAuliffe, 39, was arrested last Thursday morning by the Joint Terrorism Taskforce at a residence in Bellmore following an investigation into criminal activity on Capitol grounds.

A report by special FBI agent Gary Battista determined that McAuliffe was among the individuals who stormed the Capitol the day federal lawmakers met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. McAuliffe is an accountant and the founder of a Mineola-based accounting firm.

The FBI received tips from multiple individuals alleging that McAuliffe was at the Capitol on the day of the riot.

One witness emailed screenshots to the FBI of what appears to be a post from McAuliffe’s Facebook page. The post included a selfie of McAuliffe outside the building in a red and blue Trump beanie (pictured at right).

Around Jan. 14, Battista found an article published on slate.com containing a picture of McAuliffe and another individual that was allegedly taken inside the office of an unknown congressmember (pictured far right). McAuliffe is wearing the same beanie in that photo.

A second witness also provided the FBI with snapshots from McAuliffe’s Facebook. The first photo appears to be a screenshot of McAuliffe’s smartphone settings, which showed he had access to Wi-Fi at the U.S. Senate. The public network name listed was “SENATE_OFFICIAL.” The second photo is a screenshot of a conversation McAuliffe had with another individual on Facebook.

Photos Courtesy USANYE

Justin mcAuliffe, of Bellmore, was arrested and charged for his alleged participation in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

In one message, McAuliffe wrote, “Yeah I was in one of the offices. Some people were smoking a joint in the room, lol. Cops came in and [were] like, ‘Okay guys really?’ They didn’t even ask us to leave right away. They let us sit down and hang out and relax.”

Battista reported that McAuliffe deleted his Facebook account following the riot. His Twitter account, @CPAjmac, however, is still active. The Herald called McAuliffe’s firm to request a comment, which has yet to be returned.

McAuliffe’s attorney, Randi Chavis, of the Long Island Federal Defenders office, declined to comment.

this picture of McAuliffe, right, and another individual was allegedly taken inside the office of an unknown congressmember, according to a report from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It was initially published in an article on slate.com.

McAuliffe was arraigned by United States Magistrate Judge A. Kathleen Tomlinson in Central Islip federal court following his arrest. He was charged with illegally entering a restricted building with the intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions.

Locals react to repeal of transgender military ban

By KAte nAlepinsKi aseidman@liherald.com

President Joseph Biden last Monday signed an executive order to reverse a policy that banned transgender people from serving in the military. With the order signed, local LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies said they are optimistic about a move toward national equality among people of all gender and sexual orientations.

The order immediately prohibits any service member from being discharged from the military on the basis of gender identity, a policy that was implemented during the Trump administration in 2017.

The order also requires the U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security secretary to correct any records of those that were affected by the previous policy, according to the White House website.

The ban’s repeal follows other executive orders that reversed a gender diversity training ban and prohibited workplace discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation within the federal government.

“I don’t think anyone should be forced to stop doing anything because of their gender identity,” said Ellen Diamond, of Merrick. “Any kind of discrimination based on that, or anything else, is abhorrent. I am very grateful as an advocate [of the LGBTQ+ community] that Biden overturned the ban.”

Diamond is the co-founder of Camp Ga’avah, a program for LGBTQ+ youth

and allies at the Friedberg Jewish Community Center in Oceanside. Last week, she led a virtual workshop comprised of transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming youth to talk about Biden’s repeal of the transgender military ban.

Although attendants said they feel safer knowing Biden will protect their rights, they are still concerned about the influx of people who discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, especially on Long Island, Diamond noted.

“Some of these kids don’t even feel safe in their schools,” said Diamond, whose son is transgender, “yet they are incredibly brave and so articulate about all of this. It was so inspiring listening to them and how they were thinking about it.”

While the ban’s repeal is a step in the right direction, licensed attorney Charlie Arrowood, who uses they/them pronouns, said both enlisted and former troops that are transgender or gender nonconforming will continue to face difficulties in the service.

Arrowood provides transition-related legal services to transgender clients, including legal name and gender-marker changes. They said that transgender and gender nonconforming folks have faced delays when updating their information within the military’s data system.

“There are still things that come up for transgender troops that definitely need to be worked on,” Arrowood said.

Arrowood added that troops would be able to provide a higher quality of service if they could be open about their gender

merricK resident ellen Diamond, cofounder of Camp Ga’avah, in Oceanside, recently led a workshop with former campers about President Joseph Biden’s executive order to repeal a Trump-era ban that prohibited transgender individuals from serving in the military.

Courtesy Buatti-Ramos Photography

and sexual identity. “I think the less you have to hide, the more prepared you are to do your job properly and the easier it is for you to work with others,” they said.

The exact number of transgender individuals in the U.S. military is unclear. In June 2016, RAND Corp reported that 2,450 active-duty troops and 1,510 reserve personnel were transgender. However, 2018 data collected by the Palm Center, a California-based research institute, showed that an estimated 14,700 transgender troops currently serve, with 8,980 in active duty and 5,727 in reserves.

Camp Ga’avah counselor Jessie Page, who also uses they/them pronouns, said they believe one’s decision to enlist should not be affected by the federal government.

“Some people, regardless of their identity, want to serve their country,” Page said. “Gender and gender identity shouldn’t matter, because it’s not impacting anyone else. If they’re willing to put in the determination and grit that it takes to serve the country, that’s all that matters.”

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

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Bringing local sports home every week

Herald sports High-risk sports resume with conditions

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Less than a week after high-risk high school sports in New York state such as basketball, football, wrestling, volleyball and competitive cheer were given the OK to proceed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran relayed the necessary guidance put in place by the state and approved by local health officials.

At a Jan. 27 news conference at Bay Pa rk i n E a s t Ro ck aw ay, C u r r a n announced the high-risk sports guidelines that, once met, will clear the way for public and parochial schools to begin practicing for basketball, wrestling and cheer on Feb. 1, and holding games and matches as soon as Feb. 8.

“I’m excited to get our kids back on the fields, courts and the rinks they love so much and to bring a little normal back into their lives,” Curran said.

Some of the mandatory guidelines put in place countywide by Suffolk aren’t being mirrored by Nassau. Instead, those decisions were left to individual school districts in Nassau. These include weekly Covid-19 testing for participating athletes, coaches and others in daily contact with the teams, temperature monitoring before practices and games, and no more than two spectators per athlete for home teams.

Masks must be worn at all times, unless players are unable to tolerate such a covering for the physical activity, and a minimum of 6 feet in distance between individuals must be followed at all times, with the exception of participating athletes. No sharing of equipment or drinks will be permitted, and facilities must provide sanitizer for all in attendance and be limited to 50 percent of the maximum occupancy of a particular area, inclusive of employees, patrons, players and spectators.

Curran said the Nassau County Department of Health would conduct spot compliance checks at random schools to ensure safety guidelines are being followed.

On Jan. 26, Nassau’s athletic directors held a meeting with Section VIII, the governing body for high school athletics in the county, to discuss a return to play for basketball, wrestling and cheer. Section VIII also conducted a conference call with school superintendents that same morning.

Section VIII Executive Director Pat Pizzarelli said with athlete participation the primary goal this winter, there would be no playoffs for basketball and no postseason for wrestling. Basketball teams will play an eight-game season, while wrestling will conduct dual meets only.

“We want the largest number of kids playing in the most number of games, and this was the way to do it,” Pizzarelli

said.

Baldwin has already decided to have all high-risk athletes and coaches tested weekly and will not be permitting spectators, Athletic Director Ed Ramirez said.

The district is planning to livestream basketball games and wrestling matches. “I’m excited to see our winter student athletes, especially our seniors, back competing,” Ramirez said. “Although they will not get the full experience, they have an opportunity to represent their school one last time, be with their teammates and enjoy their passion.”

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District does not plan to mandate testing, Athletic Director Eric Caballero said. It will allow two spectators per home athlete, with no fans from visiting teams permitted. The Sewanhaka Central High School District is following the same criteria for testing and spectators, said Athletic Director Matt McLees.

The Valley Stream Central High School District will not allow fans for basketball and wrestling, but Athletic Director Scott Steuber said the topic will be revisited for sports set to begin March 1, such as football, soccer, volleyball and field hockey.

“I’m thrilled that we’re going to be starting all of our sports,” Pizzarelli said. “We haven’t had any Covid spread with the sports that began Jan. 4. Now we’re starting basketball and wrestling. BaSkETBaLL, aLONg wITh other high-risk winter I’ll be honest, I’m concerned cheer, were cleared to begin practicing Feb. 1. about wrestling. I spoke to our athletic administrators. They need to stress to their coaches they need to be diligent in keeping the safety of our student-athletes as the No. 1 priority, which is what we always do in athletics.”

