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NMPL says goodbye to Tom Witt director last Friday. As he shuffled from room to room, completing last-minute duties, he North Merrick Public Library stopped to say hello to patrons staffers have had another reason who were browsing the stacks or to celebrate since making photocopreopening to readies. ers in July, after the “You’re here to coronavirus panprovide an environdemic peaked. Last ment and services Friday, librarians . . . that matter to held a sendoff cerepeople,” Witt said mony for outgoing of the job, “and Director Tom Witt, some people are who retired earlier real fans because t h i s ye a r a f t e r [the library] is working in librarimportant to ies for nearly three them.” decades. I n t h e e a rl y Although Witt, 1980s, Witt devel65, technically oped “a library retired in January, habit” while comhe agreed to stay muting to Manhaton until the board tan for his first fullhired a successor time job out of colthrough the Naslege. He frequented sau County Civil the Mineola Service Commis- Bill PEzzUlo Library so much sion. But when the that he was offered Former president, agency temporaria part-time clerk’s ly shut down in North Merrick Public position — and one March because of Library board of trustees of his co-workers the coronavirus there, Roland Carlp a n d e m i c, Wi t t ton, was the first offered his guidance for a while director of the North Merrick longer. library, he said. The Herald trailed Witt during his “last continuous day” as Continued on page xx

By AlyssA sEidmAN aseidman@liherald.com

J. Heck/Herald

JoHN F. KENNEdy High School senior Rachel Nossen, of Merrick, wrote an op-ed in The Cougar Crier, which called on the school community to end “gender marking” of its sports teams.

JFK athlete wants ‘Lady’ dropped from Cougars By AlyssA sEidmAN aseidman@liherald.com

A John F. Kennedy High School senior is calling on the school to stop referring to its female sports teams as the “Lady Cougars.” In an op-ed that appeared in the school year’s first edition of The Cougar Crier, the student newspaper, Rachel Nossen, of Merrick, argued that the title undercuts female athletes who work just as hard as their male counterparts.

Nossen, 17, is the captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team, and she plays varsity soccer. Earlier this year, the basketball squad advanced to the Nassau Class A semifinals for the first time in program history. And while the accomplishment was historic, Nossen said hearing the established “Lady Cougars” term both on and off the hardwood made celebrating bittersweet. “They’re recognizing how great we are but still saying the word ‘lady’ in front of our

team name,” she said. “It’s confusing because it separates our success from the Cougars’ success — they should be the same success.” Nossen started playing travel sports in third grade. In her op-ed, she explained that she was the only girl in elementary school who played basketball with the boys during recess. “The boy captains never picked me last because they knew I could keep up with them and score baskets,” Continued on page 9

e encouraged us since the day he came on, and constantly kept himself up to date on all the details and directives from the state as far as libraries are concerned.

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Library director was a ‘fantastic manager’ The recession of the early 1990s left Witt unemployed, so he decided to attend an open house at the Queens Public Library. He was hired there as a trainee under the promise that he would enroll in library school, and in two and a half years he graduated from St. John’s University with a master’s in library and information sciences. After seven years in Queens, Witt went on to hold directorships at the Island Trees Public Library and the Sea Cliff Village Library, and also served as assistant director of the Garden City Public Library before coming to North Merrick in 2009. Around the same time, Bill Pezzulo was entering his first term as president of the library’s board of trustees. “He was almost like a sixth board member,” Pezzulo said. “He encouraged us since the day he came on, and constantly kept himself up to date on all the details and directives from the state as far as libraries are concerned.” Witt’s guidance and grant-writing expertise helped the board achieve a number of goals over the past 11 years. The library received state aid to upgrade its roof, windows and restrooms, install an HVAC system and reconstruct the parking lots, Witt said. Its most recent additions — the Garden Room and café — have enhanced the library’s sense of community, Pezzulo said, and a stroll garden, planned for next spring, will make use of the property’s green space. “I had noted to the board that there’s no real park in town, and we have an opportunity here to have park-like grounds for people who just want to enjoy the outdoors,” Witt said. Inside the library, patrons have access to museum and park passes, e-readers and streaming devices, all thanks to Witt. He is also credited with starting the annual “Staff Breakfast” tradition, in which employees celebrating work anniversaries are acknowledged for their service. “It’s a real bonding experience,” he said. “We talk about all the things [we] have accomplished together, what we’re looking forward to in the future, and everybody gives a real cheer for their colleague.” Witt’s “craziest” memory from his time in North Merrick was opening the library on Election Day in 2012, shortly after Hurricane Sandy devastated the area. “Bill and I met outside at five o’clock in the morning and brought the poll workers in with flashlights” since the building was without power, he said. “That was so incredibly unusual.” Pezzulo said the library was fortunate to have a director like Witt. “Tom is a fantastic manager and a very talented guy,” he said. “He was a real professional to work alongside of. The staff really loved him, and he helped us grow as a board.” Witt, however, attributed the library’s success to its staff and trustees. He thanked his colleagues for helping him cultivate a welcoming environment within the library, and said the incoming director, Susan Santa, would do an excellent job in his place. One of the things Witt looks forward to in retirement is, unsurprisingly, reading.

Photos by Alyssa Seidman/Herald Life

library staffers, above from left, Stephen Kursar, Kelly Rechsteiner, Taylor Smith and Jeff Baker joined Witt, center, in the adult reference section on his final day of work. Witt With a schematic of a stroll garden, left, that will be constructed on the south side of the building next spring. It is one of many projects he has overseen to help enhance the library.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

north merriCk publiC Library staff held a retirement party last Friday for outgoing director Tom Witt, who has served the community for the past decade.

Continued from front page

After-school sports practice, drills set to return By ANDREW GARCIA

October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

agarcia@liherald.com

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

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LAst moNth, pARENts and athletes held a rally in front of the Nassau BOCES Administrative Center in Garden City, the headquarters for Section VIII sports. “For us seniors, this is our last ride,” said Briana Sayoc, a soccer player at Wellington C. Mepham High School.

After-school sports drills are returning to the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, but in a limited, socially distant fashion. Starting Oct. 5, the five-week high school program will focus on “strictly skill development,” said Athletics Director Eric Caballero. Student athletes will have to practice six or 12 feet apart, depending on the activity, in a mostly individual form. Over multiple days a week, students will be able to interact with coaches and friends while honing their skills and agility, despite the distance. All activities will be held outdoors. “In an absolutely ideal world, we’d have the opportunity to provide for moderate sports, but we’re unable to do that,” Caballero said. “If things change, we’ll look into intra-squad stuff.” Last month, Section VIII, the governing body for Nassau County’s high school athletics, postponed all fall sports until Jan. 4, 2021. Athletes, parents and officials were critical of the decision, which was made only two days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued guidance permitting lower-risk high school fall sports, including soccer, tennis, swimming, field hockey and cross-country, to begin practice and play on Sept. 21. On Sept. 4, the Bellmore-Merrick board of education sent a letter to Gov. Cuomo requesting that individual school districts be allowed to operate high school athletics for the fall season. “We urge you to reassess your mandates and guidelines with respect to the fall sports season and physical education class requirements,” the letter reads. “As our ultimate concern is the health, emotional and physical well-being of our students, we hope to return to some form of normalcy, including the fall sports season for our students and student-athletes.” As of yet, no change to Section VIII sports has been made, despite the superintendents’ board issuing a statement that the decision will be reconsidered. “Section VIII is committed to reassess its position prior to the governor’s starting date of Sept. 21,” they wrote. “As always, we will act in what we believe to be in the best interest of the health and safety of all those in our charge.” On Sept. 9, the Massapequa school district filed a lawsuit against Section VIII, arguing that the decision harms the “mental, emotional and physical well-being of the athletes,” according to Newsday. If Section VIII’s decision is overturned, “we’ll be able to allow low- to moderate-risk sports,” Caballero said. “We’ll be able to move quickly and alter our plans.” “For some kids, they lost spring [sports] and now they’re losing fall, and still nothing is guaranteed,” he continued. “To say they’re disappointed would probably be an understatement. If it were up to them, they’d be competing for sure.”

