Merrick Herald 12-31-2020

2021 hAPPY NEW YEAR to all our readers

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Merrick

2020 YEAR IN REVIEW

HERALD

Vol. xx No. x DECEMBER 31, 2020 - JANuARY 6, 2021 MoNth xx-xx, 2020

Vol. 24 No. 1

‘Living angels’ feed front-line workers

By Alyssa Seidman aseidman@liherald.com

M

HERALD PEOPLE oF thE YEAR

aria Adragna couldn’t recall the exact day the food delivery came.

Having worked in a Covid-19 intensive care unit during the peak of the pandemic last spring, “I can’t differentiate between one day or the other,” she says.

Adragna, of Bellmore, is a surgical ICU physician assistant at North Shore-LIJ in New Hyde Park. When coronavirus cases first began to surge on Long Island in March, she and her team were deployed to the coronavirus ICU. “We were frightened,” she said. “We didn’t know what to expect. We were afraid we would make our loved ones sick . . . Some of us suffered from posttraumatic stress.”

The fear of the unknown permeated other facets of Adragna’s life. She worked through 13-hour shifts, barely stopping to eat or drink so she wouldn’t have to remove her mask.

Since she didn’t have time to shop for groceries after work, she never brought a bagged lunch to the hospital.

So when the spread of wraps, heroes and baked goods greeted Adragna amid the blur, “It was totally unexpected,” she said.

The delivery came from South Bellmore Deli, and was paid for by “Bellmore Merrick Helping Our Heroes.”

The Facebook group was founded by Merrick residents Brooke Jones and Jill Levine in March to raise money to feed healthcare workers, first responders and essential employees on the front lines of the pandemic.

By May 25, the group had raised more than $50,000, arranged hundreds of deliveries and fed “thousands and thousands and thousands of people,” Levine said. For their efforts to feed front-line workers and to help keep local businesses afloat during unprecedented times, the Herald Life is proud to name Jones and Levine its 2020 People of the Year.

Jill levine & BrooKe JoneS

Kindred beginnings

The pair met during dismissal at LevyLakeside Elementary School in 2001. Their oldest children, Robbie Levine and Allison Jones, were in the same kindergarten class.

“We became quick friends,” Levine recalled.

They were both heavily involved in the PTA. Jones, 54, was well-known from the lunch program and Levine, 50, held nearly every executive position on the PTA. “[Jill] was always very fun and easy to talk to,” Jones said. “We’re doers, and whenever something has to get done, we call each other.”

On Sept. 27, 2005, Jill’s son, Robbie, collapsed during Little League practice at Lakeside and never woke up. Levine and her husband, Craig, channeled their grief into a nonprofit, Forever 9: The Robbie Levine Foundation.

When the Levines were planning the foundation’s first Robbie’s Run in 2006, Jones volunteered as one of the activity coordinators. The run has become one of the most highly anticipated events in the BellmoreMerrick community, and earned Levine her first Person of the Year recognition in 2011.

Once their children started attending John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, the pair “took over” JFK Sports Boosters, according to current Membership Chair Nancy Goldstein.

“I volunteered because of them,” said Goldstein, of Merrick. “They were always in charge and very well-respected, and I adored their leadership.”

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What’s

INSIDE

Andrew Garcia/Herald xx/Herald Life

Andrew Brinton, Katherine St George xx named Regeneron finalists. Page 0

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Andrew Garcia/Herald xx/Herald Life

Thousands march in support of xx Black Lives Matter movement.

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Helping front-line heroes

Levine recalled the confusion and panic she felt as area hospitals became overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients in the spring.

“Maybe there’s something we could do,” she thought.

The pair invited “everyone they knew” to join “Bellmore Merrick Helping Our Heroes” on Facebook, Jones said, which grew to 2,000 members. Once the Venmo handle was posted to Continued on Page 3

The Herald Life has named residents Jill Levine, top, and Brooke Jones its 2020 People of the Year.

Infections as of Dec. 28

3,044

CoMMuNItY uPDAtE

Infections as of Dec. 21 2,860

Andrew Garcia/Herald xx/Herald Life

Student athletes rally for a fall xx sports season in Nassau County.

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For BrEAKING

NEWS

go to liherald.com

I have a confession.

YEAR IN REVIEW JANUARY

December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

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In my 40 years of practicing and living in the Merrick/Bellmore area, I could’ve tried harder to help people remember that the body is self healing. My mission is to find the interference or impediment to your expression of perfect health. You are already perfect, but perhaps you could be better. When the interference in your nervous system is removed, your body will have its optimal potential for health and well being, like un-kinking a garden hose, the information can now flow and… your body knows what to do to heal you.

Central High School District adopts 2020-21 calendar For more than two years, Muslim families in Bellmore and Merrick have attended Board of Education meetings to advocate for the inclusion of the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha on district calendars. In January, their voices were heard.

At the Central High School District school board meeting on Jan. 8, President Marion Blane announced trustees would vote to adopt the 2020-21 calendar, which includes a superintendent’s conference day on May 13, 2021, when Eid al-Fitr will be observed. The resolution was unani-

In the current Covid times, it’s important for you to know that we all have an immune system, it works over the nervous system and chiropractic allows that system to work at its optimum potential, with health as the inevitable result. Everyone knows chiropractic is good for neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, leg pain, arm pain, but most aren’t aware that TMJ, headaches, sleep issues, really any function that the body has may improve with chiropractic care. We see newborns - not because they have headaches or low back pain, they just sleep better, have less digestive problems, and are sick less often. We see patients from birth to seniors for any condition and will give you a natural answer, or will refer you to the proper professional.

mously approved and met with applause and cheers from the audience.

Trustee Dr. Nancy Kaplan thanked the Muslim community for their patience as the board worked toward a consensus on the issue. She also acknowledged that she and her fellow trustees “took the time to make sure we got it right.”

Alyssa Seidman/Herald Life

Merry Tuurmann, above left, Alisha and Summer Marfani and Amir Ibrahim implored the board to add Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two Muslim holidays, to the school calendar.

It has always been my honor and privilege to serve the community, now and in the future.

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Regeneron finalists named at Bellmore-JFK

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For the first time in John F. Kennedy High School history, there were two finalists named in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, Andrew Brinton and Katherine St George.

Kennedy is among only a handful of high schools across the country to boast more than one finalist in the highly prestigious science competition.

Brinton and St George worked under the supervision of Barbi Frank in Kennedy’s Advanced Science Research

class. Students start their research during freshman year and put hundreds of hours of work into their projects, which often have practical, potentially worldchanging implications.

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

Andrew Brinton and Katherine St George are only the fifth and sixth students from John F. Kennedy High School to be named finalists in the prestigious Science Talent Search competition.

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020 Courtesy Town of Hempstead

Levine and Jones, second and third from left, were recognized by Hempstead Town Councilman Christopher Carini, left, and Town Clerk Kate Murray for starting the “Helping Our Heroes” group.

Moms mobilize residents to help local heroes Continued from front page

probably wanted to kill us.”

In three months, the group funded more the page on March 23, members raised than 200 deliveries to hospitals, police pre$4,000 within hours. In five days, they raised cincts, fire departments, pharmacies, post $20,000. offices and grocery stores across Long Island Goldstein wasn’t surprised by the instant and New York City. Levine estimated that the success of the group. “When effort fed nearly 6,150 heroes. those two women put their “For these people who minds together, you know it’s never sat down, had N95s on going be a success,” she said. all the time, a sandwich was far Members connected Jones more than a sandwich,” she and Levine with front-line said. “They were more appreOF THE workers from Bellmore and ciative than we ever could Merrick so they could delegate have imagined.” deliveries to their workplaces.

One delivery that stood out They dealt directly with the to Jones was to Central Island employees to coordinate delivery times and Healthcare in Plainview, which takes in geriatfigure out how much food to send. ric patients undergoing physical rehabilita“There were some nights we were up until tion. At the time, the facility wasn’t allowing 3 o’clock in the morning keeping track of lists visitors, and employees were tired, according and lists and lists,” Jones said. “Our husbands to Jones, so the group delivered two floors’ worth of food to feed workers, including the custodial and kitchen staffs.

“One of them called me crying — they couldn’t believe how we went out of our way to make sure there was food for them,” Jones said. “We felt like we were giving them hope through this.”

The pair also ensured that local restaurants provided the food. Sasha Greeff, who owns South Bellmore Deli, on Merrick Road, was one of the many merchants supported by the effort. “We saw a major loss in business, but these ladies kept us afloat,” she said.

Included in the deli’s delivery to Adragna’s unit were handwritten thank-you cards and drawings from“Helping Our Heroes.”

As Adragna read the messages from her neighbors, she was overcome with

HERALD PEOPLE YEAR

‘

W

hen those two women put their minds together, you know it’s going be a success.’

NaNcy GoldsteiN Merrick appreciation.

“I felt grateful that the community made time to give us a moment of happiness,” she said.“It was a source of motivation for me and my co-workers and boosted our morale.”

