Merrick
HERALD Trainer seeks gym inclusivity
Annual flag field at Mepham
NMSD hosts helpful webinar
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$1.00 $1.00
NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 2, 2020
VOl. 23 NO. 48
Volunteers give back and give thanks parishioners, John F. Kennedy High School students, and members of the local Kiwanis and Volunteers throughout Bell- Lions clubs. more and Merrick are giving Bellmore Kiwanis made a back this Thankslarge donation to giving. help Connect Last Saturday, Church feed particConnect Church of ipating families, Bellmore hosted its club President annual Families Andrew MeyerowFeeding Families itz said. “Any of the event. The Rev. families that we Jo h n G r ava g n a nor mally deal said that 140 famiwith, we direct to lies registered to [Gravagna] so they receive all the fixcan get Thanksgivings to prepare a ing meals,” he said. Thanksgiving “They’re doing a spread, which were ton of work and a provided in a driveton of good.” through distribuAlso doing good tion because of the are members of coronavirus panMerrick Kiwanis, demic. Donations who have org awere collected at nized food drives to JOhN GRAVAGNA food drives. collect donations “ I n a l o t o f Pastor, for the Bellmoreways, these fami- Connect Church Merrick Communilies depend upon ty Cupboard, the us going the extra Central High mile,” Gravagna said. “We make School District’s food pantry. sure not only to feed them but “Traditionally we have centered pray with them and ask for God’s on families with school-aged blessing upon their lives.” children,” Kiwanis President Gravagna estimated that 100 Martin Valk said, “but we felt volunteers pitched in during the distribution, including church Continued on page 3
By AlySSA SEIDMAN aseidman@liherald.com
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Courtesy Coby Loew
JON AND COBy Loew craft furniture and other projects for fun and charity. Under the name Holywood Furniture, the duo have been donating furniture to families, businesses and houses of worship.
Furniture-making, a tradition for Merrick father and son By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com
Furniture building is more than a hobby for John F. Kennedy High School sophomore Coby Loew. It is a bond that he shares with his father, Jon, who learned the skill from his father. Together, Coby and John have constructed several pieces of furniture, including the desk and bed frame in Coby’s room, cutting, sanding and assembling them from scratch.
Now, the father and son are crafting furniture for others, free of charge. Under the name Holywood Furniture — spelled with only one l — the Loews are beautifying homes and places of worship with their custom-made pieces. Among the items are benches, a dining table and a bed frame, with the Loews funding all supplies and materials. “I just really like it — it’s a very peaceful activity for me,” said Coby, 15, of Merrick. “So, when the time came for my
bar mitzvah, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll build something.’” When Coby turned 13, he crafted a bench and donated it to the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Merrick, where it sits in the waiting room, along with a plaque. “Coby and Holywood Furniture built a magnificent bench for our center’s lobby, and it’s utilized all the time,” Rabbi Shimon Kramer said. “The workmanship is perfect, and the color is just right.” Continued on page 4
wish that everyone would be able to experience this kind of generosity at least once in their life — to be part of something bigger than themselves.