Merrick
HERALD Meet the school board candiates
local teen makes care packages
Basketball drills go virtual
Pages 6, 7 and 10
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Vol. 23 No. 23
JUNE 4 - 10, 2020
Hundreds call for justice for George Floyd Centre, was among the sponsors of the local protest. Bellmore resident and John F. Kennedy High School graduate Julia sbrinton@liherald.com Levine, a co-leader of Indivisible A coalition of Nassau County L.I., attended the rally, and handadvocacy groups organized a ed out fliers with phone numprotest, “Justice for George bers for protesters to text and Floyd,” outside the Theodore show their support. Roosevelt Executive and Legisla“This has to change — how tive Building in many more people Mineola on Monwill die?” Levine day. Nearly an hour said. “I want to before the schedmake an actual difuled 5:30 p.m. start ference.” time, people started Through Indito stream into the visible L.I., Levine demonstration, prosaid she hoped to testing the killing motivate a younger of Floyd by a Mingeneration of Long neapolis police offiIslanders to be cer. politically active. Shouting “I can’t “Through gaining breathe!” and branpolitical activity in dishing handmade my community signs, they arrived and generation,” from across the she said, “I’m hopcounty and beyond. KArEN lEViNE ing we can be more T h e p l a n n e d Bellmore-Merrick aware of our probdemonstration follems and act on Democratic Club lowed the Memorithem immediately, al Day death of instead of reacting Floyd, 46, an African-American after the fact.” man who died after a Minneapo“We felt if we don’t make a lis police officer, Derek Chauvin, statement, nothing is going to 44, pressed his knee into Floyd’s change,” said Julia’s mother, neck for more than eight min- Karen Levine, a member of the utes before he stopped speaking Bellmore-Merrick Democratic or moving. Club, which co-sponsored the According to authorities, event. “We have to get the mesM i n n e a p o l i s p o l i c e w e r e sage out that enough is enough.” responding to a report of a man “There’s an opportunity now attempting to pass a counterfeit that [George Floyd] didn’t die in $20 bill at a local shop. vain,” said Claudia Borecky, the Indivisible Long Island, forContinued on page 3 merly Indivisible of Rockville
By Scott BriNtoN, ANdrEw GArciA, dArwiN YANES and roNNY rEYES
Scott Brinton/Herald Life
MorE thAN 150 protesters came to Merrick Road in Merrick on Tuesday to send a message that “black lives matter.” Among them were this mother and child.
Tense protest ends peacefully in Merrick By Scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com
What started as a trickle of protesters lining up at 6 p.m. Tuesday in front of the Trader Joe’s on Merrick Road, in Merrick, quickly grew to a mass of more than 150, who prayed, chanted and shouted George Floyd’s name at passing cars, many of which honked back in response. “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!” they repeated in unison, along with, “No justice, no peace!”
Then the demonstrators, brandishing only cardboard signs, decided to move. That was when Nassau County police intervened to stop them, forming a wall of blue two rows deep across the sidewalk outside a Wendy’s to prevent them from moving. The protesters pleaded with police to let them pass, but the officers would not move. Many protesters knelt o n t h e p av e m e n t a n d implored police to join them. Still, the officers wouldn’t
move. The protesters g rew increasingly agitated, believing they were being prevented from exercising their right to free assembly. They were not, however. The police were waiting for more officers to arrive so they could form a human barrier between the protesters and a group of about 30 people who stood on the sidewalk roughly 150 feet away, shouting, “Tell them to go home!” Continued on page 4
w
e felt if we don’t make a statement, nothing is going to change. We have to get the message out that enough is enough.
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CoNtiNued from froNt page club’s president. “It’s an opportunity to build and start over.” Among the other co-sponsors were the Hempstead NAACP, the Freeport/Roosevelt NAACP, the Nassau County chapter of the National Action Network, the AntiRacism Project and Americans of Pakistani Heritage. Several college-aged protesters from Bellmore and Merrick attended the march as well. “We don’t stand for the injustice that is happening to people of color across the country,” said Bellmore native Cassie Riordan, a junior at Loyola University who attended the protest. “As one of the most segregated places in the country, it’s important to show solidarity to those struggling.” “It was really special to see such a diverse group come together in solidarity,” said Merrick resident Jackson Tarricone, a junior at Villanova University. “We are powerful when we are passionate and when we come in such great numbers as today.” “It’s not enough to not be racist. We have to be anti-racist,” added Jessica Rosen, a Colgate University junior from Merrick. As of Monday morning, protests against police brutality had swept across the nation, in nearly 70 cities, including in New York City, according to The New York Times. At times, they turned violent, as was the case in the city on Saturday, Sunday and Monday night. On Saturday in Brentwood, in Suffolk County, there was a peaceful demonstration, attended by dozens of protesters who practiced social distancing. On Friday, Nassau Couny Executive Laura Curran tweeted a statement on Floyd’s death. It read, “I was horrified after watching the video of the death of George Floyd and hearing his cries. I believe charges must be brought to ensure the accountability and justice all should expect in our nation.” Chauvin was charged with thirddegree murder and manslaughter, but as of press time Sunday, none of the other three officers at the scene had been charged. “This cruel act,” Curran continued, “does not represent the vast majority of police officers who, with professionalism and honor, serve and protect our communities. Nassau is committed to community policing because it works. Building trust works, and we always strive to do better.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo spent much of his Sunday coronavirus briefing addressing the protests that had turned violent, including in New York City. Racism is the central issue at hand, he noted. “People are outraged, and I understand that. I’m outraged,” he said, speaking of Floyd’s death. He said, however, that “violence never works.” “Burning down your own house never works,” he added. “It dishonors Mr. Floyd’s death. “The goal has to be effecting change,” Cuomo said. “Don’t tell me we can’t
Photos by Andrew Garcia/Herald Life
Nearly 1,000 protesters occupied the front lawn of the Nassau County Legislature and Executiv e Building on Monday.
change . . . Use this moment to demand real change.” According to the governor, people must demand that federal and state legislation be enacted to: ■ Prohibit local investigations of officerinvolved deaths. Any such investigation should be conducted by an impartial third party, he said. ■ Define one standard of excessive police force across the nation. ■ Require the release of officers’ records in cases such as Floyd’s death. “Be smart, be directed,” the governor said. “Help your community, don’t hurt your community. “George Floyd,” he said, “must not have died in vain.” Justin Dynia contributed to this story.
miChael ferNaNdez, top left, Tyler Belo and James Merchant expressed their solidarity. eve harari aNd Laila Kramer, above, came from Port Washington to join the protest.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Residents speak out against injustice
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Police standoff ends in peaceful protest continued from front page “The Black Lives Matter protesters were peaceful, nothing but peaceful,” said Clare Hunter, of Merrick, a Calhoun High School senior. “As someone who lives in Merrick, it’s disgusting to see people in our supposed family community be actively against an anti-racism protest.” “It’s terrifying, or disappointing, that such a group of people in such close proximity would stand against a demonstration for basic human rights,” said Rebecca Sirof, also of Merrick, a junior at Calhoun. Eventually, with dozens of police lined up to escort the protesters along Merrick Road, they continued to move, past the group of angry people shouting at them, before circling back to where they started. “Now that we came here to do what we did, spread the word,” Marian Lopez, of Baldwin, told the crowd. “All of you guys did a great job.”
Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald Life
Protesters marched on Merrick Avenue, in Merrick, to speak out against the police brutality that led to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. At left, police stopped the march before allo wing it to continue.
nassau county Police escorted the protesters past a group of about 30 people who had assembled on the sidewalk in front of them, left.
