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from local business owners offering ar ts and crafts, gifts, antiques, collectibles and more. While many Merrick resi- Visitors and vendors alike were dents are lamenting the loss of required to wear masks, and the community’s annual Fall booths were separated by empty Festival, the Chamber of Com- parking spaces. merce has orgaAlan Finchley nized another owns Nassau Counevent to take its ty Fairs, the largest place. Last Sunday, producer of art, the organization craft, gift and street hosted roughly 30 fairs and flea marvendors in the Merkets on Long rick Long Island Island. He is also a Rail Road parking longtime chamber lot for the opening member. For the day of its new past 15 years, he weekly pop-up marhas worked with ket. the organization to In August, the bring vendors to its Herald reported annual festivals. that Fall Festival, And although which typically Covid-19 restricattracts thousands tions have forced of people, was canhis company to celed because of iRA REiTER cancel more than the coronavirus Vice president, Merrick 25 events this year, p a n d e m i c . B u t Chamber of Commerce he said that MerPresident Femy rick’s pop-up marAziz hinted that ket presented an the chamber was securing per- opportunity to shoppers and mits to host a weekly flea market merchants to return to doing in the same spot as the festival’s what they love, despite the panusual carnival. demic. The inaugural pop-up, on Oct. “Vendors . . . have not been 4, welcomed residents from across the area to shop safely Continued on page 14

By AlyssA sEidmAN aseidman@liherald.com

Alyssa Seidman/Herald Life

mERRiCk REsidENT luCillE Munson, who will celebrate her 100th birthday next Wednesday, said she would make it a point to vote in person on Election Day.

A Merokean turning 100 offers some advice: get out and vote By AlyssA sEidmAN aseidman@liherald.com

2020 is the 100th anniversary of a constitutional amendment that changed the course of American history. Because of the efforts of suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, who organized the first women’s rights convention in upstate Seneca Falls in 1848, a national movement for women’s equality, including the right to vote, began to gain

traction. New York passed a referendum granting women that right on Nov. 6, 1917. Three years later, on Aug. 18, 1920, women across the country were given the same privilege with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Two months later, on Oct. 14, Lucille Munson, of Merrick, was born. A member of the first graduating class at Mepham High School in North Bellmore, Munson, 99, has voted

in her fair share of elections since casting her first ballot in 1941, when the voting age was still 21. That year she gave birth to her first son, Ronald, named for Ronald Reagan, who at that point was known only for his career in Hollywood. Munson’s maternal grandfather, Joseph McCoy, was an active member of the Merrick Democratic Party in the 1930s. The call to civic service was seemingly passed down, Continued on page 9

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Meet North Merrick Library’s new director By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

Becoming the leader of a community library under normal circumstances is no easy task — doing so during the Covid-19 pandemic brings unprecedented burdens. Susan Santa took over the directorship reins of the North Merrick Public Library on Sept. 28, in the midst of new, limited operations and programs to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. On Monday, she sat in her office while adorning a mask; papers were strewn across her desk as she settled into the start of her second week. “I’m lucky. It’s a brand-new position for me — I’ve never been a director before. It’s a brand-new community and brandnew library for me,” said Santa, 58, of Locust Valley, “but the board of trustees has made sure I have everything I need, and Tom Witt, the outgoing director, has left me in such a wonderful position. . . . That’s been a lifeline for me. “It’s very different now to start a new job,” she continued, “but we’re in a good place here.” Santa said she plans to continue the programs and services that have made the North Merrick library a success while also wrapping up construction on exciting additions. For the most part, the library is now operating as normal — masks are required and there is a capacity limit, but patrons are welcome to browse and attend upcoming in-person events. Santa’s library career began in 2001 at the Syosset Library as a page, a position she obtained by answering an ad in the local paper. There, she was moved to the circulation desk, where she eventually became a full-time employee. After less than year, the library’s director created a position designed for Santa: the Community Services Information Assistant. In that role, Santa did a deep dive into the surrounding community with outreach and programming in the building and book discussions with

seniors at assisted living centers. The senior reading program, “Reading on Wheels,” was a major, “heartwarming” success for Santa. “It wasn’t just reading to them — we were interacting with each other,” she said. “It was lovely. It was the best part of my job.” While in that position, “I realized I loved libraries so much — and I knew I wanted more,” Santa said. After obtaining her degree, she became a librarian at the Syosset Library and did further community outreach at nearby senior housing complexes to teach about medicine , including how to search for and find the most accurate information regarding health concerns, a task that would be especially beneficial now, she said. Santa was then the head of reference at the Wantagh Library for less than two years before becoming the Assistant Director at the Shelter Rock Library, where she delved into technology needs and helped the staff adapt to modern procedures. “Between the boards and communities, you really learn a lot,” she said. “While we’re all one island, each community is sort of a sea unto themselves.” Now, as director of the North Merrick library, Santa has dabbled in getting to know community members, despite only being there for a week. “I’m a walker,” she said. “I’ve been walking around the building and finding [out] a little bit about our patrons, and it’ll be nice to welcome even more patrons back.” Towards the end of the month, Santa will have the opportunity to meet many more of those community members. The library will be a site for early voting from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1 and for in-person general election voting on Nov. 3. Dozens of ballots are expected to be cast by Nassau County residents at the library. For kids, a Halloween outdoor scavenger hunt will be open on Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Friday, Oct. 23. A list of clues will lead children to bags of goodies hidden throughout the library’s backyard area. Families are also invited to a drive-in

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

SuSAN SANtA, thE North Merrick Library’s new director, sat at her desk on a recent Monday morning as she settled into the second week of her new position. showing of “The Addams Family” on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. New additions to the library will also be made under Santa’s supervision: A pathway is being constructed to accompany the library’s eventual garden space — a particularly exciting feature for the new director. “When I interviewed and learned about the pathway, I thought that was right up my alley,” she said. “I love getting out in a garden and getting my hands dirty.” The young adult area inside the library will also be undergoing renovations. “There are a number of challenges

ahead at the moment, including operating the library during Covid-19,” said Dick Smith, president of the library’s board of trustees. “She has tough shoes to fill, but she’s doing an excellent job.” In the meantime, Santa is looking forward to settling into the North Merrick community, she said. “When I was interviewing, I took a day or two to drive and walk around [the neighborhood],” Santa said. “I said to the board, ‘This just feels like the kind of community I wanted to raise my children in.’ It feels like home.”

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

FoRmER DIRECtoR tom Witt held a schematic of the stroll garden that will be completed next spring. The project began under his guidance but will wrap up under Susan Santa’s directorship.

October 8, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

Fire rips through Clubhouse Road home By Scott Brinton and AlySSA SeidmAn sbrinton@liherald.com, aseidman@liherald.com

Fire tore through a waterfront home at Clubhouse and Alexis roads in south Merrick around 7:30 p.m. last Wednesday night. The blaze, which raged across the second story of the home, brought fire volunteers from across the South Shore. It was a dark, smoky scene as dozens of firefighters lined up in the street preparing to battle the fire. Nearly 15 engines and ambulances extended along the length of Alexis Road, and up and down Clubhouse Road. The billow of flames, fueled by offshore winds, swirled into the sky and spread embers into nearby yards. The blaze threatened the exterior extensions of two neighboring homes, but volunteers quelled the fire before it could spread. “The volunteer firefighters made an aggressive attempt to extinguish the fire from the inside,” read a post on Merrick Fire Department’s Empire Hose Co. 3’s Facebook page. “However, due to structural instability caused by the fire, firefighters were ordered by the chief to back out of the house.” Eventually, crews were able to extinguish the blaze. According to a witness, the fire started in the first-floor kitchen and spread to the two-story deck in the backyard, which burnt up quickly and set fire to the sec-

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald Life

Fire Burned through the second story of a home at Clubhouse and Alexis roads in south Merrick last Wednesday evening. ond floor. “I’ve never seen a fire spread so quick, so fast,” said Craig Allen, who lives across the street. Dozens of neighbors watched in awe from stoops and sidewalks. Meanwhile, members of MFD’s Ladies Auxiliary as well as junior firefighters provided water

A firefighter prepAred to battle the blaze.

bottles and Powerade to volunteers as they exited the home. An hour after the call came in, crews were still extinguishing small pockets of fire from inside the house. Volunteers from MFD were the first on the scene. They were assisted by members of the Freeport, Roosevelt, North Mer-

rick, North Bellmore, Bellmore and East Meadow fire departments. “No injuries were reported, and the Nassau County Fire Marshall is investigating to determine the cause of the fire,” Empire Hose Co. 3 reported. For additional photos, visit https:// www.k2mphotography.com/.

News brief

Herald Life file photo

mephAm’S Front lAwn will soon be covered with flags for its annual Flag Field of Honor benefit.