Hearts of gold

On June 25, Jones and Levine were recognized by the Town of Hempstead as Hometown Heroes. “The deliveries brought a sense of relief to these workers during difficult times,” Councilman Christopher Carini said in a statement. “I could not think of anyone more deserving to be Merrick’s People of the Year.”

Angela Rosenfeld, the JFK Sports Boosters treasurer, noted her friends’ unrelenting sup-

port for their community.“They have children in college, they have their own worries, but they put all that aside and managed to turn a horrific thing [into] something positive,” she said. “They’re living angels, and we’re really lucky to have them.”

Goldstein also commended Jones and Levine’s willingness to give so much of themselves, despite having faced life’s greatest challenges. For Levine, it was the loss of her son, and for Jones, it was a Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in May 2016.

But Jones does not let her illness define her. Instead, she continues to bring her neighbors together for the greater good.“Since I’m living with a terminal disease and still do what I like to do, I can be an example to people,” she said.

“We don’t do this for attention or notoriety,” she added. “We do it from the goodness from our hearts.”

Photos courtesy Maria Adragna

Health care workers at North Shore-LIJ, in New Hyde Park, above, were some of the thousands of recipients of the group’s meal deliveries.

Bellmore resident Maria Adragna, left, was deployed to work in a Covid ICU when the pandemic began. She said the delivery from “Helping Our Heroes” lifted her team’s spirits.

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December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

YEAR IN REVIEW February

YEAR IN REVIEW MARCH

Bellmore-Merrick CHSD hosts first Hackathon More than 100 students occupied the Brookside School gymnasium on Feb. 13 for a fierce, hours-long competition, but it wasn’t the typical sporting event you might expect. Instead of dribbling balls, high schoolers came armed with laptops and keyboards, prepared to help their teams hack their way to victory.

The event marked the first official High School Inter-District Competitive Hackathon hosted by kidOYO, a Long Island-based nonprofit that partners with schools to create computer science curricula. The hackers represented 11 school districts, including two teams from the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District: Calhoun High School’s Code Crackers and John F. Kennedy and Mepham High School’s combined team, the Minecraft Cheeseburgers.

Throughout more than three

hours of coding, smart boards and televisions around the gymnasium displayed a virtual version of Mars surrounded by 13 spaceships, one for each team. As the groups solved increasingly difficult coding challenges, they took over more sections of the planet. The more territory a team captured, the more adjacent territory it could also claim, and whoever had the most land by the end won.

Students were challenged to write in coding languages, including Python and Hatch, create animations — an “astronomer” leaving a spaceship, for example — and other tasks related to a virtual takeover of Mars.

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

Carly Curnutt competed for Calhoun High School’s Code Crackers at the first High School Inter-District Competitive Hackathon, hosted by kidOYO.

CHSD preps as coronavirus hits Nassau A day before Nassau County confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus, Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Superintendent John DeTommaso assured parents at the March 4 Board of Education meeting that the district was taking all necessary precautions to keep students and staff safe — and has been since January.

In a Jan. 27 email, he informed residents that the district was working with officials from NYU Winthrop Hospital and the Nassau County Department of Health on implementing additional preventive measures aside from its usual flu prevention practices — that is, thorough cleaning and disinfection of facilities, reminding students and staff to cover their coughs and encouraging frequent hand-washing.

A month later, in another letter, DeTommaso wrote that the district’s administrative team had begun discussions on how to communicate

with the community in the event of an extended school closure to prevent the spread of illness. In a March 5 letter, DeTommaso wrote that the district would use Infinite Campus, its student management system, to update families and digitally administer assignments if such action was deemed necessary.

“Over the next few days, teachers will be having conversations in class about the ways in which they plan to communicate with students should there be a need to close school for an extended period,” the letter read.“Our hope is that students will understand that this is simply a . . . proactive measure. The last thing we want is to escalate feelings of fear and anxiety.”

Courtesy County Executive Curran’s office

In March, Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein, County Executive Laura Curra and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced plans to combat coronavirus.

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As remote learning became the norm for Bellmore-Merrick students earlier this year, one question that came up was how to continue gym instruction.

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s answer: Make an app that brings the gym to students’ homes.

The phys. ed. staff, led by the district’s Athletic Director Eric Caballero, opened access to the app on March 26. With grade level tabs that categorize ageappropriate physical activities, students can document their completion of assignments on a linked form.

“While most other teachers are using Google Classroom, we’re thinking about how to provide an opportunity in physical education,” Caballero said. “It’s a different beast altogether.”

The app, which was designed from scratch as a webpage, compiles videos and structured activities from around the Internet for students to follow.

Communication with phys. ed. teachers remains active as well, as they assign roughly two submissions for students per week.

The morning after its release, Caballero reported that nearly 280 logs had been made.

Members of John F. Kennedy High School’s Student Government Association continued to support their community while learning from home earlier this year.

Back in April, student leaders mobilized their fellow peers, neighbors and Kennedy alumni to shine a light on those working through the coronavirus pandemic.

SGA developed three initiatives to help pitch in during the pandemic.

The first was a digital thank-you message addressed to administrators, teachers and staff for their hard work and continued dedication.

The second initiative was a contactless collection drive to benefit

YEAR IN REVIEW APRIL

Courtesy Craig Papach via Instagram

Craig Papach, a coach and athletic coordinator at John F. Kennedy High School, posts motivational workout videos to Instagram for students to follow.

Grand Ave. M.S. teacher recovers from Covid-19, donates plasma to study After overcoming coronavirus, Grand Avenue Middle School math teacher Julia Sabia Motley participated in a study out of Stony Brook University Hospital aimed at helping others recover from the disease. Every two weeks, she was hooked up to an apheresis machine, which removes plasma, the liquid portion of the blood, from her body.

Plasma helps with immunity support and contains antibodies that can potentially be used to kill the virus, according to a release from the university. There, a team of researchers, led by Dr. Elliott Bennett-Guerrero, used the convalescent plasma in an experimental trial to treat patients battling Covid-19. Motley was one of the first people to donate to the study.

“We’re leveraging this amazing abili-

Kennedy SGA pitches in during pandemic

ty to collect antibodies from patients that have recovered to give to patients that are very sick,” he said.

Motley said she was confident that the study would be successful.“They still have to do studies to find out if people with antibodies are immune, but I trust the science,” she said.“It’s really nice to do something to give back at this point, and I’m unbelievably appreciative.”

YEAR IN REVIEW MAY

Courtesy Julia Sabia Motley

In May, Grand Avenue Middle School teacher Julia Sabia Motley, who beat Covid-19, donated her blood plasma to a study out of Stony Brook University Hospital aimed at helping others recover from the disease.

Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside. Students personally dropped off cases of water, Gatorade, snack foods and desserts to the hospital’s administrative offices in Baldwin while wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.

The third initiative was a social media campaign that highlighted JFK alumni working on the front lines as doctors, nurses and EMTs. The profiles can be found on Kennedy’s Instagram page and Twitter feed.

Courtesy Dylan Lipman

John F. Kennedy High School students Hayley Kuhn, above left, Dylan Lipman and Paige Lipman wheeled a cart full of donated snack items to Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Teens start free delivery service for seniors in Bellmore-Merrick This past spring, two local teenagers took it upon themselves to ensure seniors and the high-risk community in Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford had the groceries they needed during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Dorfman, 16, and Lauren Horn, 17, both Bellmore residents and seniors at John F. Kennedy High School, founded the Nassau County chapter of Community Against Covid-19. May 5 marked the first day the pair ventured to a supermarket to pick up orders and set out for deliveries — without collecting any profits themselves.

The service is an alternative to applications and websites that allow

users to grocery shop from their homes, which Dorfman and Horn said seniors might have difficulty using.

Those in need of food deliveries simply called in or texted them their order.

“We’re low-risk for contracting symptoms,” said Dorfman, “so we thought we should get out there in a safe way to help older and immunocompromised residents who might be afraid to get out of the house.”

“A quick phone call and sending us a list is just easier for [seniors],” Horn said. “We wanted to help now that we have so much time on our hands.”

Courtesy Rachel Dorfman

John F. Kennedy High School students Lauren Horn, left, and Rachel Dorfman delivered groceries to seniors in the community this past spring.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020

Bellmore-Merrick students stay active with physical education app

December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

6

Black Lives Matter protesters make their voices heard The Black Lives Matter movement reached Bellmore-Merrick on June 2, when a group of 150 peaceful protesters attempted to demonstrate on Merrick Road to condemn the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. The protesters, marching east, made it less than a block from the Trader Joe’s parking lot when they were stopped by 30 or so counter-protesters at Chernucha Avenue, who shouted at them to “go home!” Nassau County police were forced to escort them in the street.

Videos of the counter-protesters circulated on social media the following day. #Merrick took the No. 19 spot on U.S. Twitter’s trending list. What followed was a string of protests that at once disavowed

the behavior of the counter-protesters and demanded an end to systemic racism.