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Meet the six candidates running for a seat
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Jill Levine I have served as a trustee for the Merrick School District for six years. I have lived in Merrick for 20 years with my husband, Craig, and children, Josh, Sami and Rylie. I founded Forever 9-The Robbie Levine Foundation in honor of my late son, Robbie. I
Butch Yamali I am running for re-election to the Merrick School Board on a record of accomplishment, dedication and expertise. I will control district spending, ensure that all programs remain in force and provide for the safe reopening of schools in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. A member of the Merrick community for 20 years, I have served on the school board for 12 years and am a past-president. I am also past-president of the Merrick Little League. Today, I run the Dover Group, one of the largest hospitality organizations in the Metropolitan area. It consists of some of the most respected and long-running restaurant and catering businesses on Long Island, including The Milleridge Inn, The Coral House and Peter’s Clam Bar. My experience with the Merrick School Board has proven invaluable to our families and children. Merrick schools are rated in the top 10 in the state and top 100 in the country. I have worked aggressively to constrain district spending while retaining small
currently work as the course coordinator of a graduate program at Hofstra University. During my 17 years as a parent at Lakeside School, I held multiple PTA positions on the Executive Board, chaired many committees and served as class parent every year. In the Merrick community, I am also very involved with my son’s foundation, the JFK Sports Boosters and, most recently, Bellmore Merrick Helping Our Heroes. I feel it is my responsibility to give back to the community that has given my family a wonderful place to live. As a current trustee, I am dedicated, experienced and open-minded when dealing with issues involving the different stakeholders in the community. I strive to do what is right while listening to all opinions. I am proud to be part of such a strong and respected school district, and hope to help lead the district in these unprecedented and ever-changing times.
class size. My credentials and distinctions are impressive, noteworthy and demonstrate a commitment to the well being of our region. I sit on the board of Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, am the president of the Freeport Educational Foundation and am a 2018 Inductee of the Long Island Business News Hall of Fame. During these uncertain and rapidlychanging times, we need a proven manager who can keep our children safe, address educational goals in an effective manner and control school budgets. I am the bestqualified person to accomplish these goals, and have already done so for many years. As we confront the coronavirus pandemic, I will do everything possible to secure CARES funds and other available federal funding to address district needs. I am the only school board candidate who has announced a plan to ensure the safe reopening of our schools for students and staff, which includes social distancing, regular sanitization of facilities and the use of personal protective equipment. I have always stood with families, students and faculty, that’s why I opposed the inflexible common core mandates. It is also why I am standing up against the Gates Foundation plan, which promotes an overreliance on online learning at the expense of classroom education. I have the experience, dedication and expertise to continue serving the residents of the Merrick School District. Please support me with your vote on June 9.
Lukas Gubba I have been a Merrick resident since 2006 with my wife, Lori, and twin 10-yearold boys, Benjamin and Zachary, who attend Chatterton Elementary School. Upon graduating from St. John’s University’s criminal justice program, I became an officer in the United States Army. As a paratrooper, I was deployed overseas during the Balkan War in an effort to assist in terminating the genocide of Albanians in Kosovo by then Serbian president Slobodan Miloševi. When I left the Army, I found myself at the base of the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001. That experience was the impetus for me to join the NYPD in 2003. In 2004, I
Erik Bashian I have been a Merrick resident since 2010 and am a parent of three elementaryaged students who attend Levy Lakeside Elementary School. My wife, Lauren Bashian, a physician at Long Island Women’s Healthcare in Bellmore, was raised in Merrick and attended Birch Elementary School. I am the owner of Bashian & Papantoniou, P.C., a local law firm, where I represent students and families in education-related matters as an attorney. I was named a “Ris-
transferred to the Nassau County Police Department. For the last year I have worked as a lieutenant in NCPD’s Bureau of Special Operations. BSO is responsible for plainclothes anti-crime enforcement and tactical operations such as hostage rescue, threat assessment, active shooter scenes and high-risk search warrants. I believe that my experience within the military and law enforcement, as well as the various safety and security trainings I’ve received regularly at the federal, state and local levels, will bring value and esoteric knowledge to the board. Friends and family have asked why I am running for the board. I do not directly benefit from it, like some may with a private practice or business. In fact, in my line of work, anonymity and maintaining a low public profile is preferred. But when Aristotle was asked, “What is the essence of life?” his answer was simple: “To serve others and to do good.” The reason I joined the Army, two police departments and the BSO is the same reason I wish to serve on the board of education: to serve others and do good. Please vote for me by mail on June 9 so that I may serve you and do good.
ing Star” SuperLawyer by my peers in the legal community for the past five years. My firm sponsors the Merrick Bellmore Little League, where I also volunteer as a baseball manager. I am an active participant in the Merrick community. Following Hurricane Sandy, I created and coordinated a donation pickup for residents with the help of local temples — my family is a member of the Merrick Jewish Center. Through the Nassau County Bar Association, I have also volunteered at Superstorm Sandy Recovery consultations and mortgage foreclosure clinics to help those in need. As mentioned, I am very active in the local youth sports leagues, and also coach for Merrick PAL soccer and the BellmoreMerrick Basketball League. I also previously served as the legislation chair on the Lakeside PTA Executive Board. I am a dedicated and caring parent who is committed to our community and its children. It is my goal to get our children back in school in person this fall. To learn more about my campaign please check out my Facebook page, @bash4schoolboard.
on the Merrick School District Board of Ed.
I have two children that attend Birch Elementary and one child who attends a special education program at Lakeside. I have always been committed to public service. I served as an Assistant District Attorney for almost six years and was later inspired to devote my legal practice to helping others navigate through the world of special education. I am also an active volunteer in our schools, a community leader and a strong advocate for children and families. I worked
Richard Soleymanzadeh I am running for Merrick school board again and hope that our Merrick friends will support my campaign. Now more than ever our local school board needs new trustees with fresh insight to navigate the uncharted waters ahead. My wife Debbie and I are the proud parents of three young children: a sixth-grader and first-grader that attend Lakeside and a first-grader who receives special services at Birch. I am a PTA member, participate in meetings, regularly volunteer at school
events, serve school lunches and coach little league. As a lawyer for 20 years, I pride myself on being able to analyze problems fairly and objectively, always taking a reasonable approach to problem solving and working collaboratively with others to achieve goals. I am also an educator at Hofstra University, and have taught at Nassau Community College and Brooklyn College. As a teacher, I am acutely aware of the skills students need to succeed, which must be cultivated and encouraged in their primary school education. My personal and professional life experiences give me unique insight into the important issues we face, and the concerns that are raised by parents, students and teachers in our community. I firmly believe that our school board should be comprised of trustees who have young children in the district, like me. The board makes decisions regarding school safety, virtual learning, services and programs and budgeting and taxes. These crucial and long-lasting decisions should be made by those whose children will be directly affected. I pledge to make myself available as though you were my client, to listen carefully to what you have to say, to understand your perspectives and to represent your voice in board meetings.
Community leader, attorney, advoCate for families
eleCt
niCole
VENDITTI for merriCK Board of education
facebook.com/vendittiforBoe
1091020
THE CHANGE WE NEED!
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Nicole Venditti
to unite parents, teachers, administrators and other community members to bring a Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) back to Merrick. In 2018, we chartered the Merrick School District SEPTA, of which I have proudly served as its first president for the past two years. In addition to founding SEPTA, I have lobbied with the New York State PTA in Albany on behalf of our school community, served on school site-based committees, have been a class parent and participated in the lunch program as a volunteer and chairperson. I believe I have consistently demonstrated the qualities our community needs in a board of education trustee, who can be trusted to help guide Merrick through the challenges that lie ahead in a post-Covid world. If elected, as a member of the Merrick Board of Education I will study and carefully evaluate policy and programs so that we, as a community, understand and can make informed decisions about the value they will bring to our children’s education.
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Businesses react to reopening as Phase One begins Phil TAvellA And Neda Farahmanda, of Philip Joseph Jewelers in Bellmore, are critical of the statewide plan that mandates small jewelry stores like theirs stay closed.