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Advocates seek justice for Breonna Taylor By Briana Bonfiglio bbonfiglio@liherald.com

Black women were front and center at the latest Black Lives Matter protest outside the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola on Sept. 24. The protest primarily sought justice for 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot by a Louisville police officer in March. Officer Brett Hankinson was indicted on Sept. 23 on three counts of wanton endangerment for bullets that flew into a neighboring apartment. There were no charges in relation to Taylor’s death. One protester held a sign that read, “They charged the bullets that missed.” Others said, “Jail killer cops,” “Shut down racism and white supremacy” and “No justice no peace.” Another said “Defund the police” on the front and “Refund social services” on the back. Several local advocacy groups banded together to organize the rally, including the Long Island chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, LI United to Transform Policing and Community Safety, Nassau County Democratic Socialists of America, Long Island Black Alliance, NY02 Indivisible, Long Island Activists and Young Long Island for Justice. The protest began around 5:15 p.m. and led into a march about two hours later, after several Black Long Islanders spoke emotionally at the microphone. Nia Adams, a Long Island organizer, said she took the death of Taylor “very personally” — “the last 24 hours have been very hard for me,” she said. “The lesson that we are hearing out of Louisville is it is OK to break into a Black woman’s home,” she continued, “it is OK to murder a Black woman in her sleep, and it is OK to then attempt to slander and criminalize a Black woman after her death, and you will not be held accountable.” She added that Taylor’s death is not an isolated incident. “This is a culture that needs to change,” she said. “We need to … divest [from police departments] and reinvest in community solutions — into health care, housing and education. These are the things that matter. These are the things that keep us safe.” Shanequa Levin, founder of Women’s Diversity Network and member of LI United to Transform Policing and Community Safety, said she is “tired of having to give my kids ‘the talk,’” referring to the conversations Black parents have with their children to “teach them how to behave differently” when approached by a police officer. “I can’t take my Black skin off,” she said, shouting. “I can’t do that. I’m Black every damn day, and you see that as a threat.” Couple Devon Toney and Latoya Bazmore, community organizers from Brentwood, spoke about their own alleged experiences with police brutality. They said that they were beaten by Suffolk County police officers on the evening of Aug. 30 while hosting a barbecue at Ross Memorial Park in Brentwood for home-

Photos by Briana Bonfiglio/Herald

Many held signs in support of Black community members feeling hurt by the persistence of police brutality cases across the country.

shanequa levin, founder of Women’s Diversity Network and member of LI United to Transform Policing and Community Safety, vented her frustrations about how Black people are viewed in the United States. less, addicted and mentally ill community members. “I’m still traumatized by what went on that night,” Bazmore said, adding that she often sees people who are on the streets struggling being “brutalized by police.” Protest organizers made several demands, including dropping charges made against Toney that night; charging, arresting and convicting “all killer cops”; divesting from Nassau County police; reinvesting in community safety programs; and providing slavery reparations for Black citizens. Throughout the protest, the crowd took part in call-and-response chants, such as “Say her name, Breonna Taylor,” “When Black lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back” and “The people united, will never be defeated.” “All I want us to do is continue what we doing,” Bazmore said. “Don’t ever lose the fight in you.”

PeoPle of all ages, but mostly young people in their 20s and 30s, gathered outside a Nassau County legislative building in Mineola to protest the lack of charges against Louisville police officers for the death of Breonna Taylor. nia adaMs, a racial justice advocate on Long Island, spoke candidly about how the Breonna Taylor case has affected her emotionally.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE â€” October 1, 2020

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Coaches talk high school, college sports delays By Briana Bonfiglio bbonfiglio@liherald.com

High school and college sports coaches on the latest Herald Inside LI webinar discussed how Covid-19 has affected their programs — including new recruiting methods, alternatives to competitive gameplay and staying positive through it all. The virtual panel was live-streamed on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. and produced by RichnerLive, a division of Richner Communications Inc., publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. Herald Inside LI is a webinar series that aims to educate the community about navigating different aspects of life during the coronavirus pandemic. Local athletic coaches and officials joined the most recent conversation, including Chuck Priore, head football coach at Stony Brook University; Danielle Santos Atkinson, head women’s basketball coach at Hofstra University; Michael Rubino, head football coach and athletic director at Valley Stream Central High School; and David Viegas, director of health, phys. ed. and athletics in the Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District. Tony Bellissimo, sports editor of Herald Community Newspapers, offered opening remarks about the delay of fall sports because of Covid-19. “This has serious effects on schools and student-athletes,” he said, “especially the student-athletes in high school with an eye on playing at the next level.” Skye Ostreicher, of RichnerLive and Herald Community Newspapers, moderated the event and asked the panelists questions — first, about their reactions to the delay of high school and college sports. “It tears me apart to not see our kids and be at their games,” Viegas said, “but I think the focus had to be on getting us back into school, and now that we’re there, staying there, staying open.” The other panelists agreed that though it must have been a tough decision for university officials to make, health and safety must be the top priority. “We need to make the most out of it and figure out how to move this process forward,” Priore said. A big concern among high school athletes is losing game time that could be recorded and sent to college coaches, or

Courtesy Herald Inside LI

CloCkwise from top left: David Viegas, director of health, physical education and athletics at Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District; Skye Ostreicher, Herald Inside LI moderator; Michael Rubino, head football coach and athletic director at Valley Stream Central High School; Danielle Santos Atkinson, head women’s basketball coach at Hofstra Universit;y and Chuck Priore, head football coach at Stony Brook University discussed how Covid-19 has impacted the college sports recruiting process on Sept. 23. that recruiters could attend to watch them play. However, the panelists each gave advice to those student-athletes looking to continue their sport in college. “We have learned different ways of recruiting and outreach,” Priore noted. This means using online platforms to connect with colleges, rather than in-person meetings, tours or visits with college officials at competitions. Both Priore and Atkinson said they use social media to learn more about prospective players. They also said that they would accept videos of players demonstrating their skills, even if they are not in a game and are recorded by a friend or family member. College tours are also available virtually, Priore noted, as well as a wealth of information about the schools. Now that

prospective student-athletes are diving deeper into Stony Brook’s online information, “I honestly think the kids that we’re recruiting are benefitting from knowing Stony Brook better,” he said. Priore added that being able to hop on a Zoom call for recruiting purposes has been advantageous for his football players looking to enter professional leagues. “Today, we had 32 NFL teams on a Zoom call with [our athletics officials], showcasing our kids,” he said. “We’ve never had 32 NFL teams visit our campus, so our kids got more exposure this year than they normally would.” For high school students, Atkinson encouraged Zoom calls for getting to know potential teammates and coaches at colleges. “They’re able to get on a call and

come face to face with our academic adviser, strength coach and student-athletes, which was a great change,” she said, “because that’s one of the most important things — who are the people that I’m going to be surrounded by during my time in college?” Rubino said that Twitter is a great place for high school students to present themselves to coaches, as well, by adding information about the student’s academics and sports background. “It’s about marketing yourself in the best possible light,” he said. “Let [coaches] know what class you are and make it as easy as possible for them to recruit you.” Although games are not being played, college student-athletes have already begun training in small groups within their teams, while following health and safety protocols, with practices on the horizon. The college coaches noted that during the shutdown, not all the players had access to a gym to continue conditioning before playing. Thus, they are still getting all players on the same page before they start playing in January. “We had to stay in small groups as a football program, social distance and wear masks indoors,” Priore said. “From a training standpoint, our kids have really benefited.” High school student-athletes, however, are mostly still waiting to practice with their teams. Coaches are formulating plans to make this happen in the future. The panelists noted that without competitive sports in the fall, there is plenty of time to focus on academics, as well as maintain relationships with college officials to get recruited. “It’s not canceled; it’s just postponed,” Viegas said. “They’ll get their opportunity; they just have to be patient.” The panelists acknowledged that for student-athletes, many of whom have played every year since they were young, the change in plans could be overwhelming. Atkinson encouraged coaches and parents to discuss mental health with their student-athletes and to shed a positive light on the situation. “Everyone is just trying to stay positive, follow the rules, wear your mask,” Rubino said, “and then hopefully in the next few weeks, we’ll start to see some high schools generate plans where we can follow [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines and get [teams] back together a little bit.”

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Skye Ostreicher, of RichnerLive and Herald Community Newspapers, will moderate the discussion, which will guide first-time homebuyers in how to purchase a house. Panelists will also discuss special loans for first-time homebuyers. “I feel that getting knowledge out now is important for first-time homebuyers as they need to lay the groundwork for the home-buying and financing process,” Ferrero said. “Spending time up front learning from knowledgeable sources allows them to be educated, prepared and ready

to put a plan in place so that their firsttime home-buying goes well for them, both financially and emotionally.” Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, Douglas Elliman and Emigrant Mortgage are the event sponsors. To register, visit liherald.com/insideli. To submit your questions in advance, email insideli@liherald.com. To sponsor a webinar or for more information about Herald Inside LI, contact Amy Amato at aamato@richnerlive.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 224.

Athlete calls out ‘gender marking’ at JFK she wrote. “Still, today when boys or older men see me on the court, they say, ‘Wow, you don’t shoot like a girl’, or, ‘You’re very physical.’ What does that mean?” Nossen argues that while these comments may seem innocent, they perpetuate an age-old stereotype that sports are male-dominated, and ultimately undermine the skills and abilities of female athletes. “Society and the media paint girls [in] stereotypical feminine roles, and that’s not the case whatsoever,” she said. “I know how amazingly athletic girls can be, but they don’t get the same athletic attention as boys do.” In her op-ed, Nossen argued that women’s sports are treated as secondary since their competitions are gender marked — for example, the Women’s Final Four — and that these distinctions inadvertently bias viewers and fans. She added that professional female athletes also face gender discrimination in the sports world, citing the U.S. women’s soccer team’s 2019 lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation. In their filing, 28 team members described “institutionalized gender discrimination” within the federation that they say has existed for years, according to The New York Times. That same year, the team earned a record fourth World Cup. “They won the FIFA cup but lost the lawsuit,” Nossen said. Mallory Palmieri, Nossen’s coach, said she was moved by her captain’s op-ed. She agreed that gender marking women’s sports teams is “a little messed up.”

