Issuu

__________________ Merrick _________________

CoMMuNITY uPDATE Infections as of May 2

8,142

Infections as of April 26 8,091

HERALD

Man sentenced for 2019 murder

Students mark Earth Day

library pioneer remembered

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$1.00 Vol. 24 No. 19 $1.00

MAY 6 - 12, 2021

Mother and daughter duo start business By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

They may be a mother and daughter, but Linnie and Morgan Gold consider themselves best friends — and now, perfectly paired business partners, too. During the pandemic, Morgan, a Mer rick native, became unemployed, leaving the restaurant and food public relat i o n s i n d u s t r y, which was facing a major downtur n f ro m t h e w i d e - MoRGAN spread closures of Merrick s u ch e s t abl i s h ments. It opened the opportunity, though, to finally go full swing into a long-soughtafter business venture with her mother. Losing the job “was almost like a self-starter,” said Morgan, 26, a 2012 Sanford H. Calhoun High School graduate. “It pushed me to pursue my dream job.” “Now, I like to say we’re living the dream,” Linnie, 65, said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business — and now it’s with the best partner I could ever imag-

Courtesy Joe Baker

Many hands, light work Members of the South Merrick Community Civic Association, Merrick Community Clean Up Crew and other volunteers cleaned up the community last Sunday. Story, more photos, Page 3.

N. Bellmore Fire Department names first woman assistant chief By KATE NAlEPINSKI agarcia@liherald.com

For Kaitlyn Bazarewski, fighting fires — and gender norms — runs in her blood. Last month, the North Bellmore native made history when she became the first woman 3rd Assistant Chief in the North Bellmore Volunteer Fire Department. Kaitlyn was sworn in on April 12 by her father, commissioner and ex-captain Robert

Bazarewski. The North Bellmore department covers parts of North Merrick. For Kaitlyn, 28, family and firehouse are synonymous. She grew up inside the brick building, and remembers washing fire trucks on Sunday mornings with the volunteers whom she said she knows “like blood.” But while growing up, there were never any female firefighters, Kaitlyn said.

“As I grew older, I realized there were female EMTs, but I assumed firefighting was a maledriven role,” she said. That changed in 2013, when then 20-year-old Kaitlyn was champing at the bit to put out a blazing North Bellmore house fire. After telling her friends, including 1st Assistant Chief Arthur White III, of her ambitions, she found the motivation Continued on page 8

ine.” The two wanted to take a sweet spin on gift giving — especially with a simplistic but fun idea perfect for those looking to send a long-distance gift during the pandemic, or party favors for canceled or drawnback events. The Golds started Nosh NYC, which offers p l ay f u l a s s o r t ments of candy along with personalized messages, wrapped in stylish, “brand-focused” packaging. Linnie said the p a i r “ s o l ve d a GolD void” with their specially designed Nosh boxes. One b ox w i t h t h re e tubes of candy can be sent to any surprise recipient, and they cater their candy wholesale for events. “If you’re thinking of a gift and don’t know what to send, this is both personal and fun,” Linnie said, explaining that the sender can also include a personalized card with the box. “Whether someone just had a baby, graduation, birthday or a

e’re actually best friends. I couldn’t see myself working with anyone else.

Continued on page 4

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May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

What’s up next door and around the corner

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

Herald neigHbors

Photos courtesy Tricia Sattar

South MERRICk CoMMuNIty Civic Association board member Tricia Sattar helped clean the streets with her daughter, Liyana.

Using rakes and brooms, trash and debris were cleared from all corners of the streets.

Community gathers to clean the streets By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

Armed with brooms, rakes and gloves, volunteers were ready to hit the streets on Sunday, May 2. The South Merrick Community Civic Association joined with the Merrick Community Cleanup Crew to spearhead a massive effort to clean up Merrick Avenue. The group gathered at the gazebo at the Merrick train station and proceeded to clean the station, Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway. Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray presented citations to the two organizations, which were represented by SMCCA Vice P re s i d e n t B e r t a We i n s t e i n , SMCCA board members Tricia Sattar and Dr. Fred Jones, and Cleanup Crew organizer Bernard Macias. It was a sunny morning perfect for the occasion — weather that’s hopefully repeated during the next cleanup on May 16. Anyone can join the volunteers, who will meet at the corner at Merrick Road and Hewlett Avenue at 9 a.m. — all you need is a mask, gloves and any tools you may need. For information on the next community cleanup, contact SMCCA President Joe Baker at (516) 978-8310.

StuDENt voluNtEERS hElpED clean the train station. voluNtEERS CAME WIth masks, gloves and pick-up sticks to clean up Merrick Avenue on Sunday.

For mom and daughter, biz is a family affair continued froM front page bachelor party.” Nosh is now the main business venture for both Morgan and Linnie, who said they play off each other perfectly. Morgan’s public relations background mixed with her creative personality helps her brainstorm many of branding ideas for Nosh, while Linnie — the “talker” of the two, Morgan said — has a useful background in sales. The two work together on curating every step of the process, including choosing the best candy they can find. They offer a wide variety, including “prosecco bears,” alcohol-free gummy bears that mimic the wine-tasting experience, which are a favorite of the duo. “It’s hard to say, though, because we’re always adding more,” Linnie said. Additions to Nosh also come in the form of collaborations, one with a notable

celebrity. Fellow mother-daughter duo Jill Zarin, a former “real housewife of New York City,” and Ally Shapiro took notice of the eye-catching black-and-white brand. Nosh’s signature three-tube candy packages are now offered on their website, www.jillzarin.com. When not collaborating or brainstorming, the Golds pack, prepare and ship all of their packages from their Merrick home. “I’m excited to continue this,” Linnie said. “I look at ourselves and I say, ‘Wow!’ It’s been an unbelievable run so far.” “We’re actually best friends,” Morgan said. “I couldn’t see myself working with anyone else — we know each other’s strengths.” For more information on Nosh, visit www.noshnycandy.com.

Photos courtesy Morgan Gold

Merrick residents Linnie and Morgan Gold started their own candy-themed business during the pandemic. Through Nosh NYC, they offer a variety of candy in personalized packages.

a package with three tubes of candy will show up at the recipient’s door. The tubes can display different messages for different occasions. the goLds can also get creative with their offerings — packages can be sent to guests with links to join a virtual event, for example.

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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 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: sales@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 The Merrick Herald life USPS 017651, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Merrick Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Newsstand Price: $1 Subscription rates: $50 for 1 year within Nassau County. Out of Nassau County: $60 for 1 year. Copyright © 2021 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

Crime watCh

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas before the murder. Further investigation uncovered announced that a Massapequa man has been sen- that the victim and defendant had sent text messages tenced today to 20 years to life in prison for the and called one another confirming their intention to meet at the deceased’s home vicious murder of a man in June 2019. that evening. Ryan Lindquist, 23, was sentenced A search of Lindquist’s on April 28 before Judge Helene home, approximately two weeks Gugerty to 20 years to life in prison. after the attack, uncovered a He pled guilty to second degree murknife presumed to be used in the der on March 3. murder. The deceased’s DNA “This defendant brutally murwas later confirmed on that dered Evan Grabelsky, stabbing him knife. more than 150 times, and today’s senLindquist was arrested by tence ensures he will no longer pose members of the Nassau County a threat to the people of Nassau Police Department Homicide County.” Singas said. “Mr. Grabelsky Squad on June 15, 2019. dedicated his life to helping autistic Grabelsky worked as a camp children, and we extend our deepest director for autistic children at condolences to the his family and Camp Iconic in Bellmore, where friends as they continue to mourn he oversaw the recruitment and his tragic loss.” hiring of staff members, coordiSingas said that 32-year old Evan nated training sessions and Grabelsky was discovered stabbed to served as a liaison between staff death on June 1, 2019, at approxiand parents . mately 11:40 p.m., by his parents, Senior Litigation Counsel who had returned home from a Courtesy NCPD Stefanie Palma of DA Singas’ party. The victim was stabbed more Homicide Bureau prosecuted the than 150 times and was found lying Ryan Lindquist case. naked and face down on an entry platform of the split-level house in Merrick. A review of Grabelsky’s laptop revealed that he Courtesy Office of District Attorney of Nassau County; and Lindquist were inside the home immediately compiled by Andrew Garcia.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

Man sentenced to 20 years to life for 2019 murder

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May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

on a recent Thursday at the Nassau County Police Academy in North Massapequa, recruits practiced arresting a suspect during a felony car stop, in which the vehicle that was pulled over had reportedly been used in a crime.

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

An arresting lesson in N.C. police work By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

Part three in a photo series on the Nassau County Police Academy. A Signal 15 comes in over the radio: A stolen vehicle used in a felony — perhaps a bank robbery, maybe a kidnapping — has been pulled over. Officers must quickly assess the situation: Is the vehicle occupant armed? Hostile? Ready to run? With so many unknowns, officers are trained to follow step-by-step procedures to take the suspect into custody without a fight. The objective of this high-stakes, potentially deadly scenario is to “keep everyone safe,” Officer Arthur Zanelli, a Nassau County Police Academy instructor, said on a recent Thursday, just before academy recruits ran through a mock felony car stop. “You want [the suspect] to have his day in court.” De-escalation, talking a suspect through the car stop with specific instructions that leave no room for error, is the key to everyone walking away unharmed, according to Zanelli. The recruits practiced talking suspects through a stop, instructing them precisely how and when to leave their vehicle. There were four recruits in two police cruisers, whose objective was to bring in two suspects in a single vehicle, one of whom ran off, while the other stayed and was captured. It was a mock exercise, but the nervous tension was palpable as of ficers approached the vehicle, their dummy guns drawn. Communications is key in this scenario, Zanelli said, and the recruits called out to one another throughout the exercise. Once a suspect is handcuffed, then the Continued on neXt page

officerS practiced drawing their guns. The objective, police academy instructors said, is to avoid firing a weapon, to ensure that police, the public and the suspect all stay safe. officer arthur Zanelli, above ran recruits through their paces during the mock exercise. officerS muSt give suspects step-by-step instructions on how to proceed when exiting a vehicle during a felony car stop.

Recruits practice to make the perfect arrest detective work begins. Who is this person? Did he or she commit the felony in question? It might very well not be the bad guy, Zanelli noted. It could, for example, be a relative who had nothing to do with the crime in

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

continued from PreViouS Page

question, but that person must be treated as a suspect until proven otherwise. The felony car stop, he noted, is among the most dangerous scenarios that a police officer might encounter in the field.

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

the tension of a felony car stop was palpable even during a mock exercise.

A recruit prActiced placing handcuffs on a suspect, who was played by an actual police officer for this exercise.

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NBFD names first woman assistant chief Continued from front page

to join the firehouse. “He told me, ‘Look, girls can do this,’” Kaitlyn recalled. “I was surprised, but that’s what I think helped me join.” White III, or “Artie” in the department, said Kaitlyn has been his lifelong best friend, and he was eager to support her. “I just remember telling her that nothing could stand in her way if this is what she wants to do,” White III said. But it didn’t come without its challenges. Kaitlyn said it was nerve-wracking to get involved, scared that she would get flak for being a woman in a male-driven industry. Robert, a 30-year member of the department, was supportive yet skeptical to watch his daughter in that role, concerned that she may be bullied or put down. Despite the initial fear, Kaitlyn went through a probationary period to prove herself alongside her male counterparts. She was simultaneously studying at the police academy. But she worked up the ranks, becoming lieutenant and later the department’s first female captain in March 2019, leading Company 2. “I’m sure that women face so many more setbacks and doubts because they’re women,” White III said. “But she’s so ambitious, she always has been. She set her goals and accomplished what she wanted.” Now, when she’s not fighting fires, Kaitlyn works as an officer in the 103rd Pre-

NOMINATE

Photos courtesy Kaitlyn Bazarewski

Kaitlyn BazarewsKi, 28, was sworn in as 3rd assistant chief of the North Bellmore Volunteer Fire Department by her father, former chief Robert Bazarewski, on April 12. the department’s 1st assistant chief, Arthur White III, with Bazarewski the day she was appointed.

