body / mind / fitness
April 28, 2022
Senior Healthy Living
HERALD Your Health Inside
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Vol. 25 No. 18
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__________________ Merrick _________________
Page 14 APRIl 28 - MAY 4, 2022
Promoting sustainability at St. Francis garden manager, said the day was intended to be both educational and fun. “We tried to make Community members young activities that were one, just fun, and old gathered at St. Francis and interesting for people to do,” Episcopal Church in North Bell- Talbot told the Herald, “but also more last Saturday for a day full to get people thinking about of events in honor of Earth Day. what they can do to help the The congregation, known for its earth. vast community garden, works “We’re asking folks, what is to promote sustainability in sub- your pledge to the earth?” Talbot urban settings and combats added. “Maybe some of us can issues heightened by cut down on reusable the coronavirus panu t e n s i l s . M ay b e demic, like food somebody’s going to insecurity. go to school to be a The Garden at St. farmer and do susFrancis is in its 12th tainable agriculture. growing season, and “There’s all varisince its founding CARl BuCkINg ous ways people can has expanded to Member, St. Francis par ticipate,” she accommodate vegewent on, “and that’s Episcopal tables that are kind of what our g rown all year message is. If you round. The garden can’t get into the garis pesticide-free, fertilized by den with us, you can still help compost and pollinated by bees the earth.” from is own beehive. Also taking part were Emma The church held its first Zheng and Carine Morrison, repEarth Day Fest, which attracted resentatives of New York Project droves of volunteers. They gath- Hope, an organization funded by ered early in the morning to the New York State Office of work in the garden, and took Mental Health and the Federal part in a variety of activities Emergency Management Agenthroughout the day, including cy, to help communities combat outdoor yoga, earth-centered pandemic-related challenges. crafts for kids and a drum circle. Kristin Talbot, the church’s Continued on page 12
By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Jordan Vallone/Herald
A successful Spring Clean Sweep It was a community event on Sunday at the South Merrick Civic Association’s annual Spring Clean Sweep. A large group of volunteers took part in Merrick’s annual beautification project. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Commemorating Earth Day at Norman J. Levy Park By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
There was no better place to celebrate Earth Day, and honor young artists from across the Town of Hempstead, then Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve. Last Friday, town officials, elementary school students and their parents gathered at the Merrick park to congratulate the eight winners of the town’s 2022 Recycling Poster Contest, held in
partnership with Covanta Energy. Levy Park, off Merrick Road and tucked behind the town’s sanitation facilities, is the epitome of recycling. The landfillturned-preserve, colloquially known as “Merrick Mountain,” boasts the highest summit on Long Island’s South Shore, and offers nature enthusiasts and hikers panoramic views that stretch far beyond BellmoreMerrick.
This year the town selected eight winning posters from hundreds of submissions by elementary school students. “We had more submissions this year than we’ve ever received in the history of this program,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin noted at the ceremony. The honored students received gift bags and certificates, and their artwork was Continued on page 4
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