By AlyssA seidmAn and Andrew GArciA aseidman@liherald.com, agarcia@liherald.com As projected, Long Island began the Phase One reopening of its battered economy on May 27, paving the way for construction and wholesale trade companies to restart operations, along with retailers for curbside pickup only. It came as a sigh of relief to business owners in Bellmore and Merrick who have been forced to adjust to state-mandated protocols since mid-March. While some companies got the green light to go back to work, others are still in limbo until Phases Two and Three take effect. “It’s a little confusing, because there are certain businesses that don’t fall under those industries” described in the phases, said Femy Aziz, president of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce. “We’re having a general meeting via Zoom with Dennis Grossman [president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce], who will give us better guidance into these reopening phases.” Aziz owns Serengeti Design Studios in Merrick, and has clients come in by appointment only to comply with socialdistancing rules. She has also ordered sneeze guards for the front counter, and plans to install touch-less hand sanitizer machines throughout the store. When customers visit, they are asked to wear masks. While reopening is a plus for the local economy, Aziz said business owners must do their part to advertise the measures they are taking to maintain safe and healthy work environments for both themselves and their customers. Otherwise, she said, “People are not going to feel comfortable,” she said. “Even if you’re a part of the phases, you shouldn’t reopen until you’re ready,” Aziz added. “If we want to continue doing what we love, we’re going have to make adjustments, and consumers have to be socially responsible, too — it’s a two-way street.” BiCounty Electric in North Bellmore was shuttered throughout April due to the coronavirus pandemic. The small business employs electricians who work on small service calls, home renovations and improvements and large-scale construction jobs. BiCounty’s comptroller, Laurie Rezny, said the reopening is “a good thing.” The business had to apply for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program, but as the region reopens, Rezny said she is hopeful that customers will start to come back. “We weren’t the ones to take a loan before,” she said. “It’s been kind of slow, but we’re hopeful that a lot of people will continue with renovations.” Robert Ginsberg, president of On The Safe Side Inc., a security systems provider in Merrick, said his company has been operating at “half-steam” since the start of the shutdown. He said he believes Long Island is well-positioned to reopen, noting the number of Covid-19-related deaths and hospitalizations has “been on the downswing.” “Certain people are still edgy about having us come to their house for a service
Alyssa Seidman/Herald Life
call or an installation,” Ginsberg said, adding that he and his technicians follow proper safety protocols at work, “but a lot of people seem excited to move forward — I myself want to move forward.” Phil Tavella, owner of Philip Joseph Jewelers in Bellmore, has also been operating at limited capacity. When the store fully closed at one point, he was still receiving calls from older clients looking to have pacemakers and watches fixed. “We follow safety protocols, and someone comes in maybe once an hour,” he said. “I can’t see why we can’t do that.” Tavella was critical of the statewide plan that mandates small jewelry stores like his stay closed, while larger outlets, such as Target and Costco — which also sell jewelry — have remained open. “Here, everything is one-on-one, versus when you go to Costco and there are 10 or more people in line,” he said. “Why are they allowed to open when everyone else can’t, even though we follow the same rules?” The reopening the economy will play out by region in three distinct phases hereafter: Phase Two (professional services, finance and insurance, retail, administrative support, and real estate, rental and leasing); Phase Three (restaurants and food services beyond takeout and delivery); and Phase Four (arts, entertainment and recreation, and education). If the number of deaths, hospitalizations and new Covid-19 cases remains stable or declines for two weeks, a region can move on to the next phase of reopening. “As more regions of the state begin reopening,” Cuomo tweeted, “we are carefully monitoring health data to make sure that everything is going in the right direction. We rely on science and data to guide us — not emotion or politics.” Cuomo emphasized that personal behavior will determine the success — or
Courtesy Femy Azizt
Femy Aziz, owner of Serengeti Design Studios in Merrick, is seeing clients by appointment only and making sure to sanitize before and after e very consultation. failure — of the reopening process. “The trajectory,” he said, “is decided by people.” He repeated that people should wear masks in public spaces, wash hands frequently and maintain social distance. “We
want [the] economy to come roaring back,” he said. Scott Brinton contributed to this story.
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Meet the North Merrick BOE candidates
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Ed Corona My wife Marianne and I have lived in North Merrick for 26 years. We have a grown son living in Philadelphia and two collegeaged daughters attending SUNY Oneonta and St. Joseph’s University. I believe my unique qualifications provide me with the skills and experiences to be a successful school board trustee. My 34 years of teaching high school math provides me with the knowledge of how public school districts operate. As the coordinator
Lisa Katz I have lived in North Merrick with my husband Glen for 21 years. I have three children; two currently attending the district’s schools, and a recent college graduate. I served on both the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District and North Merrick School District Boards of Education three years ago. During my time on the board, I worked with three different superintendents and was fortunate enough to
of Nassau County High School Track and Field, I have worked with administrators from all the school districts in our county. And as a retired person, I know the challenge of being a resident living on a fixed income. My three years as a trustee on both the North Merrick and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School Boards of Education have taught me how to listen to and work with administrators, my fellow trustees and the people of my community. I am proud of our accomplishments during my term on the board. The past two years we produced school budgets that had budget-to-budget increases that placed in the top four lowest of the past 20 years. We’ve enhanced our technology and created new programs such as our Mental Health and Wellness Coalition for students and families. Like all residents in North Merrick, I am concerned about the effects that this pandemic has had on our children and our community. Help me provide the students in North Merrick the experiences they deserve to prepare them for a successful future.
serve alongside knowledgeable trustees who had more than 20 years experience. During that time, I gained valuable insight on the importance of being fiscally responsible. I know how important it is to listen to all residents I would be representing. When I served in the past, I took the time to speak to residents after board meetings. I believe that an effective board member is one who is transparent; in fact, everything a board does needs to be done in the public with few exceptions. I am an advocate for public education and have represented our community at legislative hearings and in front of the New York State Commissioner of Education. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has stated that state funding will be reduced and public education will be re-imagined. Going forward, the decisions made at the state level will have an even more significant impact locally. As a trustee, I will look for creative ways to maintain our current programs and retain our teachers and staff. I understand my role is vital to provide oversight for the district. It is a balancing act that I believe is crucial to ensure our children are educated and the taxpayers’ funds are properly managed.
Tracey Miller I am running for the Board of Education in North Merrick again because of my commitment to education. When I first ran for trustee three years ago, I spoke with Norbert Billig, a long-serving trustee who said, “Keep it about the children and everything will work out fine.” And that is what I feel I have done for three years. I am committed to keeping and furthering the transparency of this board. We are
Hali Herman I am thrilled to be running for a seat on the North Merrick Board of Education. North Merrick is a very special place and if elected, it would be my honor to serve as a passionate and dedicated advocate to help to continue to deliver a top-notch education to our children while remaining fiscally responsible and sensitive to our taxpayers. My husband Michael, a New York City teacher, and I have been North Merrick residents since May 2006. Our children, Brian,
committed to public discussions as shown by our work sessions regarding curriculum and programs in our district, our open budget meetings and the board’s willingness to answer questions during public comment whenever possible. Our budgets have always come in under the budget cap and balanced the interests of the taxpayers and the children that we serve. I am proud of the programs our school district offers to all children; excellence for all is more than a buzzword in our community. As a lifelong resident of North Merrick, I was educated in these schools as were my children. I feel that my service to the board is something I do with pride for my community. In addition, I have been involved in other North Merrick activities such as PAL and CYO soccer, the Boy Scouts of America Troop 351 and Calhoun football. I look forward to continuing to serve my community on the North Merrick school board.
23, and Elizabeth, 18, are graduates of the district, having attended at Camp Avenue School, Merrick Avenue Middle School and Calhoun High School. For over two decades I have volunteered in all things school- and youth-related, including our local PTAs, Girl Scouts, and BBYO. Professionally, I work for a case management program within New York City’s Department for the Aging, providing supportive services such as Meals On Wheels, homecare companions and financial guidance to the aging-in-place population. As a trustee, I believe it is important to listen to and work with stakeholders to deliver a solid, enriching education to our children while being fiscally responsible to everyone living in North Merrick. I want to work with fellow board members to maintain continuity and support growth in educational opportunities, while being cognizant of spending as we begin facing, what looks like, challenging financial times ahead. I trust that if elected we can do great things together. I hope I can count on your vote.
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
WE WERE HERE FOR YOU BEFORE COVID AND WE’RE HERE FOR YOU NOW.
Don’t put off seeking medical care, including elective surgery, in fear of COVID-19. Mount Sinai South Nassau has dedicated non-COVID patient care areas, including within our Emergency Department. All units have undergone a deep cleaning to ensure your safety. All patients undergoing procedures are tested for COVID-19 within three days prior to admission. Our frontline staff of physicians, nurses and support personnel are equipped with full Personal Protective Equipment to help halt the spread of infectious diseases. Your health shouldn’t be defined by COVID-19.
DON’T PUT YOUR HEALTH ON HOLD. COME WITH CONFIDENCE.
mountsinai.org/southnassau
Mount Sinai South Nassau is certified as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence (CoE) by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
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Photo top left courtesy of Jeff Basinger, Newsday.