Throughout the pandemic, healthcare workers, first responders, grocery and pharmacy personnel, and so many others, have been dedicated to supporting and assisting our community. They are true heroes who deserve our respect, praise and recognition. As many remain on the front lines in 2021, we invite you to nominate a Hometown Hero to be featured in Herald newspaper editions throughout the year.

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cinct at the New York City Police Department Detective Bureau in Queens. “She always worked extremely hard to do what she wanted,” exchief Robert said. “I’m just really proud of her for where she is now.” The North Bellmore native has also paved the way for newcomers in the department. Roughly five women have joined the North Bellmore team and stayed in close contact with Kaitlyn since she joined, she said. Her younger brother, Nicholas, has also followed her lead and currently serves as a firefighter. “Just because I broke the ice, and I think I influenced a lot of people, I showed a lot of women that just because you’re smaller than the guys doesn’t mean that you can’t do the job,” Kaitlyn said. Kaitlyn said that she’s incredibly grateful for the local and familial support she has received. “I never expected anything like this,” she said. “I’m a huge community person. I just want to help people. That’s in my nature. I never felt pushed to do anything like this — it’s just who I am.”

To nominate, go to LIHerald.com/NominateAHero today!

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May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Photos courtesy Merrick School District

StudentS in KimBerly DePalma’s second grade class at Birch Elementary celebrated Earth Day with a variety of activities.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

Herald ScHoolS

hannah K., a second grade student at Birch Lane Elementary School, determined that she can help save earth by properly disposing of plastic.

Merrick students celebrate Earth Day Students in Merrick School District celebrated Earth Day on April 22 with a variety of activities throughout the day. At Birch School, students in Kimberly DePalma’s second grade class kicked off the day by sharing an Earth Day poem. Students practiced reading and illustrating the poem, and some volunteered to read the poem aloud. Students also viewed a video on how to make the planet a better place and then wrote about what they can do to help in this mission. Second graders in Vanessa Schroeder’s class also colored a hand on a globe and attached it to a writing activity that expressed how students can help to save the earth. At the Roland A. Chatterton School, a number of art projects provided students the opportunity to express their love and appreciation of the environment. In Christina’s Mongeluzzi’s English as a New Language class, the students placed their photos in a globe-shaped frame and decorated it with Earth Day symbols. Chatterton students also made a construction paper tree and placed heartshaped messages about how to save and improve the environment. During a science activity, many students planted seeds that they can watch grow and eventually plant in their own gardens. Kerin Kaplan’s first graders at Norman J. Levy Lakeside School colored Earth Day headbands that they wore on their walk around the campus to look for things that make the earth beautiful. They concluded their walk by writing about what makes the earth a beautiful place to live, what causes pollution and how they can protect the environment. They also planted mint seed in animal-shaped pots. Meagan Kassnove’s kindergarten class also celebrated the day with a scavenger hunt. Courtesy Merrick School District

Chatterton elementary SChool first grade students in Patricia Kelleher’s class displayed the Earth Day pledges they created in class and the seeds they planted. Benji and julia, students at Chatterton Elementary School, illustrated how to take care of the planet during an Earth Day project.

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

events and activities

community update Saturday, May 8

Island Crisis Center, will host a virtual Pride Celebration at 7 p.m. The event will include performances, testimonials, special guests and more. Register at www.prideforyouth.org/pride2021.

Virtual Mother’s Day Party Celebrate Mother’s Day with stories and crafts with the Bellmore Library. Craft kits will be available in the Children’s Department from May 5 to 8. For ages 3 to 12. Registration begins May 1 on the library website, www.bellmorelibrary.org.

Thursday, June 17 An LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration through Word and Song ”PRIDE SLAM 2021 An LGBTQ+ Celebration through Word and Song” is the theme of this year’s Pride Month Celebration sponsored by Westbury Arts in association with Pride for Youth. LGBTQ+ poets and musicians from Long Island and the greater New York area are invited to submit their original works for consideration for inclusion in the Zoom event to be held live at 7:30 pm. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, June 1. Submission should be sent to Rocco Lanzilotta at rocco@westburyarts.org. All artists will be notified no later than Sunday, June 6, whether or not their work has been chosen.

Thursday, May 13 Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Virtual Trivia Night The North Bellmore Public Library is offering this program with the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum at 7 p.m. “Triva Night at the Museum” will take you on a virtual tour of the Intrepid Museum, where an educator will teach about the history of the ship and the crew who served from 1943 to 1974, with a trivia challenge to follow. Register at www.northbellmorelibrary.org to receive the meeting link, or call Reference at (516) 785-6260 ext. 316.

Tuesday, May 18 School Trustee and Budget Vote Your local school trustee election and budget vote will be held on May 18. You can register in person until five days preceding the vote at local elementary school district locations. Voting will be held at the following locations:

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Kennedy High School marks first DEI Day Bellmore-Merrick CHSD’s John F. Kennedy High School implemented its first DEI Day and Virtual Pep Rally on April 22. Junior students Desiree Rigaud and Michelle Brown hosted their third Diverse Dialogues event after school on the topic of anti-Semitism. Around the school, students posted motivational quotes about diversity, equity and inclusion, and snapped pictures with Ken the Cougar.

Meadowbrook Road) 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Bellmore Union Free School District Shore Road School (2801 Shore Road) 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 27

North Bellmore Union Free School District Newbridge Road School (1601 Newbridge Road) 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wellington C. Mepham High School will be hosting its 11th St. Baldrick’s fundraiser on May 27. This year’s event will be an in-person event following COVID protocols and will be covered live by Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting. Participants must register on the district’s event page in order to attend the event. No walk ins will be permitted. For more information, please visit the event page, https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/ mypage/868/2021.

Merrick Union Free School District Norman J. Levy Lakeside School (21 Babylon Road) 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. North Merrick Union Free School District North Merrick Public Library (1691

l l l l l

In-Person St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser

Sunday, May 16 Merrick Community Cleanup Join the South Merrick Community Civic Association and the Merrick Cleanup Crew for their second community spring cleaning. Volunteers will meet at the corner of Merrick Road and Hewlett Avenue at 9 a.m. All are asked to bring their own masks, gloves, pick-up sticks, rakes, etc. Garbage bags will be provided. For more information, contact SMCCA President Joe Baker at (516) 978-8310.

Merrick Library Garden for a supercharged storytime. This month’s themes is flowers and gardening. For children ages 18 months to 5 years and their caregivers. Registration begins on Friday, May 14 for Merrick library cardholders and Friday, May 21 for all other cardholders. Masks must be worn during the program and patrons must maintain social distancing. Participants must fill out a health questionnaire on the morning of the program in order to attend. Register on the library website, www.merricklibrary.org.

Wednesday, May 26 Tuesday, June 1 Time for Kids in the Garden: Garden Flowers At 10:30 a.m., join Time for Kids in the

Elevate, Enlighten, Empower — A Virtual Pride Celebration PrideForYouth, a division of the Long

HAVING AN EVENT? Items on the Community Update pages are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to aseidman@liherald.com

Join the South Merrick Community Civic Association’s second Spring Cleanup on May 16 at 9 a.m. The BMCHSD board of education held its budget hearing on May 5 — follow the Herald for coverage. Residents can apply for absentee ballots for the upcoming May 18 school elections. The Bellmore School District was designated one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education. The Bellmore Civic Association’s second spring cleanup was postponed. Stay tuned for updates.

County undertakes campaign to plant 500 trees

Reine Bethany/Herald

State Sen. Kevin Thomas, Ernest Catanese, and County Executive Laura Curran shoveled earth around a newly planted magnolia tree in Uniondale last Friday. an environmental issue, it’s also an economic issue.” Thomas spoke to the meaning of Arbor Day, saying it “calls attention to the increased importance of reforestation, not only in our national forests, but also

in commercial forests, rain forests and wetlands around the world.” Catanese took the microphone briefly to say, “When I grew up in Manhattan, I had to walk three blocks to see a tree, so this is really great. My wife deserves

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On April 30 — Arbor Day — a 93-yearold Uniondale resident named Ernest Catanese joined Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and New York State Sen. Kevin Thomas to kick off the new Nassau County Tree-Planting Campaign. The location was the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Park in Uniondale. Curran started the day’s ceremony by thanking Catanese, saying, “Ernest Catanese and his wife are really the reason this park is here.” In 2009, Catanese and his wife, Marie, won a five-year fight to turn the trashy northwest corner of Uniondale Avenue and Nassau Road into the flowering little park. The pretty, well-maintained space is only one of many civic projects that the couple had taken part in since moving to Uniondale in 1955. Marie died in 2019. On Arbor Day, after thanking Catanese, Curran outlined the campaign, which aims to plant 500 trees in Nassau County during 2021. “As we speak right now,” she said, “of those 500 trees, we already have 207 in the ground. We expect to have 233 in the ground by the end of today, and by the end of Tuesday, 270.” Evergreens will be planted in the fall. Each new tree, Curran said, will yield “three to five times their initial cost in benefit to the community, so it’s not just

every accolade . . . She was an endless worker on this.” Tree Advisory Board Chairman Lawrence Fernandez further explained the planting campaign: “We’re studying and putting together recommendations for trees that will grow in narrow sidewalk areas.” Trees die, he said, “because they’re living in a space that’s too small, or if they happen to do well, they break the sidewalk.” As part of the campaign, tree experts are inspecting locations around Nassau to deter mine which types of trees will best fit different surroundings. For sunny MLK Jr. Peace Park, the board chose a Southern magnolia, native to King’s home state of Georgia. “This is a hardy Southern tree,” Curran said, “and I think it will carry forward that spirit of perseverance that is embodied by the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Paul Gibson, president of the Uniondale Community Land Trust, was asked by Curran to add a few words. The UCLT rehabilitates blighted homes to create affordable housing, and said Gibson, “We preserve the trees that we can, and if we can’t, we plant new ones.” The day’s ceremony concluded with Curran, Thomas and Catanese shoveling dirt into the prepared pit where the magnolia sat, its buds full with the promise of blossoms to come.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

By Reine Bethany

OBITUARIES

Bellmore native Peter Remembering the oldest Secret Brandenberger dies at 74 Service agent in the country served in all major positions at Peter Brandenberg er, of Bellmore, died on Monday, March Temple Beth Am in Merrick. In 29, 2021. He was 74. After several his later years he also enjoyed volmonths of declining health, Peter unteering at Last Hope Animal Shelter. died peacefully with Peter is survived h i s b e l ove d w i f e by his wife of 48 years Pamela and their chilPamela Brandenbergdren by his side. er; children Beth Peter was born in (Kevin) Glazer, Fred New York on August (Erin) Brandenberger 9, 1946 to the late John and Rachel (David) and Margaret BranMatthews; grandchildenberger. He gradudren Brody Glazer, ated from Seaford Vance Glazer, Aaron High School then M a t t h e w s, F l y n n enlisted in the Air Glazer and Megan Force. After serving Courtesy Temple Beth Am Matthews; his sister his country in Viet- Peter Re g i n a ( D e n n i s ) nam, Peter attended BrandenBerger Wojciechowski and Hofstra University many friends. where he earned a People wishing to business degree. He then worked until his retirement honor Peter’s lifelong commitas a Senior Vice President at ment to family and community can make donations to Temple Chase Manhattan Bank. In his free time Peter loved to Beth Am in Merrick NY. go boating and fishing with his Courtesy Temple Beth Am; comfamily. A dedicated member of the Jewish community, Peter piled by Andrew Garcia

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John M. Thompson, age 97 of Merrick NY, He enjoyed swimming, chess, dad-jokes, dogs, passed away on April 13, 2021. the Yankees, and sharing his incredible memoJohn, or Jack as he liked to be called, was ries which were vividly recalled. He received born in Brooklyn to John and Martha Thompson awards for his service, and was involved in the on September 17, 1923. He graduated Tin Can Sailors, US Intrepid Foundafrom Xavier High School in NYC and tion, and Association of Former went on to earn a degree in LiteraAgents of the US Secret Service durture and Journalism from Fordham ing his retirement. University. With his proficiency in “Every morning he would put out journalism and literature, his first a military flag in front of his home job was for the New York Times. each day that he had from his years Later in life he contributed articles to of service and it would come down different publications including the like clockwork each evening,” wrote New York Times and local newspaWenshaw Park Civic Association pers. president Steven Arriaga in an He served as a US Naval Officer in email. Courtesy N.F. Walker F. H. the Pacific Campaign during WWII, John is survived by his beloved John M. thompson and upon return served as a Special wife, Kathleen Thompson, of MerAgent with the US Secret Service for rick, his two children, Michael of 30 years. He was honored to have Pleasant Valley, NY and Irene protected seven sitting US Presidents from Tru- “Suzie” of Manhattan, NY, three grandchildren, man to Carter. He served as an example of profes- and two great-grandchildren. He is preceded in sionalism and integrity and would not divulge death by his beloved first wife, Bernice “Bunny” personal stories of his protectees saying that he Thompson. was privileged to have stood next to history and Donations may be made to Xavier High School would maintain their confidences to his grave. or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at Even with his many years of distinguished pub- www.stjude.org/donate. lic service, his greatest service was as the anchor Courtesy N.F. Walker Funeral Home; compiled of his family. by Andrew Garcia.