Wednesday, June 3 Thousands turned out for a second Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick and Bellmore, and marched through the hamlets from the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station and back. They traversed more than six miles, remaining peaceful throughout, shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot!”

“White silence is violence!” and “No justice, no peace!”

Thursday, June 4 Nearly 6,000 demonstrators flooded the streets of Bellmore and Merrick for a third consecutive day of Black Lives Matter protests. By 5:30 p.m., the intersection of Merrick Avenue and Sunrise

Highway was clogged with people, delaying traffic in all directions.

The sea of black, brown and white faces — most wearing masks — roared as they chanted “Black lives matter!” “I can’t breathe!” and “Say his name!” referring to Floyd and others. The crowd moved south on Merrick Avenue just after 5:30 to begin the march through local neighborhoods.

In some cases, they filled entire residential blocks end to end.

Saturday, June 6 Eleven people — 10 adults and one minor — were arrested for disorderly conduct in Merrick after they attempted to move their protest against police brutality onto the Meadowbrook Parkway.

Two Nassau County police officers were injured trying to keep demonstra-

tors on Sunrise Highway, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said at a news conference the next morning. One officer, a police sergeant, suffered a broken ankle, and the other came away with a bruised nose and scratched cornea after being punched in the face. No protesters were injured during the altercation, said Ryder, who was at the scene.

In an earlier statement, Ryder said that Nassau County had seen five straight days of peaceful protests without an arrest.

Smaller protests continued into Sunday and Monday.

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

Thousands of protesters gathered in Merrick in June for more than a week of consecutive protests to denounce the police-killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day.

YEAR IN REVIEW JUNE

Central plans series of outdoor graduations When the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District was forced to shut down schools and shift to remote learning in March, it raised questions as to how the final chapter of the class of 2020’s high school career would be celebrated. Administrators announced that each high school would hold outdoor graduation ceremonies on June 27 and 28.

High school principals informed graduating seniors and their families about the plan via email on June 8, a day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that outdoor ceremonies of up to 150 people would be permitted in New York.

Each high school hosted six ceremonies between June 27 and 28, with approximately 50 students attending

each. Ceremonies were broken up alphabetically based on students’ last names.

Graduates invited up to two guests, who walked through campus with them and onto the field, where they sat in predetermined, socially distanced seating. Masks were mandatory throughout the ceremony, with the exception of when photos were taken.

Principals viewed the ceremony as an opportunity to provide students with a meaningful ending to their high school careers under unusual circumstances.

Jake Gold/Herald Life

While crossing the stage at Kennedy’s 2019 graduation, former Student Government President Jonathan Mashal shook hands with Trustee Gina Piskin.

Protests produce ‘signs’ of progress Merrick’s “lack of diversity” was apparent to Jennifer Schatzman when she moved to the community from Manhattan’s Union Square three years ago, but it became even more glaring in June, she said, when a group of counter-protesters halted a Black Lives Matter demonstration marching through the neighborhood on Merrick Road.

The incident prompted a number of conversations among residents about how to combat racism in the community. After Schatzman posted in the Merrick Moms Facebook group emphasizing the peaceful nature of the protest, one commenter suggested she make lawn signs to unify residents against racism.

With the help of a coworker and a printer, Schatzman began distributing signs on June 10; they can still be spotted on front lawns or in storefront

windows throughout BellmoreMerrick. Each sign costs $10 and can be shipped anywhere in the country in packs of 10; roughly 30 percent of the proceeds are donated to the NAACP. Khasai Ramsey, a graphic designer, developed the concept for the sign: a white and black hand shaking in solidarity in the shape of a heart, with the saying, “Racism Has No Home Here” circling the image.

Schatzman plans to print Ramsey’s design on T-shirts, too, and hopes to establish an organization dedicated to social justice in the future. “Eventually the lawn signs will go away, so I want to mobilize the group to do other work like voter registration and legal reform,” she said.

Courtesy Jennifer Schatzman

Earlier this year, Merrick resident Jennifer Schatzman started an initiative to fight racism in her community.

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Savall Drugs in Merrick closes after 73 years A fixture in the Merrick business community since 1947, Savall Drugs closed on May 21 after owner Robert Klieger came to terms on an agreement to sell his inventory to CVS Pharmacy.

“Starting in January, it became increasingly more difficult to run the store based on insurance companies’ prescription plans,” said Klieger, whose uncle, Harold Mindell, was the original owner.

“I had to put money into the store to keep it going, and I could only do that for so long,” Klieger said.“I really didn’t want to sell, but CVS is a very well-run company and will take good care of the customers. I had a wonderful 43 years at the store and come away with a little money for retirement. Life is good.”

Erica Sheid, of Merrick, said prescriptions were never on her list of things to worry about thanks to Savall. “I felt cared for, and cared about at Savall — they knew my name when I came in,” she said.

A Merrick resident for 56 years, Klieger, 75, had three fulltime employees and a short list of part- timers. He still owns the store- front, and said he was looking to sell or rent it. “It has become tough for small, independent drug stores to stay in business,” he said.

YEAR IN REVIEW JULY

Alyssa Seidman/Herald Life

Savall Drugs, a Merrick Avenue staple for more than 70 years, closed on May 21.

Kennedy grad earns $80k Regeneron prize Katherine St George, John F. Kennedy High School’s 2020 valedictorian, was named one of 10 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition on July 29, placing higher than any participant in Kennedy history. Her research on the relationship between epilepsy, diet and caffeine consumption earned her a sixth-place prize of $80,0000.

For her project,“The Ketogenic Diet Ameliorates the Effects of Caffeine in Seizure Susceptible Drosophilia Melanogaster,” St George used female fruit flies to observe the impact that caffeine consumption — which usually heightens convulsive symptoms — and a ketogenic diet have on seizures.

She concluded that consuming more fat and fewer carbohydrates counteracts the negative effects of caffeine, adding that “keto is an affective, nonmedicinal” treatment for epilepsy. St George’s project was the first investi-

When Long Island entered the second phase of reopening its economy June 10, Dr. Talonda Thomas, director of education and CEO of the New York Musician’s Center in Bellmore, readied for a return to normalcy.

Before the pandemic took hold in March, more than 700 students filled the Bedford Avenue business weekly for guitar, bass, vocal, piano and drum lessons led by a staff of teachers from around the world. To comply with social distancing, instruction shifted to Zoom, which proved difficult for Thomas’s students, some of whom are young children and older adults.

Thomas, who is Black, experienced a series of unexpected setbacks after she tried to reopen on June 15, which she said white-owned music schools did not. In mid-June, local music schools were allowed to reopen, but

gation into the relationship between keto and caffeine, confirming the diet’s anti-convulsive properties.

St George studied under Dr. Theodore Brummel, an LIU biology professor, and spent more than 400 hours on her project. She plans to use the prize money for her studies at Columbia University this fall, she said.

The final stages of the Science Talent Search, which are usually held in Washington, D.C., were held virtually this year, and organizers worked to make it “just as special as any other year,” St George said.

YEAR IN REVIEW August

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

Katherine St George, right, came in sixth in the 2020 Science Talent Search Competition. She is one of six students from John F. Kennedy High School to be named a finalist in the competition.

two days after Thomas reopened, an official from the Nassau County fire marshal’s office showed up at NYMC and shut her down, saying that a complaint had been filed against the business, she said.

“Many of my friends who are also music school owners — who are older white men — had more success in their reopening process,” Thomas said.

“They’ve had no complaints against them. They receive funding through the government that I was denied.

These are just hurdles that [I’m] accustomed to trying to overcome.”

Courtesy Talonda Thomas

Dr. Talonda Thomas, a business owner in Bellmore, faced some hurdles as she tried to reopen the New York Musician’s Center, where she is the director of education and CEO.

Whaleneck Marina sells for $14 million Residents who live across the street from a line of marinas on south Merrick’s Hewlett Peninsula may have a new view on the horizon in the coming years.

Southern Land Company, a Nashville-based developer, has purchased an 8-acre lot at 3000 Whaleneck Drive for roughly $14.1 million. The firm is proposing a three-story rental complex for the property, comprising 140 units across five structures.

The mixed-use project represents an $80 million investment

by Southern Land, according to Senior Vice President Dustin Downey. While not age-restricted, the proposed complex would be geared toward empty-nesters, divorcées, widowers and older adults to provide them a “better option of living.”

“As Long Island continues to age,

people need a place to go where they can stay in their own community,” Downey said.“This is the type of housing that is so needed for a place like this.”

Four of the planned buildings contain a mix of one- and two- bedroom apartments, each with its own singlelevel parking deck on the first floor.

The fifth building is designated for townhouse- style units, which would contain three bedrooms and two-anda-half bathrooms.

Southern Land would also clean up the landward and seaward sides of the property to remediate any contamination produced by the current maintenance shop or marina traffic. Downey estimated that the remediation would cost the firm less than $200,000.