Covid-19
hoMetown heroes John scannello cannello
Jennifer Krug reinhardt einhardt ennifer Reinhardt is the secretary of the East Meadow Kiwanis club and, since the pandemic began mid-March, she has been delivering meals to the community at McVey and Parkway elementary schools. The Kiwanis club has donated a rough total of $5,500 in food. Reinhardt has lived in East Meadow for roughly 30 years with her husband Jeff, a first responder with FDNY. They have three sons who are 5, 3, and 1. We’ve been working every week to deliver food, gift cards and other donations. We’ve been working with Island Harvest to get supplies and things that are needed for the schools to the community. The biggest thing for me is just making a different and doing my part. I’m lucky to be a part of such a wonderful club. I’m also on the PTA of McVey Elementary School. [Kiwanis has] been accepting donations and then we go shopping and deliver the meals on Fridays. Our president, Lisa Hallett, goes to [W.T. Clarke High School]. I deliver to McVey and Parkway [elementary schools]. We’ve been doing this for weeks and weeks, since this pandemic started. We make deliveries from the schools and anyone who wants could pick up from there. I drop it off before 9 a.m. and the schools put it out on a table for people to come and take what they need. It’s a group effort, our club is very active in the East Meadow community and do whatever we can do make a difference. We’ve been hosting virtual meetings on a biweekly basis.
seaford
W
owner, seaford Bagels
e have always been, in every decade we’ve been open, community-minded. Whether its PTAs, school clubs, Knights of Columbus, temples, anything, we’ve always been supportive of the community that has been so supportive of us. As a result of this pandemic, we were all worried about family, but I was also worried about employees. My employees were nervous. We had people without any source of income. There are more people in the community in the same position. I reached out to St William the Abbott and Donna Jebaily and said whatever you guys need, we got you covered. Depending on who Donna would send us to, we’ve been giving food and gift cards. We’ve given outright donations. We’ve given money for supermarket gift cards. This hit home. We know a lot of people who are or have been sick. We know people who have died. I’ve been on the other side of the coin. I know what its like to be broke, to be lonely, to be down to your last dime. Out of college, working at Grumman Air Space. I was divorced. I had no money for gas. I rode to work on a bike in a suit. I was eating macaroni and cheese and tuna fish. It was the generosity of friends and family that helped me out. Sandy, so I believe it’s our responsibility to give back.
hoMetown hero
hoMetown hero
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east Meadow secretary, east Meadow Kiwanis
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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On this week’s
Front Page
Peaceful demonstration met with detractors
see front page of main section
Thousands gather to demand justice for Floyd
see front page of main section
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FOOD GUIDE
2754 North Jerusalem Road North Bellmore, NY
516-679-4805 • 516-679-4806 • ElisasRestaurant.com
ELISA’S FAMILY MEALS PACKAGES
3-course meal ready to go as low as $49... serves between 4-6 people Leave the cooking to us with this super value, super tasty meal!
ELISA’S CURBSIDE PICKUP TAKEOUT & SAFETY Our newly expanded menu is available for lunch and dinner, we’ve added a bunch of heros and now our thin crust pizzetti is available everyday. Elisa’s has always taken cleanliness and food safety serious, and now more than ever we’ve increasing our vigelance. The use of gloves and masks to ensure your safety, as well as ours, and we request that you call upon arrival, we’ll bring the food to you. Because you’re more than customers to us, you’re family.
Take-away on tipping The pandemic has changed the way we think about how and when we tip
F
ar too many local restaurants will not be able to stay in business during the pandemic or reopen after we receive the “all clear” signal and life begins to return to a new normal. For many restaurant owners, business is down 95 percent. It’s almost unfathomable. If you do order take-out, consider tipping as much as you can. Tip at least 20 percent. However, if you can afford it, tip a lot. A whole lot! Say, even 50 or 100 percent. The money you give is helping them get through today and maybe even keeping them afloat for tomorrow. Do you really want to lose one of your favorite restaurants? If not, consider the money a donation of goodwill in hoping they can see it through this physical and economic pandemic. That way, when we’re given the all-clear signal, we can come out of our homes, gather together, and celebrate with our friends and family at our favorite restaurant — the one we helped keep open for just such a day!
Our new restaurant hours are Noon - 8pm Monday, and Wednesday through Sundays.
Dessert Menu Add a little extra to your order and surprise your family with desserts from Elia’s. Our entire menu is available for takeout. See our website for details.
Need a Bottle of Wine from the Bar? Our entire wine list and full bar are both available for takeout. See our website for details.
IN ADDITION TO OUR DINNER MENU ELISA’S SPECIALTY NIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOUT MONDAY: SHRIMP NIGHT
Choose any of the following shrimp dishes served with a choice of salad or soup du jour and accompanied by a side of pasta with tomato sauce or vegetable du jour for only $18.95
Gift yourself or someone special with a gift certificate Support your favorite restaurant by buying a gift certificate or even more than one to use after restaurants reopen. The restaurant gets to use your money now to help stay afloat, and you get a delicious meal to look forward to once they’re allowed to welcome dine-in guests again.
WEDNESDAY: CHICKEN NIGHT
Any chicken dish from our specialty night menu, served with a choice of salad or soup du jour, and accompanied by a side of pasta with tomato sauce or vegetable du jour for only $16.95
THURSDAY: PASTA NIGHT
Any pasta dish served with house salad for only $13.95
Visit our Web Site: elisasrestaurant.com to see our complete menu. Specialty night menus and our family specials.
Check out our Face book Page to see additional Weekly Dinner specials Created by Chef Paolo (Posted Every Thursday)
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June 4, 2020 — TO GO FOOD GUIDE — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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About that tip Any time you’re picking up a to-go order from anything other than a drive-through window, it’s standard practice to leave a gratuity for the service from the person who boxed your meal, made sure all is included, bagged everything, and then either had it ready at the counter for you or brought it to your car. Sometimes, all of this is done by one person, and sometimes it’s a team effort. Employees who earn tips have always relied on balancing out averages over the course of a shift or several shifts. For every miser who tips 10 percent, you might have a big spender who tips 25 or even 30 percent. In Continued on next page Above photo: Servers and delivery drivers are working hard so you can stay home and safe. Tip them generously.
Continued from previous page
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normal business, any given slow shift will be balanced by a busy shift that follows. For servers, they have an opportunity to build face-to-face rapport with the people they are serving, which can make all the difference when it comes to their tips. But the workers who have always suffered the most are delivery folks or takeout servers, because many people seem to feel that without the table-side service aspect, there is no need to offer more than a token gratuity, if anything at all. This has sadly gotten worse for some in recent weeks. With contactless pickup and delivery, without that personal touch of seeing the person who is giving you your food, some people have either reduced or eliminated tipping altogether. The same is even more true for people who are currently doing grocery deliveries. Most of the services that are facilitating these deliveries are not passing along service fees to their employees, so now is not the time to get penny pinching around your tipping. Be sure that you are being generous with all of the people who are keeping you fed.
WE OFFER DElivERY CURbSiDE CARRY OUt
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Excludes Uber Eats, Grub Hub & Chow Now. w/ coupon Not combinable. Expires 7/3/2020
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516-679-1313
1274 Wantagh Ave • Wantagh, New York
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FRESHlY SqUEEzED
THE LITTLE KISS - SEAFORD’S HIDDEN GEM
Italian Restaurant Family Owned & Operated Since 2001
We’ve Missed You and Hope All Is Well And Safe! Open For Take Out & Curbside Pickup
Inside Dining Will Be Available As Soon As Permitted Following Proper NY State and CDC Guidelines
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What you can do For starters, the most important thing you can do is remember that by going to work to make and package up the food you are picking up, doing your grocery shopping for you, or by going out to deliver your food to your home, the lowest paid people are quite literally putting their health and safety at risk. So, tip them accordingly. A minimum tip of 10 to 15 percent of your bill for grocery delivery and 20 percent of your bill to a restaurant is the least you should be tipping. If your bill is very low, be extra generous, especially if your food was delivered to your home. That $18 pizza that showed up magically on your doorstep, without you having to put on a mask and gloves and get in your car and drive to the pizza place? That has got to be worth at least a $5 tip, and frankly, if you have the means, $10. That $100 bag of groceries that required someone go into a store and shop for you while physically distancing, taking twice as long as it normally does, that is worth at least $15, and again, $20 to $25 if you can afford it. Take into consideration any extra challenges, whether it is a delivery from a restaurant that is far from you, or if your delivery requires entering a building, going through security, etc. The more complicated the delivery, the more contact points for your delivery person. The higher the risk, the higher the tip. Ditto for grocery shoppers; if your order is extra complicated, or very heavy, up that tip amount.