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May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

True heroes:

KERINTH AFFLICK

ADAM ATLAS

Population Health Department, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital

Glen Cove Hospital/ Northwell Health Medical Unit 2 South

s a nurse in the Population Health Department of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Kerinth Afflick follows up with patients after they are discharged from the hospital and helps to make sure they are getting and taking their medications and they are making and getting to their follow up visits to doctors. “When you first become a nurse you are so young, and a little ignorant,” said Afflick, who will admit to being in her early 50s. She has been a nurse for 28 years. “You learn. You learn patience, learn to listen, listen to problems and follow up. You become a psychiatrist as the patients need someone to speak with and you become a great listener.” There was one patient, she said who was undocumented that Afflick assisted to ensure they were aware and used all the resources available to them for more than two years.

There are some other patients who, because of the coronavirus pandemic, are alone. “One patient didn’t use our pharmacy (St. John’s has an in-house pharmacy), they were isolated because of Covid,” she said. “They tried to rely on CVS and we called CVS and asked them to please deliver the meds.” Which was done. Afflick said for her being a nurse is about giving back. “It’s not about the thank you so much as making sure that [the patients] are OK."

TRUE HEROES:

’ve been a registered nurse for just over a year, I entered the field after many years as a short story writer, translator, teacher, even a bartender. Originally from Louisville Ky., I met my girlfriend and moved to Manhattan about 10 years ago. I entered an accelerated nursing program at Mount Sinai about 18 months ago — before Covid happened — but recognized this capacity for being a nurse about 10 years ago by caring for my dying father. So, I got my license in February 2020, Covid happened, and we moved out here. My girlfriend has a home in Locust Valley. That means I’m new to nursing and at 45, working in what has essentially become a Covid ward, keeping up with younger nurses. I don't know if that’s good luck or bad, however, with the experience and expectations of someone at my stage in life, it wasn’t a shock. Anyhow we

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

SARAH AVIS

JEANINE CAPPELLO

St. John’s Episcopal Hospital

Operations Manager, Mercy Hospital Family Care Center

eing an emergency room nurse Sarah Avis said is like “trying to thrive in controlled chaos. You have zero patient info, teamwork is critical and you trying to find the missing piece of a puzzle.” When Avis, 34, was young her mother was very ill. “I like how there was people to help in my mother’s time of need,” she said, explaining why when she went to college she chose nursing as her profession. Now eight years in, Avis views the role of nurse as multifaceted. “It means just being there through an extreme time and making someone as comfortable as possible and being someone they can trust,” she said, “especially during Covid. Families are limited. We play the role of caregiver, friend, family member. It can be hard. As a nurse you are supposed to have an emotional barrier. We see so much certain

trauma and a lot of grief, it’s emotional. As a nurse you also want to be there. It is very challenging.” Recently, Avis witnessed “a young life lose. “It was extremely emotional,” she said, describing how a family member sank to the floor. There was hugging to console this person and more family handholding and hugging. Sometimes just being a presence is very challenging for a very busy ER.” St. John’s emergency department serves nearly 49,000 patients annually.

don't choose the time for things. As a Covid ward there are peaks and troughs. It’s busy, it's chaotic, but we make our way through it. Now that there are protocols and we've been vaccinated, the world’s gotten used to a new normal. But people are sick, hundreds are dying, every day. Becoming a nurse, I’ve learned we're all human. Our time on earth is precious and finite. And I’ve learned that it’s possible to be removed, dispassionate, but remain passionate about treating people with humanity.

always wanted to be a nurse. My uncle was a physician, so growing up I used to go into work with him and see him taking care of all the patients. At 14-years-old I was a candy striper, later I volunteered in a local hospital feeding babies, and then I went and started as a PCA. And through that, I put myself through nursing school. My first job was at an Ob-Gyn office and there were a lot of young women there with teen pregnancies in the community I was working in, and I just really took a passion to it. So, I grew in it and became a part of the Nassau County Perinatal Service Network, where we focus on the underserved communities to make sure they have easy access to prenatal care. Covid hit our population very hard. A lot of our patients are living in multi-family

households, and Covid just ran rampant. A lot of them don’t have access to healthcare, so we really made sure we advocated for them. Through a grant, we were able to provide our patients with PPE. We were also able to provide our patients with food. A lot of patients were out of work because of Covid, so there was no food for their families. Not only do we treat the patient, but we treat the family. We watch the children grow and then they have kids again and they trust us and want to come back to us.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

TRUE In HEROES: IN THEIR OWN WORDS TheIr own words

Our nurse heroes WeThank you

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

Eva Jones

Kayla Rein, RN

Relief Staff Nurse, Fresinius

Mount Sinai South Nassau

My amazing sister, Eva Jones, RN, is the exemplary model of a nurse who is compassionate, caring and expertly skilled. With 35 years of dialysis experience, working for both major national dialysis companies, Davita and Fresinius, Eva offers the ultimate level of competence, bringing heart and kindness to ensure her patients’ smoothest and most comfortable sessions three times per week. They feel her love and confidence and are glad Eva’s in charge. Through pandemic Eva worked in a Covid-only outpatient dialysis clinic every day, sometimes up to 105 hours in a twoweek period, perpetually short staffed because other staff called out. She opened the clinic at 4 a.m., leaving at 10 or 11 p.m. Think about that. When a situation lands in your lap and you step up to the plate to do what is necessary, that’s an extraordinary person with a conscience. Thank God for nurse angels like Eva Jones!

Kayla Rein is my hero, my nurse, You may consider me biased because Kayla is my granddaughter. She worked tirelessly, 12 hour overnight ER shifts throughout the height of the pandemic and continues to do so today! I was there for her offering moral support along the way. Little did I know I, myself, would become an ER admittance in mid-January — due to a DVT. I witnessed first-hand the arduous, hard-working nursing staff. Needless to say, I was the “lucky” one, having granddaughter to attend to my unexpected needs. Thank God for our outstanding nurses and all other health care workers who routinely go above and beyond — day in and day out! — Virginia Rein-Biehl, Oceanside

Ross Rieman

Phyllis Imbriano

Northwell LIJ/Northwell Forest Hills

Phyllis Imbriano was honored by Tiegerman Schools at their gala on March 25. Phyllis has worked with Tiegerman for 21 years; as the school Nurse at Tiegerman Preschool, Elementary School, UPK and A.L.L. for Kids, also serving as the full-time nurse at Glen Cove Preschool/ Elementary School. Among the many tributes to Phyllis: “When my daughter Grace was younger, she attended Tiegerman Elementary School. Nurse Phyllis took great care of her and the other students. As a parent of a special needs child, you are always anxious when you get a call from the school! The first thing Nurse Phyllis would say is,“Grace is fine. I am calling about...”. I loved how aware she was and I can imagine she had the same sensitivity for the other students. I never worried about my child in school because I knew how supportive Nurse Phyllis and the staff were.”

Healthcare heroes don’t just touch the lives of their patients, but also the lives of their loved ones. From the perspective of a family member and also a future wife, we are amazed at the dedication, commitment and sacrifice Ross Rieman has devoted to saving lives, not only in the emergency room as a nurse practitioner at both Northwell LIJ and Northwell Forest Hills, but also as a volunteer (Second Assistant Chief) in the Woodmere Fire Department. In a hospital located at the epicenter of the pandemic, Ross tirelessly attended to Covid-19 patients in an overflowing emergency room without regard to his own welfare. He took extra shifts when his dedicated colleagues were ill with Covid-19. When not treating patients, Ross served his community through the fire department, ensuring that people who experienced Covid-19 symptoms received the care they needed. Ross is the epitome of what a true healthcare hero represents.

School Nurse Supervisor, Tiegerman Schools

— Jame Krauter, Director of Fund Development, Tiegerman

— Audrey Rieman and Kristen Brocavich, Hewlett

— Maxine Mayreis, Glen Cove

Mary Stillwagon Retired

Jennifer Ryan, RN

NYU Langone Winthrop Hospital Jennifer Ryan, my wife, was a true a beacon of selflessness and compassion throughout the grimmest days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jennifer provided outstanding to patients afflicted with Covid-19 in a homecare setting. The courageous, compassionate care delivered by Jennifer and her homecare colleagues was instrumental in reserving local hospital capacity and resources for the most critically ill patients at the apex of the pandemic. I salute and commend these true American heroes! — Brendan Ryan, North Merrick

My mother, Mary Stillwagon (BSN-BC, MS, Lac.), retired from a 40+-year tenure at Glen Cove Hospital Northwell Health in May 2020. She started her healthcare journey in the ICU at Glen Cove Hospital and continued her career there up until last year, amidst the pandemic. Mary also went on to receive her Masters in Science and became a Licensed Acupuncturist in 2005, all while working full time at the hospital. What nurses do for the world is truly amazing. Mom worked hard and sacrificed to ensure the comfort, care and treatment of each patient she oversaw. She treated countless patients, worked alongside hundreds of other healthcare professionals and always did it with grace, relentless dedication, and love in her heart. On behalf of our family, her friends, and associates, Thank You, Mary. Your retirement is well deserved! Now it’s time for us to take care of you. — Laura Stillwagon, Glen Cove

Priti Chohan

South Shore University Hospital I am so proud of the selflessness and dedication my daughter, Priti Chohan, BSN, MBA, RN, Patient Care Services Manager at South Shore University Hospital, has shown throughout the pandemic. She has stepped in countless times to assist her team on the front-line, maintaining order in such a hectic environment, and sacrificing time on the personal and familial front to give to caring for those affected. Most importantly, she has given her time to support her team, who were exposed to the virus and on the front-line daily. Healthcare is truly a special calling, deeply rooted in compassion and empathy Therefore, I would like to extend my gratitude to all the courageous essential workers who have helped to support our community throughout this tumultuous time. — Sudesh Chohan, Huntington

Susan Atwell

Mount Sinai Hospital Susan Atwell is a special person in my life. She is a registered nurse, RN BsN, who works in the PACU (Recovery) Department of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She has been the most dedicated and determined nurse for her patients for the past 11 years at Mount Sinai Hospital. She began her nursing career 36 years ago with that same determination to help others in need, and it has only grown stronger through the years. In addition, Susan, who lives in Woodmere, is a devoted mother of three incredible children, Robert, Christine and Matthew. She raised them by herself while holding a fulltime nursing job. She is the happy grandmother of an adorable 1-year-old little guy, Daniel, too! Susan is my real hometown hero. I am very privileged to be her friend. — Donna Shulman, Hewlett

Our nurse heroes

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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TRUE HEROES:

started off in banking, but switched to nursing because I love taking care of people. Today, nursing is very challenging due to the pandemic. At the beginning, during spring 2020, we nurses were in-service constantly, getting educated by our supervisors about Covid-19. That’s what pulled us through. On the job, we wear a mask, goggles, surgical headwear, and a disposable gown. Every time we leave a patient’s room, we discard the mask and gown, and wash the goggles. It’s uncomfortable, but to fight the virus, we have to start with our first-line workers for the protection of the residents. Our staff members are all tested for Covid-19 twice a week, in a little unit that does the nasal swabbing here on site. Not having family members of patients visiting the facility makes our job a lot easier,

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Megan always has a smile on her face. Her warm and caring attitude is only matched by her stellar clinical skills. There was a time when I required wound care after a prolonged and complicated hospital stay. I was scared or in pain, and really able to trust that Megan was going to take care of me. Megan is always “on the ball”. I am so grateful for Megan during that time and I know that I healed so well in large part to the level of care Megan provided. Even after thewounds were healed, Megan would consistently check up on me. It was so nice that Megan continued to care about me. I am so impressed with Megan’s “can-do” attitude, and that she was always willing to lend a helping hand to other nurses and nursing assistants who needed it.