Courtesy Southern Land Company

Southern Land Company, a Nashville-based developer, is proposing a three-story rental complex for 3000 Whaleneck Drive, comprising 140 units.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020

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December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

8

Mepham’s Tyler Davis drafted by NFL’s Jaguars Former Mepham High School AllState quarterback Tyler Davis is headed to the National Football League.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Davis, who converted to tight end and spent three seasons at the University of Connecticut before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final year of college eligibility, was selected in the sixth round, 206th overall, in the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 25.

“I’ve been playing football since I’m 6 years old and it’s a dream come true,” said Davis, a 2015 Mepham graduate who became the first Georgia Tech tight end drafted into the NFL in 28 years —

Tom Covington was selected by San Francisco in the 11th round in 1992 — and sixth all-time. “I just dropped to my knees when I got the call,” added Davis.

With the Jaguars on the board, General Manager David Caldwell called Davis to deliver the news his name would soon scroll along the bottom of NFL Network’s televised draft coverage as the next pick. “Thank you so much,” responded an emotional Davis, who was surrounded at his North Bellmore home by his parents, Steve and Cindy, brothers Bryan and Jake, and girlfriend Sydney.

Jeff Wilson/Herald

YEAR IN REVIEW SPORTS

H.S. sports delayed until 2021 H.S. spring sports cancelled It was game over for public high school spring sports on Long Island for 2020. Any hopes for even a modified season were dashed April 21 when health and safety concerns led athletic administrators and school superintendents in Nassau and Suffolk counties to announced the cancelation of the spring sports season. Section VIII athletics conference governs Nassau County, and Section XI, Suffolk County.

“For the safety for our student athletes, Section VIII has made the difficult decision to cancel spring sports for our high schools and middle schools.”

Nassau County Executive Director Pat Pizzarelli said. “Long Island is one of the

areas most affected by this terrible pandemic, so both section VIII and Section XI have made this very difficult decision.”

Nassau County’s Athletic Council, which includes superintendents, principals and officials, met Monday night April 20 and was unanimous in its decision. Athletic directors met the following morning and agreed.

“It’s very sad for the seniors, but we are dealing with life and death,” Pizzarelli said. “We have to safeguard our students and communities. We waited as long as we possibly could to make this heartbreaking decision.”

Photo by J. Heck/Herald

Nassau County High School student-athletes will have to wait until 2021 to compete in sports.

At an emergency meeting held Aug. 26, Nassau school superintendents voted to postpone high school sports until Jan. 4, becoming the first of the state’s 11 sections to move its fall season. The following day, superintendents released a letter stating they may reassess the decision prior to Sept. 20.

“I believe other sections will follow and pull the plug, but I can’t speak for anyone else,” Section VIII (Nassau) Executive Director of Athletics Pat Pizzarelli said Aug. 26. “We felt strong enough to make this decision now,” he added.“We took the cautious route, but we believe it’s in everyone’s best interests. There are too many unknowns.

“It’s just not time to allow kids to play sports,” he continued.“And my first and foremost concern is the safety of our student-athletes.”

The decision came two days after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued guidance permitting lower-risk high school fall sports (soccer, tennis, swimming, field hockey and cross-country) to begin practice and play on Sept. 21, while noting football and volleyball could begin practice but not play.

However, Nassau’s superintendents did not consider the current conditions safe enough to conduct any fall sports.

J. Heck/Herald

Nassau County postponed fall high school sports from September to January.

Athletes, parents rally for fall sports games could be played spikes in Covid19 cases. The seven-person superintendents committee, which voted unanimously for the postponement, did not believe safety could be guaranteed, however.

“I believe other sections will follow and pull the plug, but I can’t speak for anyone else,” said Pat Pizzarelli, Section VIII’s executive director of athletics. “We felt strongly enough to make this decision now. We took the cautious route, but we believe it’s in everyone’s best interests.There are too many unknowns.

“It’s just not time to allow kids to play sports,” he continued, “and my first and foremost concern is the safety of our student-athletes.”

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YEAR IN REVIEW September

In late August, chants of “Let them play!” rang out from the Nassau BOCES Administrative Center in Garden City, where, two days earlier, a committee of Nassau school superintendents had voted to postpone high school sports until January.

More than 100 high school athletes, parents and state and local representatives gathered at the rally, calling on Section VIII, the governing body for Nassau County high school athletics, to reverse the decision.

“This is about more than just sports,” said Jill Levine, a mother of John F. Kennedy High School athletes and a rally co-organizer. “This is all about having the right to play and following the rules, which we’ve been doing for months and months.”

Protesters argued that recreational sports leagues that were active throughout the summer showed that

9

Andrew Garcia/Herald Life

Jill Levine, at lectern, a parent of John F. Kennedy High School athletes, helped organize the rally.

Students and staff in the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District returned to school on Sept. 8. For some, this meant logging on to a computer for a designated day of remote learning; for others, it meant stepping into a school building for the first time since March. And for everyone involved, the first day of school marked the beginning of an unprecedented year ahead.

The Central District followed a hybrid learning model — in which students alternated between inschool and remote classes — for the first two weeks. The goal was to ease into full in-person instruction as teach-

ers, students and staff adjust to new safety protocols.

“Our whole being is wanting to support kids academically, socially and emotionally, so starting with half the population will help us get used to protocols and procedures,” Calhoun High School Principal Nicole Hollings said. “The model that we have going for- ward is the best model we can have — now we have to actually do it.”

The district has set a full in-person reopening date of Sept. 21. The Herald Life got a glimpse inside the district’s three high schools to see what students would encounter when returning to school in the time of Covid-19.

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The Herald video that electrified Twitter As the Black Lives Matter protests swept across the South Shore in June, Heralds Executive Editor Scott Brinton captured a 15-second video of a very special 7-year-old girl — Wynta-Amor Rogers, of Uniondale — marching in Merrick and chanting, “No justice, no peace!”

The video, taken during the second day of mass protests in Merrick, has to date garnered more than 24.3 million views on Twitter, and countless millions more on other social media platforms.

Wynta-Amor became an overnight celebrity, with the video retweeted by actors Mark Hamill and Billy Baldwin and actress Halle Berry — and even by then Sen. — and now Vice President-elect — Kamala Harris.

The video was incorporated into several nationally televised programs, including “Where Do We Go From Here,” hosted by Oprah Winfrey on the OWN Network; “Kids, Race and Unity,” hosted by Alicia Keyes on Nickelodeon; “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah”; “The CBS Evening News” and “CBS Sunday Morning,” among others. It was also reported on by news outlets around the world, from Newsday to Entertainment Tonight Canada and The Indian Express in Mumbai, India.

Google included it in its annual “Year in Search 2020,” which has been viewed nearly 161 million times on YouTube since it was posted on Dec. 8. The video was also featured in a montage at the Democratic National

Convention, as well as in various music videos, including one by The Chicks, formerly The Dixie Chicks.

Artists painted portraits of Wynta-Amor on canvas — and in giant murals on the sides of buildings.

In a column shortly after Brinton posted the video to Twitter, he tried to explain its instant popularity: “In the video, taken around 6:30 p.m., Wynta-Amor chants with the protesters, ‘No justice, no peace!’

“Many among the thousands who commented on the post described Wynta-Amor as ‘fierce.’ Yes, she was. Her hands moved to the beat of the chant. Her fingers pointed furiously. At the end, she raised her fist, seemingly in anger. Her fiery spirit was evident in her eyes.

“Wynta-Amor, it appeared, had fully internalized the emotion of the moment. She was breathing it in, living it.

I was live-tweeting the protest to chronicle it for the Heralds. When I posted the video, I never imagined it would go viral. By the time the protest ended two hours later, 25,000 people had viewed it. By midnight, a million had. Thirty-six hours later, 20.2 million, and counting. People from all parts of the globe viewed it.

“In effect, this little girl broadcast a central message of Black Lives Matter for all in the Twittersphere to see: We must have justice to find the lasting peace our society seeks.

“Later on Wednesday, Wynta-Amor’s mom, [Lakyia Jackson], tweeted to thank me for the support that day. ‘We have to show our kids the right way,’ Jackson said.

‘Yes, Wynta-Amor,” she added, ‘mommy will help make your future better and all the rest of the kids in the world.’”

At home, Jackson said, Wynta-Amor is the same little girl she’s always been. She watches TV, does her hair and nails with her mom, bakes brownies and makes Slime. Her favorite school subjects are arts and crafts, math and language arts. She likes to draw pictures of her friends and the night sky.

“I’m a professional artist,” she told Brinton

an interview.

Wynta-Amor, her mom said, has sickle-cell anemia, a rare chronic disorder that causes red blood cells to break down. Jackson stays home to care for her. She makes custom masks and T-shirts to earn a living, but said that caring for her daughter is her full-time job.

No doubt, Wynta-Amor Rogers has become an icon.

TWITTER

A Twitter video of 7-year-old Wynta-Amor Rogers, of Uniondale, protesting in Merrick, has garnered more than 24.3 million views. Heralds Executive Editor Scott Brinton took the 15-second video.