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Mepham High School to hold 6th annual Flag Field of Honor Wellington C. Mepham High School’s front lawn will soon be filled with American flags once again as part of its annual Flag Field of Honor benefit for the Bellmore-Merrick Community Cupboard. Residents can support their family members and friends in the armed services by sponsoring a flag to be flown at the high school between Nov. 7 and Dec. 8. American flags are $20 each, or 3 for $50, and U.S. Military Branch and POW*MIA flags are $50 each. All sponsorships include a keepsake 3x5 flag. Proceeds will benefit the Senior Service

Learning Project’s partnership with the Community Cupboard, which was established in 2016 to provide food for local families. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cupboard has seen an increase in the number of residents in need, and through the generous donations of the Bellmore-Merrick community, it can continue to provide. For more information or to sponsor a flag, contact Kerry Dennis or Chris Patten at (516) 992-1500 or via email at kdennis@ bmchsd.org or cpatten@bmchsd.org. Compiled by Alyssa Seidman

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

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October 8, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

Northwell partners with Islanders on arena The UBs arena is expected to open in time for the 2021-22 hockey season.

By Melissa Koenig mkoenig@liherald.com

Northwell Health has partnered with the New York Islanders and the UBS Arena to provide more community-based wellness programs and ensure people’s safety and well-being while inside the future live entertainment and sports venue, Northwell and Islanders officials announced on Oct. 6. The 10-year founding sponsorship deal is just the latest extension of Northwell’s 20-year-long relationship with the New York Islanders Hockey Club as the team’s official health care sponsor and title sponsor of its East Meadow practice facility. “We are proud to align ourselves with New York’s newest premiere sports entertainment venue,” Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, said in a statement. “With 25,000 employees living near UBS Arena alone, this partnership allows us to reinforce our commitment to serving the community, and we look forward to developing future health and wellness programming with UBS Arena and the New York Islanders.” As part of the agreement, Northwell and the Islanders will create community programs focused on health, nutrition and physical activity. Additionally, Dowling said, Northwell — which has dealt with thousands of Covid cases throughout the pandemic — will use its knowledge of the coronavirus to ensure the safety of all patrons. The new arena will feature “top-of-the-line sanitation efforts,” according to Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group and lead developer of the arena project, including a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system, ultraviolet light systems and disinfecting solutions “that have proven safe and effective in large-scale spaces.” “Our experience with Covid is very instructive here,” Dowling said, calling the partnership a “win for the Islanders, a win for Northwell and a win for the community.”

Courtesy Oak View Group

The partnership, he explained, will help Northwell expand its outreach efforts and learn more about the community’s needs. “When you have good people do good things,” Dowling said, “that makes all the difference.” The UBS Arena is expected to open in time for the 2021-22 hockey season, and will feature a 17,000-seat arena for the Islanders hockey team. For more information, visit, www.UBSArena.com. The project is expected to create 10,000 construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs, generating approximately $25 billion in economic activity over the term of the lease. The roof was being installed on July 22, and officials expected it to be fully-enclosed by the end of the year. “New York is our home,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, and leader of the arena project. “We wanted to put New York back on its feet.” The $1.5 billion private investment into the arena and

Nassau’s positivity rate still hovering at 1 percent While New York City saw coronavirus cases spike last week — with an overall Covid-19 positivity rate of 3 percent and clusters where it exceeded 6 percent — Nassau County’s infection rate remained at 1 percent as of Oct. 4, according to County Executive Laura Curran. As of Sunday, 79 residents we r e p o s i t ive out of 7,752 tested. “Despite minor ebbs and flows”, Curran said, “Nassau’s laUra CUrran Covid positivity County executive rate remains low — a testament to the resolve of our residents. This is a serious virus, and we’ll continue to take it seriously.” Nassau hospitals re por ted 47 Covid-19 patients on Sunday, with 12

patients in intensive care units and five on ventilators. There was one new death. “Keeping this virus under control requires all of us to do our part,” Curran said. “ We a r i n g a mask is one of the most important things all of us can do for our county and nation right now. Avoid mass gatherings that can become super-spreader events. Continue to look out for one another by staying six feet apart and wash hands often.” At one point in April, Nassau had the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in New York state, with more than 13,000 Covid-19 patients.

eeping this virus under control requires all of us to do our part. Wearing a mask is one of the most important things all of us can do for our county and nation right now.

the overall surrounding campus will provide a significant boost to the regional economy at a time when economic activity has slowed due to the pandemic. The project will also inject much needed stimulus into the New York economy and the local community, with the goal of filling 30 percent of UBS Arena’s permanent jobs with workers who live in the surrounding area. Additionally, 30 percent of contracting dollars for construction will also be earmarked for state-certified minority and female-owned businesses, and 6 percent will be earmarked for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. An additional $100 million investment in transit and infrastructure enhancements, including the first, newly constructed Long Island Rail Road station in almost 50 years, will benefit local residents and visitors for decades to come. Tony Bellissimo contributed to this story.

RCI now offering second round of advertising grants Richner Communications Inc., publisher of Herald Community Newspapers and The Riverdale Press, this week announced a $250,000 grant program to support local businesses to supplement the $500,000 program offered in the spring. Through the Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program, Long Island businesses are eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for marketing services to promote their products and services. The Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program is being supported by chambers of commerce from across Nassau County. Businesses can apply for grants at www.liherald.com/grants through Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, and they will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. “This past spring, Herald Community Newspapers launched the Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program,” said Stuart Richner, president of RCI and publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. “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 were heartened to hear

how effective Herald Community Newspapers’ marketing products and services were in getting small businesses back on their feet.” The Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program will provide up to $250,000 in matching advertising dollars and can be used toward print or digital advertising in any Herald or other RCI property. Since the coronavirus crisis started in March, the Herald has seen its audience increase by 100 percent, meaning that advertisers now have the ability to reach even more people than before. The program is open to all locally owned and operated businesses impacted by the coronavirus. Grants are available for between $300 and $15,000 of matching funds and can be used through Dec. 31, 2020. Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on advertising will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied toward advertising costs. Applications must be submitted via the online form at www. liherald.com/grants. Businesses will be notified about the status of their applications within two business days of submitting them.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE â€” October 8, 2020

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October 8, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

Diocese of RVC declares bankruptcy By Scott Brinton and Jill noSSa sbrinton@liherald.com; jnossa@liherald.com

The Diocese of Rockville Centre filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Thursday because of the financial strain of lawsuits by sexual abuse victims under New York’s Child Victims Act, which took effect last year. The CVA allows victims to sue for decades-old cases, whereas before a state statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims often prevented them from doing so (see sidebar). In an 11-minute video on the Catholic Faith Network, Bishop John Barres, spiritual leader of the diocese, which encompasses Nassau and Suffolk counties, announced the bankruptcy filing, which was made in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Rockville Centre is among the nation’s 10 largest dioceses, and is home to 1.4 million Catholics. It is among a growing number of dioceses that are filing bankruptcy because they must defend sexual abuse lawsuits. It is the largest diocese to file to date. Barres spoke directly to Long Island parishioners. “Our goal is to make sure that all clergy sexual abuse survivors are afforded just and equitable compensation,” he said. “It is our hope that this offers survivors the possibility of some measure of healing from these horrific abuses.” The bishop said the diocese had no choice but to file for Chapter 11 reorganization. “This decision was not made lightly,” Barres said. “However, in the year since the passing of the Child’s Victim Act, more than 200 lawsuits alleging abuse have been filed against the Diocese of Rockville Centre.” Barres said the diocese would be able to continue its charitable and educational missions under the Chapter 11 filing because all the lawsuits will be centralized into one litigation pool, saving the diocese in attorney’s fees. Otherwise, he said, the “increasingly heavy burden” of litigation could have begun to affect the work of the diocese, which to date has spent about $3.7 million defending 94 lawsuits filed under the CVA. A settlement, Barres said, will be determined based on the diocese’s assets. The diocese began cutting expenses last October to help cover the cost of the lawsuits, saving $3.5 million annually. Then, the coronavirus pandemic struck, and its weekly offerings by congregants at Masses dropped “precipitously,” according to a diocese news release. Roughly 40 percent of the diocese’s income comes from weekly offerings. In August, the diocese cut 10 percent of its staff at its pastoral center in Rockville Centre, saving $5 million a year. According to Barres, the process of Chapter 11 is the only way to offer a “fair and equitable outcome for everyone involved.” That was also the goal, he said, of the Independent Reconciliation Compensation Program, which was started in 2017 and has paid more than $62 million to roughly 350 survivors, according to the diocese release. The IRCP, a voluntary program, ended with the bankruptcy filing, the release said. Barres said he expects regular operations and ministries to continue during the restructuring process, and that employees and vendors will continue to be paid. Additionally, he said, since parishes and Catholic schools operate as separate legal entities, they are not included in the filing. However, he noted that the filing would affect the diocese’s ability to provide financial support to parishes and schools. “We will work diligently with all survivors, creditors and ministries to maintain open communication while we work toward our goal of completing a settlement and finalizing a restructuring plan that includes a comprehensive and final resolution for suffering survivors,” Barres said. Attorney Jeff Anderson, of Jeff Anderson & Associates in Manhattan, whose firm represents more than 70

Courtesy Diocese of Rockville Centre

BiShop John BarreS announced and explained the Diocese of Rockville Centre’s Chapter 11 filing in an 11-minute video on the Catholic Faith Network.