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

CoNtiNued from froNt page

“When I was in high school, people would use the term [Lady Cougars] when they wrote about us or announced it at a game,” Palmieri said. “It doesn’t bother me so much, but it annoys me . . . that my players feel affected by it. Our girls’ basketball team did a tremendous job this year, and it goes to show that anyone is capable of anything — we shouldn’t be demoted based on our gender.” The purpose of publishing the op-ed, Nossen said, was to raise awareness of a controversial topic, and in doing so, encourage people to “be more cautious” about the implications of gender marking. “What’s good about Kennedy High School is our principal is very aware and willing to make changes to better the school culture and environment,” Nossen added. “By working together, we can influence . . . the district to get rid of derogatory terms, and hopefully, throughout time, the culture will change.” Kennedy Principal Gerard Owenburg said Nossen’s op-ed mirrored the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died of cancer on Sept. 18. “I can’t help but think of the similarities in Rachel’s message and Ginsburg’s fight for gender equality,” he said in a statement to the Herald. “In the wake of Ginsburg’s passing, it should give us all a sense of hope that students like Rachel will lead the way for this generation of women.” Visit https://cougarcrier.blogspot.com/ to read Nossen’s op-ed, “Let’s Hear it for the Ladies, Cougars!”

Photos courtesy Rachel Nossen

the KeNNedy girls’ varsity basketball team advanced to the Nassau Class A semifinals this year, the furthest the team has gone in program history.

NosseN prepared to shoot from the foul line at a playoff game earlier this year. The 17-year-old has played varsity basketball since freshman year, and believes female athletes deserve as much praise and attention as male athletes.

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October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Herald ScHoolS

Photos courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

The Bellmore-merrick BroadcasTing team interviewed Mepham High School Principal Eric Gomez, above, on welcoming back students last month. michele spiller and AJ Fried, center, anchored socially distanced morning announcements, which were broadcasted to Smartboards throughout Mepham. BmB’s producTion Team, right, socially distanced in the control room.

BMB program maximizes on-air capabilities When school shifted online in March due to the pandemic, the Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting program made a collective decision to keep the cameras rolling. They posted 163 videos during the 90-day stay at home period. “I became the director and producer of our daily update show,” said senior Andrew Fried, who is now the news director. “I was up late working on the videos for each day, and it was a great learning experience. Along with the daily show, I also continued to host the morning announcements show.” BMB also livestreamed the district’s 18 high school graduation ceremonies in June, and even though the 2019-20 school year ended on June 13, students continued working throughout the summer, with editorial board Zoom meetings and a midsummer beach meet-up. In late August, BMB created a back to school special that highlighted the changes students and parents would expect to see in the district’s six buildings. With the school year ramping up, BMB has returned to its studio housed at Mepham High School to resume its busy production schedule. “We really just want to continue what we’ve been doing and make it better,” Fried added. “We want to show the district that we can’t be put down by challenges. We take what is

a look Behind the scenes of BellmoreMerrick’s broadcasting studio.

given to us and we work with it to get the job done.” The school year’s first mor ning announcements show was produced on Sept. 11, in which the team came up with a clever way to socially distance. “We appropriated our one studio into two areas,” said broadcasting teacher Stuart Stein. “We connected the two studios using network technology so it would appear that our hosts were together, but they were actually in separate rooms, allowing them both to be unmasked but appear to be on camera together.” In addition to the weekly update show,

the team had to fill a scheduling void left by the cancellation of fall sports. “We have a monthly, three-show shooting schedule,” said senior Sean Petraitis. “One week, we will film our show “Sports Talk,” where we will discuss professional sport leagues. Another week we will film “Talking Cookies,” an interview-based show about what is going on at Mepham. Lastly, we will shoot “What’s Poppin Pirates,” a comedy show that promotes school events. We will have our hands full of content for Mepham students and students all around the district to enjoy.” Twenty-four freshmen joined the pro-

gram this fall. Stein, along with colleagues Lisa Kalish and Matthew Russell, are seeking ways to create opportunities for upperclassmen to share what they’ve learned while maintaining social distancing protocols. “Like everyone, BMB is adjusting to this new reality, and we’re just taking things one day at a time,” Stein said. “We treat our shoots as hands-on real-world experience, and we really want our underclassmen to have an opportunity to learn on location from our seniors before they move on at the end of the school year.” — Alyssa Seidman

Neighbors iN the News Sixth g raders at Levy Lakeside School kicked off the 2020-2021 school year with an exciting science experiment. Melissa Robinson’s sixth-grade students took on the challenge of changing white carnations into rainbow-colored flowers using food coloring. “It was amazing to watch how a white carnation, a little food coloring,

Come Live Your Dream

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

Students create color changing carnations at Levy Lakeside School

some water and a love for science started off our year of questioning, wondering and exploring,” Robinson said. Above, sixth graders Harlan Chugerman, left, and Brooke Goodman used food coloring and water to create a bouquet of rainbow-colored carnations. Provided by Merrick School District; compiled by Alyssa Seidman. Are you thinking of moving to South Florida? Or purchasing a second home? My partner and I have over 25 years of living and selling real estate in South Florida. Resales, new developments, oceanfront, deepwater homes, condominiums and commercial real estate. Text me your email with your requests and info for a free search of your dream list. Come experience our stress free, truly sincere, selling environment. Come live your dream.

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Last month, friends Andrew, 5, left, Victoria, 7, Giuliana, 8, Adrianna, 2, and Sienna, 6, organized a lemonade stand to raise money for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Provided by Jessica Lane; compiled by Alyssa Seidman.

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County police officers and even NCPD Commissioner Patrick Ryder. Together, they raised more than $400 for the foundation. The 2020 Tunnel to Towers 5K Run and Walk will be held virtually this year.

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Last month, a group of friends from Bellmore and Merrick spent one of the last days day of summer selling lemonade and handmade bracelets to raise money for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The turnout was beyond anything the children expected — they were visited by family, friends, Nassau

To learn more aboutPaws Paws With With A toto find outout To learn more about ACause Causeand and find how you can help, just download this simple app and how you can help, just download this simple app and watch this story come to life: watch this story come to life:

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Bellmore-Merrick youngsters ‘squeeze’ the day for a good cause

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Covid-19

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Nicole ArtecA

liSA hAllett

WANtAgh PtA leAder, WANtAgh elemeNtAry School

eASt meAdoW PreSideNt, eASt meAdoW KiWANiS eASt meAdoW

e did two different nights of drive-in movies at Wantagh Park this past weekend for the kids. We held it at the pavilion, just past the miniature golf course. One was for the kindergartners and one was for the fifthgraders. We had the Friday movie for the babies, which was [Disney-Pixar’s] “Onward,” and then on Saturday we had “Back to the Future.” We had about 60 cars there. Hosting events like this and the Wantagh Elementary car wash we had about a month ago has been more difficult with [Covid-19] and not being able to use the school grounds. All the Wantagh elementary schools had different days for their car wash because we had to account for a lot of things. I am one of the fifth-grade chair members for the PTA. I also have a fifthgrader in the school. One of our focuses every year is to do fundraising for the kids up until the end of the school year. Unfortunately, [fundraising] has been affected severely. We can't use school property or indoor facilities, really, but we are still taking it as it goes and working hard.

rom March through the beginning of September, we’ve been distributing food to East Meadow schools. We would go shopping once a week in the early morning and get all the supplies and then drop [them] off at the buildings. We’ve also been working with Island Harvest to get donations for the schools. Once school started again, Jennifer Reinhardt thought of the “Pack a Backpack” idea. We filled over 200 backpacks with school supplies, and it will be going to all the schools to distribute where needed. Kiwanis members bought all the backpacks and the supplies came from donations from the community. The East Meadow Fire Department also donated pencil cases filled with pens, pencils, markers and other supplies. We’ve been collecting everything for two weeks, and we have an extra bin full of the extra supplies that didn’t fit in the backpacks. We’re giving out 10 “Everyday Hero” awards for everyone who helped us in the pandemic from school administration, community members, teachers and business owners for everything they did to support us from March to September with the food distributions. We’re also giving one to Island Harvest for all they’ve done to help us and to help the community. Editor’s note: Lisa Hallett became Kiwanis president in March, right before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Since then, she and Kiwanis Secretary Jennifer Reinhardt have been donating food, gift cards and other necessities throughout the nine schools in the East Meadow School District.

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October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

Former medical Billing SpecialiSt

was a medical billing specialist and a Eucharistic minister in my church. I led a really active and independent life. Then, I came down with pneumonia. It didn’t respond to any of the usual treatments, and I developed septic shock. The sepsis damaged my circulation, and my legs were amputated below the knee. I spent six months in the hospital. It was really hard. I had to relearn basic things — walking and talking — and I still have memory problems. The thing that was hardest for me was the loss of independence. I had to depend on people for everything. My husband, Ben, is the senior director for major gifts at Hofstra [University], and he heard about Canine Companions [for Independence] through a contact there. The dog they gave me is named Lennon IV, after John Lennon. He’s one of the best things that could’ve happened to me. He’s been like a way back to connecting with other people. It’s been hard with the virus. Ben came down with a mild case and had to be quarantined. The two weeks where we couldn’t have any contact were really stressful. But we got through it, and now he’s OK. He doesn’t seem to have any aftereffects.