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of the officers and Ms. G. They really coached me, and it took hours and hours in room 235 — and boxes of tissues — to get me to where I’m at now.”

Mesy’s hope now, she said, is that no other students experience what she did — and if they do, they now have a place to share their stories. Along with fellow senior Eden Gould- Anderson, Mesy started the Racial Equity Club, a platform for all students to discuss matters of racial injustice.

“It’s a safe place that’s made to make you feel unsafe,” Mesy said. “We want to get kids exposed to talking about things they normally don’t, think about things they never have and see things from a different perspective from kids all over the community.”

Courtesy Sanford H. Calhoun High School Racial Equity Club

Eden Gould-Anderson, above left, and Joan Mesy, founded Calhoun’s Racial Equity Club.

YEAR IN REVIEW October

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

Nossen, 17, is the captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team, and she plays varsity soccer. Earlier this year, the basketball squad advanced to the Nassau Class A semifinals for the first time in program history. And while the accomplishment was historic, Nossen said hearing the established “Lady Cougars” term both on and off the hardwood made celebrating bittersweet.

“They’re recognizing how great we are but still saying the word ‘lady’ in front of our

team name,” she said. “It’s confusing because it separates our success from the Cougars’ success — they should be the same success.”

Nossen started playing travel sports in third grade. In her op-ed, she explained that she was the only girl in elementary school who played basketball with the boys during recess.

“The boy captains never picked me last because they knew I could keep up with them and score baskets,” she wrote. “Still, today when boys or older men see me on the court, they say, ‘Wow, you don’t shoot like a girl’, or, ‘You’re very physical.’ What does that mean?”

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

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Joan Mesy, a senior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, has experienced racial prejudice firsthand. As a freshman, she mentally struggled in the face of harassment by her peers, and as one of the few Black students in the school at the time, she had few places to turn.

“I was so angry. I was so upset, but it was like I never really understood why,” Mesy said, explaining that persistent verbal harassment left her depressed and isolated, with no Black peers or teachers to relate to.

The next year, she joined the International Buddy Club, a group for Calhoun’s international students to share their cultures, led by English as a New Language teacher Heather Glick. In the club, she learned to cope with and understand the racism directed at her.

Before she joined, “I really was not myself — I honestly was a completely different person,” Mesy said. “When I joined IBC, all that changed with the help

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Dress for Recovery clothing bank opens at Chabad Center Voters make record turnout at the polls In an election that saw record voter turnout both at the polls and through the mail due to the coronavirus pandemic, tens of thousands of absentee ballots had remained to be counted in Nassau County as of election night on Nov. 3.

In the 4th Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice, a Democrat from Gar- den City, declared victory against Republican challenger Douglas Tuman. She received 52 percent of the vote.

“It is an extraordinary honor to be re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives,” Rice said in a statement. “As we await the final results from across the country, I am hopeful that this will be a good night for our nation. Long Islanders and Americans of all political back- grounds want an

end to the dysfunction in Washington, and we can only achieve that if we work together.”

In the 14th Assembly District, longtime Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from North Merrick, retained his seat, winning 58 percent of the vote.

“I’m very grateful to be re- elected and am looking forward to continue doing what I do,” McDonough told the Herald Wednesday morning. “I really am an employee of my constituents — I work for them.”

Courtesy Assemblyman McDonough’s Office

In New York’s 14th Assembly District, longtime Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from North Merrick, retained his seat in Albany after winning 58 percent of the vote.

Superintendent DeTommaso announced retirement John DeTommaso, the superintendent of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for the past eight years and an educator for 33 years, has announced his retirement, effective next June 30.

Michael Harrington, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, was appointed to the position and will take the reins next July 1.

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” DeTommaso told the Herald Life. “I’m just humbled by it all. The appointment of Mike Harrington is awesome — he’s going to take the district to new levels.”

“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Harrington said.“It’s been an honor and a privilege to have called this my home for 18 years.”

DeTommaso began his career in Bellmore-Merrick in 1988 as a social studies teacher at Wellington C. Mepham High School. After teaching

for six years, he served as athletic director for two years, and was then named assistant principal at Sanford H. Calhoun High School.

In 2003, he left the district when he was appointed principal of Bethpage High School, where he served for six years. He eventually became the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Bethpage School District, a position he held for four years.

In March 2013, DeTommaso returned to Bellmore-Merrick when he was named superintendent.

“It is our great fortune that you came back to finish where you started,” Board of Education Trustee Nina Lanci said at the Nov. 4 meeting, when DeTommaso’s retirement was announced.

On Dec. 15, Dress for Recovery, the first clothing bank for cancer patients in the tristate area, opened at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Merrick.

“On May 28, 2019, when I received a call informing me that my two biopsies both came back positive for breast cancer, I could not think or perceive that something positive could come out of my new nightmare,” said Loraine Alderman, of East Meadow.

Dress for Recovery is the newest addition to Chabad’s Circle of Hope initiative, which was founded in 2012, offering a wig bank, free meals and counseling to families coping with breast and other types of cancer.

“This is for every single person,” said Alderman’s husband, Bill.

“Anybody can come here and borrow the clothing they’re going to need to ensure they can dress for recovery.”

obItuARY North Merrick fire commissioner dies at age 64 “He’s been in the fire department for as long as I’ve been around,” Anthony Vicario said of his father, Joseph, a former chief and commissioner of the North Merrick Fire Department for 25 years.

Joseph Vicario was a pivotal leader in the department. He boosted team morale and camaraderie, and taught professional firefighting skills to more than one generation of firefighters, fellow members said.

On Dec. 4, Vicario died at age 64 of health complications linked to his response at ground zero after the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was a department commissioner — even attending virtual meetings while he was in treatment — since 2013.

If Vicario had been in good health, he would have liked to run for commissioner again, according to Anthony.

Vicario was cremated on Dec. 8, the day residents cast their votes for the next North Merrick fire commissioner. His term was set to end in January.

“It was like his medicine — that was

YEAR IN REVIEW December

the only thing he was passionate about,” said Anthony, 24. “He always had to make sure he was doing the right thing.”

Vicario’s legacy will live on through his son, a first lieutenant who joined the department as soon as he turned 18.

Vicario swore Anthony in as a first-time officer at the NMFD’s annual installation last year.

Speaking for the department, current North Merrick Fire Commissioner Paul Wilders said,“The Fire Department has suffered a tremendous loss. Joe leaves a void in our department in many facets — namely with leadership — because he was a former chief, commissioner and emergency medical technician, and a great friend to so many. He was the ultimate civil servant.”

Wilders witnessed Vicario serve at ground zero, where he spent four 12-hour tours. Wilders recalled “mass hysteria” as the team ran toward potential catastrophe, but said Vicario helped to keep the crew’s integrity intact.

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MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020

YEAR IN REVIEW November

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SD14...$1,499,000 WOODSBURGH 185 BAY Dr, OPEN HOUSE BY Appt, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Q u a r t e r s , F u l l B s m t , 2 C a r G a r.

SD#14...$1,450,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

House For Sale

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. SD14 ....................... REDUCED! $1,499,000

HEWLETT BAY PARK

NEW TO MARKET!! 10,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Property on an Acre of Parklike Grounds Tucked away in Cul de Sac. 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary. Soaring Ceilings. IG Pool, Hot Tub. 285' Vinyl Bulkhead Raised & Redone. Dock. 3 Car Garage............ $4,650,000 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

Now is the time to buy or sell a home.

Buyers are enjoying lifetime low interest rates.

Sellers are getting multiple offers at and above asking prices. Housing inventory is extremely low and buyer demand is strong.

Call me for a free professional consultation.

EAST ROCKAWAY WATERVIEW! 3Bds, 2Bths, EIK, FDR, LR, Den, FBasement, Garage,,Large Yard. Zone X-no flood insurance. Too Much To List! 516-241-6075 MLS: 3271059/ Coldwell Banker HEWLETT BAY PARK NEW TO MARKET! 10,000 Sq Fet. Waterfront Property on an Acre Of Parklike Grounds. IGP, 5 bds, 5.5 Baths Comtemp., $4.650,000 Ronnie Gerber 516 -238-4299 Douglas Elliman

Apartments Wanted

Mature - Single

Non-Smoking Woman Seeking 1-2 Bedroom Apartment with Long-Term lease.

I Have a Steady Job at the Same Company for the past 20 years.

I am Recently Separated and I am Looking for IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY. I am Quiet, Responsible and Extremely Reliable.

Please Contact me with any Opportunities at cassiesmom810@aol.com.

I have Plenty of References that I would be happy to supply to you upon request.

1113840

INC

liherald.com

If you need care from your relative, friend/ neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed.

1112179

HERALD Community Newspapers

C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

WOOdMERE

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 ....................................................................................... $899,000 185 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

salary, commission, bonuses and benefits. must have own vehicle and valid driver’s license.

RICHNER

1113447

(We said it was simple. We didn’t say it was easy.)