the child Victims act The Child Victims Act, signed by Governor Cuomo in 2019, temporarily increased the state’s statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases. Previously, cases had to be filed by the time a victim was 23 years old, and victims, at that young age, often did not know they could file or were embarrassed to do so. By the time they did, it was often too late. The Child Victims Act extended the period for a victim to file a case from age 23 to 28 in the case of criminal charges and to age 55 in civil cases. The legislation was to last one year, but in August, Cuomo signed a measure extending the filing period by another year, to Aug. 14, 2021, because of the coronavirus pandemic. “The Child Victims Act,” the governor said this August, “brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused, and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long.” sexual abuse survivors, said the decision is “disappointing, yet unsurprising. “Like their recent attacks on the Child Victims Act and their efforts to intimidate survivors from coming forward,” Anderson said, “we see the diocese’s decision to declare bankruptcy as strategic, cowardly and wholly self-serving. “Bishop Barres often states publicly that the diocese is trying to atone for its tremendous sins in its long history of failing to protect children,” he continued, “but in the courtroom, the diocese’s representatives are filing unfounded motions, baseless appeals and resorting to intimidation tactics to keep survivors from coming forward.” Anderson explained that the bankruptcy filing presents an obstacle for survivors as they try to seek justice. “Bankruptcy can limit survivors’ ability to unearth names and information regarding predator priests, expose top officials who covered up for the sexually abusive clergy,” he said, “and bring to light what these officials knew and when they knew it.” He said the filing does not mean the diocese is bank-

rupt and said the diocese is using the bankruptcy code for reorganization as a way to slow the reconciliation process. “It’s not because they can’t pay,” Anderson said. “They want to stop us and the survivors from revealing publicly…the real histories of the practices employed by the Catholic bishops.” He noted that in court documents, the diocese’s liabilities and assets are both listed. “They have underreported their assets,” Anderson said, “and they have insurance to cover these liabilities. In all these cases, they have massive amounts of insurance.” What is not listed, he said, are the “true assets” of the real estate and investment funds under the bishop’s control. “This lack of transparency is a real threat to child safety,” Trusha Goffe, an attorney with Jeff Anderson & Associates, said. “But survivors will still have the power to come forward and seek justice and healing.” Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston-based attorney who represents 23 sexual abuse victims who have filed civil complaints against the Diocese of Rockville Centre, said the Chapter 11 filing would not prevent his clients from moving forward with their lawsuits. “Clergy sexual victims will now seek justice and validation through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court,” Garabedian said. “Legal discovery of secret files, names of perpetrator priests and negligent supervisors and the identity of assets will be sought through the bankruptcy court. Transparency will continue to be pursued in the bankruptcy court so that victims can try to heal.” St. Agnes Cathedral parishioner Ruthanne McCormack, of Rockville Centre, whose children attended St. Agnes Cathedral School and continued on to Catholic high schools, expressed sympathy with the victims and said she hopes the filing would not affect survivors’ reparations. “No amount of money can take away their pain,” she said, adding, “Faith is strength.” She said that since the sexual abuse allegations came to light several years ago, the church has opened discussions within the parish community, and she believes priests have a greater awareness of the impact of abuse. As project coordinator for the Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth, she sees how childhood sexual abuse can lead to substance abuse. “I feel my children are better off for the Catholic education they had,” McCormack said, “and I think the church will be better off from this. Hopefully people will heal, and hopefully they don’t look to other ways to do so.”

Where to vote early in Nassau County as Munson spent a few years working at the Nassau County Board of Elections as a petitioner, going door to door throughout the neighborhood to collect signatures for upcoming races. “I felt it was necessary,” she said of the job. “We are privileged . . . to vote, and we should vote.” Before Levy-Lakeside Elementary School, her designated polling place, was built, Munson voted at the Merrick School, which later became Chatterton Elementary School. For most of her life, she voted on gear-andlever machines affixed with retractable curtains. Today, Nassau residents verify their voter registration on iPads, or electronic poll books, and retrieve their ballots from on-demand printers. Once completed, they feed the ballots into a digital reader to cast their vote. “The new way,” Munson said, “that’s for the birds.”

100 years of women’s suffrage

According to Antonia Petrash, founder of the Long Island Woman Suffrage Association, voting technology isn’t the only thing that’s evolved in the past century. “In the first years [after women gained the right to vote], not too many of them voted,” she said. “At that point in time, polling places were in bars, barber shops — things that only catered to men — so [women] were reluctant to vote.” Petrash explained that as polling places moved into schools and libraries, women started going to the polls in higher numbers to vote. She also noted that in ter ms of voter tur nout, women outpace men by 55 percent. “One of the tenets of the women’s suffrage movement was to encourage women to become politically educated, and it’s just as important today,” she said. “If everyone would get involved and vote for the people who would have the best impact in their lives, we could overcome some of [the] divisiveness.”

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

ContInued from front paGe

Get out the vote

Star ting Oct. 24, Nassau County residents can head to one of 15 polling sites to cast their votes for the Nov. 3 election during a nine-day earlyvoting period. The process was introduced in New York state last year as part of a series of reforms intended to make voting easier for people who struggle to get to the polls on Election Day. T h e n i n e - d ay s c h e d u l e offers 81 hours of early voti n g — 6 0 a re re q u i re d — including evenings and weekends (see map). Residents can vote at any of the sites from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, but if they choose not to, they must vote at their regular polling place on Nov. 3. Munson, who will be the same age as women’s suffrage w h e n E l e c t i o n D ay r o l l s around, said she would make it a point to vote in person this year, despite the pandemic. “I don’t want to send it in [by mail] now that I hear [about] what goes on,” she said, adding, “I think [everyone] should go vote, because it’s to your benefit.” Claudia Borecky, president of the South Shore Women’s Alliance, reminded voters, specifically women, not to be complacent when it comes to this year’s election. “In a year that celebrates t h e 1 0 0 t h a n n ive r s a r y o f women’s right to vote, women’s rights are at risk,” she said. “With a 6-3 Supreme Court threatening to end [Supreme Court Justice Ruth B a d e r G i n s bu r g ’s ] l e g a cy, women’s voices need to be as strong as . . . the suffragists of 100 years ago. We cannot allow their str ug gles that g ave wo m e n t h e f re e d o m s they now enjoy to be in vain. “ N ow i s n o t a t i m e fo r wo m e n t o re m a i n s i l e n t , ” Borecky continued. “Let your voice be heard —vote!” Alyssa Seidman/Herald Life

Jennifer Corr contributed to this story.

Instead of sIGnInG a poll book, voters now verify their identity using electronic poll pads. The county Board of Elections has trained its poll inspectors to use the new technology.

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What’s up next door and around the corner

Herald neigHbors

Boy Scout raises hundreds for animal rescue By AlyssA seidmAn aseidman@liherald.com

Like many organizations, Bobbi and the Strays, an animal rescue shelter in Freeport, was hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Since the nokill nonprofit is 99 percent volunteer-based, shelter manager Elyse Jordan said it lost some of its helpers over the past seven months. “Because our first thing is to take care of the animals, keeping up with the grounds was last on our list,” Jordan said. A wooden fence in the back of the property, which separates one of the play yards from a busy commercial street, needs to be replaced, for example, and a garden under the sign out front has overgrown due to a lack of maintenance. Wanting to lend a hand, Merrick resident Dante Reitz, of Boy Scout Troop 225, decided he could help the shelter through his Eagle Scout project. As a self-proclaimed animal lover, assisting the shelter by beautifying its grounds was his “indirect” way of helping them out, he said. “I really like dogs and cats, and they have a good operation down there,” Reitz said of Bobbi and the Strays. “I’m glad to be helping them out.” To raise money for project materials, the 17-year-old hosted a car wash at Advanced Auto Parts in Merrick on Sept. 27. Together with fellow troop members and scout parents, Reitz raised nearly $700. “It felt really nice seeing my troop help me out and support

troop 225 prospective Eagle Scout Dante Reitz held a car wash fundraiser at Advance Auto Parts in Merrick on Sept. 27. He plans to use the money to replace broken fencing at Bobbi and the Strays shelter in Freeport, and spruce up their front garden.

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald Life

me,” he said. T he prospective Ea gle Scout plans to buy stockade fencing to replace the “worn, dilapidated” fence behind the shelter, which would help keep the animals safe, Jordan said. And this Saturday, Reitz will weed out the overgrown garden, lay down new mulch and plant flowers. “It’s really important to get the shelter back to what we used to be — nice, warm and welcoming,” Jordan said, “and it makes us very happy when someone wants to volunteer their time to help us do that.”

Another upcoming eAgle Scout, Joe Meyers, left, worked the sprayer at the car wash. one of the troop’s founders, Woody Blaufeux, below, came to have his car washed and donate money to Reitz’s project. fAther And son team Pasquale, center right, and Joseph Ciniglio dried off cars together during the fundraiser. scout pArent greg Sanders, far below left, sprayed cleaning solution onto the cars.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

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t’s all about helping the community, and through the Parent Center, I think I have been able to help the community address many of the health and safety issues that concern parents regarding their kids and families. We’re going to be offering a Parenting through Crisis webinar. It’s going to be presented in cooperation with the Long Island Crisis Center, and Laura Campbell is the guest speaker. Parenting is challenging under normal circumstances, and during the pandemic even more challenging. Parents are having a difficult time juggling home, work, school and coping with all the stress, anxiety and insecurity the pandemic has brought with it. Through this webinar, we will be able to give parents the tools they need and remind them that one of the most important things to help their families is they need to take care of themselves. In order to be there and be that good role model for your kids, you have got to be able to take care of yourself. We’re hoping parents join us that day [Wednesday, Oct. 14] and benefit from some of the advice, strategies and tips we’ll offer. Our Drug Take Back Day has been an annual event for many years, and with a recent uptick in substance abuse in Nassau County, we felt that now more than ever it’s important to get those expired, unused medications out of homes and dispose of them safely. We will be at the Bellmore train station this year on Saturday, Oct. 24, so people can drive right in, drop off and leave. The biggest thing that we’re going to need to make that a great event is the volunteers — and hopefully we’ll get the support from the community.