Social StudieS teacher, Kennedy high School Bellmore

advise the student government at John F. Kennedy High School, which is about my 12th year doing it. We generally have a full year of events and activities, and last Spring we were supposed to hold a basketball tournament to raise money for the Special Olympics, and we were supposed to do the Polar Bear Plunge — so a few of the things we had scheduled were canceled. Of course, with everything in student government, it didn’t really start with me; it started with the students. Some of our student leaders had this idea of holding contactless food drives. It started there, and luckily the other students in the club were motivated to help out as well. Right now, there are some challenged. Kids have been meeting via Zoom, and they proposed a couple ideas, like still having a Spirit Week and having a drive-in movie night. Now we’re just trying to figure out the best way to do these things safely and appropriately. A couple of the students in student government were working on the idea of creating Cougar Companions, to find partnerships between freshmen and seniors. That was a small initiative, but it helped them transition into high school. The other thing that we did is we created a Healthcare Hero platform on our social media. We connected with alumni members of the student government who are now serving on the front lines as nurses and doctors and more.

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Questions we’ve been asked... Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?

OCTOBER 22, 2020

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

Their fronT-line sTories in Their own words Brigid Vogt Brad Seidman Wantagh

d n eS co und Ro

MARKETING GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES $250,000 NOW AVAILABLE

“This past spring, Herald Community Newspapers launched the Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program. The program provided over $500,000 in support to Long Island small businesses when they needed it most.

Apply for your share of the $250,000 in new marketing grants available to assist locally owned businesses.

STUART RICHNER Publisher Herald Community Newspapers

WHO

We decided to launch a second round of grants because we were humbled by the gratitude that our small business community showed to us for this program and heartened to hear how effective Herald Community Newspapers’ marketing products and services were in getting small businesses back on their feet. ”

For all locally owned and operated small businesses with under 25 employees on Long Island that continue to be negatively impacted by coronavirus pandemic.

Herald Team

WHAT

A $250,000 grant program to support local small businesses. Each local business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for Herald Community Newspapers print, digital and direct mail products through December 31, 2020.

WHERE Apply at www.liherald.com/grants.

WHEN

Applications will be accepted until October 23, 2020 or until maximum grant funding has been awarded. Businesses will be contacted within two business days of submitting their application.

RHONDA GLICKMAN VP Sales

LORI BERGER Sales Manager

rglickman@liherald.com

lberger@liherald.com

ELLEN REYNOLDS Sales Manager ereynolds@liherald.com

AMY AMATO COURTNEY MYERS Executive Director Media Consultant aamato@liherald.com

cmyers@liherald.com

WHY

Studies show that businesses that continue to market themselves during down times are the ones that fare the best long-term. This grant program will allow Long Island small businesses to continue promoting themselves and any new services they are offering during these unprecedented times.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: • Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on marketing in Herald products will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied towards marketing costs. • For new applicants only. If you were previously awarded a grant please contact Rhonda Glickman at 516-569-4000 ext 250. • Businesses must be locally owned and operated. • Grants range from $500 to $15,000. • Grants can be applied to any Herald Community Newspaper marketing product or service through December 31, 2020. • Grants applied to direct mail products are net of postage/mailing costs.

APPLY TODAY AT

WWW.LIHERALD.COM/GRANTS

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL RHONDA GLICKMAN AT 516.569.4000 EXT. 250

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October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

Calhoun student gives back in a powerful way aseidman@liherald.com

With many businesses enacting hiring freezes amid the pandemic, Calhoun High School student Emma Israel was having trouble finding a summer job. That is until her father, Steve, brought home a power washer. One day, while power washing the deck, it occurred to Emma that she could help others with her new hobby. “I found it really fun and interesting to do,” the 15-year-old said, “so I started my own business in the beginning of the summer.” Emma recruited some friends to help her distribute fliers advertising the business, which produced references and recommendations. From there, she identified neighbors who needed help tidying up.

CAlhoun high sChool student Emma Israel spent the summer helping her neighbors by offering a paid powerwashing service.

The price of her power washing service varied depending on the project, she said, and most of the jobs included cleaning decks, walkways and driveways. Since June, Emma has made $500 through her business. She recently donated 25 percent of the proceeds to Island Harvest Food Bank to help the community in a more powerful way. As a part-time Hebrew school student at Temple Beth Am in Merrick, Emma said the concept of helping others is “ingrained in her brain.” “At Hebrew school, they teach us the importance of giving back, or tzedakah” — the Hebrew word for philanthropy and charity — “so each day we would bring money to school to give to someone who needs it,” she said. “I chose Island Harvest to help people in our community and give back to the community.”

emmA hAd some fun while on the job and power washed her name into the concrete.

Photos courtesy Emma Israel

Trusted information is vital… now, more than ever. Please help us spread the word.

The Herald’s award-winning journalists are working around the clock to provide you and your family with the trusted local news that you expect from us during these challenging times. To support the community, we are are providing free coronavirus coverage online during the coronavirus crisis along with full access to e-editions of our newspapers.

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

By AlyssA seidmAn

election 2020

October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

McDonough faces two challengers in 14th A.D. By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

In the race to represent the constituents of New York’s 14th assembly district, longtime Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from North Merrick, faces not one but two challengers for his established seat in Albany. Kevin Gorman, a Democrat from Wantagh who ran for the 10th A.D. in 2010, and Jake Gutowitz, a Libertarian from Wantagh, are vying for the post, as well. The Herald spoke with all three candidates about the issues facing residents today to ensure residents make an informed decision before heading to the polls. Editor’s note: Some of these answers have been shortened for brevity.

Herald: The coronavirus pandemic has

devastated our local economy, shutting down businesses and causing steep losses in revenue. What can you do to help the economy recover and get the funding to the people who need it the most?

Assemblyman mcdonough: I am sup-

porting the “Small Business Emergency Recovery Act,” which would immediately direct the state’s $890 million settlement reserve fund to small businesses, move tax deadlines for remittance and repurpose available tax credits to help existing businesses. Since March, I have advocated for small businesses and was among the first to call for regional reopenings, along with being a part of “Jump Start New York” to aid residents and businesses and provide economic recovery.

Kevin Gorman: Reforming our tax rates

is the best way to for New York to recover and provide a boost to struggling small businesses and individuals affected by the coronavirus. If the very well-off contribute their fair share of tax revenue, we can give relief to middle-class working families, small businesses and individuals who so desperately need the state government to step up in this time of need.

Jake Gutowitz: I would propose a five-

year suspension of the New York state sales tax for all small businesses to provide relief and incentivize shopping. Over the course of the five years, businesses would be able to recover lost income and pay back the PPP loans they were forced to take to make sure their employees got paid. People would also, slowly, be trained to shop at small businesses, which would reinvigorate the economy on Long Island, where owning a small business gets harder each year. I would also propose a suspension of the state income tax for those with a salary less than the top 90 percent of New York salaries, effective immediately. This will provide necessary relief to working class Americans

David McDonough, Incumbent

Jake Gutowitz, Challenger

Kevin Gorman, Challenger

Hometown: North Merrick

Hometown: Wantagh

Age: 83

Age: 69

Age: 23

Party: Republican, Conservative, Independent

Party: Democrat

Party: Nassau County Libertarian

Profession: New York State Assemblyman

Profession: Purchasing Supervisor

Profession: Software Engineer

Family: Single

Family: Widower; three children, four grandchildren

and also extra income for people to spend at their tax-incentivized small businesses.

Herald: Housing affordability is one of

the most pressing issues for residents, particularly millennials and seniors. What can you do to help bring economic relief to those struggling to afford to live on Long Island?

mcdonough: We need to stop the high out-migration that is hurting our economy and diminishing the tax base. We also need to provide incentives to encourage students to stay in New York after graduation. I co-sponsored legislation called the “New York State Diplomas to Home Ownership Program,” which encourages home ownership for young professionals by providing financial assistance with student loan debt equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of a property up to $15,000. To assist our senior citizens, I have cosponsored legislation that establishes a phased-in real property tax exemption for persons 80 or older. I have also cosponsored legislation to create a 25 percent increase on the real property tax relief credit for 2020 and generate permanent credit for both basic and enhanced STAR recipients. Gorman: Home ownership is a crucial component of building and maintaining our middle class, so affordable home loans and increased inventory of affordable housing for both renters and buyers is needed. Property tax relief for seniors and middle-class homeown-

ers is extremely important. When I am elected to the New York state assembly, I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help Long Islanders obtain affordable living spaces and ease the heavy burden of housing costs in our region.

Gutowitz: I would propose legislation

that would eliminate the ability of local governments to raise property taxes. Property tax relief would allow seniors to keep their homes, young people to buy new homes and landlords to lower rent, making housing affordable all around. I would also conduct a massive audit to identify wasteful spending in the budgets of local governments and provide official suggestions on how to decrease their spending. I would also propose legislation to break up the utility monopolies. Many other places in the country allow people to choose their utility provider — that choice generates competition and drives down the cost of utilities. After PSEG Long Island’s debacle during our most recent hurricane, it’s clear that there needs to be some competition in this area.

Herald: If elected or re-elected, what

are some of the issues you will address in the subsequent term?

mcdonough: I will continue to address

issues related to protecting our communities, supporting small businesses, job creation and retention, tax relief, improving our transportation infrastructure and government reform to ensure efficiency and transparency.

Gorman: My first duty as an assembly-

man is to represent and advocate for my constituents. The things that matter to them, such as the toxic Bethpage plume, are my first priority. It is vital that we clean it up as quickly as possible for our environment and hold those who caused the contamination accountable. Additionally, we need tax reform to help those affected by the pandemic and to properly fund our schools.