Pizzarelli added each school district would make a determination whether to compete in the high-risk winter sports or not. He said only Uniondale, which is in full remote learning mode, has opted out so far. Lawrence flipped its decision on winter sports and will be competing.

Traditional fall sports, including football, soccer, girls’ tennis, cross-country, volleyball, field hockey and girls’ swimming, are slated to begin practice March 1. Spring sports, such as lacrosse, baseball, softball, boys’ tennis, track and field, girls’ badminton and boys’ golf, are set to start April 22.

NaSSau COuNTY ExECuTIvE Laura Curran said individual school districts could decide on Covid-19 testing for athletes and coaches.

J. Heck/Herald

sports such as wrestling and competitive

Christina Daly/Herald

9

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

Fried Mac & Cheese Balls Only Cabot farmers’ best packs the bold flavor wo hy of a winning game day spread.

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1 Tbsp. garlic, minced 3 Tbsp. flour 1½ cups milk 16 oz. Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 4 cups)

1½ qts. canola oil ¼ cup buffalo sauce Blue cheese or Ranch dressing for dipping

Salt and pepper to taste To make the Macaroni and Cheese: BOIL pasta until tender. Drain. MELT bu er in large pot and sauté garlic. Whisk in flour for 1 min until smooth. WHISK in milk & stir until smooth and thickened. Stir in cheese. Season with S&P. Add cooked noodles. Stir to coat. Transfer to a 7” x 11” casserole and cool. Cover and refrigerate 1-2 hrs.

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Herald Inside LI hosts cutting expenses webinar

By Nicole AlciNdor nalcindor@liherald.com

The Covid-19 pandemic caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs in 2020, and as a result, many found that their worst financial fears became their reality.

Even though many Americans never lost their jobs and some have found new ones, a growing number of people have been preoccupied by fear because they worry about being able to keep their jobs during the worst economic c a l a m i t y s i n c e t h e G re at Depression.

For many, pulling money from their savings accounts is the only way to survive, while others wished they had saved more emergency money, or they don’t know where to begin to start cutting expenses.

With many Long Islanders grappling with these financial concerns, Herald Inside LI held a free infor mational Zoom webinar on Jan. 28 to discuss reducing expenditures.

The webinar, which was sponsored by Edward Jones, Emigrant Mortgage, EmPower VeroNicA Solar, Maidenbaum Property Ferrero Tax Reduction Group and Geico, featured a panel of Assistant Vice expert speakers, who discussed President, simple ways to save money. DisEmigrant Mortgage cussion topics ranged from paying off credit card debt and getting finances in order to information about how to refinance loans with lower rates, ways to save on electric bills and how to grieve property taxes.

i

n the same way that you would plan a Super Bowl dinner for friends and family, I recommend that people plan if they want to budget.

The importance of an emergency fund

“Last year, it was eye-opening to see how many people lost their jobs, and many people learned the hard way that having emergency funds set aside is so important,” said Marie Taylor, a 20-year financial adviser at Edward Jones. “People need to know that you’re never too young to start saving because people can go into foreclosure if they can’t make payments.”

As someone who helps people manage people’s finances on a daily basis, Taylor said her usual approach when helping new clients to start a budget worksheet is to help them understand their savings, investments and income. The worksheet, she said, includes four key questions: ■ Where am I today?

■ Where do I need to go?

■ Can I get there?

■ What do I need to reach that goal?

“I tell my clients that it’s important to look at where your money is coming from and to make sure they know the risks, recognize strategies and that they should understand what their goals and aspirations are,” Taylor said. “It’s also important that people make sure that they have a financial adviser that is focused on the people they serve. If a financial adviser is not explaining costs or checking on your investments, and they are telling you what they think you need while failing to find out your background information, you might want to get a different financial adviser.”

Making a plan

Another guest panelist, Veronica Ferrero, who is the assistant vice president and community lending

Courtesy Herald Inside LI

HerAld iNside li held a free Zoom webinar on how to reduce expenses amid the coronavirus pandemic last Thursday. coordinator at Emigrant Mortgage Company Inc., said her job involves helping people to create a plan that reviews their credit report to see if it is up to date and without errors. She also looks at credit cards to make sure the interest rate is the lowest possible.

“Whenever someone closes or opens a savings account, it will affect their credit score,” she said. “A lot of people have credit cards that they don’t use, and they don’t realize that this will affect their credit score and that they should be diligent about paying their credit card payments when they are due.”

Ferrero also said she spends time evaluating her clients’ mortgages to aid them in discovering new ways to save in various areas, such as in their utility, phone and car insurance bills. She also aids people in looking at their long-term goals and deciding if taking out a home equity mortgage or line of credit would be the most sensible decision, based on a case-by-case analysis. With the ongoing pandemic, she also said, interest rates are low, and now is an opportune time to refinance and renovate homes.

“In the same way that you would plan a Super Bowl dinner for friends and family, I recommend that people plan if they want to budget, and through my job, I want to help people to realize through an analysis process, specifically where their money goes on a monthly basis,” she said. “This is a challenging process, but most people are glad when they do this, and they are better able to see where they can better save money.”

Taylor and Ferrero both added that people should look for interest rates on their student loans to help budget better.

“It’s important to do research on programs and to look for companies to help you to do this,” Ferrero stressed.

“Speak to someone who will sit down and listen to you and be disciplined about this, and don’t get distracted,” Taylor said.

Tara McDermott, director of customer experience and stakeholder relations at EmPower Solar, said her company serves about 3,000 clients. EmPower Solar aims to help consumers save on electric bills by help-

ing them install solar panels.

“Now, more than ever, people are more conscious of an increase in electric bills because people are spending more time in their homes, and therefore they are using up more energy due to the pandemic,” she said.

“The average home on Long Island pays $250 a month on their electric bill, and our goal is to get homeowners to save money through the installation of solar panels on their roof. About one in every 22 houses on Long Island have solar panels now.”

Having solar panel consultation with EmPower Solar, McDermott said, is free. It will take place over Zoom to discuss how much solar panels will cost on a case-by-case basis and answer any other questions for those considering going solar.

“We stress to our clients that having solar panels does not increase taxes, but third-party studies have shown that it does add about $20,000 to the value of the home,” she said. “Around 15 percent of clients have a battery backup system for their solar panels—which will allow them to power their house during a power outage for an unlimited amount of time. This is great because clients can be prepared for an emergency, similar to another Superstorm Sandy.”

Filing a grievance

As the Zoom meeting was ending, guest speaker Mark Miller, in-house counsel at Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, made a few remarks. “All residential homeowners should file a grievance, and anybody who has a renovation on their house should file and see if they qualify, but they should keep in mind that solar panels don’t count as a renovation in these instances,” he said. “Also, if you double your house size through renovation, you won’t get the home improvement exemption. You might be considered a whole new property at that point.”

The recording for this cutting expenses webinar can be found at liherald.com/recordings. The next Herald Inside LI webinar will be Thursday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m., and will look at estate and Medicaid planning.

Kitchen redo

11

Design Wide Walkways Create paths throughout your kitchen that are at least 36 inches wide. Also, walkways in the cooking zone should be 42 inches wide for kitchens with one cook, and 48 inches wide for configuring the

area for two cooks. When you are in the design/planning process, adjust peninsulas and kitchen islands accordingly.

Be sure you account for your appliances. When your refrigerator doors or dishwasher is ajar, it can create a roadblock in your kitchen pathway. You can remedy this by either creating a path that is wide enough to travel through even when your appliance doors are open, or by designing a kitchen that has two easily maneuverable pathways.

Configure The Correct Height For The Microwave The best location and height for a microwave depends on the primary chef and the degree of kid-friendliness that you desire in your kitchen. For adults, the microwave should be roughly 15 inches above countertop level. For kids, you might consider a below-countertop setup for safety and suitability.

Many kitchens today are set up with the microwave sitting above the stove top, but some designers allege that this is a trend that is on its way out.

If you plan to install your microwave over the range, you might want to consider how this decision will affect your house resale value. Locating your microwave away from your stove can also make it easier for the two appliances to be used by two different cooks at the same time.

tion. If you want to eat and cook on kitchen islands, make sure you plan enough space to separate the cooktop safely from the dining area.