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had an office in Huntington — I’ve been there for eight and a half years. My plan was to have two locations to expand on my programs and hire another therapist, but then the coronavirus happened and I had to choose one. So now I’m the therapist, I’m the receptionist, and I’m everything else in between. I started doing in-person appointments by the end of July. I see one person per hour, and that’s been working very well for those who could come in. For those who can’t, who are not comfortable or have underlying health issues, we have stayed on Zoom. And, in a way, it has its benefits because I could see how they’re doing the exercises at home and what their setup is like. Many times, people are doing everything right in the office with me and then can’t replicate it at home, so I could see how they’re doing it in their own space and help them to do it correctly. I could also record our sessions so they could re-watch them if they need to see them again. In my office, I have three private rooms that I alternate using between clients. My model since I first opened was to have one-on-one treatment, so there wasn’t much of a change with pandemic guidelines. I show them exercises they could replicate at home without using much equipment. Before this, I was working in mostly orthopedics for physical therapy clinics across Long Island.

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SHARE YOUR LOSS, SHARE YOUR MEMORIES Dear neighbor:

We live and work in this community. The lives of each and every one of you is important to us and we are here to tell your stories — from beginning to end. That includes the final chapter. At this difficult time, I want to remind you that obituaries in all Herald Community Newspapers are, and have always been, completely free. COVID-19 has taken far too many, far to soon. Let us help you commemorate the life of your loved one with a story and photo celebrating their life. Contact our Executive Editor Scott Brinton, sbrinton@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000, ext 203, if you would like to memorialize a loved one in the Herald, regardless of their cause of death. Stuart Richner Publisher srichner@liherald.com 1100740

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October 8, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

owNer, Palmatum laNdscaPes llc seaford

saw on a Facebook page that the [Veterans Memorial] garden bed had to be cleaned up. Then, [Donna Jebaily] contacted me asking for pricing on some mulching and some planting. She mentioned about five or six plants. When I went there and saw the bed in person, I said, ‘All right, I’m going to rip it all out and redo the mulching, planting and spruce it up.” I ripped everything out. I went and got a bunch of stuff. I planted some hollies, coralbells, mums and some ornamental grass. It took me about five hours, just me and one of my [workers]. We donated time and material to do it for the town. For the first couple days after I did it, I went back and kind of watered everything by hand, but then we got some rain and cooler weather. A lot of people I’d never met messaged me and said ‘thank you’ and were appreciative for doing it. It was a small gesture to me. I grew up in Seaford. I graduated from Seaford High School in 2016. It has always been a small and close community. I just wanted to help give back indirectly to the community and help clean things up.

waNtaGH Pastor, waNtaGH memorial coNGreGatioNal cHurcH

was a young infantry officer 40 years ago stationed in Germany as part of a divisional security team on a Pershing [nuclear] missile site. As I became more senior, my security clearances gave me access to more information about the effects of a nuclear first strike on the civilian population. The humanitarian and environmental impact would’ve been devastating. [Our recent] prayer vigil at [Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church] was planned as part of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. But it [was] also about healing the divisions in American society. The pandemic has really intensified the feelings of despair and alienation in our society. We’re in the process of becoming a “just peace” church. This means a church that not only opposes nuclear war, but also is for peace in every case. Our church has taken a stand against all weapons of mass destruction and in favor of the abolition of all war — anyplace there’s injustice. When I came to Wantagh, our deacon told me I had what’s called “freedom of the pulpit.” That freedom extends to the sign out front [on Wantagh Avenue], so I choose those messages, too.

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

Their fronT-line sTories in Their own words Nick ParsoN tHe rev. roN GarNer seaford

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Laura and dave Tiongson, of Merrick, right, perused succulents offered by Jonah Rangel and Andrea Pasqualino, of Jonah’s Garden in North Bellmore. george SChuLtze, owner of Spirit Sky Drum in Freeport, played a djembe drum to attract visitors to his booth.

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able to work for the entire calendar year, and shoppers have been relegated to online shopping,” Finchley said. “Here, they have an opportunity in a relatively safe and secure environment . . . to go out, get some fresh air and find products and services that are not easy to find.” Chamber Vice President Ira Reiter and his wife, Hillary, were two of the many vendors sharing their wares at last Sunday’s pop-up market. Their business, The Barking Biscuit, which sells homemade dog treats, was placed six feet apart from Last Hope Animal Rescue, a Wantaghbased nonprofit. Reiter said the weekly market would allow business owners to recoup revenue that was lost during Covid-related shutdowns earlier this year. “Everyone’s anxious to get out and start doing things, and

as a chamber . . . this is one way that we can promote some of our small businesses,” he said. “A lot of our vendors that are here are all local — most of them actually do our festivals — and we look forward to this growing.” Chamber members can choose any two days to reserve a spot at the market with no rent obligation, Aziz said. They will also be offered a discounted fee if they wish to continue to attend. The fee for non-members is $40. Merrick’s pop-up market will be held every Sunday through Christmas, weather permitting, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Sunrise Highway and Merrick Avenue. Admission and parking are free. To register your business, call (516) 442-6000 or email Finchley at alan@nassaucountyfair.com.

ElECtion 2020

health care system out, too. But we have to stop paying insane premiums for drug prices.

By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com

Coronavirus

We have to recognize that the exposure is still there. We need to continue to use masks. Social distancing is real and it is effective. We also need to make sure that our hospitals and medical facilities have the proper personal protective equipment. We have to make sure we have a proper inventory. Medical personnel cannot use PPE that has already been exposed. We are doing the research on vaccines. Hopefully, we will be successful in that. If it seems like it is being rushed, people will have hesitation towards it.

Health care

We need a system where everyone has access to solid, basic health care, where they are able to go to the doctor and be taken care of. If they are hospitalized, that is taken care of. We have to look at different aspects and the regional cost factors. If you went down to Mississippi, the cost is so much lower there because the average income is much lower. There are cost differentials. I think it’s possible to have a fair basic plan for everybody. We have got to be smart and help the

Jobs and local businesses

First, we have to take into consideration that New York is not allowed to run a deficit. We need money from the federal government to help offset the deficit we are running. Prior to the new tax law, we used to send $48 billion more to Washington than what we got back. With the SALT tax, that added an additional $15 billion. I don’t think we New Yorkers get a fair shake from Washington, as we send more to them than any other state and get less in return [comparatively]. We have to recognize many businesses locally are struggling. I have dealt a lot with bowling alleys, some closed for 5 months with insanely high real estate taxes. Families who owned them had to scrounge up all the money to make the payments. We have to recognize that, in some cases, they paid around $200,000 without any financial income from their business. We have to give them some credits over the next several years to offset that. We need to provide the ability to small governments and bodies, like Nassau County, Town of Hempstead, the Seaford School District even, to allow borrowing

for a period of time to offset lost revenues. If you had no money coming in, it would put you back in the hole. We have to give the ability to borrow at low cost in the long term. That would provide some relief.

Renewable energy

We have to do things to help curb emissions and better conserve the use of water. I am working with some experts now on multiple projects. One of things we are looking at, with the scientists, is working on a disposal process will result in a function that will produce electricity and the end product that is done will be a product that will filter things, including water. We also have to look at the chemicals we are using and fertilizers for our lawns. They are presenting problems like the encroachment from this into our underground drinking water systems. We have to look at all the shortfalls we saw during the pandemic. Create some additional jobs, too. We are going to see the wind energy programs at both SUNY Farmingdale and Stony Brook. They will have centers for that and that industry will be opening up. We could think of doing things like making the vinyl siding covering outside of a business as solar-capable, or some-

thing of the sort. That is a whole industry we could create.

School funding

We need to make sure that all of our districts can manage the distance-learning program. Some communities and families are in need of Internet connections and at longer range. We need to continue to provide funding for better technological advancements. I really want to have a bond act next year that addresses the equipment and technology side for distance learning and also school safety issues. We’ve got to get everyone on equal footing. Also, in places like Seaford, Wantagh and Massapequa, 70 percent of the cost of education is paid for by residential property taxes. Those taxes are paid on the assessed value of the house. For seniors, who have been here for a long time, they are paying more for their home in taxes than the price of the house when they bought it. If they bought it many years ago for $15,000 but today it is assessed at, say, $800,000, you might say, ‘Oh they’re rich.” No, only if they sell it. Now they are paying taxes based on that assessment. I have legislation that would cap residential property taxes at no more than 50 percent total cost of education.

