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Abuse survivor speaks out

Merokean wraps three indie films

N. Merrick library hosts concerts

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Vol. 24 No. 35

AUGUST 26 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2021

We learned we’re stronger together

Merrick Fire Department volunteer Tom DiBlasi took first place at the clam-eating contest at Peter’s Clam Bar, winning $2,500 for his firehouse. Story, more photos, Page 14.

Calhoun High’s ‘Cluboard’ helps feed those in need By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

The Community Cupboard, operated by the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, is a vital resource for local families in need, providing food, toiletries and other necessities. A new student-driven club at Sanford H. Calhoun High School plans to ensure that the facility

has a helping hand for years to come. Community Club co-founders Liam Hardstone and James Gavnoudias, now Calhoun graduates, saw the need to aid the Cupboard amid the coronavirus pandemic. Although Covid-19 brought pain to families nationwide, they could at least make a difference here at home. “The pandemic affected most

people in the world — and it was a broad spectrum of severity,” said Hardstone, 18. “Fortunately, James and I presided on the less severe side of the spectrum, and we wanted to use that privilege to aid those that were not so fortunate. “We saw an opportunity [with the Cupboard] to help others,” Hardstone continued, “so we Continued on page 15

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The pandemic stretched us to our limits, but we never broke. We have been with you throughout, and our pledge is to remain with you until all of us return to normal life — or whatever our lives will be in the new normal. Producing the news, however, is a costly endeavor. We must pay the salaries of reporters, editors, photographers, g raphic artists, advertising account executives, press opera t o r s , d r iv e r s and mana g ers. Now, more than ever, we are relying on you, our readers, to suppor t us, as we have supported you through this crisis. Please consider taking an annual subscription to the Herald. See our subscription ad in this week’s paper on Page 13. If you are already a Herald subscriber, thank you for your suppor t. We hope you are pleased with our coverage, and if you are, you might consider taking a two- or threeyear subscription. CH

The coronavirus pandemic sw e p t a c r o s s t h e U n i t e d States, including the Merricks, like a wildfire over the past 18 months, killing 617,000 of our fellow Americans. We mourn each and every one of these precious lives taken too soon. In recent months, however, we have begun to emerge from this nationwide catastrophe, and because of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, we are seeing a glimmer of hope. Though the Covid-19 infection and death rates h ave t i c ke d u p recently, we are far better off than we were one year ago. We also learned an important lesson during this crisis: We are stronger together. Throughout the pandemic, all of us at the Herald have strived to report the news of the day swiftly and accurately. Suddenly last spring, we were no longer a weekly newspaper. We were a daily, publishing the news online at liherald. com and in our newsletter. Hundreds of thousands of people a month came to our website for the latest news.

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Sexual assault victim speaks out on abuse By ANDREW GARCIA Agarcia@liherald.com

“Your mess becomes your ministry.” This message has long guided Debbi Geller Rhodes, a sexual assault survivor who has channeled her struggles into her religion. Geller Rhodes, 59, says the abuse against her began when she was about 8 years old. She was a self-described “Long Island princess,” with a Jewish father who was a successful doctor. His profession, however, didn’t stop the alleged abuse from her pediatrician at the time. Geller Rhodes alleges in court documents that Merrick pediatrician Stuart Copperman sexually abused her during appointments for nearly five years. For years afterwards, she suffered from an eating disorder and an addiction to alcohol and drugs starting as early as eighth grade, which she connects to the abuse. “I got so used to victim blaming. I grew up feeling like damaged goods,” Geller Rhodes said. “My goal was to escape my pain.” Today, Geller Rhodes enjoys her 33rd year of sobriety. Late last month, Geller Rhodes and 76 other women filed a lawsuit against Copperman, who served the Merrick area and beyond. Copperman was stripped of his medical license in 2000 because of sexual assault allegations. Complaints before 2000 had been filed but were ignored by officials, until six women testified in 2000 to the Board of Professional Medical Conduct that he had molested them, resulting in his license being revoked. Aside from losing his license, Copperman, who now lives in Boca Raton, Fla., and may still own a home on Long Island, has faced no other legal consequences since. One victim told the Herald that, in her case, the statute of limitations to file a criminal complaint against Copperman had run out, and until recently, when the law was changed, the statute to file a civil suit had as well. Geller Rhodes said pursuing a case “didn’t even occur to me.” Copperman’s New York-based attorney, Joseph Tacopina, did not respond to requests for comment. “I am not a pervert or a child molester,” Copperman said in 2000, as reported by the Herald. “I’ve always lived my life so that someone could never say something bad about it.” Because Copperman is being sued civilly, he would not serve prison time if found responsible. In the lawsuit, the victims allege that for his nearly four decades of practice, Copperman subjected young patients to fondling, penetration of their genitalia, sexually inappropriate remarks and otherwise invasive practices, all under the guise of administering a “thorough” examination. “He was a revered figure in BellmoreMerrick — and who was I?” Geller Rhodes said. Aside from the struggle with drugs and alcohol, Geller Rhodes also grew up stuck in the thought that her value as a