You might also consider combining your kitchen island with your cutting board. This is a popular feature in many contemporary kitchens, but does come with certain drawbacks. Another unique design element people are incorporating in their new kitchens is having their island be a statement focal piece. They achieve this by using different materials on the island than they do for the other counters.

Determine The Function Of An Island When you plan a kitchen island, remember that form should follow func-

Above photo:The kitchen has truly become a multifunctional room. The ideal kitchen redo involves many elements.

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Organize Smartly Before you begin remodeling your kitchen, determine how and where you will use your kitchen items. For instance, store breakfast bowls and food near the breakfast table. Keep plastic containers and wraps in a handy place near your work surface for wrapping leftovers.

Locate flatware and dishes near the dishwasher to ease the process of unloading.

By having a good understanding of how you want your kitchen items to be organized around your larger appliances, you can better plan for the type of storage you will need. For example, your silverware will likely go in a drawer, while your bowls and plates will go in a cabinet. Your plans should include what types of storage will flank your appliances.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

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HERALD Covid-19 HOMETOWN HEROES ROB WECHSLER

JAMES MARINELLO

NORTH MERRICK Pharmacist, Plainview Hospital Plainview

NORTH MERRICK Director, Bellmore-Merrick EMS

T

he recent FDA emergency use approvals of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines have resulted in our department undertaking the immense responsibility of tracking and monitoring the receipt, storage, distribution and administration of those vaccines.

Several weeks prior to its approval, we received a specialized ultra-cold freezer for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which must be stored at -70 degrees Celsius. The Moderna vaccine can be stored in a regular freezer at -20 Celsius for up to six months. Both freezers are equipped with precise temperature sensors and alarms and are under constant video surveillance. Individual doses are drawn up into syringes for administration to recipients with confirmed appointments, as every dose

must be accounted for.

The effort to develop and distribute the Covid-19 vaccines has been nothing short of historic. The necessary medical technology was refined and the safety and efficacy proven in months rather than years. We received an initial shipment of Pfizer’s vaccine on Dec. 11, and Moderna’s arrived a week later. In both cases, we began vaccinating eligible health care workers within hours.

We are awaiting the approval of vaccines with less stringent storage requirements from two additional manufacturers: AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose, while all the others require two doses administered three or four weeks apart to achieve maximum immunity.

HERALD HOMETOWN HERO LAURA CURRAN

NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

I

've been with the Bellmore-Merrick EMS for two years, but I’ve been doing this for 34 years.

Things have been different — if there’s, say, an auto accident, then we would have multiple units respond, but as of right now we’re limited to the immediate responders doing an evaluation and progressing our treatment as needed. Whereas in the past, we might have thrown more people in for patient lifting or carrying.

We’re limiting trainees, too. We used to have maybe two or three trainees ride along, but now we’re down to one. Typically, it’ll be three, maybe four responding to a call like that.

I’ve been in emergency services since 1988, both as a volunteer firefighter, career firefighter and in EMS, and I recently retired from the fire service as a career. I still enjoy it,

and I don’t mind doing it as a volunteer. It pays to give back to the community — I’m very fortunate.

There's a big push to get all volunteers vaccinated, but it’s not mandatory. We encourage it highly, but like everything else, it’s up to that individual to take that step. It’s offered to everybody; all the channels are there to get vaccinated.

I think once vaccinations are more widespread, it’ll put a lot more people at ease.

I don’t think our job will change, as far as our patient care. We haven’t limited or delayed any care due to somebody potentially having Covid. Procedures have changed, but we’ve been trucking through as if it didn’t exist, as far as responses.

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13

THEIR FRONT-LINE STORIES IN THEIR OWN WORDS

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

SCOTT WILLIAMS

DENISE HODISH

ELMONT Senior Pastor Memorial Presbyterian Church, Roosevelt

EAST MEADOW Vaccinator NYU Langone Hospital MIneola

O

ur church services residents in Roosevelt, Hempstead, Baldwin, Freeport and Uniondale.

This pandemic has disproportionately impacted our communities, communities of color. It’s ravaged and devastated us. The vaccine has been out for more than six weeks now, but Blacks and Latinos have had to go through hurdles to have access to it.

Northwell Health reached out to us last year to open up a free testing facility, so I’m grateful that they came back to us now to ask if we could host a vaccination site for our residents.

We reached out to our communities to let them know what was going on. There’s always been a communication breakdown with Black and Latino communities since the pandemic began. Our communities get overlooked. I live

right out of school. I grew up in Garden City and went to Georgetown University, then moved to East Meadow in 1978.

I live with my daughter Meghan, and I also have two kids, one in New Jersey and one in Port Washington.

I’ve tried to be careful through the pandemic and stay home as much as possible.

In the beginning, I didn’t see my grandchildren at all. Then they became part of our quarantine bubble. I do enjoy seeing people when I go to work now.

I was lucky to get vaccinated before I started working. I get my next dose on Feb. 2.

I feel very lucky I was offered it, or I would be waiting on line like everybody else.

was retired for about two and a half to three years, and then I heard about the vaccinator program from someone I worked with at the hospital. I know they’ve been so overwhelmed, and I thought this would be an opportunity for me to do my part to help out. I didn’t feel safe enough coming back last spring as a tester, but I do now.

I don’t consider myself a hero. Nurses working the front lines, working long hours with short staffs. They’re the real heroes. I want them to be vaccinated as quickly as possible so they can be safe.

I did an online orientation, and it took me a couple of weeks to get up and running, but I started on Jan. 8. I worked at Winthrop for 46 years — my whole career — in several different roles. I started out in the ICU in 1972,

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February 4, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

14

Blustery nor’easter brings region to a halt

By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

A massive nor’easter out of the west swept across Long Island early Monday, and forecasters predicted up to a foot or more of snowfall for the area by Tuesday, with wind gusts between 30 and 60 miles per hour.

Of the storm, Merrick resident Craig Allen, a meteorologist for WCBS 880 and News12, said, “This is the real deal.”

Because the system from the west transferred its energy to a storm off the mid-Atlantic coast, he explained, the region saw doubled snow accumulations as compared to the previous nor’easter on Dec. 17, which dumped 4 to 6 inches of snow on the South Shore.

“This is going to be a much more prolonged event,” Allen said on Monday. “It will wobble around for about 24 hours until it finally gets kicked out by drier air in the middle of the week. Because the storm is blocked on all sides, it’s going to continue to dump . . . about 2 to 3 inches of snow per hour, which is incredible.

We are in the perfect location to get the brunt of this one.”

Once the heaviest bands of snow moved through the afternoon, there was a little bit of a lull Monday evening as the system moved into a “dry slot.” Allen anticipated that the region would see even more accumulations on Tueday before the snow tapers off.

“This may make it into the top 10 snowstorms of all-time for the area,” he noted.

Although the storm delivered the perfect packing snow, overall conditions brought the region to a halt. School officials across Bellmore-Merrick announced schools would be closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the inclement weather, allowing students to enjoy two consecutive, old-fashioned snow days — no remote learning required.

County and town officials urged people to stay off the roads during the storm if they could, as conditions were “treacherous.”

“Wind is going to play a significant role in this storm,” said County Executive Laura Curran at a news conference last Sunday. “We’re talking about blizzard-like conditions . . . It’s going to be heavy, wet snow with a lot of wind.”

The biggest snow fall came between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday. “As the day goes on,” Curran added, “conditions are going to get more dangerous for driving.”

As of 1 p.m. Monday, there were more than 400 plows and trucks working to clear 1,200 miles of roadway within the Town of Hempstead, according to 5th District Councilman Christopher Carini, who represents Bellmore and Merrick. He added that the storm’s whiteout conditions and heavy winds made the job more difficult.

On Facebook, Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads posted a list of emergency numbers for residents’ reference. “This storm seems to be living up to expectations, unfortunately,” he wrote. “Thank you to our first responders, plow operators and essential workers who are out there in the storm as always.”

The nor’easter caused a number of closures and cancellations throughout the area on Monday, including suspension of garbage and recycling collection by the town’s Department of Sanitation. Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick was closed for the day, and the town’s Department of Senior Enrichment transportation services, food shopping excursions and lunch programs were also canceled.

Photos courtesy Tonia Provvisiero

Three-yeAr-old mATTeo Provvisiero, of south Merrick, was all smiles while frolicking in the new-fallen snow.

mArio Provvisiero, 7, above, tested the sturdiness of the igloo while his friends Emerson and Cassidy Charney took shelter.

The Provvisiero BroThers took full advantage of the snow day by building an igloo with some of their friends, left,. nine-yeAr-old AnThony Provvisiero, below left, and his friend made snow angels on the sidewalk.