Gutowitz: New York needs an advisory

council made up of full-time teachers to shape education policy. This will ensure that the people who know best about teaching our children are involved in the government’s efforts to create a better education system. I would also introduce legislation that would create a ranked voting system for New York state elections. Ranked voting provides more choices to the voters and allows more, less-heard communities to gain representation in government. Finally, I would like to introduce term limits to New York state, which would ensure that people with fresh ideas are constantly rotated into office. I also want to pass legislation that would eliminate the ability of elected officials to collect pensions from other political offices while collecting a salary as a politician. This would de-incentivize career politicians from “retiring” to a smaller public office and allow those who want to work for the common good in public office to do so.

Employment

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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.

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lynbrook public schools a district of excellence

Bellmore-Merrick CHSD Starting salary: $21,988 - $22,526

full-time positions

(commensurate with experience)

Teacher assisTanTs Teacher aides

Security Aide, F/T $20.50/hr.

(law enforcement background required)

part-time positions

Substitute Positions:

Teacher assisTanTs Teacher aides moniTors cleaners

(must have proper 19A documentation)

• Cleaner: $13.75/hr. • Security Aide: $20.50/hr.

(law enforcement background required)

EOE Minority Candidates Encouraged to apply EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted

This South Shore District in Western Nassau County, committed to Excellence in Education, is seeking qualified candidates for the following position:

DENTAL RECEPTIONIST - LYNBROOK Monday, Tuesday Wednesday. Telephone Computer Skills Necessary. Dental Exp. Advantageous. 516-599-5544.

Civil Service Position

Security Guard Full-Time (40 hours/week)

*State Ed Dept. Fingerprint Clearance Req’d Possession of valid license as a Security Guard issued by the NYS Dep’t of State Compensation Range: $24,644-$27,531

FAX (516) 431-7550

1103447

Dr. Alison Offerman-Celentano, Asst. Supt.

ESTABLISHED JEWELRY STORE IN SAYVILLE NEED SALES ASSOCIATE! Experience preferred. Start Immediately. F/T 631-218-9360 or 631-942-0141 Open 10-5:30 Tues-Sat.

Handyman/ Maintenance Full-Time Call 516-238-3611

Equal Opportunity Employer A Service of Nassau BOCES

HANDYMAN WANTED

Must have clean driver's license. Must be able to do light plumbing and carpentry. 4-day work week. $700 per week. 100% Medical & Dental, 401K, Uniforms, Paid Vacations, Sick and Holidays. Apply in person: MondayFriday between 9am & 7pm At: CALL-A-HEAD CORP. 304 Crossbay Blvd., Queens, NY 11693

$18.50 P/H NYC • $16 P/H LI CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553

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JOB OPPORTUNITY

JOB OPPORTUNITY $18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI Up to $13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553

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ISLAND PARK UFSD Island Park, New York

If interested, submit letter of interest, resume, and copy of Security Guard License by October 15th, 2020 (Noon) to:

NO CDL required, 4 DAY WORK WEEK, (enjoy 3 days off). Run your own route. Year round No lay offs! 100% medical, dental, uniforms, 2 weeks paid vacation. 401K. Plus commission. Will train! 4am-2:30pm. . Route driver $800.00 per week, includes $100.00 weekly bonus program. Plus 10-12 hours overtime. Apply in person Monday- Friday 9am-7pm at 304 Crossbay Blvd, Queens NY 11693

Send Cover Letter & Resume to: Dr. Mara Bollettieri Deputy Superintendent 1260 Meadowbrook Road N. Merrick, NY 11566 (516) 992-1014

Send Cover Letter, Resume, Certifications, etc. to maureen t. Berman, ed.D. Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Transportation & Student Support Services

ROUTES AVAILABLE AT CALLAHEAD Corp.

• Clerical Substitutes: $16.50 per hour

employment@lynbrookschools.org

EAST ROCKAWAY CHARMING Colonial 3 Bds, 2 Baths, Water Filtration System, 2 Car Garage. $505K. Call Persephone 516-809-1000 Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Afternoons & Saturday Mornings Phones, Filing, Cashiering, And Data Entry. $13.00 Per Hour Gregoris Nissan Subaru Service Center In Valley Stream Call Robert 516-872-9755 Email gregmotor@optonline.net Fax Resume 516-872-2457

• Bus Driver: $19.50/hr.

Teachers Teacher assisTanTs nurses Teacher aides clerical moniTors cleaners

OUTSIDE SALES

RECEPTIONIST P/T

• Food Service Helper: $14.18/hr.

suBstitute positions

House For Sale

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Digital, Events, Sponsorships and Print Media Products. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Will Consider Part Time. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X286

Paraprofessionals, F/T

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Help Wanted

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OFFICE ASSISTANT P/T

Small College Finance Office Seeking P/T Office Assistant For Answering Phones, Filing, Scanning, Data Entry, etc. Quick Books Exp. Required NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE E mail Resume To:

reception@ wilsoncollegeconsulting.com

OFFICE HELP

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P O I N T L O O KO U T: WAT E R F RO N TLARGEST Selection of Beach Homes, Sale/ Rent. Our Home Listings Sell FA$T! V I D E O S. H U G R . E . 5 1 6 - 4 3 1 - 8 0 0 0 www.hugrealestate.com WOODSBURGH BA 185 Bay Dr, BA, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Quarters, Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#14...$1,450,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Apartments For Rent CEDARHURST NO FEE Pr ivate Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For O n e B e d r o o m W h e n Ava i l a bl e. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

VETERINARY ASSISTANT FT/PT

Health Care/Opportunities

Year Round. Cleaning, Compounding & Wax, Bottom Paint. Must Be Handy With Tools, Have Valid Drivers License, Own Transportation.

HEWLETT BAY PARK 1261 Veeder Dr, NEW TO MARKET! 7 BR, 4.55 Bth Stately & Grand Colonial Tucked away in Cul De Sac on Over an Acre of Parklike Proper ty. SD#14...$2,250,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglss Elliman RE 516-238-4299

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MECHANIC NEEDED

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

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Call the

USA Classified Network

today! 1-800-231-6152

HERALD

Homes

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 REAL ESTATE Open Houses EAST ROCKAWAY 101 Emmet Ave, NEW WATERFRONT! Rebuilt in 2010, 4 BR 3.5 Bth Split w/ Pool, Outdoor Kit & Deck. Open Layout. Private Mstr Ste, 2 Car Gar, SD#20..$1,250,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429

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

Call us today!

Your Hometown Newspaper

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

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

HERALD

An expediter or an architect?

Homes

HERALD

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

Q. My father built a dormer on our house in the ’70s, and we want to sell the house but are being told that the permit didn’t include the bathroom or bedrooms. We decided to go with an expediter instead of an architect because it’s a simple thing, and we didn’t want to spend more or make it more complicated. The expediter says we won’t need the insulation information or window changes the architects said we need. What can we Ask The expect? Is this really simple, Architect or complicated?

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

Long Beach

One of A Kind!

HOME OF THE WEEK

egal 2-family home with 9 bedrooms and 7.5 baths, featuring old world charm and modern amenities located in center of town. Large rooms with original interior details, high ceilings, French doors, decorative tiles, stained glass windows, plus much more! Close proximity to beach, train, shopping, and boardwalk. Priced at $1,349,888

A. Sometimes trying to make things simpler makes things more complicated. Not filling in all the blanks means that if the blanks are ignored, just like a student with a half-answered test paper, you’re going to fail in onte eeper your objective, which is to get the permit, get the plumbing, electrical and final building inspections and get the final certificate of completion. Although you may think this involves just making a few calls, what it really involves, if done legally and correctly, is accurate measuring, drawing and code documentation. What does that mean, and why do you need all that? The original dormer permit, more correctly described as an “addition to the second floor,” was handled as an unoccupied shell (from the drawing you emailed me). That typical ploy was done to avoid paying taxes since it was considered storage by your town, which granted the permit, and your county, which taxes you for the character of the building. By not being habitable space, like bedrooms, it was believed that the taxes would be lower, which they may have been until the house was reassessed. Building officials, if they review your expediter’s documents consistently with their safety requirements for a habitable second floor in 2020, not the 1970s, will require that the window openings meet current, larger sizes. Had the addition been previously approved as habitable space, or if the reviewing plans examiner allows the windows under a code for existing buildings, you may be able to avoid putting in larger windows before you can get a sign-off and sell. In a quirky twist of logic, since the house plans don’t show any insulation, you may be required to meet the current New York State Energy Code, dictated by federal energy mandates. That means more insulation than would even fit in the small rafters — undersized, according to the current code, for the addition. You may be of the belief that an expediter, whom you believe will get this done more quickly and without meeting all the requirements, can get around all this, but they don’t, really. Expediters still need an architect’s or engineer’s signature and seal on plans, because expediters aren’t legally responsible if things are incorrect. Architects, unlike most other professions, are regularly circumvented, and nobody, officially or unofficially, says anything. Barbers no longer pull teeth instead of dentists. Would you do the same with lawyers, doctors or even airline pilots? Would you want to? Good luck!