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Emergency Nurse, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream because we have to control interaction from the outside. But we do help our patients communicate with loved ones virtually. The virtual chats are scheduled with our recreation person. A nurse or aide can hold a cell phone so a patient can speak using FaceTime. We can also have the family members visit on-site, but not inside the facility. They stand in the entrance foyer between the double glass doors. The inner glass door is locked and the resident is brought down to sit on the inside. Then they talk with their loved ones on cell phones while smiling at them through the glass. We are trained to let our residents know what’s going on, but to keep them comfortable, and to give them respect and dignity at all times. Remember, this is their home.

have a brother with Down syndrome so I was kind of a nurse even in my childhood, and I kind of grew up with him, favoring caring for people with a personal touch. I went to nursing school and graduated in 1987, during the AIDs epidemic. I graduated from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing, and worked in the East Village where the AIDs epidemic was really fired up, so I had seen a lot of death and dying back in the 1980s. I thought I’d never see it again. And then Covid came. The first wave was very heavy in our Emergency Department, but we pulled through. The Northwell Health system quickly got it together, and we were very organized. We have a tiny Emergency Department, and as the volume increased we transferred out to the North Shore facilities. The wisdom that I brought having had been

through something terrible like this before was that I knew I had to dress in the full PPE, the personal protective gear. Back in the 1980s we didn’t know it was sexually transmitted so we were wearing all sorts of hats and gowns and face masks. So I guess that was the little bit of wisdom there that I had. I also gave a little support to the newer nurses, letting them know that we’re going to get through this. But it was also very overwhelming for myself. People were coming into triage and they could barely say their name, and then they would just drop dead in front of you. It was very scary. We did the best we could with what we had. But even when it got overwhelming you still had to stop and give that extra personal touch, whether it was giving my phone charger to them so they could try and call a family member.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

THANK YOU NURSES FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT ON THE FRONT LINES. WE GREATLY AppREciATE YouR sERvicE!

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

In celebration of our

By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

e had always known that nurses were heroes; the women and men who offered us a modicum of comfort at our darkest hours while quietly monitoring our heart rate, blood pressure and medications prescribed by our doctors. They watched over us, soothed our pain with a smile. We never really knew, however, what heroes they were until the coronavirus pandemic struck Long Island in March last year, sending already tired hospital staffs into overdrive. Nurses were at the very front lines of the crisis, and the physical and mental toll that they endured was unimaginable to most. Nurses were, of course, accustomed to death. It is part of medicine. No amount of training, however, could have prepared them for the onslaught of Covid-19 cases that they would see between March and June 2020 — or the rapidly rising death toll. With family and friends barred from entering hospitals during this grave period, nurses were often the very last people that the dying saw before they took their last breaths. 2020 and 2021 have very much been a battle for survival, and our nurses have fought it valiantly. Many of them have been infected with Covid-19 themselves. Some have died. We cannot thank our nurses enough for all that they did for us last year, but we should try. In this photo essay by Herald Photo Editor Christina Daly, we make the attempt, showing you, our readers, some of the faces who carried on through all the confusion and fear and heartache to protect and preserve life. For more photos, see liherald.com.

Photos by Christina Daly/H

1: Nurse Danielle Frantino, front, is in the Emergency Services Unit at Northwell Health Glen Cove Hospita Nurse Cel Christian Lumbera is her left. 2: Nurses Jaya Roy and Maria Cardone, of the Rehabilitation Unit at Northwell Health Glen Cove Hospital.

3: At Northwell Health LIJ Hospital in Valley Stream, nu educator Savita Amin reviewed notes with nurses De Pellitteri, Christine Luongo and Emily John, of the Pa Services Unit.

4: Taking in a lighter moment outside Northwell Health Hospital were Patient Services nurses Villaflor Andre Pascual, Ivana Klanac-Stern, Ann Marie Distanislao, Sheleema Harinandan, Benyanoot Rodthong, Emily Jessica Ruggierro, Debra Pellitteri, Saige Amoruso an Catherine Naranjo.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

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5: At Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, nurses Jeanne Colamussi and Claire Odayan, nurse manager Meghan Clark, and nurses Bincy Mathew and Jennifer Okoye celebrated their profession. 6: Nurse Mary Sloane held a newborn in the Mercy Hospital Maternity Unit.

shortly after, with her family still in the parking lot. Asha said the experience made her cherish her time with her family. 10: Chris Frasco, left, and, Frank Masi, nurses at NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola.

7: Curtis King, a transporter, at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside. 8: Nurse April Dones, of the Maternity Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai South Nasau, was all smiles behind her mask recently. 9: Nurse Asha Ali, of NYU Langone Hospital, spoke of a 40-year-old patient who arrived at her unit struggling to breathe. The patient grasped her hand and told her, “You are you my angel.” The patient died of Covid-19

True heroes:

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

TheIr own words TRUE In HEROES: IN THEIR OWN WORDS MEGHAN EVANS

JOEMELLE KHAN

Emergency Department, Mount Sinai South Nassau

Nassau University Medical Center

chose to become a nurse because I wanted to work in the medical field and be at the bedside caring for patients. Growing up, I was inspired by the nurses I met and saw first-hand how they took care of people, not only physically, but also emotionally. The nursing profession means teamwork. I am beyond lucky to work in an area that has incredible teamwork. I would not be able to provide the best care without the help of our amazing patient care technicians and unit clerks, also amazing doctors and physician assistants who have taught me so much over the years. I have been an Emergency Department nurse at MSSN for nearly 10 years, also a member of the ED’s Unit Based Council and ED Trauma Committee for more than five years. We are always working on creating new ways to provide excellent nursing care for our patients. The nursing profession has taught me a

lot about life. I enjoy helping people and find myself helping others inside and outside of the hospital. I see first-hand how fragile life can be, so I try to keep a positive mindset and take care of myself physically and emotionally. We never know what is going to come through those ED doors and we must be prepared for anything and everything. We laugh together and we cry together. We lift each other up when we are feeling down or scared and celebrate the happy moments with each other. Nursing has always been a profession that is challenging yet rewarding. Emergency nursing is typically fast-paced and can be stressful. When the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in March 2020, we were challenged in ways we had never imagined. Our team came together — we cared for our patients, we cared for their family members and we cared for each other.

TRUE HEROES:

’m from Harlem and lived in Queens near Valley Stream. My first degree was in finance, but when my father went into a hospital with a stroke it struck me that hospital workers had good intentions, but there was not enough help, and I was drawn to nursing. It helps that I come from a family with a lot of doctors and nurses in it, so I asked a lot of questions, did some research, and seven years ago became a licensed nurse. For me nursing is a great field if you are the kind of person who cares. The money’s good, you can go anywhere in the country and you can help a person just by holding their hand. I worked at the Nassau County Correctional facility, and then two years ago I came to work at the Emergency Room at Nassau University Medical Center. We get it all. Helicopters come in and out, drownings, stabbings, shootings,

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

HAYDEE LAJERA

MITCH MARAVILLA

Director of Nursing, Lynbrook Restorative Therapy & Nursing

Medical/Surgical/ Oncology Unit, Mount Sinai South Nassau

’ve been in long-term care nursing for 28 years, and Director of Nursing for 15 years. I consider being a nurse as a calling. It requires dedication and compassion because, while we take care of patients' and residents’ physical needs, we must also address their emotional and spiritual needs. During this pandemic, our dedication to our profession was put to the test. We could not stay home from work to avoid the deadly virus. Some of us isolated ourselves from our families for fear of exposing them. Many of us got Covid and some died. As the Director of Nursing, I had to care for my staff. They feared catching Covid and infecting their own families. I ensured that they were educated and had enough PPE, encouraged them, cried with them when they were emotionally drained, and sometimes bought them food or sewed masks for them.

For our residents, I crocheted hats and scarves during the winter, which made them smile. When nursing homes were closed to visitation, nurses brought phones and tablets to Covid-positive patients so that their families could say goodbye to them. I once held a patients’ hand as she took her last breath and told her son who lived in another state that she died peacefully. One day I had to “sneak in” a priest to administer a patient’s last rites. Now our facility is Covid-free. We have passed several inspections and continue to follow all infection control guidelines from the CDC and the New York State Department of Health. We have vaccinated most of our employees and residents, and hope the public will do the same so this pandemic will end soon.

car accidents. In the last year Covid took over. That was challenging in part because I took the pandemic personally. My cousin, Marilyn Howard, a mentor to me, was the first school nurse in New York City to die of Covid. Emergency room work has made me an even more compassionate person. You need a tough exterior, but still care. But I have plenty of support for that at home. My wife is also a nurse. We talk to each other about all these issues.

hen I was in high school, my dad was sick and in and out of the hospital. I had to help my mom take care of him, and that’s when I decided to take up nursing in college. The nursing profession is a calling. It is indeed a tough and stressful job. You need to have a certain virtue to become a good nurse. We call those virtues “TLC,” tender, loving care. It requires a lot of patience and dedication. Even if you are an experienced nurse, you don’t assume that you know everything. Every day is a continuous learning process. I’ve learned a lot in two decades of being a nurse. It’s made me stronger, resilient and appreciative of those people around me, such as my friends, family and co-workers, as well as my patients and their families. When the pandemic started, our floor was turned into one of the Covid-19 units. I was so scared. I’ve never been in this kind of

overwhelming situation in my entire career. I was physically, mentally and emotionally drained. There was a time when one of my patients could barely breathe, and I remember him saying, “Help me. Help me. I feel like I’m drowning.” As I waited for the rapid response team, I held his hand and encouraged him. I felt hopeless and prayed for him. I was his only support. It was also devastating when some of my co-workers got sick with Covid, including my husband, who is also an employee at the hospital. Our unit has remained the Covid floor for the hospital, but this year has been more manageable. I’m proud and privileged that I am a part of the process. Nursing is tough, but when you think of the lives you have touched, the lives you saved, it’s such a wonderful feeling. It’s priceless.

TRUE HEROES:

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

LYSTRA BULLEN

Glen Cove Hospital ER/ Northwell Health

Oceanside Care Center

’ve been a nurse for 33 years, first at St. Vincent in Manhasset on a ventilator floor, labor and delivery, post-partum care and in the emergency room at Glen Cove the last decade. I know it’s a cliché, but I think nursing found me. I was an average student in high school and didn’t have a lot of confidence. That all changed in nursing school. I felt like this was where I needed to be. The book part’s a large component, but taking care of people is not something you learn in a book. It comes from having empathy for others, understanding that it’s not just people, it’s somebody else’s mother, somebody’s child. This whole last year has been difficult. It’s the first time I felt I don’t know if I can make it. I have another eight years and I hope I can get through it. We’re not a trauma hospital, but an emergency room sees everything, and beginning

last March Covid is all we saw. It was scary at first — new information every day about PPE, about treatment. But we got better at it. And the community support was really special, like a parade. Maybe the parade’s moved on, but we’re still here doing the work. Still, nursing is an excellent career, so many kinds of jobs. It doesn’t have to be all high drama. Financially it’s great, you can’t be outsourced. There will always be a place for nurses.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

DIANE PAEZ I

y job as a Certified Nursing Assistant is really a story about my dad. After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my sister took him in, but he would do unpredictable things like leaving the house unannounced. Within a short time after we put him in a nursing home, he was totally different. When I visited him, he would say, “I ain’t givin’ no trouble,” and I could tell he was getting good care. About a year after he entered the nursing home, I decided to help others like the home helped my father, and I became a CNA. My job is hands-on. I bathe the patients, feed them, take them to the bathroom, talk to them, and learn the little things that help them feel calm. My work takes dedication because, when people can’t do self-care anymore, they go through a kind of depression. They miss their families. They may have underlying medical

conditions. We have to be very patient and sensitive. We approach each one individually and build bonds, step by step. When the pandemic began, everyone’s heart was bleeding for our patients. Families couldn’t visit in person anymore. Patients coming back from the hospital had to be isolated for Covid testing. But the patients understood because they watched the news, and they respected our explanations. They wanted their families to be safe, so they accepted window-side visits, video chats, and phone calls. These protocols are still in effect at this time. The nurses and CNAs have had to work extra hard to give the patients what they need. It’s been trying, but because we know our patients so well, everyone has adapted.