Local students win flag football championship Alabama Crimson Tide’s roster Amir Ibrahim Anthony Giangrasso Brennen Lau Ethan Levinsohn Jack Zagariello Jack Ciccimarro Jake Condela Kenny Paukowitz KJ Osorio Liam Lynch Timmy Lynch Vinny Barretti

Provided by Jarred Barretti; compiled by Alyssa Seidman.

Zach Adelstein Courtesy Jarred Barretti

Neighbors iN the News A permanent home for Last Hope’s flea market

By KATe NAlepiNsKi aseidman@liherald.com

Last Hope, Inc. Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation of Wantagh hopes to find a permanent home in Huntington Town for its thrift store later this year.

The organization’s Special Needs committee hosted a flea market and jewelry sale on Jan. 30. Committee Coordinator JoAnna Scheps said the nonprofit aims to take over a “small space” in Huntington this spring while maintaining its shelter location in Wantagh.

The committee, which has been active for roughly 20 years, is responsible for fundraising for Last Hope. All money raised is directed toward special care or surgeries for animals. The money raised at the flea market will be used for Last Hope’s Fix-A-Feral program, which works to trap, neuter and return feral cats. More than 12,000 cats have been spayed and neutered since 2003 through the program.

In the past, the committee has hosted fundraising auctions at the Church of the Advent in Westbury and other locations across Nassau, Scheps said. Due to the Covid-19

pandemic, those events have come to a halt. Only its flea markets, with limited capacity, have continued as of July 2020.

All the items on sale at the flea market are donations, mainly from “people who love animals,” Scheps said. The new market could be open anywhere between three to six days a week. “Once people know we’re here, they’ll come periodically just to see what new things we have,” she said. “People who love the thrill of the hunt, they love this stuff.”

Rosemarie Patterson, a Last Hope volunteer for 27 years, said she hopes the group can accumulate enough volunteers to establish a permanent home for the flea market. “If we can get enough people to support us and spend their money here, then we can do more for the animals,” she said.

All the money collected in January will allow the nonprofit to distribute 600 vouchers for community members to pay for the spaying and neutering of feral cats, Scheps said.

Last Hope, Inc. Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation is at 3300 Beltagh Ave. in Wantagh. For more information about the flea market, visit lasthopeanimalrescue.org.

Public Notices

LMER1 0204

LEGAL NOTICE Present: At an IAS Part 22 of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in and for the County of Nassau, at the Courthouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York, on the 31st day of December, 2020 Hon. Antonio Brandveen Justice .......................................X CLEMENTE MUNIZ Index No. 617383/2019 Plaintiff ORDER OF - against - REFERENCE PAUL MUNIZ, Defendants ......................................X UPON the summons, verified complaint in this action filed in the office of the Nassau County Clerk on December 16, 2019, from which it appears that this action was brought to partition real property known as 43 Shaw Drive, Merrick, New York 11566, Section 56, Block A03, Lot 3, together with all improvements thereon, and The verified answer with counter claims, filed on January 21, 2020, and Verified Reply to counterclaims filed on January 24, 2020, and It appearing that the property is so circumstanced that an actual partition hereof cannot be made without great prejudice to the owners and that a sale of said property is therefore

necessary, and On consent of the parties by their respective attorneys, and due deliberation being had, it is hereby ORDERED, that the property shall be sold, and it is further ORDERED, that a referee shall be appointed to prepare an accounting as to determine the appropriate distribution of proceeds as to the property, and it is further ORDERED that pursuant to CPLR 4317 this action be, and the same hereby is referred to Helmut Borchet, Esq., Fiduciary #122297, having offices at 17 Washington Avenue, Glen Head, New York 11545, email helumut@helmutborchert .com telephone number 516-343-6256, as Referee to hear and determine; 1) the Plaintiff and Defendant’s respective contributions toward expenses and costs related to the maintenance of the real property located at 43 Shaw Drive, Merrick, New York 11566 from the time of purchase through the date of the referee’s report; 2) rents received and distributed; and to prepare an accounting of such contributions and distributions to determine the appropriate distribution of the proceeds of sale of said property and report his/her/their findings to the Court; and it is further

ORDERED, that the referee in accordance with Section 913 of the NY Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, shall cause a notice to be published once per week for four successive weeks in the Merrick Herald newspaper published in Nassau County, which is the County in which this action is pending and in which the property at issue is situated, requiring each person not a party ot the action, who, at the date of the order, had a lien upon any undivided share or interest in the property, to appear before Helmut Borchet, Esq. the referee at 17 Washington Avenue, Glen Head, New York 11545 on or before February 12, 2021, at 10:00 AM to prove his or her lien and the amount due or to become due to him or her on the lien; and the referee shall report to the Court as soon as possible the name of each creditor whose lien is satisfactorily proved before him or her, the nature and extent of the lien, the date of the lien and the amount due on the lien; and it is further ORDERED, that following the filing of said referee’s report with the Clerk of the Court: a) The real property located at 43 Shaw Drive, Merrick, New York 11566 shall be sold under judicial supervision.

b) The costs of this action, all liens and unpaid real estate taxes against said real property, and all other customary closing costs shall be paid from the sales proceeds, and the net proceeds thereafter shall be distributed first to the parties in order to equalize their respective contributions toward expenses and costs related to the maintenance of said real property, in accordance with the findings of the referee, and then to the parties in accordance with their respective ownership percentages; and c) T h a t , following the sale and conveyance of the realty located at 43 Shaw Drive, Merrick, New York 11566, Plaintiff Clemente Muniz and Defendant Paul Muniz, and all persons claiming through or under them subsequent to the filing of this action, and any notice of pendency of this action, be barred of all right, title and interest in said premises in possession, reversion, or otherwise.

Dated: 12-31-20 ENTER, s/ANTONIO I. BRANDVEEN J.S.C. ENTERED JAN 8 2021 Nassau County Clerk’s Office 124442

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

After a long spring and summer under lockdown, a group of seventh-grade boys from Merrick Avenue Middle School joined Levittown-Seaford-Wantagh Sports’ flag football league to stay active during the Covid-19 pandemic.

T he students were excited to spend some time together after the long months of isolation, but little did they know this would be the year they won it all. Under the management of head coach Jarred Barretti and assistant coach Tim Lynch, the Alabama Crimson Tide played their hearts out to beat the Georgia Bulldogs 28-7 in LSW’s Super Bowl.

The league presented each player with a championship sweatshirt, which provided a sweet ending to an otherwise bitter year.

15

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Phone: 347-713-3552

1118303

Email or mail copy of resume to:

Qualifications: Candidates must hold a NYS Registered Professional Nurse License CPR Certification required Position requires Nassau Civil Service Commission Approval (Additional $350 annually if candidate holds a Bachelor's Degree)

SCHOOL MONITORS

Requirements: NYS Fingerprint Clearance

Full Time, 11 Month Position Pediatrics Experience Preferred

Annual salary: $45,092

6 Hours/Day, 5 Days/Week

$14.00/Hour.

press 5

 ALFREDO (917) 833-9370

HERALD Community Newspapers

1119625

If you have any questions, reach out to the HR Recruiter, Esther Seidman, at (516) 683-0710 ext. 256.

• PCA/HHA Certification • Flu Shots • NYS Photo ID & SS Card • Immunizations • Physical Exam, Drug Test • 2 Reference Letters

1119023

(We said it was simple. We didn’t say it was easy.)

To apply online, please go to www. communitymainstreaming.org/about-us/career-opportunities/

• High Hourly Pay Rate • Immediate Job Placement • Health, Dental, Vision, & Life Insurance ($5) • 1199 Union Benefits • Weekly/Overtime/Holiday Pay • Tuition Reimbursement • Member Wellness Benefits • Direct Deposit • Cases in Nassau Co & 5 Boroughs

REQUIREMENTS:

salary, commission, bonuses and benefits. must have own vehicle and valid driver’s license.

Benefits: Affordable Health Insurance, 100% Company Paid Dental Insurance, Eyeglass Plan, Tuition Reimbursement, and Pension Plan

BENEFITS:

Application deadline: February 19, 2021

1119517

We are actively seeking dedicated Direct Support Professionals to work with intellectual and developmentally disabled individuals in a new residential home in N. Merrick, New York!

RecRuiting a great sales team is Really simple.

PERSONAL CARE AIDES NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!!!

Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York

School Monitors Part Time $14.00/Hour. 17 ½ to 25 Hours/Week.

Starting Immediately!