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June 4, 2020 — TO GO FOOD GUIDE — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Tipping etiquette has changed Here are some of the most important things to consider about gratuities during this time. Overall restaurant sales are a fraction of what they used to be. It is more important than ever to realize that if the restaurant is doing 25 percent of their usual business, the staff is making only 25 percent of their usual salary, and if they are a tipped employee, an even smaller fraction of their tips. Not every restaurant has a consistent group of customers. For newer restaurants, or restaurants that don’t serve a particular community, people do not feel the same personal connection as they do to one that’s been around a long time or with a loyal local customer base. It is one thing when a restaurant is the spot where you are considered a regular, or where you go for special occasions and feel an emotional connection; it is something else when you are just trying to get dinner on the table. For places that do not have that nostalgia attached, consumers seem to be tipping less. Delivery people often have to pay for their own expenses. It might seem like no big deal for someone to pick up your food at the restaurant or at the grocery store and drop it at your doorstep. But did you know that many delivery drivers are covering 100 percent of their vehicle expenses, including gas? And often, the “service” or “delivery” fee associated with your order is not passed along to your delivery driver. Sometimes that goes to the restaurant to offset packaging or other overhead expenses. Sometimes, it goes to the corporation on the other end of the app or web site.
FOOD GUIDE
TO
FOOD GUIDE
June 4, 2020 — TO GO FOOD GUIDE — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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PIPELINE IS OPEN!
AND EASIER THAN EVER WITH OUR NEW MOBILE APP!
DRINK COFFEE, KEEP GRINDIN’
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OPEN 7 DAYS 1090456
1887 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh, NY
516-785-5000
318A Sunrise Hwy, Rockville Centre, NY
516-205-8040
e
diREctoR, St. JanE FRancES dE chantal Food pantRy Wantagh
le Ruth Melendez has been through her share of emergencies. As the long-time head of social ministries and director of the parish food pantry at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, she remembers events like Hurricane Sandy and the recession of 2008-09 as if they happened last week. But those disasters pale in comparison not only to what she has seen, since the beginning of the Covid-19 onslaught, but also to what she believes is coming now. “The cushions people had from evictions or power shut-offs are starting to expire, but a lot of people are just as badly off today as they were yesterday,” Melendez said. “They’re going to be facing the same kind of insecurities —or worse. “We’ve seen the need grow during the last two months beyond what I could have imagined. Thank God for all our friends in the community who’ve helped us. “[President] Cathy Powell, of the [Wantagh] Chamber of Commerce and [Second Vice President] Marilynne Rich started a T-shirt campaign that’s raised $6,000 for us so far. And all our usual donors have continued to give, plus a lot of new ones, and not just from our parish. A man from the synagogue [Temple B’nai Torah] called to ask what he could do to help and brought us a wonderful contribution.
i
MERRick nyu WinthRop hoSpital MinEola
’ve been a nurse at Winthrop for more than 14 years. The outbreak of Covid-19 changed a lot at the hospital. We’ve had to use almost every bed; it’s really unprecedented. But our medical staff still takes great care of patients. All the way down to the cleaning staff, everyone at Winthrop works together. As nurses, we have to worry about bringing the virus home to our families. Everyone has their ritual — many take off their uniforms and sanitize themselves before going into their house. A room was established at Winthrop where you can change before leaving for the day. I work about three days a week and work night shifts. The virus is downtrending right now, and now that things are opening up, I’m concerned about people being out and about. We have to be smart about it, because there could be another outbreak. I’m an assistant manager, so I oversee all of the nurses. Everyone, at the heart of it, is taking a toll from the outbreak. It’s especially hard on young nurses just starting out, hoping that their patient survives. It’s very emotional. Luckily, we’ve had traveling nurses from almost every state, including Alaska. Moving forward, I want everyone to be safe. I know everyone wants to jump outside, but we have to do it wisely. While it’s affected many of the elderly, there are also young people who have ended up on respirators — you can never tell who will be hit the hardest.
hoMEtoWn hERo
hoMEtoWn hERo
Questions we’ve been asked...
SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION
Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?
Leo F.
KEARNS , Inc. Funeral Directors
Thomas L. Kearns, Patrick J. Kearns, Paul C. Kearns-Stanley
(516) 794-0500 or 1-800-640-9500 (NYS)
ke Keepsa n Editio
2020 OF
PRESENTED BY
PUBLICATION DATE: JUNE 25 • SPACE & COPY DEADLINE: JUNE 11
SAY CONGRATS TO OUR GRADS: While 2020 grads can’t walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive their diploma — and they may not be able to celebrate their achievements with family and friends gathering from near and far —graduation remains a special time worthy of recognition. FAMILY & FRIENDS CONGRATS ADS:
$75 for an Eighth page ad (5” width x 3” height) To place an ad email: cmyers@liherald.com
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There is absolutely no fee or other charge in New York State when you make “prearrangements”. Moreover when you pre-fund those Thomas L. Kearns arrangements through the Pre-Plan Trust there is no additional expense in establishing the trust account. A trust account that remains under your control and your funds are FDIC insured. No commission, no set-up fees, no extra expenses. Just accurate, helpful information, and a plan that conforms to all New York State Regulations and SSI-Medicaid regulations as well. An enhanced rate of interest on the Pre-Plan Trust enables us to guarantee the funeral home costs when a complete funeral is arranged and paid for. If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions. You’ll receive clear answers, and itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind.
CALL 516.569.4000 EXT. 250 OR YOUR SALES ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters ElE Ruth MElEndEz ndE nd E aMy dEMMEt t BEthpagE
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Teen makes care packs for health care workers
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
14 sixteen-yeAr-old GABBie GoldBerG, of Merrick, recently donated handpacked care packages to health care workers at Mishkon, a group home for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She dropped off the donations to Mishkon’s Assistant Director of Residnetial Services Israel Levy, far right.
By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com
Photos courtesy Jodi Turk-Goldberg
After her uncle, Eric Turk, died f r o m t h e c o r o n av i r u s i n A p r i l , Mer rick resident Gabbie Goldberg organized an ef fort to help comfo r t t h e h e a l t h c a re wo rke r s at M is hkon in B oro Park, Brooklyn , where he was living. T h e g ro u p h o m e p rov i d e s re s i dential, medical and therapeutic
c a re t o i n d iv i d u a l s w i t h i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d d eve l o p m e n t a l d i s a b i l i ties. Last week, Gabbie, 16, a junior a t Jo h n F. Ke n n e dy H i g h S c h o o l , delivered personaliz ed care packa g e s t o t h e f r o n t l i n e wo rk e r s a t Mishkon. To fill the bags, she collected donations and purchased i t e m s l o c a l l y. S h e a l s o h a d s o m e help from business owners in the a re a , wh o d o n at e d t h e i r g o o d s t o be packed into the packag es. The contents of the bag included: ■ Yo gi Tea bags ■ Personalized water bottles ■ H o m e m a d e l i p b a l m s ( d o n at e d b y S u n s h i n e Yo g a & E s s e n t i a l Oils) ■ H a n d - s ew n m a s k s ( d o n at e d by Runway Couture) ■ We t B r u s h e s a n d h a i r c a r e p r o d u c t s ( d o n a t e d by D e L a M e r Salon)
MAKE YOUR GIFT DOUBLE AND SAVE TWICE AS MANY LIVES!
■ Various moisturizers and body care products ■ $20 gift cards to Dunkin Donuts and Amazon ■ Tote and drawstring bags with customized name tags ■ Nip-sized white wine bottles (donated by Sip N’ Say) ■ Dove chocolate bars G a b b i e ’ s m o t h e r, J o d i T u r k Goldberg, thanked the owners for contributing to her daughter’s f u n d r a i s e r. “A b i g t h a n k yo u t o Esther Guada gno Didonna (De La M e r ) , K i m Towe r s ( Ru n w ay ) a n d Ter ri Cohen-Lieber man (Sunshine Yo g a ) , ” s h e w r o t e i n a F a c e b o o k post. “ T h a n k yo u a g a i n t o eve r yo n e who helped make this project possible,” Gabbie added.
Join North Shore Animal League America on June 10 for Giving Day and help us save twice as many homeless dogs and cats. Swiffer® will be doubling donations – dollar for dollar – up to $150,000! **
MAKE YOUR GIVING DAY GIFT GO 2x AS FAR: OR CALL TOLL FREE: 877.472.8373
** Gifts given now thru 6/14/20 count towards our giving day!
IF YOU DON’T SAVE THEM, WHO WILL?
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animalleague.org/givingday the BAGs included a variety of self-care items, some of which were donated by local businesses.