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TRUE HEROES: LORRAINE RIXFIELDS

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

BARBARA SIMMS Nurse Practitioner, Mercy Hospital

Nassau University Medical Center

was a medical assistant for 20 years in a family practice office in Seaford. When my daughter went to college I decided to go back to school to be a nurse. Everyone thought I was a nurse, anyhow. I managed to get my degree and 15 years ago, became a regular staff nurse at NUMC’s pediatric unit. I just got this position as assistant nurse manager at the end of January. I love going to work. It's a job that I wouldn’t mind being at forever. In a pediatric unit, we get a little bit of everything. I also float to the nursery, neo-natal. So, I’ve gotten to see a variety of patients, newborn to age 21. When I was a medical assistant I dealt with adults, but in pediatrics you’re dealing with the parents too, making sure they’re knowledgeable ofwhat’s going on with their child. When Covid hit there was so much we didn’t

know. I took out my sewing machine and made caps and masks for whoever needed them. The load was so heavy, we were stressed out, but we had to put that aside. But the pandemic also put us in the public eye in an incredible way. Recently I pulled into a gas station in my scrubs and a man at another pump, a total stranger, shouted out, “Thank you!” That’s the kind of thing that makes you feel appreciated as a nurse.

worked in the airline industry in human resource management and I had a sister that worked here (Mercy Hospital) as a nurses’ aide. My sister was diagnosed with cancer while she was an employee here, and she had a tough battle for seven years. She was an employee here, a patient here, and she passed away here. After she passed away, I made the decision to become a nurse. And going to nursing school, I knew that I only wanted to work at Mercy because I felt that it was paying back for what I felt they did really well for my sister. I started nursing school in 2005 when I was 39, and I came straight here in 2008 and I’ve been here ever since. My mother went into nursing at the age of 40, so I think that let me know that no matter what the age, if you want to change, you can change. When Covid hit, my patient was the first

patient on the floor to get it. For me I think it was just trying to do the best that you can to keep your patients OK. And Covid was an eyeopener as far as seeing how fast a patient can decline, unfortunately. I think for most nurses, when you go into nursing you don’t go into it looking for someone to praise you for what you do or sacrifice. You do it because it’s something in your heart.

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May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

BEHIND EVERY LIFE WE SAVED, THERE WAS A TEAM OF DEDICATED NURSES. THANK YOU.

We are pleased that the Year of the Nurse has been extended from 2020 through 2021 in recognition of your hard work, bravery, and commitment to save lives. Thank you. This Nurses Week, we thank you for showing up, stepping up, and putting our patients before yourselves during this pandemic. Behind every life we saved, there was an extraordinary team of dedicated nurses.

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Friday, April 23, 2021 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM and Wednesday, May 12, 2021, between the hours of 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM for the Board of Registration to meet to prepare the register of the School District at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York. Residents may also register on school days between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM in the District Clerk’s office until five days before the District vote. Qualified residents of the North Merrick Union Free School District must register at this time if not previously registered, in order to be eligible to vote at the annual meeting and on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Budget and Propositions. Any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register provided that he/she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the District Clerk or a member of the board of registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the annual district election for which such register is prepared. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election without further registration. NO PERSON will be entitled to vote at the annual budget meeting and election of the North Merrick Union Free School District and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School Budget Vote whose name does not appear on either the Register of the North Merrick Union Free School District or the County registration lists provided by the County election officials. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that voters qualifying to vote by absentee ballot may apply and receive an absentee ballot from the District Clerk of the District. An application must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election for which an absentee ballot is sought. Completed absentee ballot applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18,

2021. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, will be available in the Office of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election except Sundays. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 223, 2021. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of the statements of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purpose, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any qualified voter of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual Meeting except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM at the District’s central office located at 1057 Merrick Avenue, and at each of the school houses in said District, to wit: Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette, and Old Mill Road Schools, at the North Merrick Public Library, on the District’s website, and at the Annual Meeting. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the register of the school district shall be filed in the Office of the District Clerk where it shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the School District, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on each of the five days prior to and the day of the Annual District

Election, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 15, 2021 by appointment. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration of the North Merrick Union Free School District will meet during the hours of voting on May 18, 2021, at the polling place for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 18, 2021. Said register shall include: (1) all qualified voters of the Union Free School District, who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections; and (3) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted at any time within the four calendar years (2015-2019) prior to preparation of the registration of voters. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the District Clerk at the Office of the Clerk between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on or before April 19, 2021. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by 31 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer, and the name and residence of the candidate. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election, if required to be included in said notice, or on or before March 19, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.; prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the District Clerk; must be signed by at least 142 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School

Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law §2019-a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Town of Hempstead, Merrick, New York JOANNE LONG, DISTRICT CLERK 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York Merrick Herald Life: April 1, April 15, April 29, May 6 News Day: April 1, April 15, April 29, May 6 125212 Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE UNIFICADO DE NORTH MERRICK PUEBLO DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia sobre el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, Nueva York, el día 11 de mayo de 2021, a las 8:00 p. m., para la resolución de los asuntos de acuerdo con lo estipulado por la Ley de Educación. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la votación anual sobre el presupuesto y la elección del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick se llevarán a cabo en la biblioteca pública de North Merrick, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, el día martes 18 de mayo de 2021, con el propósito de realizar una votación sobre los gastos estimados para el año escolar 2021-2022 y sobre cualquier propuesta que pueda presentarse oportunamente en la reunión, al igual que sobre la elección de dos (2) miembros de la Junta

de Educación, cada uno con un cargo de tres años de duración, que comenzará el 1 de julio de 2021 y finalizará el 30 de junio de 2024. La votación se realizará con máquinas y se podrá votar desde las 6:30 a. m. hasta las 9:00 p. m. de ese mismo día. ASIMISMO SE NOTIFICA que, durante la elección mencionada anteriormente, los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick votarán con los siguientes fines: (A) votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año 2021-2022 y para autorizar la exacción de un impuesto sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del distrito para los propósitos mencionados anteriormente, y (B) votar sobre cualquier otra propuesta que pueda presentarse oportunamente en la reunión. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, el Distrito Escolar debe adjuntar un informe de exención al presupuesto sugerido. Este informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor total calculado de la lista final de tasación usada durante el proceso presupuestario queda libre de impuestos, enumerará todos los tipos de exenciones otorgadas por la autoridad legal y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, el monto acumulativo que se espera recibir en pagos en lugar de los impuestos y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El informe de exención se publicará en cualquier tablero de anuncios que el Distrito designe para avisos públicos y en el sitio web del Distrito. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Educación ha designado viernes 23 de abril de 2021 a partir de las 8:00 a.m. y hasta 3:30 p.m. y el día miércoles 13 de mayo de 2021, a partir de las 4:00 p. m. y hasta las 8:00 p. m., para la realización de una reunión de la Junta de Registros en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York, para preparar el registro del Distrito Escolar. Los residentes también pueden registrarse en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito durante los días de actividad escolar desde las 9:00 a. m. hasta las 3:00 p. m., hasta cinco días antes de la votación del Distrito. Para ser elegibles para votar durante la reunión anual y sobre el presupuesto y las propuestas del Distrito Escolar Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick, los

residentes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick deben registrarse en ese momento si no lo han hecho antes. Toda persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en el registro, siempre y cuando se sepa o se demuestre ante la secretaria del Distrito o algún miembro de la Junta de Registros que dicha persona tiene, en ese momento o en adelante, derecho a votar en la elección anual del distrito, para la cual se prepara dicho registro. Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar en virtud del Artículo 5 de la Ley de Elecciones, también es elegible para votar en esta elección sin necesidad de ningún registro adicional. NINGUNA PERSONA tendrá derecho a votar en la reunión anual de presupuesto y elección del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick ni en la votación de presupuesto del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick si su nombre no aparece en el registro del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick o en las listas de registro del condado provistas por los funcionarios electorales del condado. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes que cumplan con los requisitos para votar mediante voto por ausencia pueden solicitar y recibir una boleta electoral de voto por ausencia a través de la secretaria del Distrito. La secretaria del Distrito deberá recibir la solicitud treinta (30) días antes de la elección para la cual se solicita la boleta electoral de voto por ausencia, y no antes. La secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes de boleta electoral de voto por ausencia completas por lo menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta debe enviarse al votante por correo, o hasta el día antes de la elección si la boleta debe entregarse al votante o a la persona designada por este en persona. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna para enviar por correo una boleta electoral de voto por ausencia, la secretaria del Distrito enviará por correo dicha boleta a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. La secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales de voto por ausencia antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día martes 18 de mayo de 2021. Durante los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la elección, excepto los domingos, en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito se encontrará a disposición una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les hayan emitido boletas

electorales de voto por ausencia. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar podrán enviar una solicitud de una boleta electoral militar. Los votantes militares pueden indicar su preferencia para recibir una solicitud de registro de votantes militares, una solicitud de boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico en la solicitud de su registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boleta electoral militar deben recibirse en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 23 de abril de 2021. Los votos militares no serán escrutados, a menos que (1) la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito los reciba antes del cierre de la votación el día de la elección y tengan una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado de recepción por parte de otro organismo del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o bien (2) la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito los reciba antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección, y estén firmados y fechados por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha asociada que no sea posterior al día previo a la elección. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que cualquier votante calificado del Distrito podrá obtener una copia de las declaraciones de la cantidad de dinero que será requerido para fines escolares para el año siguiente, a excepción de los fondos públicos, durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a la reunión anual, excepto los sábados, domingos o feriados, en la oficina central del Distrito ubicada en 1057 Merrick Avenue, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m., y en cualquiera de las sedes escolares del Distrito, es decir: las escuelas Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette y Old Mill Road, la biblioteca pública de North Merrick, el sitio web del Distrito y en la reunión anual. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que el registro del distrito escolar se presentará en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito, donde quedará abierto para la inspección de los votantes calificados del distrito escolar, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 3:00 p. m. cada uno de los cinco días anteriores a la

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Budget Hearing of the North Merrick Union Free School District will be held at Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, New York, on the 11th of May 2021, at 8:00 PM for the transaction of such business as is authorized by Education Law. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN the annual budget vote and election of the North Merrick Union Free School District will be held at the North Merrick Library, 1691 Meadowbrook, Road, North Merrick, New York on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 for the purpose of voting on estimated expenses for the school year 2021-2022 and upon such propositions as may properly come before the meeting, as well as the election of two (2) members of the Board of Education each for a three-year term, commencing July 1, 2021 and expiring on June 30, 2024. Voting will be on machines, and polls will be open between the hours of 6:30 AM and 9:00 PM on that day. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that at the aforesaid election, qualified voters of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes: (A) vote upon the annual school budget for the year 2021-2022 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the district for the foregoing purposes. (B) To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes, and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN the Board of Education has designated

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

OBITUARIES

Ruth Kirsch, pioneer of North Merrick library, dies at 95 Ruth Kirsch, a life-long book lover who helped create the North Merrick L i b r a r y d e c a d e s a g o, passed away on April 3, 2021. She was 95 years old. A longtime Merrick resident, Kirsch was instrumental in the creation of the library. It was at a Nor th Mer rick school board meeting during which volunteers were sought to form a committee to establish a public library when she alone raised her hand. Kirsch volunteered her husband, Len, a public relations professional, to head the effort. Soon, others joined. What became a grassroots campaign through

Photos courtesy Annie Kirsch

For decades, ruth Kirsch could be found greeting guests in the North Merrick Library. The circulation director and cofounder died on April 3 at 95.

the neighborhood succeeded, and in November of 1964, residents voted to approve a budget to open the new North Merrick Public Library. Kirsch was one of the first employees to join the library when it opened in 1965 at its original location on Merrick Avenue near Hill’s grocery. She witnessed its growth from a small storefront location with an old-fashioned card catalog to a full-blown public library — complete with computers — at its current home on Meadowbrook Road, where she worked full-time as the circulation director until her retirement in 2006.