Applications may be picked up at:

Malverne UFSD Office of Human Resources 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 or Call 516-887-6419 Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

1119759

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS NEEDED!

1119722

February 4, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

16

17

HERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

$18.50 NYC, $16 L.I. & up to $13.50 Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend / neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553

HANDYMAN WANTED

Must have clean driver's license.

Must be able to do light plumbing and carpentry. 4-day work week. $700 per week. 100% Medical & Dental, 401K, Uniforms, Paid Vacations, Sick and Holidays. Apply in person: MondayFriday between 9am & 7pm At: CALL-A-HEAD CORP. 304 Crossbay Blvd., Queens, NY 11693 LOGISTICIAN, FAMILY SERVICES Program Analyst, Hempstead, NY. Bachelor Degree required+ 1 year experience.

Email resume to: Henrysele@hotmail.com Iyaho Social Services, Inc. OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR / SALES SUPPORT. F/T, Must Know Microsoft Office Suite, Have Strong Verbal & Written Communication Skills And Be A Multi Tasker And Practical Problem Solver.

Salary Commensurate With Experiemce. email resume to liz@sdmmetro.com.

OFFICE/ FULL CHARGE BOOKKEEPER F/T

Office Manager, Quickbooks, Email, Microsoft-word/ People Skills. Customer Service. Beach Club/ Atlantic Beach.

Call: 516-239-2150 Or Email: catalinabeachclub1@gmail.com

OFFICE HELP WANTED: MANY POSITIONS AVAILABLE

$22.50 PER HOUR PLUS MEDICAL/DENTAL. Employment type: Full time /Overtime available Multiple Shifts Available LOOKING TO HIRE TODAY!!! No Lay offs!

WILL TRAIN. CALLAHEAD OFFERS 2 WEEKS PAID VACATION, HOLIDAY S , 4 0 1 K , A N D H E A LT H A N D DENTAL BENEFITS. PLEASE APPLY IN PERSON MONDAY- FRIDAY AT 304 CROSS BAY BLVD, QUEENS NY 11693

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Long Beach

Newly Listed Lido Towers

HOME OF THE WEEK

ROUTES AVAILABLE AT CALLAHEAD Corp.

NO CDL required, 4 DAY WORK WEEK, (enjoy 3 days off). Run your own route. Year round No lay offs!

100% medical, dental, uniforms, 2 weeks paid vacation. 401K. Plus commission. Will train! 4am-2:30pm. .

Route driver $800.00 per week, includes $100.00 weekly bonus program. Plus 10-12 hours overtime. Apply in person Monday- Friday 9am-7pm at 304 Crossbay Blvd, Queens NY 11693

V

ery large on high floor 2 bedroom 2 full bath with tons of closets and open floor plan. Featuring balcony with NYC skyline views! You are situated on 13 acres with beach access for residents. This gated community has incredible amenities: Private beach, 24/7 concierge, outdoor in-ground heated pool, 3 new tennis courts, brand new BBQ area, beach and bike storage, gym, 2l laundry rooms on every floor, 1 parking spot plus plenty of guest parking! Come Live On The Ocean!

SALES P/T 2 Days Per Week For Window Covering Store In Oceanside. Computer Knowledge, Some Sales Experience Nec. mlcwc89@aol.com SEWING MACHINE OPERATOR For Awning Manufacturing Business. Experienced With Commercial Sewing Machines Necessary. 516-250-8094; tgawnings@aol.com TAX PREPARER P/T Franklin Square Experience Needed. Retirees Welcome.

C a l l 5 1 6 - 3 5 8 - 9 4 5 5 Fa x R e s u m e 516 358-9483. Email Resume: ed@loturco.com.

One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country.

Call the USA Classified Network today!

1-800-231-6152

Tom Tripodi 30A West Park Avenue, Long Beach • 516.902.3497

Sherlock Homes Sherlock Homes ROCKVILLE CENTRE PROPERTIES CL

O

D SE

126 RUTLAND AVE, RVC $640,000 - Listing Agent CL

OS

ED

CL

O

D SE

2 HENDRICKSON AVE, RVC $655,000 - Listing Agent CL

OS

House For Sale

Apartments Wanted

HEWLETT BAY PARK 40 Heron Dr, NEW TO MARKET!! 10,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Proper ty on an Acre of Parklike Grounds Tucked away in Cul de Sac. 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary. Soaring Ceilings. IG Pool, Hot Tub. 285' Vinyl Bulkhead Raised & Redone, Dock. 3 Car Garage...$4,650,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

Reliable, mature professional looking for a reasonably priced one or two bedroom apartment in a building or private home.

Excellent credit. Excellent references.

Same employer for 20 years. Would be willing to do upkeep for a frequent traveling homeowner. Please reply to HeraldApt1@gmail.com

HEWLETT HARBOR 105 Lake Dr, NEW TO MARKET!! Spectaular Water & Golf Course Views. 4 BR, 4.5 Bth 4500 sq Ft Contemporary w/ Open Layout & Soaring Ceilings, 2 Car Gar, SD#14..$1,995,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

ED

CoOps & Condos/Sale

140 VERNON AVE, RVC $749,000 - Broker Agent

37 ANDOVER RD, RVC $1,150,000 - Broker Agent

1119678

Help Wanted

43 N. Park Ave. Rockville Centre • 516-764-2601

“Going Above & Beyond to find your Dream Home”

Rhonda Healy

M: (516) 236-7269

Real Estate Salesperson, abR, SRS E: Rhonda.Healy.VW@gmail.com Verdeschi & Walsh Realty 1025 W. Beech St. | Long Beach, NY

REAL ESTATE Open Houses EAST ROCKAWAY 1 Thompson Dr, OPEN HOUSE BY APPT, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK. O/S Prop w/Deck.

Att Gar. SD#20..$599,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

OneKey Multiple Listing Service

1114108

EMPLOYMENT

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Help Wanted

Open Houses HEWLETT HARBOR ba, 236 Richards Lane 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Home on an Acre Of Resortlike, IGP, Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master.

SD14...$1,499,000 WOODSBURGH 185 BAY Dr, OPEN HOUSE BY Appt, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Q u a r t e r s , F u l l B s m t , 2 C a r G a r.

SD#14...$1,450,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

LAWRENCE PRESTINE CO-OP 2 Bds, 2 Baths, Completely Renovated Kicthen & Baths,Terrace, Garage, Near House Of Worship, Great Area. For Sale By Owner.

516-313-9694

APARTMENT WANTED

Apartments For Rent CEDARHURST NO FEE Pr ivate Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For O n e B e d r o o m W h e n Ava i l a bl e.

(516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

Space For Rent FREEPORT 2500 SQ. FT. Industrial Area Perfect For Car, Storage. Can Be Divided Bill. 516-641-6645.

Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own.

Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!

Call us today!

Your Hometown Newspaper

To Place an Ad Call: 516-569-4000 • Press 5

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

Employment HERALDHomes

Replacing the front steps

Homes

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299 OPEN HOUSES BY APPOINTMENT SUNdAY, 2/7/21 e s t. 1 9 1 1

HEWLETT

154 Midgely Dr, BA, Updated 4 BR, 3 Bth Colonial on Quiet St in Old Woodmere area. SD#14. Full Bsmt.Near All ................. $659,000

HEWLETT BAY PARK

40 Heron Dr, BA, NEW TO MARKET!! 10,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Property on an Acre of Parklike Grounds Tucked away in Cul de Sac. 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary. Soaring Ceilings. IG Pool, Hot Tub. 285' Vinyl Bulkhead Raised & Redone. Dock. 3 Car Garage ............................................................................. $4,650,000 70 Heron Dr, BA, 6 BR, Contemporary with Open Layout on an Acre of Parklike Property. Move Right in!