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

Brooks’ focus unaffected in unopposed race

October 8, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

OBITUARY

‘A once in a lifetime coach’

Carefree Racquet Club senior staff instructor Daniel Burgess dies at 67 By RONNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com

Renowned tennis coach Daniel Burgess, of Freeport, died on Sept. 28. He was 67. Burgess was Freeport’s own tennis guru, devoting decades of his life to teaching the sport at several facilities, including the Daniel Burgess Indoor Tennis Academy and the Carefree Racquet Club in North Merrick. He also taught at Freeport Indoor Tennis, the Hempstead Lake Indoor Tennis Center, the Point Set Racquet Club in Oceanside, and the Learning Institute of Tennis, Life Skills and Sportsmanship, a nonprofit that he founded. “He always committed to teaching tennis and helping his community,” said Jacki Binder, a friend of almost 20 years. “It’s a terrible loss, as he touched the lives of so many people.” Burgess fell in love with tennis when he was 12, learning from a community volunteer in his native Rainbow City, Panama. He became an accomplished player, earning a scholarship to Long Island University in Brooklyn when he was 18. He practiced at the New York Health and Racquet Club, near the Staten Island Ferry, and at the Lincoln Plaza Racquet Club, near Times Square. Burgess offered to clean the courts in exchange for more playing time so he could practice outside of school.

Despite his best efforts, Burgess ran out of money to pay his tuition, and his scholarship was not enough to cover his studies, so he left school to play on the professional circuit. After his professional career, he settled in Freeport and started a coaching business, the Daniel Burgess Tennis Academy, on Mill Road. He focused on teaching young tennis players, including his three sons, and his talent for coaching became evident as he taught throughout the South Shore. “Daniel had a heart of gold and was a true volunteer,” said Kathy Miller, manager of the Carefree Racquet Club, where Burgess was a senior staff instructor. “His goal was to get as many people on the tennis court as possible, where he was always encouraging and made sure everyone had fun. He loved what he did and shined through his big smile.” “We could literally write a book with the outpouring of messages we have received from students and players that have been touched by Danny in the decades that he has been teaching tennis,” added Ben Marks, Carefree’s director of junior tennis. “He truly was a oncein-a-lifetime tennis coach.” “Carefree Tennis is deeply saddened by the passing of Daniel Burgess Sr.,” wrote the Carefree team in a statement. “He was an integral part of the programs at Carefree. For more than 40 years, his involvement with U.S. Tennis Associa-

Public Notices

LMER1 1008

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that an order granted by the Supreme Court, Nassau County, on the 17th day of September, 2020, bearing Index Number 483-20, a copy of which may be examined at the office of the clerk, located at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY grants me the right to assume the name of Daniel Adam Turk. The city and state of my present address are Merrick, NY; the month and year of my birth are August, 1970; the place of my birth is Far Rockaway, Queens County, NY; my present name is Adam Daniel Turk. 123333

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BELLMORE U.F.S.D. MERRICK U.F.S.D. NORTH BELLMORE U.F.S.D. NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D. TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU NOTICE TO BIDDERS:

In accordance with provision of Section 103 of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Transportation Consortium hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for: Bellmore-Merrick Cooperative School Year Bid 2020-2021 Bids will be publicly opened and read at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Business Office, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, on Monday, October 19, at 10:00 am. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained from the office of Tom Volpe, Director of Transportation, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities in or to reject in whole or in part all bids or to accept any bid which in its judgment is in the best interest of the school district. By order: Board of Education BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

BELLMORE U.F.S.D. MERRICK U.F.S.D. NORTH BELLMORE U.F.S.D. NORTH MERRICK U.F.S.D. 123388

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE PROPOSED 2021 BUDGET OF THE NORTH MERRICK FIRE DISTRICT, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS, FOR ITS CONSIDERATION. A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 20, 2020 AT 7 PM. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE NORTH MERRICK FIRE D E P A R T M E N T HEADQUARTERS BUILDING LOCATED AT 2095 CAMP AVENUE, NORTH MERRICK, NEW YORK 11566. PURSUANT TO TOWN LAW SECTION 181, THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MUST HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET, MAKE THE PROPOSED BUDGET AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC PRIOR TO THE

PUBLIC HEARING, AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT IN FAVOR OF, OR AGAINST, AS IT IS SUBMITTED, OR FOR, OR AGAINST, ANY ITEM, OR ITEMS CONTAINED THEREIN. COPIES OF THE 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY PERSON(S) AT NO COST, AT THE FIRE DISTRICT OFFICE, 2095 CAMP AVENUE, NORTH MERRICK, NEW YORK 11566. OFFICE HOURS, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8 AM TO 4PM. COPIES OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT www.northmerrickfd.org AND AT THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK, OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, ONE WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK 11550. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS DAVID WARD DISTRICT CLERK NORTH MERRICK FIRE DISTRICT SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 123356

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

Courtesy Daniel Burgess

DaNiEl BuRgESS, lEft, was joined by fellow USTA Long Island Region board members Sunny Fishking, Craig Fligstein and Mike Pavlides when Burgess received the Fran Osei Community Service Award in 2018. tion, our tennis community and his local Freeport neighborhood has impacted so many of all ages. He will be greatly missed. As his message says, ‘Keep the last ball in play.’” As he coached, Burgess became an active member of the USTA, serving as a board member and president of the Eastern Section Long Island Regional. He also served the U.S. Professional Tennis Association as a certified trainer for 15 years. For his commitment to the local tennis community, the USTA Eastern Tennis Conference honored Burgess with the Fran Osei Community Service Award in 2018, an honor named after Burgess’s late friend. Sunny Fishkind, a fellow board member of USTA Long Island, said Burgess was extraordinarily committed to the organization and loved working with children. “I never met a person who didn’t love him right away,” Fishkind said. “He’d jump at any opportunity to teach.” “He was a ray of sunshine,” said Herb Harris, another board member. Harris recalled first meeting Burgess in 2004, when he learned even more about tennis from Burgess. The two attended matches at the U.S. Open, where they enjoyed games and conversations. “There was always this great sunset during the evening matches, and he would say, ‘I hope that sunset never ends today,’” Harris said. “Now I hope that his sun never sets either, and that everyone can remember him.” Last year, Burgess founded the Learning Institute of Tennis, Life Skills and

Sportsmanship to foster a love of tennis, self-respect and leadership among local youth. Through LITLSS, Burgess trained young people at the very tennis courts he helped establish at Bishop Frank O. White Park, which is less than a minute away from his Parson Avenue home. The players, ages 4 to 16, not only learn tennis, but also study and take part in career-building workshops and characterbuilding activities. Despite worries that the summer camp would be canceled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Burgess and his team secured grants and donations to finance the program, which ran in July and August. On the camp’s last day, Aug. 14, Burgess told the Herald that one of his biggest joys was watching his students develop as athletes, to the point that even they were surprised by their achievements. “It’s not just about learning to play tennis, but about working on improving yourself and seeing some growth,” Burgess said. Visitation was scheduled for Thursday, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Hungerford & Clark Inc., Funeral Home. Funeral services were set to begin at 2 p.m. A private cremation was planned. Burgess was the husband of Agnes Ford-Burgess, a nurse at the Leo F. Giblyn Elementary School; the father of Shawn Conyers, Daniel Burgess Jr. and Kevin Burgess; and the grandfather of six. A GoFundMe page, titled “In loving memory of Daniel Burgess,” has been started to help the Burgess family.

Employment

CLASSIFIED

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

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

lynbrook public schools a district of excellence Lynbrook, An AwArd winning SchooL diStrict

Bellmore-Merrick CHSD

Valley Stream Central HS District

Paraprofessionals, F/T

BUILDING MONITOR, PART TIME

Starting salary: $21,988 - $22,526

full-time positions

(commensurate with experience)

Work 10 Months, No Benefits

Teacher assisTanTs Teacher aides

Security Aide, F/T

Mail or Fax Letter of Interest & Resume By October 28th, 2020 to: Personnel One Kent Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580 Fax: (516) 872-5689 No Phone Calls Please

$20.50/hr.

(law enforcement background required)

Substitute Positions:

Teacher assisTanTs Teacher aides moniTors cleaners

• Food Service Helper: $14.18/hr. • Bus Driver: $19.50/hr.

(must have proper 19A documentation)

HERALD

• Cleaner: $13.75/hr.

suBstitute positions

Homes

• Security Aide: $20.50/hr.