Proposed BMCHSD budget totals $166M agarcia@liherald.com
Voting on the 2020-21 BellmoreMerrick Central High School District budget will take a different form this ye a r, a s ab s e n t e e b a l l o t s w i l l b e counted in lieu of in-person votes. The $166 million spending plan has been crafted to alleviate as much burden on homeowners as possible, with a 2.56 percent tax-levy increase that is within the state-mandated cap. However, it is higher than last year’s 2.17 percent hike. To offset taxpayers’ burden, $6.7 million would be appropriated from the district’s fund balance, higher than last year’s $6.1 million appropriation. Use of the district’s reserves would also take a $545,000 jump from last year to $6.15 million. The appropriated amount is “quite a bit,” said Superintendent of Business Kate Freeman, “but we’re hoping expenditures won’t be as high as we a n t i c i p at e t h e m , a n d t h e n o f course we wouldn’t have to use those reserves.” The $260,000 projected increase in aid from New York state comes in the form of building aid, according Freeman — no foundation aid is in place in the plan. State aid will likely not be impacted, as was a concern of offi-
■ Expansion of Mandarin classes to 11th graders ■ Lab materials for chemistry and living environment courses ■ A re-designed computer science program ■ New VEX robotics kits for middle school engineering classes
Christina Daly/Herald Life
ThE $166 mIllIoN spending plan has been crafted to alle viate as much burden on homeowners as possible, with a 2.56 percent tax-levy increase that is within the statemandated cap. cials in earlier weeks, Freeman said. The proposed budget maintains all of the district’s educational pro grams and initiatives, including technology initiatives that helped smooth students and teachers’ transition to digital learning. Engineering, robotics, coding and Advanced Science Research will also return next year if
the budget is approved. There are a number of additions in the plan, as well, including: ■ AP Research, the second course in students’ AP Capstone program ■ A Prep Academy housed at Brookside
The district’s par tnership with South Oaks/Northwell Health would also continue. The agreement is part of a renewed focus on students’ mental health, in which South Oaks psychiatric social workers visit schools to connect teenagers with psycholog i s t s, p s ych i at r i s t s o r t h e r ap i s t s through the Northwell network. Residents also have the option to approve a $751,808 transfer from the district’s capital reserve fund, which would go towards resurfacing tennis courts and parking lots, replacing doors and locks in all buildings and installing new floor and ceiling tiles a t We l l i n g t o n C . M e p h a m H i g h School and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue Middle Schools. If approved, the expenditure would have no tax impact on residents.
HERALD
We want to honor your grad! BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT Visit https://liherald.honormygrad.com to post and for more information
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Post a FREE photo and listing of your grad’s sports, honors and activities — or make a splash with family photos, highlights and more! Opportunity to publish in June 25 HERALD Class of 2020 Issue.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
■ Expansion of the electrical training program
By ANDREW GARCIA
15
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JFK student offers ‘coach-ial’ distancing sessions
June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
As her sophomore year at John F. Kennedy High School draws to a close and her Sweet 16 birthday approaches, Sarah Klein is keeping busy and doing her part for the good of others during difficult times. While social distancing, she’s also “coach-ial” distancing to help young hoopsters develop their skills. Inspired by her love of basketball, Klein hatched an idea to offer virtual training sessions for K-8 students while donating to a good cause. She isn’t accepting cash in exchange for her services, but rather raising money for Island Harvest Food Bank. “I wanted to give back to the community and give kids a platform to develop their skills,” Klein said. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was four years old and have had great coaches. I’ve been thinking about all the kids missing out on getting the kind of coaching I did when I was growing up.” Klein, who also plays soccer and lacrosse, earned a spot on the Lady Cougars’ varsity basketball roster this past winter as a shooting guard, and helped the team make a run to the Nassau County Class A semifinals. The south Merrick resident reached out to her teammates and
coach, Mallory Palmieri, in April to notify them of her “coach-ial” distancing plan. “Everyone thought it was great and they’ve got my back if this starts to get really busy,” Klein said. “So far I’ve been able to handle all the sessions on my own, but my teammates have been very supportive and are willing to help if needed.” The program, which launched on May 12, helps develop kids’ skill sets through one-on-one Zoom sessions. Each 30-minute session focuses on dribbling and shooting exercises. “I’ve got a hoop setup on my driveway and everyone who’s done a session so far has also had one,” Klein said. “I’ve had a bunch of kids for more than one session and some have scheduled weekly sessions on the same day and time each week.” In just over two weeks, Klein conducted 15 sessions and raised $400 for Island Harvest by accepting donations via Venmo (@coachial-distancing). She chose to contribute to Island Harvest after seeing a news report that showed a long line of people in need lined up outside the food bank. “I’m happy with whatever someone can donate, and it’s been really great to see how kids have improved from session to session,” Klein said. For more information, email sarahcoachialdistancing@gmail.com.
KENNEdY HIgH ScHOOL sophomore Sarah Klein is offering virtual basketball coaching sessions and donating proceeds to Island Harvest.
Courtesy Lauren Klein
Volleyball standouts qualify for nationals caLHOuN HIgH ScHOOL freshmen Ella Maldonado, near right, and Julia Lawrence play for Academy Volleyball Club’s top 15-year-old team.
After training with Academy Volleyball Club for the past year, Calhoun High School freshmen Ella Maldonado and Julia Lawrence qualified for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships. Scheduled to be held over a 10-day span (June 25-July 4) in Dallas, Texas, the championships were canceled on May 21 due to Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines. The Academy 15 Red Team, coached by Billy Quinn, was ranked second in the New York-New Jersey region. In addition to indoor nationals, North Merrick residents Maldonado and Lawrence are looking forward to qualifying for the Association of Volleyball Professionals Summer Beach Junior Nationals in Atlantic City if the event takes place as scheduled (July 27-Aug. 2). It would be their third year participating. Both girls have been training in isolation since the shutdown began in mid-March. Maldonado is a setter/libero and has already played two years on Calhoun’s varsity team. Lawrence, an outside hitter, has one year of varsity experience.
Courtesy Kris Maldonado
Courtesy Angela Lawrence
Compiled by Tony Bellissimo
17
OBITUARY
Charlotte For man, a longtime resident of Merrick, died on April 15, 2020, after a brief illness. She was 89. Charlotte was married to her late husband, Harry For man, for 62 years. Together they had two daughters, Dr. Sheila Forman and Dr. Marilyn Jacobowitz. Born in Germany, Charlotte was an extraordinary woman who made the courageous choice to come to America after World War II and build a new life with Harry. She devoted herself to others and was the matriarch of a beautiful, successful and loving family. She leaves behind her daughters, son-in-law Dr. Glenn Jacobowitz and grandchildren, Bryan and Lauren. She will be deeply missed.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Charlotte Forman, longtime Merrick resident, dies at 89
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D GAZETTE — April 12, 2018
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GLEN COVE HERAL
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Homes
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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19
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Homes
HERALD
1090818
HERALD
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Q. We met with three architects, three contractors and an interior designer and also went to our building department because we just want everything to go smoothly, with no problems, since we’re doing a big job, adding a full second floor on our cape, a family room, garage and kitchen extension. The problem we’re now facing is that we got a lot of the same answers from everyone, but we also got a lot of conflicting information. One contractor and the interior designer told us that many things we were doing could be done by them, and the architect would just draw from their sketches. The building official told us basics, but Ask The said it’s best to speak to the Architect architect (we choose). Family members who have used the interior designer say they’re very knowledgeable and can handle everything, but some of the answers didn’t square with the building official. We’re very confused, so how do we sort out what advice each one is giving us before we start?
Monte Leeper
A. I know I’ve written this many times, that when I sat in classes in architecture school, design studios, art classes, art history, physics and calculus, I never knew that what lay ahead for me was that others who have no background, no qualifications and only a smidgen of training would be the ones to wrongly steer the projects I would be developing. I thought I’d be able to freely create. Instead, I often find that I have to spend most of my time trying to straighten out messes, fill out paperwork and try to troubleshoot. Why this happens isn’t a mystery. Armed with computers and the internet, everyone who wants to believe they can design and solve building problems feels empowered. In any endeavor, there must be one responsible leader. The word responsible isn’t to be taken lightly, because it doesn’t mean the one most easily able to dump the blame on. That individual must be the most capable of solving every angle of the project, starting with the most restrictive issues, like the law, otherwise known as government regulations, and also the laws of nature, such as structural, mechanical and technical issues. Who would that person be? While the interior designer may be comfortable and confident at advising you about space planning and finish selections, can you trust them to engineer the building loads, snow and wind loads or even the project’s energy and ventilation calculations? And while the contractor is great at hands-on problem solving, putting every detail of the building together, will they be able to follow all the regulations and be called on to sign documents guaranteeing your safety? Government, at every level, has imposed a ton of restrictions on the building process, mostly as a reaction, over centuries, to building disasters. You must decide whether overly confident, under-qualified people will be there not only to be creative, but also to protect you. Good luck!