1114158

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

We hire the smartest people who can solve the hardest marketing objectives with an arsenal of solutions and a smile through the journey.

1104975

December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

14

Melinda Beauchamp Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Mobile: 516.721.7805

mbeauchamp@coachrealtors.com mbeauchamp.coachrealtors.com

Melinda & Thor

314 Sunrise Highway Rockville Centre NY 11570

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

Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own.

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

Call us today!

Your Hometown Newspaper

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

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

HOME OF THE WEEK

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

Q. I wonder why I can’t seem to get a fire to burn properly in my chimney. All I get is smoke in the room. I’ve had the flue checked and know that the damper is working correctly, even if it is a little rusty.

The worst part is that the house smells like smoke, even when we haven’t had a fire for months. Nobody can find anything wrong with it. What can I do?

Island Park

Island Bay Townhoue & Marina

T

his stunning 3 floor townhouse will captivate you with it’s breath taking water views. This home has 3 bedrooms (2 are masters and 1 is presently being used as den with fireplace and bar.) Every floor has views with either a patio or balcony to sit and enjoy. There are hardwood floors or tiles with radiant heat in the 1st floor bathroom. High ceilings in living and dining room, hardwood floors throughout and top of the line appliances.

There is a secluded and romantic master on the 3rd floor with huge bathroom and walk in closet. It has a laundry room, an attached garage and l2 parking spots. There is also a boat slip included. Taxes are grieved (owner won an additional $1992 off taxes for 2021.) Asking $774,999

Ask The Architect

M

Lisa Camarda Owner/Broker RE/Max Reliance 3305 Jerusalem Ave Suite 211 Wantagh, NY 11793 516-755-7595 office 516-428-8861 cell

Sherlock Sherlock Homes Homes

BUSINESS FOR SALE Tazzetto Italian Coffee

263 Sunrise Hwy, Rockville Centre Possible Franchise Opportunity Turn-Key Established Coffee Shop High Traffic, Heavy Growth Area Completely Renovated 2019 Unique Grab & Go Concept Imported Gourmet Foods $350,000

516-459-5379

Contact one of our hardworking professionals today for all of your real estate needs!

*If your property is currently listed with another brokerage, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the listings of other brokerages.

Residential • Commercial • Business Brokerage

1106049

“Going Above & Beyond to find your Dream Home”

JUAN JARA Licensed RE Broker Associate Cell: 516-318-0142 Juan@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

Rhonda Healy

CAMILLE GIARDINA Licensed RE Broker/Owner Cell: 516-318-1392 Camille@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

M: (516) 236-7269

We’re Keeping the American Dream Alive.

1109112

www.AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

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

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

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)

OneKey Multiple Listing Service

1110798

Broker/Owner

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING?

1114046

Roger Hart

75 SEAMAN AVENUE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE o: 516.766.7900 | signaturepremier.com

We look forward to providing home buyers and sellers with the highest level of personalized service and support.

By Appointment Only

A. Set up an electric fireplace in front of the real one, or play the Yule log rerun on your TV. A client once complained of the same problem, and after much searching, I asked them to build a fire so I could observe their method. They started the fire too far forward, so the smoke climbed the walls onte eeper and smoked out the room, setting off the smoke detector. Rule No. 1: Make sure the fire is directly under the flue opening and centered in the fireplace.

There are many reasons why a fireplace doesn’t function. Some are obvious; some aren’t. Here are some possible reasons why yours doesn’t work. 1) The chimney is too narrow compared with its height. 2) The opening is too wide and not high enough. 3) The opening is too high and not wide enough. 4) There’s no fresh-air intake near the fire to draw air upward. 5) The flue has cracks that haven’t been detected. 6) The chimney isn’t two feet taller than the closest part of the roof within a 10-foot area, so breezes aren’t carrying smoke away, but instead a vacuum builds and forces air down the chimney. Winds rolling over your chimney from the upside roof slope also blow smoke downward in your chimney.

7) The flue has an angle bend in it that’s too sharp. 8) The wood selected isn’t properly seasoned.

9) Your fire starter is too wet or too dense. 10) The chimney has an animal living in it and must be cleaned out and capped. 11) The chimney is wet on the inside, either from openings in the exterior surface or the mortared crown or because it has no cap. This isn’t a likely reason for the smoke problem, but there’s a remote possibility.

Since a fire needs fuel, oxygen and heat to burn, these reasons are basic to why you haven’t had success. The formula for a great fire is the right type of starter (an easy-burning tinder) at the bottom, air space between everything of one-half to threequarters of an inch, and a dry, soft wood like pine above the tinder. Add oak or other hardwoods after the fire is going to create more brightness. Updraft is also essential. I’m certain that one of these reasons is causing your problem. Don’t use any treated or dressed lumber that can give off poisonous gases and creosote. Be safe and attentive. Good luck!

L

© 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.

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020

Fireplace frustrations

Homes

HERALD

15

HERALD

Market Place • •

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

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

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

Dave marlOWe Plumbing, inC. DBA BOB PHILLIPS PLUMBING

Over 100 Years Of familY Plumbing Oil to Gas • Toilets • Faucets • Repairs & Replacements Waste Piping • Water Piping

10% Off

If Your Plumbing STINKS

Call The WeNKS!

Sunday, August 02, 2020 11:27:28 AM

CAll JD PAINtING & reMoDelING CorP

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Father & Son Owned

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For New Customer Exp. 12/31/20

1105410

Switch To Electrolyzed Restructured Water It's Healthier For You, Your Family, And Your Pets!

conSuMer reportS:

licensed and insured

1.99 Per Gallon

$

lucy MenSAh Cell:

516-668-3607

Email: gaby1234@optonline.net to own the Enagic Ionizer Machine.

www.lucyluulivingwater.com

"No Job Too Small!" Get the Best for Less!

Over 15 Years Experience Licensed • Insured

FREE ESTIMATES

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Painting Roofing • Sheetrocking • Plumbing Electrical • Concrete • Powerwashing Carpentry • Basements • Baby-Proofing Ikea Furn. Assembly • Computer Repairs

HANDYMAN SERVICE

RYAN 516-695-4527 917-697-3647

Carpentry & Painting Specialist

Also specializes in ★ Kitchens ★ Bathrooms ★ Finished Basements ★ Flooring ★ Repairs ★ Woodwork/mouldings ★ Siding ★ Gutters

516-678-6641– Licensed & Insured Free estImates...call anthony romeo

1066253

Chimney King, Ent. Inc.

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

Fully licensed and insured Nassau • Suffolk • NYC

CLUTTER

driving you

Sell your merchandise in no time!

Email your Ad to the Herald and PrimeTime Classified Department at

sales@liherald.com to run a FREE "Finds Under $100"

CRAZY?

ALL CLEAR DRAIN & SEWER SERVICE

(516)409-9696 • (631)422-9696 Sinks • Tubs • Toilets • Sewer Lines

1078401

HEATING OIL

Residential and Commercial - All Phases

“Anthony & J Home Improvement, Inc.”

1109488

COMPLETE RENOVATIONS

AlkAline WAter Sold

1112012

It may not always be as pure as you think, and your tap water may be cleaner than you realize.

What you need to know.

1110755

516-297-1885

OFF

Any Service Call

1110703

WeNK

PIPING & HEATING CORP.

ALFREDO’S CONSTRUCTION Specializing

HOME • COMMERCIAL

at

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

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Se Habla Espanol

Licensed & insured

the

in

BLACKTOP

BeSt priceS in town

senior Citizen Discounts

Call For Winter Specials

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1081114

• Oil to Gas Conversions • Hot Water Heaters • Boilers All Plumbing & Heating Work For House Lifts • Licensed and Insured!

Is Bottled Water Safer?

aboveallgutters.com

A Fresh CoAt For A Fresh stArt!

OWA_LessIsMore_BW_Bold

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516.431.0799

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1114047

on labor only

• Permits & Legalizations • Certified NYS Backflows • Licensed Master Plumber • Insured • FREE Estimates

1112911

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

Mention this ad and get

1112267

December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

16

Free estimates

JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE...

JOBS, MERCHANDISE, It’s in the Herald Classifieds...

REAL ESTATE & MORE...

Call 516-569-4000 JOBS,To Advertise MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE...

JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... press 5

Stuff

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

FINDS UNDER $100 Finds Under $100

Adoption

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

) SLED-LIGHTNING GLIDER- Vintage Beautiful Patina 44" Long 13" wipe $35.00 516-705-4313

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.

MERCHANDISE MART

TV CABINET SOLID Oak: 4 Louver Doors. 42"Wx551/4"Hx24"Deep. Gorgeous. $99 516-292-0430

Handyman

Antiques/Collectibles

TV SONY 32" TUBE: Works Perfect. $25.

516-292-0430

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

VACUUM: SHARK ROTATOR Liftaway (corded) with six accessor ies. $95.