Teachers Teacher assisTanTs nurses Teacher aides clerical moniTors cleaners

(law enforcement background required)

• Clerical Substitutes: $16.50 per hour

employment@lynbrookschools.org

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

maureen t. Berman, ed.D. Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Transportation & Student Support Services

EOE Minority Candidates Encouraged to apply

4 REASONS TO SELL YOUR HOME THIS FALL LESS COMpETITION BUYERS ARE ACTINg QUICkLY

Gus Allotti realtor ®

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Send Cover Letter, Resume, Certifications, etc. to

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

MORTgAgE RATES ARE AT RECORd LOwS YOUR HOUSE LOOkS gREAT

1104258

part-time positions

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

516-790-6633 516-764-2601

CENTURY 21 Sherlock Homes

43 N. Park Ave., Rockville Centre, NY 11570

lirealtorgus@gmail.com Each office is independently owned and operated www.Century21SherlockHomes.com

JOB OPPORTUNITY

HILLS

1080712

$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

1103100

1104311

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted DENTAL RECEPTIONIST - LYNBROOK Monday, Tuesday Wednesday. Telephone Computer Skills Necessary. Dental Exp. Advantageous. 516-599-5544. JANITORIAL SERVICE WORKER KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSLYNBROOK 20 Hours. $300/wk + Payment For Extra S e r v i c e s . C a l l C h r i s D e n ke r. 516-599-2708. 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 MEDICAL OFFICE HELP- Front Desk P/T. Computer Skills, Knowledge of Medical Terms. Island Park. Please Call 516-223-3117 516-236-3646.

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

OUTSIDE SALES

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

PARTS SALESPERSON

Marine Or Auto Parts Experience

MARINE MECHANIC

Experienced Rigger, I/O, I/B, O/B Gas/ Diesel, Own Tools Year Round Employment Medical And 401K Available 516-764-3300 Ext.144 peter@allisland.com

ROUTES AVAILABLE AT CALLAHEAD Corp.

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

VETERINARY ASSISTANT FT/PT

Knowledgeable, Experienced Persons May Apply. Become Par t of a Team Where Patient Care is our #1 Priority. Call Carmen at (516) 374-5050.

Health Care/Opportunities

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!!

HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides Childcare. Housekeeping Day Workers No Fee To Employers

Evon's Svces: 516-505-5510 Eldercare Offered COMPANION-AIDE AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT. Experienced In Meal Prep., Light Housekeeping, Grocery Shopping/ Errands. Available Full-Time Or PartT i m e. C u r r e n t Ly n b r o o k R e fe r e n c e Available. Own Transportation. Call Althea 917-318-7558

REAL ESTATE Real Estate W A R E H O U S E / O F F I C E S PA C E AVAILABLE IN PORT WASHINGTON For Lease Price: $14.00 sq. ft./Mo Property Type: Industrial Space Available: 8,000 sq. ft. CALL: PETER 516.779.4387

Open Houses WOODSBURG 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...$1,450,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299 WOODSBURGH 891 KEENE Lane, BA, REDUCED & MOTIVATED!! Magnificently Renovated While Retaining Charm, Stone Cottage. 3 BR, 2.5 Bth with Tremendous Potential for Expansion.Brand New Mstr B t h . O ve r 1 / 2 A c r e P r o p e r t y ! N e a r All...999,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

House For Sale EAST ROCKAWAY CHARMING Colonial 3 Bds, 2 Baths, Water Filtration System, 2 Car Garage. $505K. Call Persephone 516-809-1000 Coldwell Banker Real Estate HEWLETT BA 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. Fin Bsmt with Hi Ceilings. SD#20...$1,250,000 Ronn i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n R E 516-238-4299 MILL NECK: Ranch, Top Schools, 3 BRS, Den, 2.5 Bths, Large LR, 2 Car Garage, CAC, Fbsmt. Low Tax. $649K. Owner. 718-465-3520

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

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

HERALD

The lowdown on insulation

Homes

HERALD

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

HOME OF THE WEEK

Q. We want to re-insulate our house before winter while we renovate, and aren’t sure about which type to use. The costs seem to be very different between fiberglass and foam. What would you suggest we use, and why? Are there any other less costly choices?

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

Sunlit Colonial on Extraordinary Property

Hewlett Neck

Sara Abikzer Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Mobile 516-984-6798 Office 516-741-4333 www.saraabikzer.com @SaraSellsLI info@saraabikzer.com sabikzer@signaturepremier.com

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)

2119 Bedford Ave. John Lawlor, CBR, SFR Bellmore, NY 11710 Michele Librett-Lawlor, CBR, SFR

NYS Licensed Real Estate Salespersons

BestLiHomes.com • 516-418-3333

1099323

Where Dreams Come Home

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

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OPEN HOUSES BY APPT SUNdAY, 12/11/2020 HEWLETT 154 Midgely Dr, BA, 4 BR, 3 Bth Col on Dead End St in Old Woodmere Area. Updtd Gran/Wood Kit. Newer Windows, Slate Roof, Full Bsmt. SD#14. Close to all .. $689,000 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. Fin Bsmt with Hi Ceilings. SD#20...............................................$1,250,000 WOOdMERE 78 Burton Ave, BA, 5 BR, 4.5 Bth Col in Great Old Woodmere Location. Large EIK, FDR, LR/Fpl, Den & Office. Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. Near All. SD#14REDUCED! $899,000 946 Midwood Rd, BA, NEW! Renovated 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Colonial in Academy Area. Gran/Wood EIK, LR/Fpl, FDR & Den. Fin Bsmt. Gar.......................................... $999,000 HEWLETT HARBOR 3 Payne Circle, BA, 5 BR, 3.5 Bth Spacious Split on Beautiful Street in 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 Home on an Acre Of Resortlike Prop with IG Pool. Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master. SD#14 ..REDUCED! $1,599,000 1290 Seawane Dr, BA, WATERFRONT PROPERTY on MACY CHANNEL! Build Your Dream Home on this 1.25 Acre Property in Prime Location .......................... $1,799,000 HEWLETT BAY PARK 1261 Veeder Dr, BA, Stately 7 BR, 4.55 Grand 6500 Sq Ft Colonial Tucked Away in 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 on an Acre of Parklike Property. Move Right in! SD#14 .....................................................................$1,699,000 159 Meadowview Ave, BA, Stately 5200 Sq Ft Colonial Featuring 6 BR, 6.55 Bths on Acre Of Resortlike Prop with IG Pool, Tennis Ct, & Outdoor Kit. Fin Bsmt, 2 Car Gar, Fabulous Location in SD#14 ..................................................... REDUCED!! $2,699,000 30 Heron Dr, BA, Magnificent 8500 Sq Ft Waterfront Home on 2 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ Pool, Tennis/Sport Ct, New Landscaping w/ Waterfall & 3 BR Guest House w/ 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 Prop. Guest Quarters, Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#14 ............................................................................$1,450,000 891 Keene Lane, BA, Magnificently Renovated While Retaining Charm, Stone Cottage. 3 BR, 2.5 Bth with Tremendous Potential for Expansion. Brand New Mstr Bth. Over 1/2 Acre Property! Near All ........................ REDUCED & MOTIVATED!! $999,000 EAST ROCKAWAY 18 Thompson Dr, BA, 4 BR, 3 Bth Exp Ranch. Updtd Gran/Wood EIk, Huge Great Room, FDR. Master Ste Boasts Bath & Closet that was a Room. SD#20......... $825,000 1 Thompson Dr, BA, NEW! 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout in Waverly Park Area. 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

“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

OneKey Multiple Listing Service

1099946

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299

CAN'T FIND YOUR DREAM HOME? LET US BUILD IT! new Home Special 4 Bedrooms, 2-1/2 Baths, Plans & Permits

$499,000

PRESTIGE Custom Home Builder

DoRmERS • Ex TEnSIonS

1104263

e s t. 1 9 1 1

A. Insulation, of all building materials, has the highest return on investment when you consider the installation and material cost compared with the savings over the rest of the life of the building. Every second of every day, your building or home is losing temperature to the outside environment, heating up in the summer and cooling down in the winter, at constant expense, so onte eeper resisting that loss of temperature and money should be a high priority in the design and selection of materials. Choose the best material and have it installed correctly. The best choice is closed-cell foam, which has the highest return on investment and the highest initial cost but is worth every penny. Closed-cell foam is a complete cavity-filling barrier with the highest resistance to temperature changes. But it also does what other insulators cannot: It is a vapor retarder and resister. The two biggest problems buildings face are water and movement, and closed-cell foam is an excellent choice to resist both, because it adds rigidity to the walls and roof while slowing or stopping moisture. Open-cell foam is less costly, but can collect and hold moisture like a sponge does. Fiberglass not only does not expand to completely fill the floor, wall and roof cavities, it also collapses when wet. The only place I would use fiberglass, given a financial choice not to, would be in buildings that need to be stripped due to regular flooding, since foam would be hard to remove in a repair or remediation. With fiberglass insulation you must leave an air space to the outside of the insulation so that air can freely flow to carry moisture away, a sure sign that the cavities continuously have humidity, just like the outside air. From a cost perspective, you can look at the issue two different ways. Do you want to save money in one day and pay more the rest of the building’s life, or do you want to make the investment to save the money on rising utility costs for the rest of your life in the building? I reduced the insulation in an energy analysis for a home in the spring, when the client got a quote of $16,000 for closed-cell foam. We are now required to do formal energy analysis on each project, so working the numbers and using some creative changes with more resistive window and door ratings, which adds some cost, we were able to use closed-cell foam and save the owner around $8,000. In 10 to 12 years, all those savings will begin to reverse themselves as utility prices rise and continuous temperature is lost. Good luck!