Public Notices

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elección y el mismo día de la elección anual del distrito, excepto el domingo, y el sábado 15 de mayo de 2021 con cita previa. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Registros del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick se reunirá durante el horario de votación el día 18 de mayo de 2021 en el lugar de votación con el fin de preparar un registro para elecciones o reuniones del Distrito que se realizarán después del 19 de mayo de 2020. Dicho registro incluirá: (1) a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick, que deberán presentarse personalmente para el registro; (2) a todos los votantes calificados registrados permanentemente en la Junta de Elecciones del condado de Nassau, y (3) a todos los votantes previamente calificados del Distrito que se hayan registrado previamente para cualquier elección o reunión anual o especial del Distrito y que hayan votado en alguno de estos eventos realizados o llevados a cabo en cualquier momento durante los cuatro años calendario (2015-2019) previos a la preparación del registro de votantes. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones para nominar candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación deberán presentarse ante la secretaria del Distrito en su oficina, a más tardar el 19 de abril de 2021, de 9:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. Los puestos vacantes de la Junta de Educación no se

consideran cargos específicos ni independientes; los candidatos se presentan en general. Las peticiones de nominación no deben describir ninguna vacante específica de la Junta para la cual se nomina al candidato, deben estar dirigidas a la secretaria del Distrito, deben estar firmadas por 31 votantes calificados del Distrito, deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante, y el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Y TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA POR EL PRESENTE que, de acuerdo con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación en virtud de la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referéndum o propuesta para modificar el presupuesto, o que se presente por otra forma para su votación en dicha elección, debe realizarse ante la secretaria del Distrito con el tiempo suficiente para permitir el aviso de la inclusión de la propuesta con el aviso de audiencia pública, votación de presupuesto y elección, si fuera necesaria su inclusión en dicho aviso, a más tardar el día 19 de marzo de 2021 a las 5:00 p. m., hora vigente, debe estar escrita o impresa en idioma inglés, debe estar dirigida a la secretaria del Distrito, debe estar firmada por al menos 142 votantes calificados del Distrito y debe indicar el nombre legible de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no considerará ninguna petición de presentar a los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de sus facultades de decisión,

que esté fuera de la ley o que no incluya una asignación específica cuando dicha propuesta requiera un gasto de dinero, o cuando exista alguna otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la votación. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que esta Junta establecerá una reunión especial a partir de ese momento, dentro de las 24 horas luego de la presentación ante la secretaria del Distrito de un informe escrito de los resultados de la votación, con el fin de examinar y tabular dichos informes del resultado de la votación y declarar su resultado; que, por el presente y de acuerdo con la Sección 2019-a, subdivisión 2b, de la Ley de Educación, la Junta se designa a sí misma como un grupo de presidentes de mesa para emitir y escrutar los votos durante dicha reunión especial de la Junta. POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE UNIFICADO DE NORTH MERRICK Pueblo de Hempstead, Merrick, Nueva York JOANNE LONG, SECRETARIA DEL DISTRITO 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York Merrick Herald Life: 1 de abril, 15 de abril, 29 de abril y 6 de mayo Newsday: 1 de abril, 15 de abril, 29 de abril y 6 de mayo 125214

LEGAL NOTICE BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BELLMORE U.F.S.D. MERRICK U.F.S.D. NORTH BELLMORE

U.F.S.D. NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU NOTICE TO BIDDERS: In accordance with provision of Section 103 of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for: Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative Summer Bid 2021 Bids will be publicly opened and read at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at 10:00 am. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained from the office of Tom Volpe, Director of Transportation, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject in whole or in part all bids or to accept any bid which in its judgment is in the best interest of the school district. By order: Board of Education BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BELLMORE U.F.S.D. MERRICK U.F.S.D. NORTH BELLMORE U.F.S.D. NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D. 125830

PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

Kirsch with her husband, Len. Several years ago, she attended the library’s 50-year anniversary commemoration, which honored Len, who passed away in 2015, by naming a reading room after the library founder. “My mother believed that libraries add vibrancy to a community’s intellectual life,” her daughter Annie Kirsch said. “From her highly visible spot at the circulation desk, she welcomed generations of adults and children of all ages into the library community with a friendly, helpful spirit and felt it was her privilege to do so.” Matching dedicated readers with new titles she thought they would like was one of her greatest joys, Annie recalled. “She would say, ‘I’ve got something for you,’ to an unsuspecting patron who stopped at the circulation desk to chat,” Annie said. “Then she’d watch the person’s face light up with surprise and more than a little delight because she had remembered what they enjoyed reading.” One library colleague from way back also remembered her fondly. Merrick native Barbara Smith worked closely with Kirsch behind the front desk as the library’s page. “She was unique, thoughtful and kind,” Smith said. “She always supported the library and it’s programs, and she taught me a lot about customer service. I spent years with her — she felt like family.” At the library, Kirsch was a “mentor” to Smith who remained a friend after she left the position in 1985. “She was ahead of her time,” Smith added. “Her love of reading in the library was everything to her.” Born in 1925, Ruth grew up in the Bronx where she graduated from Walton High School. She attended Hunter College in Manhattan, from which she received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish.

Ruth worked as assistant to the president of Solis Entrialgo, a New York-based buying office that procured fabrics made into apparel and sold at El Encanto, a wellknown department store in Havana, Cuba. Ruth married Len in 1950 and had two children, Stephen and Annie. Human kindness and a deep empathy for others were her touchstones since childhood, her daughter said. Growing up poor during the Depression, she stood in a handout line with her father and expressed sympathy for a little girl she knew whose shoes she noticed were torn. They exited the line, but compassion, especially for those less fortunate than herself, remained with her. Annie also recalled Ruth’s affection for actors, old-time songs, theatre and film. She dabbled in acting as a youngster, once playing a pirate in “The Pirates of Penzance,” learning the full repertoire of Gilbert and Sullivan’s score. “She loved to recite Shakespeare with dramatic flair and teach me songs from old musicals of the 30s and 40s,” she said. Her interest in government and world affairs and a curiosity about the meaning of life were a constant as well, Annie said. “She could laugh at life’s ironies, but also savor the small moments that bring joy,” she recounted. When it came time for retirement, Kirsch had to be persuaded to leave the library, not wanting to leave what became her second home. “She did not want to retire,” Smith said. “When you talk about someone who they’d have to drag out kicking and screaming, she was one of those people,” she recounted with a laugh. A service was held earlier this month at the burial. Courtesy Annie Kirsch; Andrew Garcia contributed to this story.

Employment

CLASSIFIED

To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail you ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify and ad.

Seeking Candidates for the Following Positions: SUBSTITUTE CLEANERS Salary: $16.00 per hour District Wide – All Shifts

RecRuiting a great sales team is Really simple.

is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of

MONITORS Salary as Per Monitor and Security Unit Collective Bargaining Agreement District Wide, All Shifts

DISTRICT CLERK This is a part-time position (no benefits) that includes 2 evenings per month and additional evenings as needed with an annual salary of $18,000

SUBSTITUTE MONITORS $14 per hour District Wide SUBSTITUTE SECURITY AIDES Salary: $15.00 per hour District Wide Candidate must have continuing possession of NYS registration as a security guard issues by the NYS Department of State. Security or law enforcement experience preferred.

We hire the smartest people who can solve the hardest marketing objectives with an arsenal of solutions and a smile through the journey.

• Must be detail oriented • Must possess strong clerical and computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Word • Principal responsibilities include: recording minutes at all BOE meetings, maintaining BOE records, preparation of weekly information packets and management of BOE correspondence • Must be a Nassau County resident

(We said it was simple. We didn’t say it was easy.) to join our outside sales team, contact Rhonda glickman. send your resume today. rglickman@liherald.com, 516-569-4000 x250. salary, commission, bonuses and benefits. must have own vehicle and valid driver’s license.

HERALD Community Newspapers

School Nurse School Nurse School Nurse Must be a NY State Licensed Must be a NY State Licensed School Nurse Registered Nurse Must be a NY State Licensed RegisteredNurse Nurse School Registered Nurse Must a NY State Licensed Pleasebe email or mail resumes by: Please email or mail resumes by: Must be a NY State Licensed Registered Nurse May 21, 2021 to: Please email or mail resumes by: May 21, 2021 to: Malverne, UFSD Nurse May 21,mail 2021 to: PleaseRegistered email or resumes by:

Malverne, UFSD Administration Office Malverne, UFSD May 21, 2021 to: NY 11565 Please email or mail resumes by: Administration Office 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, Administration Office Malverne, UFSD 21, 2021 to: NY 11565 301dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us Wicks May Lane, Malverne, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 Administration Office Malverne, UFSD dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 Administration Office Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY Employer. 11565 dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 1131151

Franklin Square UFSD has the following positions available:

FULL TIME cLEanErS nEEDED 5 Days/Week Salary Per Contract Benefits Experience A Plus But Not Required Will Train Right Person.

ParT TIME SUbSTITUTE cLEanErS nEEDED Various Shifts As Needed $17.25/Hour Experience A Plus But Not Required. Will Train Right Person. If interested, please contact and email resume to our Personnel Office at

516-481-4100 ext. 3630

jcentrella@franklinsquare.k12.ny.us

liherald.com

real local, real news

Malverne UFSD Malverne Long Island, NewUFSD York Long Island, New York Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York

Malverne UFSD School Bus Driver School Bus Driver Full Time Job – Day/Night Shifts School Bus Driver Bus 10 School MonthMalverne Position w/FullDriver Union Benefits UFSD School Bus Driver Security Guards Security Guards Long Island, New York

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Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York Malverne UFSD Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York Long Island, New York Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York

Board of Education – District Clerk Search Valley Stream Central High School District One Kent Road Valley Stream, NY 11580

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SEnD LETTER of appLICaTIon anD RESumE by 5/7/21 To:

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Candidates are to submit a letter of interest with resume and credentials to: Ms. Jacqueline A. Scrio Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations East Rockaway UFSD 443 Ocean Avenue East Rockaway, NY 11518 (516) 887-8300 Ext. 1-553

VALLEY STREAM BOARD OF EDucATiOn cEnTRAL HiGH ScHOOL DiSTRicT

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EAST ROCKAWAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

HERALD

Full Time Job – Day/Night Shifts Full Time Job –w/Full Day/Night Shifts 10 Month Position Union Benefits 10 Month Position w/Full Benefits Full Time Job Island, – Day/Night Long NewUnion York Shifts 10Full Month Position UnionShifts Benefits Time Job –w/Full Day/Night $19.37 per hour $19.37 w/Full per hour 10 Month Position Union Benefits per hour Required: NYS$19.37 Certification w/security photo ID Full Time Job – Day/Night Shifts $19.37 per w/security hour Required: w/security photo Required:NYS NYS Certification Certification photo ID ID

Security Guards School Bus Driver Security Guards Guards Please Position email orw/Full mail resumes to: 10Security Month Union Benefits Please email or mail resumes $19.37 hour Please email or per mail resumes to:to: dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us Please email or mail resumes to: ID Malverne, UFSD. HR, Admin Bldg Security Guards Required: NYS Certification w/security photo Malverne, UFSD. HR, Admin dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us 301 Wicks $19.37 Lane, Malverne, NY Bldg 11565 Malverne, UFSD. HR, Admin Bldg per hour Required: NYS Certification w/security photo ID

Please email or mail to: 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 Malverne, UFSD. Admin Bldg Malverne Union Free School District isHR, an Equalresumes Opportunity Employer. 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 Required: NYS Certification w/security photo ID dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us 301 Wicks Malverne, NY 11565 Malverne Union FreeLane, School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please email or mail resumes to: Malverne, Admin Bldg Malverne Union FreeUFSD. School DistrictHR, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 301 dlawlor@malverne.k12.ny.us Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 Malverne, UFSD. Admin Malverne Union Free School DistrictHR, is an Equal OpportunityBldg Employer. 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 1131178

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

IVERS BUS DR TED WAN DoN’T MISS The Bus!