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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OpiniOns
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ur country is suffering through the worst health crisis since the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, and the worst economic crisis since the 1929 crash and subsequent Great Depression. Under a federal government emergency program dubbed Warp Speed, scientists are offering hope that promising vaccines will beat back the coronavirus over the next year. In the meantime, the economic damage America has suffered needs a similar major ongoing commitment from Washington. alfOnse Much has already been done d’amaTO to help keep the economy functioning during the past few months of lockdown. Congress has enacted over $3 trillion in support, including substantial help for both workers and businesses. The Payroll Protection Program provided major grants and loans to small businesses to keep them afloat and able to retain workers. Yet even with this help, 40 million Americans are out of work. The jobless are being helped with a $600-a-week federal supplement in addition to state unemployment benefits, but this program will expire in two months.
The economic situation shows no sign of getting better soon. White House economic advisers project that unemployment could top 20 percent before the economy begins to revive. And the chairman of the Federal Reserve has pointedly noted that even though the Fed has already pumped $2 trillion into the financial system, “It may well be that the Fed has to do more,” Jerome Powell told “60 Minutes.” “It may be that Congress has to do more … [to] help businesses avoid … insolvencies and … do the same for individuals — keep workers in their homes, keep them paying their bills. Keep families solvent.” That’s very important advice from the world’s most powerful banker. Congress and the White House should take it seriously and act on it. The key to achieving another round of federal stimulus relief will be a willingness of all parties to put aside political differences to deliver meaningful help to the country. That means the Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives should drop its insistence on loading up the next relief bill with every item on the liberal wish list. The rescue package should focus on continued funding of research to defeat the coronavirus and support for a strong economic recovery. President Trump and the Republican
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leadership of the Senate have signaled their support for additional federal spending during this extraordinary crisis. Yes, the deficit and the national debt will climb, but failing to resuscitate our economy could have even more dire economic consequences. The economy right now is like a Covid-19 intensive care patient hanging on life support. This is no time to argue about how much more effort should be made to save the patient. Washington should not get sidelined by political arguments. Here’s a prescription for dealing with the crisis:
es, the deficit and the national debt will climb, but that’s not the big worry.
■ Authorize generous spending on speeding up the development of a vaccine and a way to deliver it to every American as soon as it’s ready. ■ Provide another round of direct $1,200 stimulus checks to individuals and their dependents to help families pay mortgages and rents and put food on their tables. Trump has indicated that he’s open to this proposal. It’s worth the extra cost. Cash in the hands of desperate families is key to saving many from destitution. ■ Renew and improve the Payroll Protection Program with additional funding and key reforms to its operation. Small businesses, especially, need more flexibility on
how the grants they receive can be used. Keeping employees on the payroll won’t protect their jobs in the long haul if businesses are forced to close because they can’t meet other operating costs. ■ Along with reforming the PPP, convert the current $600 additional federal unemployment insurance supplement into an employment supplement. Instead of paying employees to stay home from their jobs, let’s pay them a “job bonus” to get back to work. ■ Provide substantial assistance to states and localities to help with the extraordinary costs imposed by the pandemic and to help them cover their operating costs. State and local tax revenues have dropped drastically since the pandemic began in every state. Helping them to keep providing critical services is not only reasonable, it’s necessary. That doesn’t mean writing a blank check to every state. ■ Finally, finally come to agreement on a national infrastructure program, putting jobless people to work rebuilding America. These are extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary measures. Washington must step up to the challenge, now. Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.
When, and how, do you recover a lost first kiss?
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here is no Plan B for young love. Through this pandemic, we are all living some version of Plan B, but my heart aches for our teenagers, for whom Plan B doesn’t work so well. They have been locked down and shut out by the Coronavirus, and they have far fewer coping mechanisms than adults. Some parents are struggling with teens who are sleeping all day or refusing to pitch in with chores. Being a teenager in the best of times is hugely inconvenient, and acting out is normal. I think any human who just survives the years between 13 and 19 reasonRandi ably intact is doing kReiss a splendid job. I actually remember what it was like to be 13. Everyone has his or her own hell. Mine was being tiny. I was so small that my mother couldn’t find “teenage” clothes in my size, so, of course, I hated my mother. I threw my Mary Janes at her one day because she thought I would put them on my feet and actually
be seen in public, when everyone knew that you don’t wear Mary Janes when you’re 13. I was generally miserable from ages 13 to 16, when I discovered boys and the pimples subsided and I fell in love. How might that have played out if we had gone through a global pandemic between 1958 and 1964, when I was “becoming”? I would have been holed up in my house with my mother and father and younger sister. We weren’t the let’s-bring-out-theMonopoly-board kind of family. Our parents didn’t play with us. They loved us and fed us and told us what to do. Sequestering without 600 channels of TV, no Internet and no phones would have been a claustrophobic experience. Today, kids do have many more opportunities to launch Plan B. They just don’t want to. No school? Well, heavens, in the virtual world, kids with access to the internet can tour museums, wander the galaxy, practice new recipes and star in musicals. Every day, I send my grandkids links to magic shows and master classes for
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kids and invitations to Facetime and books that tell the stories of teenagers who lived through adversity and came out stronger and bolder and happier. In other words, I send them stuff they ignore. And I understand the lassitude. I’m just doing the grandma thing, trying to engage, but part of me knows the kids are surviving as best they can. They’re suffering from the isolation, and they have no place to vent their anger and their fear because the cultural message is to push through and do your work and don’t complain when others have it worse. One of my grandkids is about to enter his senior year in high school, and I also remember what it was like to be 17, when passion ruled. Do you remember your first kiss? Take a moment. Remember. You were probably a teenager and I hope it was thrilling, and sweet. Now, teens are being told to social distance, a suggestion that is antithetical to their very existence. No kissing or fooling around for months, or a year? Being told that if you hang out with a friend or find love, you
eing told to social distance is antithetical to teenagers’ very existence.
might be endangering your family or killing your grandma? I have four grandkids in various stages of moving up in school. One is leaving elementary school for middle school. One is going from seventh to eighth grade, one is leaving middle school for high school and one is the rising senior. They have been “attending” school at home and passing the time as best they can, while parents weave in and out of their days and multiple screens shine an everlasting light on them. They are isolated from the only other human beings who know how they feel — other teenagers. I see them on Facetime and, really, they look slightly unfamiliar, a bit stunned, after days of little interaction with other people. I wish they would keep a diary or a photo journal. The gift they already possess is a great story to tell, but I understand the inertia of this moment. So, for now, kids, it’s enough just to get through, and you will Then, because you’re young and strong and smart, you will move on and make up for lost time. In the meantime, take notes. You are caught up in the drama of a lifetime. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
Americans need more help from Washington, now!
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Herald editorial
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We must end systemic racism to find peace
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wave of angry protests over the merciless alleged killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a wave of more than 70 angry protests in cities across the nation last week and into the weekend. The majority were peaceful, but others turned violent, with vandals looting and burning businesses. It was a sadly familiar scene, a nightmare that has been repeated time and again for decades. We must end this national shame. White police officers brutalizing and killing black men in their custody is criminal, period. Derek Chauvin and the three other officers who held Floyd down deserve to be sent to prison. As one African-American commentator rightly pointed out, what we witnessed in the cellphone video of the killing was the slow, painful lynching of a black man by a white officer in the light of day, surrounded
by witnesses. This was not Jim Crow America. This was Minneapolis, 2020. And what caused it all? A counterfeit $20 bill that Floyd was alleged to have tried to pass at a store. Yes, most police officers are good, honest and hardworking. Even one officer the likes of Chauvin, however, is one too many. Protests turned to riots over the weekend in cities across the country, including New York City. We must condemn the looting we witnessed. Rioting is wrong. It is illegal. It should never have happened. It also does nothing to accomplish peace. As a nation, however, we must pause a moment and reflect on why people in communities of color would, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo remarked, burn down their own house. We do not presume to speak for them, but we can imagine that the killing they witnessed turned long-simmering
anger into rage, and the riotous behavior was a way to vent it. It is a rage pent up not only because of a single killing, but also because of a longtime pattern of police killings. Taken together, they constitute what is called structural, or systemic, racism, the racism that is built into our very institutions: our police departments, our hospitals, our schools, our governments. Last year, the Herald undertook a nearly yearlong investigative series, “The Racism Around Us,” reporting on the structural racism in institutions here in Nassau County. The results were, in many ways, not surprising, but at the same time entirely shocking. The bottom line is that racism is to be found at all levels of our society, including in the media. Until we solve the issue of structural racism, our nation will never find the peace Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prayed for.