Ask The Architect

ome home to magnificent living in this beautiful residence on Hewlett Neck Road. Nestled on a three quarter acre corner lot, you're sure to find everything on your wish list here. A vaulted ceiling soars over the massive living room with beautiful cabinetry designed by Michael Schwartz, while numerous Andersen windows fill the space with natural light. New French doors lead to the vast bluestone paver patio while verdant landscaping provides natural privacy. A full basketball court at the back of the lot is a great place to spend a weekend. Hardie Board Siding has been freshly painted making your home even more picturesque. Private showings are by appointment.

1104262

October 8, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

516-250-4947 • www.PrestigeGeneralContractors.com

© 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.

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

Safe Roof and Exterior Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning, Repairs, Installations 1099696

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

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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

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

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Market Place • •

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

HERALD

Stuff

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

Finds Under $100

Garage Sales

COMPUTER LAPTOP: CQ60-215DX 4gb-Mem, 250gb-HD Win10 64x upgraded w/many new HW par ts/apps $80. 516-794-4712

LYNBROOK YARD SALE SAT. OCT. 10 438 SCRANTON AVENUE. 10AM-4PM Furniture, Bicycles, Housewares, Books Lawnmower & More.

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 BICYCLE 24 INCH 6 speed Schwinn mountain bike, green and black $60.00. Looks new. 516-312-6239 CODI LAPTOP CASE shoulder strap $20.00. Ciao rolling luggage carry on $30.00. good 516 221 5374

LIGHT FIXTURE DR 25" high glass round bottom; halogen bulbs. bronze metal $ 99.00. 516-312-6239 POULAN 18" BLADE Chainsaw. $75.00. Homelight chainsaw also available. Contact Anthony 516-996-1383 RECIPROCATING SAW: 6 AMP, rotating handle, 5 stops, 16 blades, hardly used $50. 516-794-4712 WINTER COVER FOR 15 ft. round pool, used 1 season $45 516-887-2656

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.

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

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

Home Improvement

BRIAN CONNELLY SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Cleaned, Repaired & Replaced Also Specializing in Roofing & Siding No job too big or small Lic. #H2709920000. Ins. Free Est. 516-234-4388 or 516-623-8447

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

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

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

HErald

Crossword Puzzle

Miscellaneous

Tutoring

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

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

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

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

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

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

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Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

opinions

ith all the hullabaloo about the Supreme Court vacancy, the election and President Trump’s contracting Covid19, the national media has largely overlooked a pressing matter before Congress that needs immediate attention. Whether the coronavirus epidemic surges or wanes, its ongoing economic and social effects are unquestionable. The U.S. bought precious time with earlier actions by Congress, the president and the Federal Reserve to provide considerable stimulus for alfonse our economy. d’amaTo In the first half of this year, those emergency spending measures — over $3 trillion in all — basically replaced most of the nation’s economic output lost to the epidemic. But even as Covid-19 continues to ravage the economy, negotiations in Congress to provide more economic aid to families and businesses are stalled. Some observers fear that this political impasse could continue beyond next month’s election, possibly even until a new Congress takes office in January. Economists of nearly all political stripes — who rarely see eye to eye on anything

— generally agree that the deadlock threatens the nation’s fragile economic recovery. Millions of Americans who were able to make rent payments and buy essentials like food and medicine with the extra money Washington sent through state unemployment systems are especially vulnerable. They’ve seen their supplemental federal benefit drop from $600 per week to $300, and even that funding has ended. With this stream of money dried up, more people will be unable to pay rent, buy enough food, or afford their families’ medical bills. Many will have to resort to welfare programs, food stamps and Medicaid. In a vicious circle, they’ll become dependent on other federal and state programs to make ends meet without the help they received under the emergency federal stimulus program. Likewise, many hundreds of thousands of small businesses that have been hanging on for dear life now face the distinct possibility of closing for good. With their demise would go millions of decent jobs held primarily by hardworking middle-class people who live just a paycheck or two away from financial disaster. The Payroll Protection Program, passed as part of the earlier compromise

between Congress and the administration, gave these businesses a lifeline. Now they’ll drown with the dead weight of an economy still in severe distress. And more workers who were kept on payrolls under the PPP will sink into unemployment. Unfortunately, political leaders in Washington have resorted to the usual foot-stomping and name-calling rather than action on this critical issue. First, the Democratic leadership in the House passed a massive $3.4 trillion bill that some Republicans likened to a Christmas wish list, loaded up with expensive presents for the Democrats’ special-interest friends. Then Republicans in the Senate dithered while they negotiated with themselves over the size of another federal stimulus bill, or whether to pass one at all. This impasse should have been broken weeks ago. The Senate finally did pass a $500 billion emergency bill that would have pumped a considerable amount of money into the economy. When a bipartisan group of House members took the politically risky step of breaking with their leaders to urge passage of the compromise bill, they were beaten back by the leadership. Instead, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made the magnanimous (to her) offer

n Washington there’s footstomping and name-calling rather than action.

of a $2.2 trillion bill. In response, the Trump administration has signaled support for a $1.5 trillion bill, which meets Pelosi’s proposal more than halfway. Clearly, there’s room to reach an agreement. Since Congress is thankfully still a bicameral body, with a Senate and not just a House, the deadlock can be broken by serious good-faith negotiations. Trump has said he’ll sign whatever compromise legislation Congress sends to him. And compromise is the key word here. If Congressional leaders have calculated that they can gain more short-term political advantage by fighting rather than settling this dispute, they will have committed gross misfeasance. There was a time not too long ago when $500 billion proposed by the Senate would have been considered huge, and when $3 trillion proposed by the House would have been considered fiscally reckless. But these aren’t ordinary times. The nation is at war with an invisible enemy. There is a number, between restraint and excess, that must be found. If it isn’t, and soon, the number that should be cut is the number of years members of Congress can serve. Maybe it’s time to pass term limits. Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.

Covid-19 stalks America, unchecked and deadly

hen the coronavirus jumped from bats to humans in a wet market in Wuhan, China, last year, a unique and deadly bug went viral. Viruses are respected and feared by epidemiologists for their ability to spread quickly and mindlessly through unprotected populations. As if to prove how vulnerable every single one of us is, President Trump and his wife tested positive last week. On every level, Randi the pandemic is a kReiss national tragedy, but the greatest heartbreak is that it never had to be this bad. We need and want our president to be healthy and robust. He might have remained so if he had followed the guidelines from his medical experts. They urged him to be more self-protective and more protective of the people around him. Week after week, month after month, epidemiologists and other scientists have been warning us and cajoling us and sometimes begging us to take basic precautions against Covid-19, which got a foothold in America in Janu-

ary and never quit. The doctors told us, and they told the president, that easy, protective measures could be taken to mitigate the fierce death toll that was predicted. Trump chose to play down the warnings, to defy medical advice, to challenge common sense and common knowledge. All this time, leading up to his infection, he refused to wear a mask and keep a social distance from others. He insisted on bringing thousands of people together for political rallies, without requiring them to mask up. He held events at the White House, including his nomination for a second term, with no rules about wearing masks or staying six feet apart. The week before last, at the Rose Garden nominating ceremony for the president’s choice for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, the Trumps mingled with guests and White House staff, with the president leading the mask-free contingent. There was hugging and back-slapping. Within days, Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis; the Rev. John Jenkins, president of Notre Dame University; former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and several other attendees announced that they

had tested positive for Covid-19. We will never know whether it was bravado or fear or defiance that motivated his choices, but Trump’s insistence on encouraging others to throw away their masks with their common sense has resulted in more deaths and more pain than we can bear. He so easily could have saved lives. He could have led the country by example, bringing Americans together in a united effort to wear protective gear and respect social distancing. Every day on the campaign trail, he exposed his staff and the people at his rallies to the rampaging virus. By deriding those who wore masks, he contributed mightily to the problem. We are now beyond 200,000 deaths in the U.S. Psychologists tell us the number is difficult to conceptualize. Human beings can understand one death, in its sad and intimate details. But 200,000? It short-circuits our imagination. The Washington Post ran a story to help readers visualize and appreciate the immensity of the human loss we have suffered. You click on a website and put in your Zip code, and you see a map with your location as ground zero for the dis-

he president so easily could have saved lives if he had just led by example.

ease, and then 200,000 dots, representing Covid-19 victims, on the map surrounding your home. When I did it, my entire hometown of Woodmere was wiped out, along with villages and towns north, south, east and west. Looking at that map with no living souls within miles made the loss very real. It looked as if a nuclear weapon had detonated, with my home as the target. It is sad to contemplate the enormity of our national tragedy, especially now with our president at risk. The coronavirus has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, in part because leadership chose not to listen to advice from experts who train all their lives to combat rogue epidemics. The president’s choices have been costly, to himself and his family, but mostly to the people of the United States. Now that he is sick, he is getting state-of-the-art care and treatment that should be, but isn’t, available to every American who gets sick with the virus. The Secret Service spends millions of our tax dollars to keep the president and his family safe. Yet he has put himself, his wife and countless others in mortal danger by refusing to wear a cheap mask. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