516-546- 7432

Single woman looking to build her family by adoption. Any ethnicity welcome, expenses paid. Please call (347) 470-5228 or my attorney: (800) 582-3678 for information

GLOCKENSPIEL, #A-440 2 Octaves with carrying case, shoulder strap and Mallets- Vintage $60/$70 516-705-4313

SERVICES

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

Check out our Service Directory for all your repair, decorating, party planning, cleaning or moving needs, and much more!

HErald

Crossword Puzzle

Home Improvement

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/ Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641 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

Junk Cars Wanted

HIGHEST CA$H PAID All Cars Bought 24/7 FREE Pickup

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

Call us at 516-766-0000

NEED A CAR? Find it in the HERALD Classifieds.

Deals on Wheels

Miscellaneous DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice R e m o t e . S o m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y.

1-888-609-9405 GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

Plumbing PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers.

24 Hour Emergency Response.

516-599-1011 PLUMBING & HEATING ALL TYPES Boilers, Bathrooms. Small/Large Jobs.

Licensed. Call Chris 516-697-8001 or Tony 347-843-9243.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

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

Education COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now!

Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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

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AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale BUICK ROADMASTER 1994: Leather Interior, Excellent Working Condition, Must See To Appreciate. $3750. 516-428-3915 MERCEDES BENZ E350, 2006: 4-Matic, 70K Miles, Excellent Condition. Must See! $12,000. 516-603-8697

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highe$t Ca$h Paid$ All Years/Conditions!

WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277 DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

Want to sell your car, motorcycle or boat?

Have we got a deal for you! You can advertise your vehicle in the

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

516-569-4000 press 5, then 2

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Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020

HERALD

17

18

For Advertising, call Rhonda Glickman,

vice president of sales, at (516) 569-4000, ext. 250.

The box at the far left side of the page is called the masthead. It contains the newspaper’s flag, or nameplate. The masthead offers important information about the paper, including the names of the staff members who are responsible for producing it each week.

Publisher Stuart Richner guides the business and news operations of the 18 newspapers in the Herald Community Newspapers group, including the Nassau Herald, which serves the Five Towns, and Heralds for Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, Franklin Square-Elmont, Freeport, Glen Cove, Long Beach, Lynbrook-East Rockaway, Malverne-West Hempstead, Merrick, Oceanside-Island Park, Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, Sea Cliff-Glen Head, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Seaford.

Each paper’s editor is responsible for the assignment, selection and placement of stories, most of which the editors and reporters write. The executive editor oversees news operations for all 18 papers in the group.

The production department is responsible for the papers’ design. The advertising and art departments produce the large, often illustrated display advertisements that appear throughout the papers. The classified department produces the smaller advertisements at the back of the papers.

The masthead also lists each paper’s age, the names of its founders, its address, email, and telephone and fax numbers, and it provides notice that all contents of the paper are copyrighted.

For Subscriptions, call Dianne Ramdass, circulation manager, at ext. 231.

20 HERALD

Editorials offer the opinions of the Herald.

Editors write them. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the individuals who write them; rather, they are the institutional voice of the news organization. That is why they are unsigned.

Herald editorial department staff members meet weekly to plan the editorials. Independent reporting by our staff often helps inform our editorials. We might also speak with experts and advocates to gain their perspective before sitting down to write an editorial.

We are proud to say that we have won many press association awards for our editorial writing over the years.

Among our most important duties is publication of our annual endorsements in local elections.

We take this responsibility seriously. Editorial staff members sit down with candidates to question them about their views on major issues before offering the paper’s opinions about which candidates would best represent our readers.

Herald editorialS

Office Baldwin 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530

HERALD

Phone: (516) 569-4000 Established 1994 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Incorporating Web: www.liherald.com The South Shore Reporter E-mail: baldwineditor@liherald.com The Baldwin Citizen

Bridget downes Copyright © 2017 Editor Inc. Richner Communications, Michelle AuclAir Advertising Account Executive

HERALD office

COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Robert Richner Edith Richner Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax:1964-1987 (516) 569-4942 Publishers, Web: www.liherald.com ■ E-mail: baldwineditor@liherald.com STUARTCopyright RicHNeR © 2020 Publisher Richner Communications, Inc.

micHAel bOlOgNA Vice President - Operations

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ■

Robert Richner ScOTT bRiNTON Edith Richner Executive Edtitor Publishers, 1964-1987 Jim HARmON ■

Copy Editor clifford richner cHRiSTiNA DAlY stuArt richner Publishers Photo Editor MichAel BolognA TONY belliSSimO Vice President Sports Editor - Operations ■ KAReN blOOm scott Brinton Calendar Editor Executive Edtitor ■ JiM hArMon

Editorial comment

For your information . . .

Editorial page

November 26, 2020 — BALDWIN HERALD

December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

The masthead

RHONDA glicKmAN Copy Editor Vice President - Sales christinA dAlY Photo Editor elleN ReYNOlDS tonY BellissiMo Classified Manager Sports Editor lORi beRgeR KAren BlooM Digital Sales Manager Calendar Editor ■ ■ JeffReY NegRiN rhondA glicKMAn Creative ViceDirector President - Sales reYnolds cRAig ellen cARDONe Classified Manager Art Director lori Berger YOlANDA RiOS Digital Sales Manager JAcKie cOmiTiNO ■ PRiNcY JeffreY PANDiYAN negrin Production Artists Creative Director

■crAig white Production Coordinator DiANNe RAmDASS crAig cArdone Circulation Art Director Director ■

■

diAnneNeWSPAPeRS rAMdAss HeRAlD cOmmUNiTY Circulation Baldwin Herald Director Bellmore Herald Life ■ East Meadow Herald

herAld coMMunitY newsPAPers

Franklin Square/Elmont Herald

Baldwin Herald

Freeport Herald Leader Bellmore Herald Life

Glen Cove Herald GazetteHerald East Meadow Long BeachSquare/Elmont Herald Franklin Herald

Freeport Leader Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald

Long BeachHerald Herald Malverne/West Hempstead

Giving thanks in 2020

i

n a year when so much has gone awry — so many lives lost, businesses battered, jobs vanished — it strains the imagination to think what we might be thankful for, particularly as the nation enters its second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The coming months will likely be, as President-elect Joseph Biden has said, a “dark winter.”

Thanksgiving is, however, all about the audacious nature of hope.

The holiday, first celebrated in the fall of 1621, commemorates the struggle that the original Pilgrims faced and, against all odds, overcame in the New World — and the kinship they felt with the Native Americans who rescued them, helping to provide sustenance to a relatively small band of people who otherwise might have starved. The roughly 50 colonists at the original harvest celebration in Plymouth, Mass., were outnumbered by Native Americans two to one, according to History.com.

The 100 Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower had seen much death between 1620 and 1621: Some 78 percent of the women died during the first winter. Yet they persevered, and survived.

So shall the American people today — thanks in no small measure to our heroes

— the doctors, nurses, EMTS, firefighters, police officers, teachers, teachers’ aides, sanitation workers, railroad workers, subway and bus drivers, custodians, cooks, waiters and waitresses, supermarket employees and so many others — who have kept us safe, our education system up and running, and our economy moving. When many others were able to work from home, they put their lives on the line to do their jobs.

As a society, we should take a moment and reflect on their sacrifices over the past nine months.

We can also be thankful for our family and friends. We may not be able to shower them with hugs and kisses as we might want, but we can keep them in our thoughts and close to our hearts.

And we can be thankful for the miracles of modern science. Only 100 years ago, the 1918 pandemic ran wild for two years, killing 50 million worldwide, including 675,000 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thanks to technology that allows many of us to work remotely and socially distance, to date we have seen a tenth of the 500 million cases that the world did in

1918-19, and because of modern medical technology, the death toll thus far is onefiftieth what it was then.

So, while the number of infections and deaths today is unacceptably high, it is not close to the level of suffering experienced a hundred years ago — and let us hope and pray that it remains that way.

Likely, it will. On Saturday, the innovative New York company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals received emergency-use authorization for its experimental antibody treatment for the coronavirus. President Trump received the treatment, and by all accounts it was highly effective. The drug is designed to prevent patients from becoming severely ill by imitating the body’s natural defense system. We can only say, wow!

If all goes well, the Regeneron treatment should prevent many deaths, enabling health officials to safely roll out at least one of the vaccines now in the pipeline without undue political pressure. By April, we could indeed round the corner on this terrible pandemic, says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Yes, there has been much despair this year, but there is much hope as well.

County does right by small businesses

W

e are pleased that Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is once again promoting small businesses ahead of the holiday season — which is vital this pandemic year.

Last Friday, Curran and county Industrial Development Agency Chairman Richard Kessel came to Rockville Centre to promote an innovative contest, aptly titled the Shop Safe, Shop Local Scavenger Hunt, and we are encouraging readers to take part in it.

The contest, which will be held for one week starting Saturday, will work like this: Complete four of eight tasks in your community, like buying breakfast at a local eat-

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ery or making a purchase at a local shop, and take a photo of yourself — masked — at each location, along with the product you purchased and your receipt. Then email it to scavengerhunt@nassaucountyny.gov or share it on Facebook.