Mazal Amram, LAB Associate Broker Cell:(516) 782-6331 Direct: (516) 782-6331 Topper Realty 84 East Park Ave. Long Beach, NY 516-889-6677

WishingYouAHealthy,Happy&SweetNewYear

OPEN HOUSES SUNday, 10/04/2020 HEwlEtt 1657 Warwick Rd, BA, NEW TO MARKET!. Outstanding 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col Built in 2012. Soaring Ceilings Throughout. Open Layout Perfect for Entertaining. Radiant Heated Flrs. FBsmt/ Hi Ceilings. SD#20 .........................................................$1,250,000 wOOdMERE 78 Burton Ave, BA, NEW! 5BR, 4. Bth Col., Old Woodmere. Large EIK, FDR, LR/Fpl, Den, Office. Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. Near All. SD#14 ............................................ $939,000 946 Midwood Rd, BA, NEW! Reno 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Col., Academy Area. Gran/Wood EIK, LR/Fpl, FDR, Den. FBsmt. Gar ............................................................................ $999,000 HEwlEtt HaRBOR 3 Payne Circle, BA, 5 BR, 3.5 Cul de Sac. State of the Art EIK, 2 Dens, Bsmt, & 2 Car Gar. SD#20....................................................................................................... $1,190,000 236 Richards Lane, BA, 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary, Acre Of Resortlike, IGP. Open Plan. Full FBsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14. ....................................REDUCED! $1,599,000 1290 Seawane Dr, BA, WATERFRONT! MACY CHANNEL! Build Your Dream Home, 1.25 Acre. Prime Location ............................................................................... $1,799,000 HEwlEtt Bay PaRK 1261 Veeder Dr, BA, Statley 7 BR, 4.55 Grand 6500 Sq Ft Colonial Cul de Sac on over an Acre of Parklike Prop. SD#14 Near All .......................................................$2,250,000 70 Heron Dr, BA, 6 BR, Contemporary with Open Layout, Acre of Parklike. Move Right in! SD#14 .........................................................................................................$1,699,000 159 Meadowview Ave, BA, Stately 5200 Sq Ft Col., 6 BR, 6.55 Bths, Acre Of Resortlike, IGP, Ct, & Outdoor Kit. FBsmt, 2 Car Gar, Fabulous Location in SD#14 .... REDUCED!! $2,699,000 30 Heron Dr, BA, Magnificent 8500 Sq Ft Waterfront, 2 Acre Resortlike, Pool, Tennis/ Sport Ct, New Landscaping / Waterfall, 3 BR Guest House/ Kit, LR, Den. 300 Ft New Bulkhead. 4 Car Htd Gar. SD#14 ................................................ REDUCED! $4,690,000 90 Anchorage Rd, BA, Over an Acre of PRIME WATERFRONT Prop on Macy Channel, 135' Bulkhead, Open Layout, Main Flr Mstr Ste, Potential for Expansion .....$1,999,000 wOOdSBURgH 185 Bay Dr, BA, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre, Guest Quarters, Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#14 ...................................................................................$1,450,000 891 Keene Lane, BA, Magnificently Reno While Retaining Charm, Stone Cottage. 3 BR, 2.5 Bths. Potential for Expansion. Brand New Mstr Bth. Over 1/2 Acre Property! Near All ...................................................................REDUCED & MOTIVATED! $999,000 EaSt ROCKaway 1 Thompson Dr, BA, NEW! 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout, Waverly Park. Updtd EIK. O/S Prop w/Deck. Att Gar. SD#20 ................................................... $599,000 101 Emmet Ave, BA. WATERFRONT! Rebuilt in 2010, 4 BR 3.5 Bth Split w/ Pool, Outdoor Kit & Deck. Open Layout. Private Mstr Ste, 2 Car Gar, SD#20 ........$1,250,000 giBSON 76 Page Rd, BA, FIRST SHOW! 4 BR Colonial w/ Updated EIK, FDR, LR, FBsmt. Det Gar. SD#14. Near LIRR, Shops, Houses of Worship ......................................... $589,000

“Going Above & Beyond to find your Dream Home”

Rhonda Healy

M: (516) 236-7269

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

1099946

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299

OneKey Multiple Listing Service

JUAN JARA Licensed RE Broker Associate Cell: 516-318-0142 Juan@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com CAMILLE GIARDINA Licensed RE Broker/Owner Cell: 516-318-1392 Camille@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

We’re Keeping the American Dream Alive. www.AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

2949 Long Beach Road, Suite 8 • Oceanside, NY, 11572 Phone 516.766.8200

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

1102930

e s t. 1 9 1 1

1103539

October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

HILLS

1103100

© 2020 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.

Market Place • •

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

FRANCISCO’S TREE SERVICE & lANdSCApINg • Tree Removal • Stumps • Fertilization • Planting • Land Clearing • Topping

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wenkpipingandheating.com

W eNK

PIPING & HEATING CORP.

Lic# H206773000

1100347

$25

Office: 516-546-4971 Cell: 516-852-5415

A Fresh CoAt For A Fresh stArt! OWA_REBOOT_BW_BOLD

OFF

Any Service Call For New Customer Exp. 12/31/20

10% OFF

5% OFF

1102016

licensed and insured

516.431.0799

aboveallgutters.com

1099696

Safe Roof and Exterior Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning, Repairs, Installations

inc.

Vet’s Seniors & All Mail Services

First Responders & Armed Forces

$50 OFF

$100

OFF • Tree removal Jobs Under Jobs Under • land Clearing $1,000 $1,000 $500 Minimum • STump grinding USE COUPON CODE HER2020 USE COUPON CODE HER2020 Cannot be combined with other coupon Cannot be combined with other coupon • pruning We Care More Than The ResT for Less We’ll meeT & beaT any priCe guaranTeed Owner/Operated • residential/COmmerCial

Nass. Lic # H2904450000

516-216-2617

1076858

Specializing in: • Interior/Exterior Painting • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Basements • Wall Paper Removal • Power Washing

516-297-1885

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TREE SERVICE fREE ESTImaTE

CAll JD PAINtING & reMoDelING CorP

Sunday, August 02, 2020 11:03:58 AM

Jairorc58@gmail.com

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

HERALD

Suff. Lic # 5-4512-H

HEATING OIL HOME • COMMERCIAL

CALL NOW FOR LOWEST PRICE CALL FOR MORE INFO No service in Long Beach

*Power washing sPecialist*

Specializing

Se Habla Espanol

Licensed & insured

the

BLACKTOP

BeSt priceS in town

senior Citizen Discounts

Call For Summer SpecialS

• ConCrete • BriCk Patios • stooPs • stuCCo • Belgium BloCks • sidewalks • drainage ProBlems • Cellar entranCe • waterProofing • driveway sealing demolition • dumPster serviCe • Powerwashing • handyman rePairs

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Free estimates

&/877(5 GULYLQJ \RX J\

CRAZY?

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1084810

ALFREDO’S CONSTRUCTION

Residential and Commercial - All Surfaces Call Anthony Romeo “The Local Guy” “Anthony & J Home Improvement, Inc.” Also specializes in ★ Deck Renovation ★ Driveways ★ Siding ★ Masonry ★ Fences ★ Roofing ★ Interior/Exterior Painting. (516) 678-6641 - Licensed & Insured

Free estimates...Best Price For High Quality service

Chimney King, Ent. Inc.

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

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

Fully licensed and insured Nassau • Suffolk • NYC

1101474

(516) 379-2727

1081114

947101

RELIABLE • 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE FAMILY OWNED FOR OVER 65 YEARS

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

HERALD

Stuff

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 MERCHANDISE MART Antiques/Collectibles We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 40 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

Miscellaneous For Sale C O M M E R C I A L G E N E R ATO R , 1 9 9 5 ONAN CUMMINGS DIESEL, MODEL# 35DGBB, 3 PHASE ELECTRIC, 1800 RPMS, 9,210 HOURS, MEDFORD FIRE DISTRICT $10,000 631-475-0413 EXT 6

FINDS UNDER $100 Finds Under $100 ABOVE GROUND POOL pump, 3/4 hp, u s e d a n d i n ve r y g o o d c o n d i t i o n ; $30 516-887-2656 CRYSTAL WINE DECANTER with 6 glasses,brand new must see Paid $50.00 asking $25.00 (516)579-9089

SERVICES Air Cond. & Heating All Central Air Installs/ Repairs

Ye a r l y M a i n t e n a n c e . F i n a n c i n g Available/ FREE Estimates For Installs. 10% Discount With This Ad. Wise Aire Mechanical Inc. Call Cell 516-244-9137

Electricians E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman

MEXICAN (DARK WOOD) breakfront . Excellent condition. $95 for both or best offer .Call Mark - 516-395-1999.

MIKE THE HANDYMAN: Light JobsPlumbing, Electrical, Specializing Vinyl Tiles, Gardening, Powerwashing, Painting. Interior And Exterior. Experienced. Reliable And Honest. Call Cell 516-225-8107; 516-837-3436

PA R ROT / C O C K AT I E L C AG E W I T H matching stand. Black iron. Excellent condition. $50. Call Maureen - 516-395-1999.