EDITOR THE JEWISH STAR

NEW

STARTING SAlARIES Big Bus Van Non-Benefit Rate

$21.41/hr.

Non-Benefit Rate

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*Some restrictions may apply.

$500.00 for non CDL drivers. Will train qualified applicants

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$24.18/hr.

EDUcATIoNAl BUS TRANSpoRTATIoN 516.454.2300

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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.

Franklin Square UFSD c SchOOl BUS DrIverS WanteD Must Have B License With PS Endorsement And NYS Fingerprints Required. Guaranteed 6 Hours/Day. Offering Benefits, Retirement Fund And Holiday Pay. $24.85/Hour With Contractual Increases.

516-481-4100 ext. 3630

jcentrella@franklinsquare.k12.ny.us

The editor will seek out and initiate story ideas, assign and write articles, edit staff and freelance submissions, and work with the Publisher on planning print and digital products. The Jewish Star covers Jewish news on Long Island and in New York City, with supplemental coverage of Israel and Jewish America. While The Jewish Star's circulation has primarily been on Long Island, it is about to embark on a major expansion into New York City. The Jewish Star is an 18-year-old division of Richner Communications Inc., a 140-employee family-owned company that publishes more than 30 community newspapers and shopping guides on Long Island and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Riverdale Press. It maintains its own printing operation and more. Interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks so candidates should respond in a timely manner - with a cover letter, resume, writing samples and salary objectives, to: Jobs@TheJewishStar.com

Check out our Service Directory for all your repair, decorating, party planning, cleaning or moving needs, and much more!

Immediate Positions Available • Parts Room Attendant • Dispatcher • HVAC Technicians/Installers Competitive Wages And Benefits. Email Resumes To info@osicomfort.com Or Call 516-763-1400 For More Information EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted $18.50 NYC, $17 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 personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. 347-713-3553 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Full time position available. Will train but applicant must have knowledge of excel and understand accounting and finance. Well established company over 30 years at same location near JFK Int'l Airport. Contact: applicantsubmissionrequest@gmail.com with a resume and available times/days you can talk. Thank you ASSISTANT TEACHERS - INFANT TODDLERS PRE-SCHOOL. IMMEDIATE. P/T-F/T. High School Diploma With 2 Years Experience Working With Children. Merrick Location. 516-867-7404.

Help Wanted

EDITOR/REPORTER

The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to careers@liherald.com

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The Jewish Star, the quality Jewish newspaper in NY metro, is considering candidates for its top editorial position. The current editor is stepping down to devote more time to the publication's business side. The position requires community news experience and familiarity with and sensitivity to Jewish issues. Jewish Star readers are primarily (though not exclusively) Modern Orthodox Jews with a strong attachment to Israel.

$18.50 NYC, $17 L.I., up to $13.50 Upstate NY!

Phone: 347-713-3552

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

1130238

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

AUTO VALET

FT OR PT MORNINGS

Checking Cars In, Parking Cars And Vacuuming Customers Cars Clean Drivers License A Must Benefits. Gregoris Nissan Call 516-872-9755, Ext.1 Or Email Resume gregmotor@optonline.net BOOKKEEPER FT/PT: Position in Direct Marketing Ad Agency. Bookkeeping/ intermediate Excel experience required. Must be accurate, thorough, trustworthy. Includes Medical, dental, 401K. $36K-$40K. Email resume: jobs@incrementalmedia.com

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CASHIER/ STOCK PERSON FT

For Busy Grocery Store In West Hempstead. Call Carol/ Steven 516-489-6926

Help Wanted

GRAPHIC ARTIST

PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

(GARDEN CITY) Richner Communications, Inc., an expanding Long Island publisher and commercial printer seeks a Graphic Artist. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ad design and layout, editorial layout, photo scanning and photo color correction. Candidates must be creative and have a good eye for design and detail, and should be able to remain motivated under pressure, as ours is a deadline driven environment. Must also be able to work well with others, and possess a flair for typography design. Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite and Mac OSX required. Previous newspaper experience a plus. The position is currently remote due to COVID-19, but will transition to our state of the art offices in Garden City. We offer paid time off, health plan and 401(k). Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter with salary requirements and resume to careers@liherald. HANDYMAN TRAINEE ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER - P/T, Repairs Gardening. Car Necessary. Reliable, Trustworthy, & Work Alone. 516-485-6738

IMMEDIATE HIRE DSP’s for Day Hab 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR Paraprofessionals, HS General Education Teachers & PartTime Adaptive Physical Ed Teachers Kulanu Academy Cedarhurst, NY 516-569-3083 ext. 235. OFFICE HELP PT: Computer Literate. Answer Phones, Packing, Process Orders. B a l d w i n D e n t a l S u p p l y C o m p a n y. 516-783-7800 PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER Part Time; 2-3 full days per week, nights and weekends a must. Duties include: Patrols throughout the Village, issuance of code violations citations. Qualifications: HS graduate or equivalent. Valid driver’s license with satisfactory driving record. Contact: Inc. Village of Atlantic Beach 516-371-460

PRIVATE DRIVER NEEDED

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Restaurant Staff Needed Line Cooks, Prep Cooks Dishwasher, Servers And Bus Boys

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JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, It’s inESTATE the Herald Classifieds... REAL & MORE... To Advertise Call 516-569-4000 JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... press 5

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 1130872

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MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

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A. As I often must say, you need permits, but I also know that it’s a licensed professional’s job to provide a legal service. As people who are not enforcers, we professionals walk a fine line, trying onte eeper to prepare what can be filed for doing work legally, with you, the property owner, the responsible party to follow the law. It’s always a concern when clients are pricing out the penalties for getting caught instead of intending to do things the prescribed way, but because government has placed a remedy for the problem that isn’t as extreme as the loss for being patient, you’re opting to follow the penalty route instead. You would rather ask for forgiveness instead of permission. That being said, the system of getting government approvals leaves most people wondering why they ever tried to do the “right thing.” Yes, there are multitudes of requirements, and to do the project correctly requires at least five or six lengthy stages — planning, plan review, plumbing review, electrical, plumbing and building inspections, and often the need for resubmitting documents or reinspection. The system of approval is arduous enough, but then it gets even more complicated when you don’t phrase questions properly after waiting 40 minutes on your third phone attempt. The permit fees vary from $100 for smaller projects, like decks or sheds, to a few thousand for second-story additions where the first floor is nearly gutted. In your county there are over 70 building departments, and all require plans to be given full review and inspection, whereas New York City has one department in each borough, and “self-certification” to prevent the logjam of waiting months to get a permit. With self-certification, the architect or engineer submits documents, taking responsibility instead of the building department, a system I have always questioned because it means that you, the consumer, are completely in the hands of the same person who prepared plans, kind of like the fox guarding the henhouse. The second-party independent government review is reduced in that system. Fines are usually a few hundred dollars to $1,000 for the offense in your community, while New York City charges $1,000 per day or more for offenses, as a comparison. I see work done without permits every day, and too often see missing components, like connectors or reduced insulation, etc. That penalty is worse than a court can assess. Good luck!

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Q. The pandemic caused prices to go up, and we really need to work on our home. We know you’d tell us we need a permit, but we have to save everywhere we can. I want to know whether we can get permits just for some things we do later. We’re doing the work ourselves, and have relatives helping who do plumbing and electric to make it possible to save money. How much are permits and, if necessary, fines? Ask The What are the penalties for Architect the plumbing and electric work, too?

1128743

© 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.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

HERALD

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HErald

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Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

opINIoNS

covered the Bellmore-JFK High School Homecoming parade in the fall of 2004, photographing the revelers and floats as they headed from the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station off Sunrise Highway to the Bellmore Avenue school. It was a sunny day, full of carefree teenagers. I could never have imagined then that day would haunt me still. All journalists who’ve been in the profession a while have stories they can’t shake. You might think you SCoTT had locked them away at the back BRINToN of your brain, but they reappear without warning, leaving you in a state of disbelief or sadness or anger. Thinking back on that Homecoming parade leaves me feeling all three. Covering the recent West Hempstead Stop & Shop shooting, in which 49-yearold Ray Wishropp, a father of seven from Valley Stream, was killed and two others were injured, sent the memories of that parade streaming back. That day, I snapped photos of Carol Kestenbaum, a 17-year-old JFK senior, as she drove the Homecoming king and queen in her white convertible. A little

more than two years later, Kestenbaum was shot dead while studying education at the University of Arizona. She had warned a friend that the young man she was dating seemed unhinged. The 22-year-old found out about the warning, killed Kestenbaum and her best friend, Nicole Schiffman, another Kennedy High graduate who was studying journalism at the University of Maryland, and then took his own life. Schiffman had come for the weekend to celebrate Kestenbaum’s 20th birthday. They were among the tens of thousands of Americans who have died in a perpetual cycle of gun violence in this nation. I held back tears when I covered their funerals on a cold winter day in 2007. They were buried side by side at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon. I knew Carol’s mother, Rita Kestenbaum. In 1999, she won a seat on the Hempstead Town Board. She lost it in the next election, but remained active in local politics for years after that. At the JFK Homecoming parade, she walked behind her daughter’s car from the train station to the school, beaming with pride. Her daughter was the first person I knew to die of gun violence. Her death leaves me feeling unsettled to this day, understanding how suddenly and sense-

lessly a life can be taken in this country. Wishropp was a Stop & Shop manager. Nassau County police said his alleged killer, a 31-year-old Hempstead man, had sought a transfer to another supermarket. When he didn’t get it, he left the store, but returned 40 minutes later and started shooting. I’m a runner. Last Saturday, I ran to the top of the giant hill at the Town of Hempstead’s Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick, where there’s a human sun clock dedicated to Carol Kestenbaum. You stand in the middle of the circle, where a rectangular stone block forms the centerpiece of this hallowed ground. The 12 months are marked on it. On a sunny day, if you stand on the month you’re in and raise your hand straight to the sky, your shadow will point to a number from one to 12, giving you the approximate time of day. “The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time,” reads the plaque in honor of Kestenbaum. I sat enjoying the 63-degree weather on a sunny, windless day. The azure sky stretched out before me, with wispy cirrus clouds high above. I could hear the creaky windmill to my left spinning, its moving blades forming a frenetic shadow on the seashell-coated path before me. In a grassy patch to my right, a family — a mother and father, their children and the

he deadly Stop & Shop shooting took me back to a Bellmore Homecoming.

kids’ grandparents — had spread out a blanket to sit and talk and laugh. It all felt so normal, peaceful, a world away from the chaos of gun violence that had erupted at the West Hempstead Stop & Shop April 20 and in Arizona all those years ago. Kestenbaum, who wanted to become a teacher, would have loved the sound of children at play, I imagined. Then a loud shot rang out, I believe from the gun range just across the Meadowbrook Parkway in Freeport, piercing the quietude, an eerie reminder that guns are never far away in America. As I ran down the hill to head home, I heard three more pops of a gun in rapidfire succession. Then again, and again. The shots continued as I ran out of the park. I had heard them many times before while at the preserve, but had never paid much attention to them. Now I wanted them to just go away, never to be heard again. I only wish our elected leaders at the federal and state levels might sit in Carol Kestenbaum’s circle, soaking up the normalcy of everyday life and imagining this young light of the world extinguished in a heartbeat. How would they vote on gun-control legislation then? Scott Brinton is the Herald Community Newspapers’ executive editor and an adjunct professor at the Hofstra University Herbert School of Communication. Comments about this column? SBrinton@ liherald.com.