The first person who finishes all four tasks and registers them on each day of the contest will receive a $100 gift card.

All purchases must be made at small businesses in a single community on the day of the contest. Online and delivery orders are eligible. The complete set of

instructions can be found at www.nassaucountygov/shoplocal.

As we noted in last week’s editorial, “Remember to shop locally this holiday season”: “Despite the crisis, we encourage you to consider patronizing our mom-and-pop shops, many of which now offer their goods online. Abandoning our local businesses would be devastating on so many levels.”

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letters More praise for doctor’s column To the Editor: As Bob Praver did in last week’s letters, I also applaud Dr. Eric Last’s column, “Surely we shouldn’t be fighting over wearing masks” (Nov. 12-18), on the urgency of wearing masks in fighting the coronavirus

Editor: Bridget downes

Long Beach

Franklin Square/ Elmont

HERALD HERALD HERALD HERALD Editor: Editor: Brian stieglitz Editor: Peter Belfiore alyssa seidman Life

pandemic. But while Last’s exhortation that we must “treat others as you’d want to be treated yourself ” was well-intentioned, I believe it would fall on deaf ears when directed not only at those who, at this late date, scoff at the wearing of masks and social distancing, but also those who deliberately promote and take part in large, illegal social gatherings with no consideration of taking measures to counter the spread

Editor: ronny reyes

Senior Editor: laura lane

HERALD Editor: Jim Bernstein

Lynbrook/ East Rockaway

HERALD

Senior Editor: miKe smollins

Malverne/ West Hempstead

HERALD Editor: naKeem grant

HE

Editor:

What are the editorial pages all about?

Who writes editorials?

How do letters and guest columns get published?

This week’s pages offer some answers to our readers.

We thank The Riverdale Press for the idea.

19

Opinion columns We publish three columns every week.

Columns represent the views of the writers themselves, not of the Herald. Each writer works independently and chooses his or her own subjects.

Among our regular contributors are the Heralds’ executive editor, Scott Brinton, and the Nassau Herald’s former executive editor, Randi Kreiss, both of whom have won numerous awards for their opinion writing. We also feature columns by prominent political figures, including former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato and former State Assemblyman Jerry Kremer, both of whom are now consultants. And we regularly invite guest columnists to offer their views.

Opinion pages 21

opinions

MERRICK HERALD LIFE — December 31, 2020

opi

T

he coronavirus pandemic has created a variety of hardships that have left families and children in distress. Social isolation. A mounting death toll. An estimated 8 million Americans falling into poverty. We have entered uncharted territory, and uncertainty continues as cases continue to rise across the U.S. Grief is a normal reaction — grieving not just the loss of life, but also the loss of normalcy and freedom when a disaster occurs. So what happens when we add even more stress to families sharon and their children, skariah particularly when schools close?

The trickledown effect of all this misfortune can dramatically weigh on kids, especially if they don’t have access to mental health resources at home. Typically, mental health symptoms are identified at school, by their teachers and peers, social workers and guidance counselors.

Children need a routine and consistency. Remote learning and social isolation will continue to uproot them. Children

with autism also face challenges with irritability, anxiety and behavioral disturbances. And the erratic nature of schools’ opening and closing (albeit temporarily) can have a lasting effect.

A recent study in JAMA Pediatrics showed that more than 22 percent of students in the Hubei province of China reported symptoms of depression, and more than 18 percent had anxiety symptoms, when schools closed for over a month. A second study, in the Journal of Pediatrics, determined that younger children (ages 3 to 6) were more inclined to show fear or clinginess, where older kids (6 to 18) were more likely to show inattention and persistent inquiry.

Clinging, inattention and irritability were the severe psychological conditions demonstrated by children in all age groups.

School closures — short or long — are unfortunately bound to happen until a safe and effective vaccine is available.

Prepare to take care of your child now.

First, children need outlets. In early childhood, play is important for development in the physical, verbal and emotional domains. Build that imaginary fort,

T

he trickledown effect of all this misfortune can dramatically weigh on kids.

LeTTers of the virus. The time for these selfish and greedy individuals to be reasoned with has long passed.

These people should be penalized for their actions, which continue to put the rest of us at even greater risk of acquiring the disease, and severe penalties should also be meted out to participants in these gatherings, not just their greed-bound organizers.

If anything, these miscreants should consider the 17th-century English poet John Donne’s poem, telling us not to ask “for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” They might also be reminded that, indeed, “no man is an island,” as Donne wrote. It appears, though, that they do not realize or accept this concept, even though we are all in this fight — together.

ROBERT RUBALSkY East Rockaway

We must protect communities of color

Nassau

HERALD HERALD Life

Fourth — and most important — pay attention. Younger children can’t always express their distress, anxiety or fear.

Their behavior may regress. Look for the signs, which include an increase in crying or neediness, more temper tantrums or somatic symptoms (headaches, stomach aches) than normal. Older children may also show increased anger and irritability.

If you think your children or adolescents may need a mental health professional, don’t hesitate. They are acting that way because they need help. So watch out for them to verbalize any suicidal thoughts, ongoing sleep disturbances, a decline in overall functioning (hygiene, grooming), aggression or worsening substance use. If you see these signs, seek treatment.

Following these steps may help keep children mentally fit during one of our harshest times. Nothing can replace life as we knew it pre-Covid, but you can manage this new normal and keep your kids safe, too.

Special features The op-ed, or opposite the editorial, page features a weekly Framework photo, which is chosen by our photo editor. The Framework offers a creative, at times humorous outlet for our photography staff. In this spot, we also publish photos sent to us by readers, featuring them on vacation, reading the Herald at various international landmarks. We call it Herald Around the World.

At times, a correction box might appear on the op-ed page. We strive each week for the highest standards of accuracy and accountability. When we make mistakes in our reporting, we believe we must own up to them and correct the record.

Sharon Skariah, M.D., is the director of child and adolescent psychiatry for Zucker Hillside Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell.

Framework Courtesy Roni M. Chastain

the United States, and amid big treatment strides, the disease continues to ravage African-American and other minority communities with a particular vengeance.

Black, Asian, Native American and Hispanic patients still die far more frequently than white patients, even as death rates have plummeted for all races and age groups.”

As Covid-19 continues to spread aggressively nationwide, it is crucial that government officials at all levels — federal, state and local — address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people of color. Immediate attention should be paid to issues such as the availability of testing facilities in communities of color, access to health care, inequitable treatment once access is provided and priorities for providing vaccines once they are available. The evidence is clear: Government owes it to all Americans to ensure fair and equal access to health care, regardless of race, in this pandemic — and always.

To the Editor: The Washington Post last Friday published a new analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on people of color. It reported, “Nearly nine months after the virus exploded in

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encourage storytelling, toast s’mores in your backyard. For adolescents, it’s important that they develop their own sense of identity but also explore peer relationships. Encourage this — in a socially distanced, safe way.

Second, seek normalcy. The goal is to foster continued development, even if your children can’t attend school in person. They want to feel safe — an important tool for parents to use during the crisis. Make sure you provide protection and consistency in an otherwise uncertain time. Talk to them about their feelings. Ensure their safety by creating an atmosphere of stability.

Third, adapt to the environment. Summer may be gone, but you can still enjoy the outdoors safely during the fall, and even on some nice winter days. When the extreme cold sets in, continue building on the elements of safety and fun you have already introduced. Have family game nights. Schedule a movie night. Cook and bake together as a family. Designate a reading hour.

Although it may be colder, it’s important to get exercise, so go for a walk or a hike or a brisk bike ride. There are also online exercises for kids, like yoga and others.

BALDWIN HERALD — November 26, 2020

We need to pay attention to children’s mental health Give thanks the election is

Letters to the editor We welcome readers’ letters to the editor and publish most that we receive. We believe these letters are critically important, because they reflect the shared voices of the communities that we cover.

Letters should be 250 to 300 words in length. Each letter must include an address and phone number. Our editors call all letter writers to confirm the authenticity of letters before publication.

We edit letters for length, grammar, spelling and foul language. We do not censor viewpoints.

If we believe a letter requires major revisions, we will send it back to the writer and ask that he or she change it so that meaning and intent are not lost.

Readers should send letters to the editors of their hometown newspapers. They can be sent by email (preferred), fax or mail. All contact information is listed on the masthead and on our website, liherald.com.

ELAINE GROSS President, ERASE Racism

The season’s last splashes of color — Glen Cove

Oceanside/ Island Park

HERALD

Editor: alyssa seIdMan Senior Editor: Jeff Bessen Senior Editor: MIKe sMollIns Senior Editor: laura lane

Rockville Centre

HERALD Senior Editor: laura lane Editor: JIll nossa

Seaford

Wantagh

Valley Stream HERALD HERALD HERALD Interim Editor: J.d. freda Citizen

Interim Editor: J.d. freda Editor: peter BelfIore

Citizen

December 31, 2020 — MERRICK HERALD LIFE

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Happy New year!

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