Home Improvement

POOL LOUNGE CHAIRS white 8 for $40 Call 516-395-1999 WINTER COVER FOR 15 ft. round pool, used 1 season $45 516-887-2656 WOMENS CLOTHES, CASUAL, business style, good condition, sizes 16-1X $10.00 and less (516) 579-9089

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

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

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

• Fall Drain Outs • Installations/Renovations • Service • Repairs

Landscaping/Gardening

Free Estimates Licensed and Insured

Miscellaneous DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice R e m o t e . S o m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y. 1-888-609-9405 GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

Power Washing POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: H o u s e s , Fe n c e s , C o n c r e t e / B r i ck , Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

HErald

Crossword Puzzle

Junk Cars Wanted

HIGHEST CA$H PAID

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578

LANDSCAPING SPECIALIST WEEKLY Lawn Maintenance, Planting, Seeding, S o d , Tr i m m i n g , F r e e E s t i m a t e s , 516-587-3971 LONG ISLAND BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE LIc/ Insured H2082290000

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highe$t Ca$h Paid$ All Years/Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277

Joe Barbato 516-826-7700

All Cars Bought 24/7 FREE Pickup

Serving Nassau County 41 Years No Title, No Keys=No Problem ID Required. CALL US LAST!

Call us at 516-766-0000

Certified Backflow Tester 1053491

October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

Tree Services FRANCISCO'S TREE SERVICE

AND LANDSCAPING: Tree Removal, Stumps, Fertilization, Planting, Land Clearing, Topping. Free Estimates. Lic# H206773000. Office 516-546-4971, Cell 516-852-5415

DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

Motorcycles For Sale MOTORCYCLE: BMW R1200 MONTAUK, 2004. Pristine, Like New Condition, Low Mileage, Light Blue, $5,500. 516-313-3425

Deals on Wheels

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates." Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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

Want to sell your car, motorcycle or boat? Have we got a deal for you! You can advertise your vehicle in the

Education

Classifieds

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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

Health & Fitness HEARING AIDS!! BUY one/get one FREE! High-quality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Nearly invisible! 45-day money back guarantee! 833-448-0751.

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Tutoring NEW YORK STATE Retired Certified Teacher, 32 Years Experience, Grades K- 6th. All Subjects. Available for In Person or Remote Learning $50 Per/ Hour. 631-839-0070

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale CHEVY TAHOO 1995 112K Miles Lifted With Wheels, Full Power, Upgraded Radio With Bluetooth, Leather Seats, Clean CarFax, $3950 516-578-0377 MAZDA CX3 SPORT, 2019: AWD, 13K Miles, Excellent Condition, Asking $21,500. Call 516-592-2683 MERCEDES BENZ E350, 2006: 4-Matic, 70K Miles, Excellent Condition. Must See! $12,000. 516-603-8697

Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

opinions

y soul is aching. As the Covid-19 death toll surpassed 200,000 last week, we mourned Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of America’s greatest daughters — an incredible mind with a voracious appetite for learning, a fearless, indomitable advocate for women’s rights and, quite simply, a good and decent human being, with an oldschool sense of politeness that enabled her to deliver a penetrating verbal jab without personal insult. Her death at age 87 came only two months after the sCoTT passing of U.S. Rep. BRinTon John Lewis, who was 80. Together they represented a particular brand of leadership: strength obtained not through bullying, but through the depth of their moral conviction, their sense of justice and their commitment to telling the truth under all circumstances. Each helped create a more equal society and a more perfect union, though they would likely say their work was far from over at their deaths. That would explain why they continued working through the pain of terrible illness. Surely they will go down in the annals of history as truly monumental figures. Their lives should serve as models for our own.

Lewis spoke of “good trouble,” agitating not simply for the sake of agitating, but to move the “arc of the moral universe,” as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called it, further toward justice. For both Lewis and Ginsburg, advocacy meant always speaking their minds, telling the truth as they saw it, without reservation, no matter the reaction, and the reaction was often harsh, brutal even. Lewis was beaten more than once during the 1960s civil rights movement for marching peacefully. Both were ridiculed, mocked. Yet always they maintained their composure. For both, a deep and abiding religious faith — Ginsburg, Judaism, and Lewis, Christianity — informed their responses. They showed love and understanding toward even the most vehement of their detractors. Lesser leaders might have thought of their critics as enemies, but not Ginsburg and Lewis. To them, their detractors were people who needed persuading, and they held out the hope that, with enough time and patience, those critics might realize the error of their ways. The nation could learn a lesson or three from Ginsburg and Lewis. For decades, our political system has become increasingly partisan, to the point that people hate others without ever having met them, for no reason other than they belong to another

political party. As a society, we no longer take the time to reflect on the possible merits of one another’s positions. We assume hostile intent. That must end. I know that’s a big ask in the middle of the most contentious presidential race in memory, but we should, at least, try, if only to honor the memories of Ginsburg and Lewis. That doesn’t mean we cannot disagree with one another’s positions. That doesn’t mean we cannot criticize candidates’ policy platforms, or their records. We can. We should. There is no greater exercise of one’s civil liberties than to speak and write freely, as is one’s First Amendment right. We should, however, train our slings and arrows on policies and practices, not on people. All liberals are not communists, any more than all conservatives are corporate raiders and robber barons. We should never throw around such invective in our political discourse. We should, like Ginsburg and Lewis, assume that those on the other side of the political aisle love their country, too, until proven otherwise. And we should be prepared to forgive those who trespass against us. I was reminded of this last week. I recently wrote a column titled, “A maddening take of two presidencies,” criticizing President Trump’s response to the corona-

he nation could learn a lesson or three from Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Lewis.

virus pandemic and comparing it with President Obama’s approach to battling the H1N1 flu pandemic early in his first term, noting that Trump admittedly lied to the American people about the deadliness of the Covid-19 virus, while in a speech at the start of H1N1, Obama laid out the facts, calmly and truthfully. Five letters from Trump supporters came fast and furious, with three asking why I hate America, and one, as expected, calling me a communist. Three were unsigned. Their vociferous nature shouldn’t have surprised me given how heated the presidential race is, but it did. I was inclined to cry, not at the letters themselves, but at the state of our politics. I thought, my goodness, these writers have no idea who I am — the proud son of a World War II Navy veteran, a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who taught English and American democracy for two years in the Republic of Bulgaria, a formerly communist nation, and an Eagle Scout who learned right from wrong at the earliest of ages. As a Peace Corps volunteer, I swore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution in the garden of the American ambassador’s stately residence in Sofia, Bulgaria, in August 1991. That sacred document guided me then, and it guides me now as a journalist. 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.

The porch: not just a place, but a place in time

early 50 years ago, we bought our house in Woodmere because it had a back porch. The seller was very clever. She whisked us through the front of the house and straight out to the porch, where she was sipping coffee and reading a book, as pink and white magnolia blossoms tapped against the screens. It was love at first sight. Our porch is our summer place. The pine walls let in the first chill Randi winds of autumn, kReiss so our porch season is limited. The limitation adds to its charm, since we begin thinking in April about the many dinners we will enjoy alfresco once summer comes. It is my favorite room in the house. Although we have perfectly good beds and couches inside, a porch nap, with the overhead fan stirring the air, is dreamy. These warm autumn mornings, I drink my Bustelo brew and read the newspapers in my back porch, looking

out at the garden and listening to the birds and thinking how lucky I am to have a place that brings me such peace. Sitting out there moves me out of the house and into the day, quietly, the way I like to begin. From the porch I can barely see any other homes; the privacy is complete. When I sit out there, I notice things. Last week I saw cardinals sweeping back and forth across the yard and watched, day after day, until I spotted their nest nearby. I see other things, too, that aren’t there anymore, like my little kids screaming and jumping in and out of a kiddie pool. In recent years, community developers have started building new “old-fashioned” towns in an effort to recreate one of the most precious pieces of Americana — the small, hometown neighborhood. The new communities have clean, narrow streets, variety in the home styles, built-in green space and — most important — ample porches. The builders might as well save their money. Architects may erect nostalgic wraparound porches in darling Disneyesque communities, but there undoubtedly

will be more Pelotons than rockers on those porches, and more cellphones and TV’s than pitchers of lemonade. There is such a thing as porch culture, and I advocate strict adherence to its traditions. You simply cannot fake an oldtime porch. Our porch has no TV and no electric light. In the evening, if we have dinner there, we experience the gradual fading of the day. We light candles. This has led to a remarkable phenomenon, which I refer to as porch therapy. In the glow of the candles, as the sun fades and the moon rises, people who sit in our porch are given to personal revelation. The mood invites intimacy, and we have heard, and told, our share of secrets. The essence of porch culture was captured eloquently in an old favorite novel, “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” by Rebecca Wells. She writes of four girls growing up in Louisiana in the late 1930s and early ’40s, and at one point she talks about their porch life: “An afternoon of iced tea and idleness. Those Ya-Yas aren’t going anywhere . . . They are lazy together. This is comfort.

n new ‘oldfashioned’ towns, more Pelotons than rockers on the porches.

This is joy . . . Not one wears a watch. This porch time is not planned. Not penciled into a DayRunner. . . . People took porches and porch time for granted back then. Everybody had porches; they were nothing special. An outdoor room halfway between the world of the street and the world of home. . . . And in the evening when the sun went down, the fireflies would light up over by the camellias, and that little nimbus of light would lull the Ya-Yas even deeper into porch reveries. Reveries that would linger in their bodies even as they aged.” According to the website This Old House, “In American literature, the porch is a stage where the symbolism is often as thick as the summer air — a transitional space between the cocoon of home and the cacophony of the outside world.” Another perfect example is the porch in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” For me, an ideal summer day begins with breakfast on the porch, includes a spell of reading and inevitably a nap, and then dinner with cicadas chirping their song into the twilight. Here we are in October, and that song feels ever more precious. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

We could use a little old-school politics right now

22 Merrick

Herald editorial

Merrick

October 1, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

HERALD HERALD and Merrick Herald News Established 1994

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e have to wonder what President Trump has against giving people more time to fill out the U.S. census, particularly given that it must be tallied amid the global coronavirus pandemic, making inperson interviews difficult, if not dangerous. But Trump apparently wants the census over with sooner rather than later. The census was scheduled to end on Oct. 31, but in August, the U.S. Census Bureau suddenly reduced the time frame by a month. Last Thursday, however, U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh, in northern California, issued an injunction requiring the Census Bureau to continue tallying people through the end of October, according to NPR. The Trump administration filed an appeal in federal court Friday.