Vote ‘yes’ on Bellmore-Merrick school budgets
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he Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District has proposed a well-balanced budget that is within the state-mandated tax cap and stays below Nassau County’s average taxlevy increase. Under the tentative 2020-21 budget, the district would collect 2.56 percent more in taxes as compared to this year’s budget. The proposed spending plan maintains all existing programs and has some additions, but comes at a cost to the district’s financial reserves. The plan would appropriate $6.15 million from reserves and $6.7 million from its fund balance to support the proposed budget — $545,094 more for the former and $608,982 more for the latter when compared to this year’s numbers. It is impor-
tant to note, however, that reserves are in place specifically to ease residents’ burden in times when it’s most needed, like now. Residents will also vote on a proposition that would allow the board to allocate more than $750,000 from capital reserves to put toward infrastructure improvements. Next year — hopefully inside the district’s many classrooms — students can look forward to new, exciting and enriching programs. Mandarin lessons will be extended to 11th-graders, the electrical training program will expand, Advanced Placement Research courses will be offered, and robotics kits will be more widely available. The district’s growing focus on students’ mental health will also continue, including its partnership with South
letters We can all do our parts To the Editor: It has been heartbreaking not being able to be with my Ricky during this time at his residence for people with developmental disabilities. He has severe cognitive impairments, has never been able to speak and is now blind. He relies entirely on others for everything. That’s why, in all his 61 years, we have never gone this long without visiting his residence. During these frightening times, Ricky and most other vulnerable and defenseless New Yorkers are locked down and need direct caregivers, whose compensation does not reflect the essential nature of their work. Right now, so many frightening aspects of the coronavirus are out of our control. We don’t know who will be stricken, how our economy will fare and when this crisis will end. It’s a lonely time for so many of us. Through my many years of life and public service, I
Oaks/Northwell Health. Although the months of remote learning and increased reserve spending may be discouraging, officials have worked hard to propose a budget that seeks to put as little burden on taxpayers as possible. Throughout this pandemic, administrators and teachers have shown their commitment to the children of Bellmore-Merrick, and residents have seen how quickly this high-performing district can adapt. Support your school district by voting “Yes” on the proposed budget and its capital reserve proposition. Voters are encouraged to support the four elementary districts’ budgets, too, as administrators and trustees have labored over the spending plans throughout this unprecedented time.
A Tribute to All the Daves
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omehow, in April, I missed observing national Siblings Day, and then the time rolled by and along came Memorial Day. So I’m taking this opportunity to talk about my brother, David Kremer, and salute the many other brothers and sisters who really shouldn’t need a special day. This first week of June will mark a year since Dave (he liked that better) died at age 89. I’m sure that every one of our readers who enjoy a special relationship with a sibling understands how significant a role they play in JerrY our lives. Those kremer of you who are lucky enough to have a living sibling know how important they can be, provided you haven’t let some petty grievance get in the way. As a rule, most of us reach out to a sibling at almost any time of the day or week for a kind word or just reassurance that all is well. Two of my friends recently lost sib-
lings, and they described to me at length missed opportunities or a lifetime of strong bonds that are irreplaceable. All of their comments reminded me of my loss, and the fact that Dave is no longer a part of my life. A day doesn’t go by without a moment when I think about reaching out to him, just to exchange a few simple words. It took quite a few years for my brother to express his love, but getting older does that to people. Dave had a lot of unique qualities. He was the family historian, and had an encyclopedic memory of just about everything. He knew not only the day, but also the hour that I was born, and where he was as he anxiously waiting to greet his baby brother. He would regale me with facts about distant relatives and their family history. His knowledge of family trivia was bottomless. He had photos of relatives who I didn’t know existed. When I ran for public office, Dave was always there, pushing me to take care of all the minute details of success-
LetterS
arnmay be ard to little have found that when ough- things spin out of control and we feel helpless, those d ent to of us who pray certainly d res- should. After that, I always h-per- realize that while I cannot
change everything, I can change something, even if ing it’s a small matter. capiSo I buy dinner for the direct caregivers at Ricky’s also house at least once a week. I ncour- also reached out to Dr. Julie Bates and her staff at . Advantage Care Diagnostics & Treatment Center in Freeport. Dr. Bates and her amazing staff specialize in health care for people like Ricky, who can be so difficult to diagnose and treat due to their inability to communicate and their different way of perceiving changes in their health. Like so many health care professionals right now, Dr. Bates needed funding to protect both patients and staff. I donated $10,000 to help them with that. I also helped Plainview Hospital with a $5,000 donation in appreciation of the wonderful care they give people with special needs. I try to do something every day, like delivering food and helping organiza-
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ful campaigning. When I would arrive at some campaign event, he was waiting outside the building, staring at his watch and reminding me that I was two minutes late. He would usher me into the building quickly, making sure that I didn’t linger too long with a faithful voter. I consider myself a devout Yankees fan. I check the baseball scores whenever the team is playing, even if it’s early in the season and the games don’t really mean that much. I would spot him at some dinner listening to the game with earphones, while everyone else was chatting away. On days when I called him to announce some Yankee mistake or achievement, he would tell me he’d heard about it hours earlier. I always thought I was up on all things Yankees, but he eclipsed me. Last year, we decided we should observe Dave’s birthday at a place he would really enjoy. So as a family, we bought a bunch of tickets to Yankee Stadium on the week of his 89th birthday.
eep special family members close, no matter how far away they may live.
Framework by John O’Connell
tions that seek to make a difference during these very dark days. We have to remember, appreciate and recognize the abundance of good work being done right now by so many unsung heroes who are, together, making a massive difference in quality of life, illness outcomes and the emotional well-being of everyone they touch. You can make a difference. I’m doing it daily, and it goes a long way toward keeping my faith and perspective. It can be done. When you help others, you also benefit by not feeling so helpless in the face of monumental challenges.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 4, 2020
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The plan was to get his name on the scoreboard and salute him for another milestone in his life. As fate would have it, he didn’t make it to the game. But the whole family went, and shared a special the 192 moment when his name flashed on the Depres screen. The nieces and nephews cheered emerge the loudest for Uncle David. scienti I write this not as a sad remembrance, but rather as a reminder of the importance of siblings in our lives. Having a special brother or sister can be an enormous blessing. It’s an experience that can’t be replicated, so long as you stay close to those special family members and are willing to meet them halfway on life’s issues. Make those short phone calls just to say hello. Keep them close no matter how far away they may live. If you’re lucky to have the right relationship, then every day will be national Siblings Day.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman few mo for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s enacte Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. ing sub He now heads Empire Government Strat- busine egies, a business development and legisThe lative strategy firm. Comments about vided m this column? JKremer@liherald.com. busine retain million jobless $600-a-w tion to this pr
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HARveY WeISenBeRg Long Beach Weisenberg is a former state assemblyman.
Can Cuomo do no wrong? To the editor: Re Jerry Kremer’s column “Cuomo puts the other guy from Queens to shame” (April 30-May 6): Yes, Presi-
A bundle of energy, still for a fleeting second — Bayville
dent Trump is brash, vulgar and rude, but governor Cuomo’s remarks and presentations receive universal praise, with some pundits floating him as a possible replacement for Joe Biden as the Democratic presiden-
tial nominee. Little is made of the fact that new York has the most Covid-19 deaths of any state in the nation — 28,168 as of Monday. By contrast, California had recorded 3,290, despite having more than twice new York’s population. very little prominence is given to California gov.
gavin newsom, compared wit Cuomo. I’m glad we live in a country wherewas lik we have the right to express ourown he opinions. small t PHILIP KIRKage” cl Sea Cliff hated m
at her o would
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June 4, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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