SD#14 ............................................................ REDUCED $1,650,000

HEWLETT HARBOR

NEW EXCLUSIVE! 7 BR, 4 Bth Exp Ranch w/ Full Fin Bsmt on Quiet St in SD#20. 2 Car Att Gar. Won’t Last ............................ $1,198,000 105 Lake Dr, BA, NEW TO MARKET!! Spectaular Water & Golf Course Views. 4 BR, 4.5 Bth 4500 sq Ft Contemporary w/ Open Layout & Soaring Ceilings, 2 Car Gar, SD#14 ..................$1,995,000 236 Richards Lane, BA, 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Home on an Acre Of Resortlike Prop with IG Pool. Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14 ....................... REDUCED! $1,499,000

WOOdSBURGH

185 Bay Dr, BA, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Quarters, Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#14 ........$1,450,000

EAST ROCKAWAY

1 Thompson Dr, BA, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK. O/S Prop w/Deck. Att Gar. SD#20.................................................................................. $599,000 101 Emmet Ave, BA, WATERFRONT! Rebuilt in 2010, 4 BR 3.5 Bth Split w/ Pool, Outdoor Kit & Deck. Open Layout. Private Mstr Ste, 2 Car Gar, SD#20..............................................................$1,250,000

WOOdMERE

1 Meadow Dr #2B, BA, NEW TO MARKET! Updated 2 BR Coop in Elevator Bldg. Spacious Rms, Hi Ceiling. Prime location ... $289,000

Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-5694000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

ApArtments For rent Freeport-Luxury 1BR, CAC, Walk to LIRR ........ $2300+ Freeport-NW 2 BR, Immediate Occupancy. $2100+ LyNbrook-MiNt 2 BR, Laundry ........................ $2400+

broker - 516-378-2884

1116846

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR HOME IS WORTH?

Call for Your FREE Home Market evaluation now!

Lisa a. Fava CBR, sRs, aBR

LiCensed assoCiate BRokeR

50 Hempstead avenue Lynbrook, nY

516-815-2434

1116815

HERALD

1119505

February 4, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

18

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East Meadow $535,000 Gerose Court. Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. L-shaped dining room. Den/family room. First floor master bedroom. Taxes: $14,038.09 Elmont $429,000 Oakley Avenue. Colonial. 3 bedrooms,1 bathroom. Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room.

Taxes: $12,578 Island Park $490,000 Brighton Road. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms.

Updated kitchen. Large living room. Formal dining room.

Two family rooms, one with vaulted ceiling and terrace.

Close to LIRR and schools.

Taxes: $9,402.04 Long Beach $650,000 Monroe Boulevard. Duplex. 6 bedrooms, 2.55 bathrooms.

Eat-in kitchen. First floor master bedroom. Skylight. Many updates. Taxes: $17,196.96

Herald

Home Sales A sampling of recent sales in the area

Baldwin $465,000 Grand Terrace Avenue. Fieldstone/brick Cape. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Partial finished basement. Updated eat-in kitchen with custom cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Formal dining room. Den/family room.

Oak floor in living room. Open front porch and brick patio.

Park-like backyard.

Taxes: $11,674.67 Bellmore $575,000 Florin Court. Contemporary. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Eat-in kitchen with quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. Open layout. Entry off kitchen to Trex deck. Master with full bathroom, walk-in closet and bonus room. Home office.

Deeded dock rights. 2 car garage.

Taxes: $9,307.31

Malverne $435,000 Nassau Avenue. Ranch. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. Eat-in kitchen. Large formal dining room. First floor master bedroom. Taxes: $12,145.77 Rockville Centre $950,000 Berkshire Road. Colonial. 4 bedrooms, 4.555 bathrooms.

Finished basement. Eat-in kitchen. Formal dining room.

Den/family room. First floor master bedroom. Skylight.

Taxes: $35,391.23 Valley Stream $775,000 Kearny Drive. Split Level. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen. Formal dining room. Den/family room and home office. Near shopping and transportation.

Taxes: $16,718 Woodmere $563,000 West Broadway. Colonial. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Eatin kitchen. Taxes: $16,816.54 Source: The Multiple Listing Service of Long Island Inc,, a computerized network of real estate offices serving Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Q. Why do my replacement steps need to be lower than my house foundation? I live near the water, and we dug a hole to put in a new foundation for the front steps that will be bigger than the old ones. We found the groundwater came up at 30 inches, so we stopped digging, but the inspector said our plans showed 36 inches minimum. The house foundation is at 30 inches also, so why are we digging lower?

They did it, but I can’t understand.

A. This is a very uplifting topic. The deep question and answer are actually simple and not too deep after all.

Science, if followed, can aid in survival against the forces of nature that perpetually exist.

The reason your foundation needs to be lower is that water, when it freezes, expands as ice.

So what does that have to onte eeper do with a big ol’ heavy chunk of concrete, you may ask? Well, the ground absorbs rain droplets, humidity and underground streams, all various forms of water just waiting to expand when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius. Frost begins to form, first at the surface and then further and further down below ground level the longer the air temperature remains at or below freezing.

In this part of the world, the average depth of freezing consistently reaches 3 feet, and only slowly thaws when the air temperature rises. The foundation should always have a wide base, or footing, that spreads out at the bottom, and needs to be below the 3-foot depth to resist the phenomenon of heaving. This is because, as the frost builds and expands, the moisture, in all its various forms (I just mentioned), begins to expand and crowd out the foundation of your home, or front steps, or anything else in its way.

Think of it like a big zit being forced to the surface from all directions.

When this happens, all the man-made structures in the ground begin to lift, sway, crack and separate in different directions. You have about as much chance of preventing it as you would of standing against a strong tidal wave on the beach, but since the heaving happens in slow motion, it seems to not be well recognized, because this problem comes up all the time on construction sites. Believe it or not, even large buildings, like skyscrapers and shopping malls, are vulnerable to uplift from soil expansion, so it’s not just your front steps or your comparatively smaller building. Workers who don’t understand the science can create some easily avoidable problems.

The reason your house foundation is closer to the surface is probably because it’s tied to deep piers, called piles, that may go down 25 feet below the surface. The adjacent concrete foundation, anchored to the piles, should still have gone down to 36 inches, but at least the existing footings are held to something that may resist the uneven lifting.

Ask The Architect

M

L

© 2021 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

19

Market Place • • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 If Your Plumbing STINKS

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To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

HERALD

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A Fresh CoAt For A Fresh stArt!

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HANDYMAN SERVICE

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Carpentry & Painting Specialist

Chimney King, Ent. Inc.

Residential and Commercial - All Phases

(516) 766-1666 FREE • Chimneys Repaired, Rebuilt & Tuckpointing ESTIMATES • Stainless Steel Liners Installed

Chimney Cleaning & Masonry Services Done By Firefighters That Care chimneykinginc.com

“Anthony & J Home Improvement, Inc.” Also specializes in ★ Kitchens ★ Bathrooms ★ Finished Basements ★ Flooring ★ Repairs ★ Woodwork/mouldings ★ Siding ★ Gutters

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Fully licensed and insured Nassau • Suffolk • NYC

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ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS

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Kitchens • Bathrooms • Painting Roofing • Sheetrocking • Plumbing Electrical • Concrete • Powerwashing Carpentry • Basements • Baby-Proofing Ikea Furn. Assembly • Computer Repairs

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– Licensed & Insured Page 2 is 4C constructed in InDesign.

This page estImates...call romeo 1066253 is a PDFFree exported from page 2 andanthony converted to grayscale. Use 600 dpi for exporting.

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February 4, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

20

HERALD

Stuff

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Home Improvement

Miscellaneous

SERVICES

HANDY DANDY NO JOB TOO SMALL! *Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

Get DIRECTV! ONLY $69.99/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

Cleaning Services

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Plumbing

MERCHANDISE MART

Finds Under $100

Antiques/Collectibles

WOMEN'S CLOTHES, CASUAL and business styles, good condition, sizes 16-1X $10.00 and less (516)579-9089

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 40 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid..

SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

FINDS UNDER $100 Finds Under $100

M A R I N A ' S C L E A N I N G S E RV I C E S : Cleaning Homes, Apartments, Condos, Offices. Experienced. FREE Estimates. Serving Long Island. 516-670-7764

BENCH: SOLID WOOD, rolled arms. Absolutely beautiful. $99 516-225-9191

Electricians

CRYSTAL WINE DECANTER with 6 glasses, brand new, beautiful, elegant etched design. Asking $25.00 (516)579-9089 DELL MONITOR 13" $5 (five dollars). t 516-509-2710 and leave a message.

DELL OPTIPLEX 755 computer base, works, misplaced plug $5 (five dollars).

516-509-2710 GLASSWARE, HORCHOW, BOXED, made in Italy, 6 rock, 6 drinking, green grass design, $35, 516-678-0694 G O L F B AG : G R E AT s h a p e , $ 6 5 .

516-225-9191 ROCKING CHAIR, COLONIAL painted white wood, includes removable baby blue seat/back cushion, $40, 516-678-0694 TV CABINET $50. 32" Sony Tube TV FREE. CD Stand $10.00. 20.5" CD Stand $5.00. 516-292-0430

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas.

Services/Repairs. Violations Removed.

Free Estimates Low Rates.