Congress is AWOL on coronavirus aid

22 Merrick

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Please, Mr. President, prioritize Covid-19 prevention

et us begin by wishing President Trump and those around him well. He, First Lady Melania Trump and several top federal officials and campaign workers were diagnosed last week with the coronavirus. At press time, the president appeared to be on the mend, though we received conflicting reports from his doctors and press aides, so deciphering with certainty how he was faring was impossible. We hope for the best. That said, let us be clear: Trump brought the illness on himself and those around him with his cavalier approach to disease prevention. From the start, he eschewed masks, mocking former Vice President Joe Biden for wearing them. He has not practiced social distancing, as was clear at the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. And he has held large indoor and outdoor rallies, at which masks have been optional, contradicting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. On Sunday, Trump left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and rode in a SUV among his supporters. Inside that hermetically sealed vehicle were Secret Service agents who were potentially exposed, despite their wearing personal protective equipment. The president’s short trip flouted CDC guidelines on social isolation recommended after a positive Covid-19 test — the patient, the agency states, should stay away from others for 10

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letters New York needs a ‘millionaires tax’ To the Editor: New York is facing an economic apocalypse as the result of the coronavirus pandemic. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. The necessity of shutting down the state means shutting down economic activity. Today the state Covid-19 infection rate is hovering around 1 percent. This has allowed many businesses to reopen and economic activity to restart. We have a long way to go, however, before we’re safe. Just as the fire marshal warns that the fire may be out, but lingering embers can restart the blaze, so, too, a lack of vigilance can restart New York’s nightmare. That would result in yet another shutdown. Even now, there are communities that are refusing to comport themselves responsibly. Beyond the human loss, which all New Yorkers are deeply aware of and touched by, the economic devastation will continue, and perhaps worsen, if we allow Covid-19 to reestablish a foothold. Moving forward, we must develop a comprehensive recovery plan. We

days, and should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication before venturing out. This is the period during which the patient can spread the disease. It is clear that the president’s behavior, which many have described as reckless, has sown confusion across the nation, leaving people wondering how, exactly, to protect themselves. So we thought it would be useful to pause a moment and lay out what precisely the CDC says. The CDC, and not the president, should be your guide. First, it’s important to understand the difference between quarantine and isolation. Those were two terms thrown around a lot last week, and they were often confused. The CDC states that people who suspect they may have been in “close contact” with someone who was infected with the coronavirus should self-quarantine for 14 days. Close contact is defined as exposure for 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone. You also might have shared eating utensils, or hugged or shook hands. Or that person might have sneezed or coughed on you or in your direction. When you quarantine, you remove yourself from the world, even though you may not have tested positive for the coronavirus, to ensure that you do not infect others if, in fact, you have contracted it. It is possible to show no signs of the illness and yet carry it and spread it to others, so the only way to be sure you don’t is to keep to yourself.

Even if you feel healthy, you should stay home for two weeks, the CDC states. That’s because you may not show any symptoms or test positive for two to 14 days after contact. Isolation, as noted, is required for patients who have tested positive, and it is a must for at least 10 days, according to the CDC. Disease prevention should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds, though, and that begins with social distancing — staying at least six feet from others — and mask wearing. The CDC states that masks should fit tightly, but should also allow you to breathe easily. You should avoid wearing your mask on you forehead or chin, and you should not touch your mask, only its straps. Finally, you should be sure it fits over your mouth and nose. By order of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, masks are required in public spaces everywhere in New York state. We believe there should be a national mask mandate, but thus far the president has not called for one. Perhaps his illness might change his mind. We urge readers to visit CDC.gov to read for themselves the coronavirus guidelines the agency has laid out. More than 200,000 people have died of Covid-19 across the United States. That grim statistic is only projected to continue climbing. The question is, how fast will it rise? By following CDC protocols, we can slow the advance of the disease until a vaccine is at last ready for widespread use.

opinions

ave you ever had anything stolen from you? A car? Hubcaps? A laptop? A baseball glove? A bike? Those are minuscule compared to the things that President Trump is trying to steal from you behind your back. Let’s start with the census. Every 10 years, by law, every state is required to conduct a survey of the number of people living there for purposes of determining how many representatives they will have in Congress. In addition, census figures are used to determine JerrY how many federal kremer dollars will flow to the states for health, mass transit and public-safety programs. No one in our nation’s history has ever tried to sabotage the census until this year. The fixed date for the census to be completed is Oct. 31. But Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross tried to end the census count earlier. This was his fifth attempt to disrupt the effort. Was it because the census workers were

exhausted? No, it was to stop the count for pure political reasons. When the count is ended early, it means that those states that have a high rate of response will receive a greater share of federal funds. Some of those states are Idaho, Mississippi, Montana and North and South Dakota. What they have in common is that they favor the Republican Party. More populous, Democratic-leaning states like New York have a lower response rate because we have many more people to count, and an earlier census halt would cost us billions of dollars in aid. Another piece of the census puzzle is exactly how many members of Congress New York will get. At this point, it’s estimated that we will lose two representatives. If there’s an undercount in the census, the state could lose even more, and seats would go to places like Florida and North and South Carolina, where the population is rising. There are multiple other ways that the president is taking dollars out of your pockets. The Affordable Care Act provides health insurance for over 20 million people. Approximately 6.3 million New

Yorkers benefit from Obamacare. Many of them are your friends and neighbors who can’t get employer coverage. At this moment, Trump is asking the Supreme Court to throw out the ACA. What happens if the act is invalidated? Those 6.3 million New Yorkers will lose their coverage, and you will be asked to pay for it. Will the anti-New York Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, rush to save us? Don’t hold your breath. And with Trump’s new Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, about to be confirmed by the Senate, it’s a good bet that Obamacare will be scrapped. That will likely mean no coverage for pre-existing conditions and the loss of many other current benefits. The country is waiting with great anxiety for the Food and Drug Administration to approve a vaccine for Covid-19. Numerous pharmaceutical companies are competing to be the first to have a vaccine approved. Congress promised to help us get free testing, and that was a failure. The president has assured us that the vaccine will be affordable, and has given companies billions of dollars to

f the Supreme Court tosses the Affordable Care Act, millions of New Yorkers will suffer.

Letters can’t wait for the federal government. We have a president who, after spending months downplaying the pandemic and telling states that they were on their own, is now infected with the virus. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been more interested in playing to the QAnon supporters than acting like a patriot and working in the best interests of the country. We can’t expect support from the dysfunctional federal government. Nationally, we have been attacking the fallout from the pandemic with a piecemeal approach. Clearly, Gov. Andrew Cuomo had to initially focus on containment. Based on President Trump’s abject failures, Cuomo had to step up and be our national voice. He rose to the occasion. But now we must move forward with a postCovid plan. Unfortunately, every advocacy group seems to think solely of its constituency, and doesn’t see how each piece of our economy relates to and relies on the other pieces. For example, the movement to extend the moratorium on evictions is laudable, and I support it. The landlords who are not being paid, however, have their own expenses. They have to pay their mortgages, taxes, utilities, employees’ wages, and other fixed and unexpected expenses. If we don’t support them, their tenants may not have livable buildings. The failure of small businesses also has a cascading effect. When they go under, landlords lose rent checks, employees lose jobs and vendors lose clients, and so on down the chain. Each loss occasions further losses through the economy. We must come together to create a strong, comprehensive and viable plan to support the various sectors of the economy. Or, pull on a thread and the entire fabric will unravel.

speed up their research. But you can expect to pay a hefty premium for your Covid shot. The biggest presidential theft of all is Trump’s continuous efforts to keep you from voting on Nov. 3. Day after day, he has told voters that mail ballots are part of some fraudulent scheme. He has promoted lawsuits around the nation to stop voting by mail, despite the fact that there is no proof of any fraud in the system. In his latest scam, he asked his supporters to go to the polling places to “police” the voting process. In Vladimir Putin’s Russia and in Venezuela, Poland, Hungary and Syria, dictators have for countless years successfully poisoned the voting system to suit their political needs. Trump’s assault on the process is designed to steal your most priceless possession, the right to vote. And I haven’t even touched on the plan to blow up the U.S. Postal Service, which you also pay for. Petty theft? No. Grand larceny by the White House. Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Framework by Christina Daly

What I predict is that there will be pressure to raise taxes, never a popular solution. If various state and local governments act on this pressure, it could result in a very uneven tax structure across the nation, which I am worried could hinder the recovery. The uneven nature of various tax plans would also mean an uneven distribution of support to those in need. Further, smaller businesses may take further financial hits. The press has reported that billionaires have increased their wealth by almost $845 billion. Last month in New Jersey, people started to agitate for a “millionaires tax.” In New York, there is a movement to tax the New York Stock Exchange. The easy political solution, for both political parties, would be to implement a structured new tax system for the wealthy. New York passed a temporary millionaires tax during the 2008-09 recession. It was extended once, and if I am elected to the State Assembly, I would support extending it again. We need consumers to buy and businesses to sell. There has to be a real national plan to balance the ledgers, but I am not confident that will happen. At the federal level, I’m afraid that a sense of unreality pervades. But Cuomo, as well as the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut, demonstrated during the pandemic that regional cooperation can work effectively. Perhaps he can again show us the way by working, both informally and formally, with other governors on an economic recovery plan. This must include a uniform approach to taxes. GARY PORT West Hempstead Port is a candidate for the State Assembly in the 21st District.

A perfect autumn sunset — Bayville

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — October 8, 2020

The census, Obamacare and your right to vote

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