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We’ll say it again — fill out the census

Koh said that the administration’s shortened census time frame was likely to produce errors in the count. We agree. We say this: Complete the census ASAP. No one, regardless of status, should be afraid to fill out it out. Federal law prohibits the Census Bureau from sharing any information it collects with any other government agency. Its sole purpose is to count the number of people living in each state to apportion the correct number of U.S. representatives to the states and allocate the proper amount of federal funding to them. According to the Census Bureau, you should be counted where you were living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1. If you’re responding for your home, count everyone who lives and sleeps there

Restoring tax fairness for Long Islanders

n December 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, pushed by President Trump throughout his first year in office. The act limited the deduction for state and local taxes — previously unlimited — to $10,000. That section of the legislation alone cost middle-class taxpayers on Long Island and other hightax areas thousands of dollars, and in some cases, more than that. Thanks to intrepid reporting by The New York Times, we now know what Trump paid in federal income taxes that year — $750. The year he was elected, he also paid $750. For 10 of 15 years before that, he paid nothing. That is to say, while Trump was hurriedly ramming through a tax measure with little public debate, he was benefiting from a vast array of loopholes to evade paying his fair share of federal income

taxes. Ask yourself how much you paid in federal income taxes those two years — likely thousands more, if not tens of thousands more. Should you not be entitled to a deduction as basic as the one previously offered for payment of state and local taxes? We have editorialized on the unfairness of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act before — and we will continue to until it is addressed. Essentially, the measure forces taxpayers on Long Island and in other high-tax areas to pay taxes on the state and local taxes they have already paid. The deduction was originally enacted to ensure that taxpayers would not be charged twice. The act also nixed deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses, tax preparation fees and other miscellaneous deductions, according to the Tax Policy Center

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most of the time. That includes children, foster children, roommates, and any family members or friends who are living with you, even temporarily. If someone is staying with you because of the pandemic, however, they should be counted where they usually live. This includes college students, who should still be counted at school. If they live in student housing, the college will count them. If they live off campus, they should respond for their off-campus addresses. Completing the census takes no more than 10 minutes, and you can do so securely online at www.2020census.gov. To reach the U.S. Census Bureau for help, call (844) 330-2020 for English speakers and (844) 4682020 for Spanish speakers. Representatives are available daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

letters Stay vigilant, New York To the Editor: Covid-19 remains a force to be reckoned with throughout the country and around the globe, and we cannot drop our guard. While our numbers remain relatively flat, we continue to closely monitor the data daily, as always. I urge New Yorkers to keep wearing masks, maintaining social distance and washing their hands, and local governments must continue to enforce state public health guidance. By staying vigilant and smart, we can beat the coronavirus together. Last weekend, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 1,604 establishments in New York City and Long Island, and observed nine establishments that failed to comply with state requirements. One was in Queens, and eight were in Suffolk.

at the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. In short, the act eliminated some of the only deductions that middle-class Long Islanders had depended on in the past, while the president employed a litany of deductions available only to the rich — the rich who, we might add, sustained business losses. Congress should have already rescinded the poorly considered SALT provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it hasn’t. Democratic representatives like Tom Suozzi, in Glen Cove, and even members of the president’s own party like Republican Peter King, in Seaford, who is retiring at the end of the year, have spoken out, calling for a restoration of the SALT deduction. Ensuring that happens, however, will require sustained pressure on Congress and the White House.

opinions

ecently, a unique mobile rally and car parade commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the closure of Willowbrook Psychiatric Hospital on Staten Island. Opened in 1947, Willowbrook was, by today’s standards, a horrific institution that warehoused people with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses or any other condition that made them look, act or learn differently. For those unfortunate enough to have been born with or develop a disability or mental illness during that era, placement at Willowbrook HaRVeY a life of weisenBeRG meant neglect, abuse and horrifying, inhumane conditions. I have my own personal horror story of how mentally disabled people are treated. When I married Ellen, she had a son, Ricky, who could not speak or cry and who is now blind. I married Ellen because of the love she had for Ricky, who eventu-

ally had to be placed in a special school, Wassaic, in upstate New York. That broke our hearts. A few weeks after we left Ricky there, we went back to visit him. He had lost half his body weight, was wearing four diapers and had a black tongue. We took him to a pediatrician, who cried when he saw Ricky’s condition. He was later placed in another facility, where he was put in a steaming hot tub and scalded. Ricky is now 62 and living in a group home, where I visit him often. But I can never forget his wretched treatment, or what it did to him — and to all the members of his family, who love him. The unconditional love for a developmentally disabled child is like no other love imaginable. Thankfully, we have evolved far from that unenlightened time, and have become a more empathetic human race. On Long Island alone, there are about 5,000 people with developmental disabilities living in smaller group homes and

receiving care that far exceeds anything we could have hoped for in the past. But these changes didn’t come about by accident. The strides forward in the treatment of our special children and adults came only after a lengthy, wellfought battle, beginning with a recognition of this population as human, deserving of basic considerations. That fight continues today. Organizations and individuals have taken on the challenging role of caring for and housing people with developmental disabilities who can no longer be cared for at home. It is the state’s responsibility to adequately fund those organizations and to ensure that these vulnerable people are cared for and protected, and have some quality of life. Over the past several years, it has seemed as if state funding for this priority has been anything but a priority. Caregivers who choose a career in nurturing and providing basic care to our special people are so underpaid that they are

he fight for this often forgotten population of special people continues today.

LetteRs Of the 84,770 test results reported to New York state on Saturday, 866, or 1.02 percent, were positive. GOv. ANdREW CuOmO

Trump perpetuates unfair housing To the Editor: The discriminatory Effects Standard (commonly known as disparate Impact) of the federal Fair Housing Act prohibits unjustified policies or practices that have a disproportionate adverse effect (disparate impact) on protected class members, even if those policies or practices were not motivated by a discriminatory intent. The federal department of Housing and urban development states that the new rule “. . . still recognizes disparate impact as a viable theory of discrimination.” But it carefully and thoroughly sets such a high bar for plaintiffs seeking to use a disparate impact claim that, in reality, with this new rule, the discriminatory Effects Standard is effectively neutered. Thus, Hud has taken another disgraceful and mean-spirited step to dismantle fair housing protections. When this new rule was first proposed last year, ERASE Racism and other civil rights advocates warned that it would likely sanction discrimination and perpetuate racial segregation. The final rule is even more damaging than we thought. The new rule dramatically shifts the burden of proof to the plaintiff in housing discrimination cases and makes it much harder to bring cases to court. It aids defendants by

forced to work second jobs. What has happened to the progress we made and the empathy we gained? We are living in a time when fast-food workers are paid more than those who bathe, feed and dress those who can’t do it for themselves. If this trend continues unchanged, we will certainly slip back to a time that we must vow never to return to. Willowbrook closed in 1987 — not that long ago, and certainly well past the time when we all should have known better about what gives us our humanity and how it is inextricably tied to how we treat the most vulnerable among us. If you agree with this and understand this message, please let your voice be heard by making sure Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to make our special people a priority in the state budget. We all know times are tough and spending is tight. But we simply can’t afford to return to one of our darkest hours. Cuomo can be contacted at https://www.governor. ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form, or by phone at (518) 474-8390. Harvey Weisenberg, a longtime resident of Long Beach, served in the State Assembly from 1989 to 2014.

FRamewoRk by Christina Daly

neither requiring nor encouraging data collection. How convenient. No data, no proof. Perpetuating segregation has been removed from the text as a component of the discriminatory Effects definition. Long Island is still one of the most racially segregated metropolitan regions in the country. That fact should not surprise anyone. Real estate agents and brokers recently testified at a joint hearing of three State Senate committees that they had not discriminated based on race against prospective homebuyers of color, despite undercover videotapes capturing discriminatory actions against people of color. ERASE Racism’s own lawsuits captured similar behaviors, in which white people were shown apartments and encouraged to apply, while black people were not, and were thus denied housing. disparate Impact is one of the few tools available to combat systemic racism that is perpetuated by governments and businesses. Hud’s new rule on disparate Impact is a major step backward in fighting housing discrimination. It removes an important standard that has been used in key cases on Long Island and across the nation to combat residential discrimination. In a famous housing discrimination case in Huntington, for instance, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld use of the disparate Impact standard. A recent federal district Court ruling in Garden City showed that the use of exclusionary zoning ordinances reinforced residential segregation. With this new rule, the Trump administration is substantially undermining fair housing. It is depriving opponents of housing discrimination of an important and vital tool. ELAINE GROSS President, ERASE Racism

A titmouse packs away a sunflower seed for the season to come — Wantagh

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 1, 2020

Cuomo needs to fund the developmentally disabled

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October 1, 2020 â€” MERRICK HERALD LIFE