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Handyman

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578 THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

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THE GENERAC PWRCELL, a solar plus battery storage system. SAVE money, reduce your reliance on the grid, prepare for power outages and power your home. Full installation services available. $0 Down Financing Option. Request a FREE, no obligation, quote today. Call 1-888-871-0194

Home Improvement

Miscellaneous

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DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice R e m o t e . S o m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y.

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24 Hour Emergency Response.

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Tree Services T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates."

Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Careers/Training TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Education

Want to sell your car, motorcycle or boat?

Have we got a deal for you! You can advertise your vehicle in the

Classifieds All for an amazing price! Your add will run until you sell your vehicle. Just call one of our expert classified account executives today and you will be on your way to making a great deal on your set of wheels!

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COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now!

Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

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opINIoNS

f you spend any portion of your day watching the news on television, you’re no doubt confused about what is taking place in Washington. In a moment of reflection, it dawned on me that we are living in two worlds. One world is the happenings in Congress, and the other is the real world.

While President Biden is busy trying to launch his new government, the Senate will be tied up for weeks deciding whether to convict former President Trump JERRY for his conduct on Jan. 6, the day KREMER of the riot at the Capitol. The final result is totally predictable. Most of the Republican senators, who worry only about their careers, will not vote to convict him.

By and large, Congress is detached from people on the street. Politicians like Senators Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell are focused on protecting Trump, who has threated to promote

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primary contests against anyone who displeases him.

But at the impeachment trial, all those cowards who won’t vote to convict Trump will, along with the public, be forced to watch hours of video of the horrors of the Jan. 6 mob attack. And they will have to hear witnesses who will state, “President Trump told me to do it.”

To paraphrase the late, great boxer Joe Louis, they can run but they can’t hide.

So let’s turn to the real world. Thanks to the courage of Twitter and Facebook, Trump is without a platform to continue his lies about a stolen election. There has been no public uprising against the social media platforms. It’s really comforting to have a day without tweets from an out-of-control narcissist. And it feels good to have a president who is showing up for work each day.

Unlike Trump, Biden isn’t hiding from the Covid pandemic. The federal government is taking over the responsibility of getting vaccines out to people. We are hearing what the govern-

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ment is doing to tackle this plague, and not ignoring the dangers of a virus that has killed over 400,000 people. Biden will tell us the truth, which is a welcome change.

It is clear that the 74 million people who voted for Trump aren’t just sitting around, mourning their loss. In the weeks after the Capitol uprising, 30,000 Republicans reportedly changed their party registration in disgust over Trump’s conduct. That may not seem like a big number, but many of them were residents of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona, key political states.

Many of the same people who refused to wear masks, and made fun of Biden during the campaign when he appeared in one, are lining up to get their vaccinations, while anxiously awaiting new legislation that will provide stimulus money for struggling businesses and increased unemployment benefits. And in the near future, Biden will be offering a new health insurance proposal.

Trump will likely escape any penalties for the Jan. 6 attack, but many of

hanks to the courage of social media, Trump is without a platform to continue his lies.

his people who broke into the Capitol will face the possibility of prison terms. Many Trump voters may have second thoughts about sticking with a man who encouraged an event that resulted in the deaths of five people.

The talking heads on TV speak as if Trump voters are some sort of solid block, but most of them want the same things that Democratic voters want.

The rural red states have plenty of areas badly in need of a little love.

They are suffering with limited resources. They lack internet access and are saddled with poor schools, just like inner cities. Their local hospitals are overwhelmed and in danger of failing. Their need for a little TLC can be met by a caring president, and the dynamic will change.

So I’m not going to let the immoral conduct of 45 senators distract me. I’m focused on the real world.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm.

Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Creating your pandemic time capsule

f time is really relative and there are time travelers out there from the future thinking about where to visit, do not, I repeat, do not go back to 2020.

We just closed the door on that baby, and it was hard to get on with our lives.

If you don’t believe me, just open the time capsules we leave behind.

We’re preserving the artifacts of our lives so that people in the future can better understand who they are and what brought them to their moment.

RANDI I’ve been thinkKREISS ing about what I will put into my pandemic time capsule, which is a big cardboard box in my bedroom closet.

Into it goes anything that I think is evocative of living through the pandemic.

Some of the things I put in the box are what you’d imagine: a roll of toilet paper, pictures of us and our friends in masks, a bottle of hand sanitizer, an envelope with several strands of hair, eight inches long and gray. I started keeping a pandemic diary over the summer, and I threw that into the cardboard

capsule in August, when I was depressed by the numbers and didn’t feel like writing daily entries anymore.

I tossed into the box some of the newspaper front pages I saved: “CDC details first U.S. case of novel virus spreading in China.” “FDA grants historic authorization to a Covid-19 vaccine.”

“Winter is coming: Why America’s window of opportunity to beat back Covid-19 is closing.”

We cannot be reliable memory keepers if we don’t include politics. The ferocity of the pandemic was fueled by President Trump and his people.

They hid the truth from the American people, fudged the alarming numbers, silenced the scientists and failed to do what was necessary to get ahead of the surges. So, I would put into my box another front page, from The New York Times: “Biden Beats Trump.” The world changed in a moment.

I would also save my “screen use” statement from Verizon, indicating an average of 60 minutes a day pre-pandemic, and six hours a day as of last week.

I asked some friends and family what they would put in a pandemic time cap-

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sule. Photos of people in ICUs on ventilators, my sister said. My grandson suggested something with the Netflix logo, a friend suggested photos of her grandkids, with and without masks as the year progressed, and another friend suggested a can of tuna and a packet of yeast. Someone said she’d put an old paintbrush in the capsule, since it helped save her life. I’ll include the hard-copy calendar I keep with notations for Zoom meetings and virtual doctor’s appointments and copies of our living wills, executed as the pandemic surged.

I will include photographs — real, printed photographs — of the loving friends who died this year, some of Covid-19, some of other diseases. I have the receipt from some enterprising death company welcoming me to a “virtual shiva.”

I will toss in my appointment card for my second Pfizer vaccine shot, as soon as I get inoculated.

When I surveyed some friends about what should go into the time capsule, one suggested Trump himself. Another said she would like to bury the anxiety and constant fear many felt as the former president bungled the response to

’ll put in pictures of us and our friends in masks, a bottle of hand sanitizer . . .

the pandemic, and we realized the unthinkable: that upward of a half-million Americans could die. One friend said he would put in Hershey’s Chocolate Nuggets, which he swears are better than Xanax.

Food has loomed large for everyone — getting it, hoarding it, cooking it, donating it. What time capsule would be complete without takeout menus and a list ranging from GrubHub to UberEats?

These were companies I never heard of before 2020.

I would save the books I picked last year at random for my Zoom book group this winter. Somehow, they’re all relevant to living through a pandemic. I suppose that’s because all good literature distracts us and helps heal our fractures.

For a few weeks, I kept a notepad at my bedside and wrote down the dreams I was having in the worst days. They were all the same: I walk into a room and no one is wearing masks, and I know, I absolutely know, that I will get sick. I couldn’t have had that dream in 2019. I’ll put the notepad in my time capsule.

My best hope is that we can seal our capsules very soon and leave their memories and lessons to history.

Copyright 2021 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

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Balancing the real world with the fake

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Recalling injustice during Black History Month

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uring February, Black History Month, we celebrate the great African-American political and civil rights leaders, scientists, artists, poets, movie stars and athletes.

But we must also pause to recall America’s dark past, stained by horrific acts against Black and brown people, at times perpetrated by our own government.

As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, it’s critical that we look back at the “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male” to understand the distrust that many African-Americans feel toward our government and medical institutions.

That distrust may be a contributing factor in the significantly higher Covid-19 infection rate and death toll seen among Black and brown people.

The Tuskegee study was supposed to last six months. It carried on for 40 years, from 1932 to 1972, a collaboration between the U.S. Public Health Service and Tuskegee Institute, a historically Black college in Alabama. The study of 600 poor Black sharecroppers examined 399 with syphilis and 201 without the disease. Study participants were told they were being treated for “bad blood,” a colloquialism for syphilis, anemia and fatigue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In truth, they weren’t being treated at all — even after 1945, when penicillin was accepted as “the treatment of choice for syphilis.”

In fact, the study looked at what would happen if syphilis were to go untreated — but the participants never knew that. It wasn’t until 1972, when an Associated Press story disclosed the study, that it

ended.

Is it any wonder that many AfricanAmericans might distrust the continual exhortations of our federal, state and local governments to be inoculated against the coronavirus as soon as they can?