Why are young girls mean to one another?

ime-travel with me. The year was 1957. We had just moved to Cedarhurst from Queens, and it was the first day of class at Number Three School on Broadway. I slid into my chair in Mrs. Haggerty’s sixth-grade classroom, and knew I would fall out of the same chair, dead, in a minute if I couldn’t get away from the stares and whispers of the other girls. After a few minutes of mounting distress, I burst into tears, thus condemning myself to an entire school year of teasRANDI ing and ostracism KREISS and bullying. You can’t cry. It just feeds the frenzy. In 1957 there was no counseling, no help, just day after day of preteen hell. I was actually one of the few, possibly the only, sixth-grader in America to get the “black spot” from a clique of girls in the class. Do you know your “Treasure Island”? The pirates passed a piece of paper with a black spot on it to someone about to be killed. So, did It make it better that I was the target of a literary group of

mean girls? When I opened the folded-up note left on my desk and saw the black spot, I knew I was doomed. I wasn’t your regulation kid. I couldn’t help that. The other girls were consumed with “American Bandstand,” a daily live TV dance show out of Philly. They followed that program, and the real-life teens who appeared on the show, with a devotion I could neither fathom nor fake. I just wanted to come home after school, cut up a few oranges and retreat to my room with a book. Reading “Gone With the Wind,” I consumed a small grove. Eventually I made friends and kept friends and got married and had children and then grandchildren. What is a troubling issue in my granddaughters’ lives? Mean girl power plays, cliques and the popularity drama humming beneath the radar of most parents and teachers. Girls are still forming exclusive groups in elementary and junior and senior high school; they are still finding someone to be “it”; they are still causing other girls enormous emotional stress and anxiety. And it is mostly girls. Boys interact in entirely different ways. Of course, there

are bullies and guys’ cliques, but girls seem to deploy meanness in more creative and devastating ways. I asked a few of my friends if they remember if they were mean girls in school, and every one of us recalled whether we were in the cool, mean group or with the uncool outsiders. And everyone who copped to being mean acknowledged that they knew it was wrong, but they were afraid that if they didn’t join the power clique, they would become a target. Pretty savage equation, isn’t it? Meanness equals survival. In the decades since I survived the black spot, psychologists, educators and parents have studied the relationships among young girls and defined the behaviors and the interactions. But the meanness still exists in the whispers and the pacts to leave someone out and the comments on someone’s unacceptable clothes or habits or affect. There are attempts at discussion groups and sensitization groups and psychological services in the schools, but the toxic comments have leapt to the internet, where it is so much easier to target a classmate, anonymously and persistently.

hen I opened the note and saw the black spot, I knew I was doomed.

“Mean Girls,” the show and the movie, was hilarious, intuitive and sharp in its send-up of the popular girls who reigned supreme at a typical American high school. The production, which was, first of all, entertainment, glossed over the real pain young girls feel as victims of a meangirl power surge. Rosalind Wiseman, author of “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” urges parents to look at their own behavior, how they talk about neighbors or friends and the capacity they model for accepting people into their circle. Other suggestions she offers: Stay engaged with your child. Realize it isn’t only other kids who are the mean girls. Contact the school and calmly convey your concerns. Band together with other parents to discuss the issues. I’m not sure what to say to my own granddaughters. Perhaps remind them to keep talking to the trusted adults in their lives. Perhaps remind them that they are surviving a once-in-a-generation pandemic with courage and grace, and they can survive this, too. Look at me. I got the black spot 64 years ago and I’m still here. I don’t even remember the names of the girls who tried to ruin my sixth-grade life. Copyright 2021 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

The story that haunts me all these years later

Herald editorial

Merrick

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

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For goodness’ sake, get vaccinated

e’re steadily getting there — herd immunity, when a minimum of 60 to 70 percent of Americans will be vaccinated against Covid-19. As of press time this week, about 34 percent of New Yorkers had been fully vaccinated, a number roughly equal to the national percentage. That’s good, but not necessarily great. Here’s why: Officials at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the vaccination rate has slowed in recent weeks, and if the percentage of inoculated Americans continues to drop each week, we may be unable to reach herd immunity by summer’s end. That would be bad. So much of what we held dear during pre-pandemic times — the ability to work and earning a living, visit family members and friends, take in a ball game or concert — hangs in the balance. Mercifully, we have seen a major drop in the number of infections across New York state over the past month. That trend, officials said, is due in large part to widespread vaccination of New Yorkers. It also may partly be a function of the slowing spread of the virus as warmer weather sets in. Officials had predicted that winter would bring the highest levels of infection and death, and it certainly did, peaking on Jan. 8, when the U.S. saw 259,564 new Covid-19 cases. Following that peak, health officials said, we would see a decrease in cases, with summer predicted to bring the lowest levels of infection since the pandemic erupted here in March of last year. Already we have seen the overall infection rate across the state fall below 2 percent, with only the Finger Lakes and western New York seeing rates slightly above that figure. The infection rates in the Capital

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letters Keep up the vaccinations To the Editor: Last week Nassau County reached a vital milestone in our quest to defeat the pandemic: Half of the county population had received at least one shot, including two-thirds of adult residents. I am proud of the collective effort being made by the Nassau Department of Health, hospitals and community partners to get shots into the arms of residents. If we keep up our vaccination progress, we will save more lives, get our economy fully reopened sooner rather than later and enjoy a normal summer. We can do it, Nassau! LAURA CURRAN Nassau County executive

Walk in or schedule an appointment All New York state mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers ages 16 and over for walk-in vaccinations on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only, with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. All vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walkin appointments for those eligible. People who would prefer to schedule Region and Southern Tier have already fallen below 1 percent, with Long Island not far behind, at 1.4 percent. All of this, of course, is excellent news. But will it lead to vaccine complacency, with unvaccinated New Yorkers falsely believing that the virus is gone for good, leading them to think they don’t need the shot? To be clear, even if we see the positivity rate drop below 1 percent — as it did last summer — the virus will not be gone unless we reach herd immunity. Unless a substantial majority of the state is vaccinated, we will risk the possibility that the virus will lurk among us and return with a vengeance, as it did this past winter. So, we are pleading with those who are on the fence about whether to be vaccinated to get the shot. This is truly a matter of life and death for thousands of your fellow citizens. Beyond that, all of our livelihoods depend on our ability to earn a living in a thriving economy. Our economy will not be fully rid of the current governmental constraints until the virus is at last vanquished.

an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible app or by calling (833) 6974829. They may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule an appointment where vaccines are available, or visit vaccinefinder.org to find information on vaccine appointments near them. Source: Office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo

State vaccinations by the numbers Total doses administered: 15,643,329 Doses administered over the previous 24 hours: 93,940 Doses administered over the previous seven days: 1,208,303 Percentage of New Yorkers with at least one dose: 46.5 Percentage of New Yorkers with completed vaccine series: 34.9 Statistics as of Sunday, May 2. Source: New York State Department of Health

Each of us will play a small but integral part in defeating the coronavirus. Winning the war will depend on whether average New Yorkers cast aside their lingering doubts and political allegiances and get the shot, which is free and accessible to anyone over age 16.

opinions

t was recently reported that a group of Rockville Centre parents accused a high school social studies teacher of criticizing police during class, and wanted her to be reprimanded. The district superintendent, without referring to the specific incident, wrote to parents, “Lessons and activities that create divisiveness or that marginalize anyone have no place in our schools.” The teacher did not attack police officers or call for police departments to be defunded. To aLan engage students in a discussion sinGer about police actions after the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial, she shared statistics about police killings of Black men. The superintendent is right that no lessons should marginalize a racial, ethnic or religious group, but it had better be OK to “marginalize” neo-Nazis and white nationalism. If the superintendent’s policy were implemented, that would mean eliminating from discussion any controversial issue that might challenge students to think, like women’s reproductive rights, racism in American society, climate change denial or citizenship opportunities for Deferred Action

for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients. It would allow a small group of parents to censor the curriculum, intimidate teachers into silence and cripple students’ education. The irony is that the Rockville Centre teacher was following guidelines outlined in the New York state social studies framework. An essential component of social studies education is teaching students to “respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims and evidence made on all sides of an issue, and resolve contradictions when possible; and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.” The Rev. Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at South Side High School in March 1968. Would he be banned today because his ideas on racism, militarism and poverty would make certain parents uncomfortable? Other cases involving teachers’ rights and responsibilities have recently been in the news. In San Clemente, Calif., a fourth-grade teacher was investigated after she took part in the Jan. 6 protest at the Capitol in Washington. She was temporarily suspended, and then reinstated after an investigation found no evidence that she acted illegally in Washington or

that she brought her political views into the classroom. I think her conspiracytheory politics are crazy, but she has the right to be a teacher. The same principles that protect her also protect the teacher in Rockville Centre. The Oneonta City School District upstate has a somewhat different issue that officials there are trying to sort out. Former students reported that a middle school social studies teacher gave them the finger and screamed obscenities when he drove by residents protesting the police shooting of a young African-American man. This case is difficult, because the teacher was acting, no matter how reprehensibly, as a private citizen. The district is now investigating him to determine whether there is evidence that his political views creep into his teaching, with students reporting that in lessons on the Civil War, he denied slavery played any role. If the accusations about his teaching are substantiated, he is directly contradicting the state framework that reads, “Westward expansion, the industrialization of the North and the increase of slavery in the South contributed to the growth of sectionalism. Constitutional conflicts between advocates of states’ rights and supporters of federal power increased tensions in the nation;

e can’t eliminate controversial subjects that challenge students to think.

Letters

GOv. ANDREW CuOMO

Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University. He is a former New York City high school social studies teacher and editor of Social Science Docket, a joint publication of the New York and New Jersey Councils for the Social Studies.

Framework by Christina Daly

New York is making Seeking justice progress on infections for George Floyd To the Editor: Last week, the statewide Covid19 positivity rate dropped to 1.49 percent, falling below 1.5 percent for the first time since Oct. 28. Every single day, New York state is moving forward in the race between the infection rate and the vaccination rate. More New Yorkers are getting vaccinated and hospitalizations are declining, which is good news, but we need New Yorkers to stay vigilant to ensure that we don’t lose any of the progress that we have made. Washing hands, wearing masks and staying socially distant are critical behaviors that each of us can practice, individually and in our communities, to slow the spread. In the meantime, New York is continuing to make the vaccine more accessible, and opening more pop-up sites. Spring is here, and we’re making progress, but there is a way to go before we reach the light at the end of the tunnel.

attempts to compromise ultimately failed to keep the nation together, leading to the Civil War.” In a joint statement, the president of the local chapter of the NAACP and a school board vice president said, “We are disheartened to hear of the allegations that an Oneonta City School District teacher drove by the demonstration in Muller Plaza on Sunday, yelling obscenities and flipping off the crowd . . . While people have the right to disagree with the demonstrators, it is important that those who work for the OCSD remember that while they are entitled to their opinions, they represent the district, and their actions reflect on their competency in the classroom.” The teacher is entitled to due process, but it appears he should have been investigated a long time ago. School administrators need to examine his lesson plans and monitor his teaching. If the district finds that racism not only shapes his politics, which is his right, but also affects how he teaches, he should be removed from the classroom, and the state should suspend his teaching certification.

To the Editor: For almost a year, we had been told that conscienceless former police officer Derek Chauvin mercilessly kept his knee on George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Now the trial has taught us that the actual time was 9 minutes and 29 seconds — an additional 43 seconds of torture. Just think about the most painful or frightening 43 seconds of your life, and how agonizingly and excruciatingly long 43 extra seconds of that would have felt and seemed. I suggest that to whatever prison time Chauvin is sentenced to, we add an extra 43 months, or, for greater justice, an extra 43 years. RICHARD SIEGELMAN Plainview

Nesting oystercatchers — Nickerson Beach

MERRICK HERALD — May 6, 2021

Maintaining a teacher’s freedom to teach

May 6, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

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