__________________ Merrick _________________
CoMMUNITy UPDATE Infections as of May 28
8,236
Infections as of May 24 8,227
$1.00 $1.00
HERALD
Teens find the perfect dress
Calhoun aims for conference title
Students go outside to write
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Vol. 24 No. 23
JUNE 3 - 9, 2021
PFY preps for a month of pride overcome “barriers,” Engel said, by accessing free virtual counseling from their homes, as well As Pride Month begins, PFY, as a variety of virtual events. formerly known as Pride for Other in-person services, such as Youth, is set to kick off the HIV and STI testing, are still month with a virtual event while available. continuing to serve the LGBTQ+ On Tuesday, PFY hosted Elecommunity. vate, Enlighten, Empower: A VirWhile its annual Pride Month tual Pride Celebration, featuring fundraiser is usualyouth performancly in person, the es, personal stories, organization will guest appearances stick with a virtual and a retrospective format this year, of the organizaeven as pandemic tion’s journey. restrictions continThe first three ue to ease. It’s a words of the departure from the event’s title were usual, but the new the goal for the normal has LGBTQ+ commuallowed the Bellnity, Engel said: elemore-based PFY to vate by showcasing cater to clients in many talents, ways it couldn’t DEVoN ZAPPASoDI enlighten by showbefore, according to ing what the comCo-director, PFY its director of Nasmunity and PFY sau operations, have been up to, Tawni Engel. and empower by sharing power“There’s a silver lining,” ful stories. Engel said. The pandemic has As of press time, the event been “devastating,” she said, had raised more than $28,000, “but we’ve been able to learn nearing its goal of $30,000. The about clients’ ability to access goal was increased once the our services. Some are young $25,000 mark was passed. and not out to their parents; PFY’s Pride After Dark will some don’t even want to ask.” New clients have been able to Continued on page 15
By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com
Andrew Garcia/Herald
Honoring the fallen At American Legion Post 1282’s Memorial Day ceremony in Merrick on Monday, Larry Levy rang a bell in honor of those who lost their lives in the country’s service. Story, more photos, Page 3.
N. Merrick residents worry that too many trees are disappearing By KATE NAlEPINSKI knalepinski@liherald.com
As Marcia DiTieri opened the gate to her North Merrick home one Friday afternoon, a mourning dove plopped onto the ground in front of her. The grayish bird attempted to fly off the lawn, only to spiral to the ground once again, its wing injured. DiTieri crouched down, inspected the creature, and sighed. In the following half-
hour, she made several calls to nearby animal shelters in an effort to find a home the injured bird, eventually finding one where she could drop it off the following morning. The mourning dove’s injury, DiTieri insisted, is a result of overdevelopment in Tiny Town. Once made up of small bungalows reminiscent of its Methodist revival community, the North Merrick Campground has been updated with larger homes on
subdivided parcels. The canopy of trees that once lined most streets has been chopped down, DiTieri said, displacing local wildlife. “It’s spring, and there’s baby animals in every tree,” DiTieri, a 35-year resident, said. “Their homes are being demolished . . . the developers are buying up these properties, cutting down every tree, subdividing, building these monster houses and then Continued on page 12
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t’s a space to gather and celebrate, but mostly it’s a space that they own.