According to the CDC, nationally, there have been 1.4 times more Covid-19 cases among African-Americans than white people over the past 11 months. The hospitalization rate is 3.7 times greater among Black and brown people. And the death rate is 2.8 times greater.

There are reasons for these dispiriting statistics beyond distrust of government and the medical system — systemic racism is chief among them, the CDC says.

Lack of access to health care is another, and occupation is another: Many people of color work in the service industry, requiring them to show up in person rather than work from home via Zoom and email. Finally, there’s the question of housing. Many Black and brown people live in tighter quarters, in more densely populated areas, than white people. The coronavirus requires density to spread widely.

In 2019, the Herald undertook a yearlong investigative series examining the many forms that systemic racism takes in Nassau County. We called it “The Racism Around Us.” Infant mortality is a leading indicator of a community’s well-being, according to the county Department of Health. When children are dying in high numbers at birth, there are probably myriad other health concerns in a community.

In the majority of white communities

letters LIRR questions remain unanswered To the Editor: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s success is New York’s success, and a strong LIRR makes for a strong Long Island. Critical planning is needed for the year ahead to stamp out fraud and abuse, smartly rehabilitate the East River tunnels and get Elmont’s new train station up and running. Long Islanders depend on the MTA to provide an affordable, dependable and hassle-free commute, and the LIRR must live up to that obligation, especially as riders return to work in New York City. The MTA has its work cut out in 2021, and I will continue to hold agency officials to account. Our region’s future depends on it.

I recently pressed MTA officials on the steps they’re taking to clamp down on fraud and waste, and urged MTA leadership to finish installing biometric clocks for employees to log hours in the coming year. Indeed, fraud has been a perennial problem for the MTA, and yet the agency has yet to adequate-

across Nassau, the infant mortality rate ranged from 0 to 3 in 1,000 births in 201416, according to the New York State Department of Health. In most communities of color, the infant mortality rate was three to nine times that.

County officials identified nine communities of color as well as those with large minority populations — Elmont, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Inwood, Long Beach, Roosevelt, Uniondale and Westbury — each with measurably greater health concerns than nearby white communities. They have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, mirroring national statistics for infection and death rates.

“Blacks are bearing a disproportionate burden of Covid-19 in Nassau County,” said Elaine Gross, president of the Syosset-based ERASE Racism, “and the county must address two related challenges.

First, it must increase health care access and Covid-19 testing in Black communities. Second, it must combat the structural racism that fuels the disparities.”

Sarika Kuman, Long Island regional organizer for the National Institute of Reproductive Health, put it this way: “One’s quality of life should not be determined by your zip code, but in Nassau County it is. From infant mortality to pandemic fatality rates, the common thread is Long Island’s structural inequities.”

During Black History Month, we must never forget the racial injustices of our collective past so they are never repeated again, and so we might commit to rooting out the daily injustices — large and small — in our present society.

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opinions

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our hundred years ago, the Catholic Church — then the arbiter of what ideas could be expressed and promulgated — banned books by scientists who claimed the Earth revolved around the sun because that theory conflicted with the orthodoxy of the time, i.e., the Bible and the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the pope and bishops.

Even if astronomers’ heliocentric theories were true, the powerful elite could not allow such disturbing words to be read — at least not in the JoHn vernacular — for such heresies o’ConneLL fear would confuse the masses and undermine the authority of those in charge.

These days it isn’t the princes of Rome that rule on what ideas are true and what news is allowed to be heard, but rather a decidedly secular hierarchy: the doyens of Silicon Valley, the media masters in New York and California, and their agents in Congress and government offices in Washington.

The current ideological conflict is often described as a battle between liberals and conservatives, but that’s last century’s war. Today’s cancel-culture college of cardinals shouldn’t be confused with liberals.

Real liberals aren’t hate-filled, intolerant, angry anarchists, no more than real conservatives are rich, white supremacist nativists. Genuine liberals are First Amendment absolutists ardently supportive of our liberties: a free press, freedom to practice our religions, freedom to peaceably assemble, the freedom to petition the government to better serve us, its sovereign, and to speak freely without fear of violent attack or suppression.

Authentically liberal Americans wouldn’t tolerate censorship of disagreeing — even disagreeable — voices. They’d defend those voices.

The indisputably liberal Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote in 1927 that “If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence.” A monopoly-busting, free-speech advocate, Brandeis would, I’m sure, see today’s corporate social media lords’ cancel-culture censorship as antithetical not only to the Constitution but to American civil liberties.

Traditional liberalism fights for an individual’s right to freely express ideas, popular or unacceptable, commonly believed or held only by that individual, true or not, whose supporting “facts” are from presumably credible sources or

t

ruly liberal Americans wouldn’t tolerate censorship of disagreeing voices.

Letters ly abide by its inspector general’s recommendations to stamp out overtime abuse.

In December, five MTA employees were arrested on fraud charges for having logged “almost physically impossible amounts of overtime,” according to federal prosecutors. According to state payroll records, overtime hours logged by MTA employees soared 46 percent between 2014 and 2019. I urged agency officials to focus on reining in overtime and restoring riders’ trust in 2021.

I also inquired about plans to repair the East River tunnels this year. Hundreds of millions of gallons of water inundated the tubes during Superstorm Sandy and left them in disrepair. A report by the state comptroller found that the number of trains delayed or canceled because of problems with the tubes and their switches had increased 72 percent since Sandy, and accounted for a significant number of the LIRR’s on-time problems.

Finally, I’ve been a strong proponent of the new Elmont train station’s development as an integral component of the Belmont Park Redevelopment Plan. In addition to providing a regular, full-time public-transit option to and from the new arena, hotel and retail village, the LIRR hub will also serve as an additional com-

aren’t reliably sourced at all.

Some of President Biden’s inaugural speech was right out of a traditional liberal’s handbook. In his president-as-conciliator role, he said, “We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors.

We can treat each other with dignity and respect.

We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature.”

Eschewing the inciteful far-left rhetoric of many of his party-mates in Congress, the press and Hollywood, the president warned: “[W]ithout unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. … Let us listen to one another. Hear one another. See one another. Show respect to one another. Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.

Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war.”

Left-wing extremists hope Biden’s words are just political speechifying.

Unlike reasonable liberals — and conservatives, for that matter — who are committed to social justice, equal opportunity and free speech, the goal of the radical left is to redefine what’s just, to tilt the playing field based on group identity, to amplify the speech of loud leftists and to silence contrary voices.

How fairly the national press reports on the Biden presidency will be important

to the future of the nation and to the survival of journalism itself. According to a Gallup survey five months ago, only 9 percent of Americans trust the media “a great deal.” Sixty percent trust them “not very much” or “none at all.” According to Gallup, the percentage of those who don’t trust the media at all went up five points in one year.

News consumers have turned to social media for information. Some wanted to connect on the new social app Parler before Big Tech suppressed it. Yes, the same Big Tech, the new Magisterium, that decides what can be posted and who can post.

I would have preferred that Biden had lost, but the election is over. That virus has left the lab. Disappointed, I must now only hope that he will serve America as a true liberal and reject many Democrats’ condescending intolerance. A sovereign people will oppose authoritarian politics that orders citizens to agree or shut up.

Half the country is vexed by the prospect of a Biden-Harris administration unchecked by the House or the Senate.

That situation can be changed in two or four years. But many Americans are even more troubled by the anarchy brought by Antifa and the radial left, which revels in “woke” group-think and seeks to crush the individualism that has made America great.

John O’Connell is a former executive editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments about this column? OConnell11001@yahoo.com.

Framework by Bob Arkow

muting option for area residents — which the community has needed for years.

ToDD KAMINSKY State senator, 9th District

Executive orders are no help To the Editor: Last week, President Biden signed numerous executive orders that will end thousands of union jobs. one of them orders the closure of private federal prisons contracted by the U.S. Department of Justice. The idea of privately contracted federal prisons came from a previous Democratic administration. It was part of Vice President Al Gore’s so-called “reinventing of government” plan that instituted contracted federal prisons.

It was Gore’s and President Bill Clinton’s idea that paying a contracted facility would reduce costs, cut the federal work force and save retirement money, because federal workers wouldn’t be employed at these facilities. With these closures, private prison guards will be on the unemployment lines, and joining them will be construction workers building the border

Just call them Team Snowblower — Long Beach

wall and Keystone pipeline employees.

And it was reported that another signed executive order ending drilling on federal lands will result next year in still more lost union jobs.

So much for helping hard-working

middle-class Americans.

STEVE GRoGAN Lynbrook Grogan is a retired Department of Justice employee.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — February 4, 2021

Agree with me or shut up

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