Photos courtesy Debbi Geller Rhodes

DEBBI GEllER RhoDEs sat at her desk at The Community of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in Michigan City, Ind. She said in court documents that she was abused as a child by her pediatrician. Now she is seeking healing, for herself and others. person came from her sexuality — despite being a high-performing student — and would often interact with friends in inappropriate sexual ways, she recalled. “I lost friends over that,” she said. She also developed an avoidance of doctors. “I hated going,” she said. In 2010, Geller Rhodes was baptized, beginning her spiritual journey. In 2011, she attended clinical pastoral education studies, through which she became a seminarian. Along with her husband, Robert Anthony Rhodes, a pastor, the two dreamed of living in a monastery surrounded by a Christian community together. This summer, Geller Rhodes is settling into that dream. In Michigan City, Ind., she and Robert founded The Community of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, in 2017. The community is still in its infancy, but it now has the space to grow, Geller Rhodes said. She and her husband spread the belief that “every human being has inherent dignity that no act can take away,” Geller Rhodes said. “People walk around with a very high level of shame,” Geller Rhodes said. “My calling is to work with other people’s shame.” More information about the community can be found at http://cmmredeemer.org/. Geller Rhodes is on her way to Christian priesthood. “I will become a priest, God willing,” she said. About Copperman, Geller Rhodes said she wants justice, but doesn’t need it. “I want women in general to have it,” she said, harkening to the influence behind the “#MeToo” movement. “That kind of disappeared, but I want to bring that back.” “The word of these women is enough, but we have far more here,” said Kristen

GEllER RhoDEs Is able to live her dream of living in a monastery at The Community of Mary. Gibbons Feden, an attorney with Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky who is representing the women and who previously prosecuted Bill Cosby for sexual assault. “These 77 women each have substantially similar, horrific accounts — and they

don’t know each other.” For all other victims of abuse, Geller Rhodes shared her advice: “If you can, keep persevering and telling your story. There’s healing in sharing your story.”

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

Debbi Geller Rhodes channels mistreatment into growing religious community

Local finishes three films in retirement By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

John Marean, filmmaker Debra Markowitz’s husband, said she has lived a busier life since she retired. As evidenced by her offering of three films at the upcoming New York City Chain Film Festival, that might be true. Markowitz, a resident of Merrick, has deep roots in the local film community. She is the founder and former director of the Nassau County Film Office, which, in her words, was designed to attract the film and television industries to Long Island — a lucrative endeavor for the area and its many businesses. “It’s basically a non-toxic industry where people come, they film, they leave and they leave their money,” Markowitz said. “It had been a dream for almost 15 years before we actually had one,” she added of the film office. “… The idea is to help this very creative industry with these very good union jobs where people can work in their own neighborhoods.” Markowitz oversaw the Film Office for 33 years before she stepped away last December. “It was difficult to leave,” she said. Markowitz co-founded the Long Island International Film Expo, an annual event at which filmmakers from around the world present their work at Bellmore Movies, the historic single-screen theater. This year was LIIFE’s 24th year. (A twoday drive-in event was held last year, during the pandemic, at the Samanea Mall in Westbury). Although retired, Markowitz is far from removed from the industry. Pre-Covid, she wrote and directed three films — “The Waiting Room,” “Confidant” and “Gem and the Photo Op” — which were set to be screened at the Chain Film Festival this week. “I love them all,” she said, “but ‘Waiting’ — it’s magical.” “The Waiting Room” follows a woman named Janet, played by Jennifer Jiles, who waits for her husband to arrive in heaven. When he does, he is accompanied by a second wife, much to Janet’s dismay. With the help of the supporting cast, the three try to find peace with what love truly means. “Confidant” is the story of a woman who confronts her son, a down-on-hisluck stuntman with a broken marriage, __________________

Photos courtesy Debra Markowitz

MARkoWItz, sECoND fRoM left in second row, joined her cast and crew during the filming of “Couple of Guys.” and tries to help him move forward with his life. Both “The Waiting Room” and “Confidant” were screened on Monday. In “Gem and the Photo Op,” an internet superstar believes she’s constantly being watched by a camera in her home. She pleads with her husband to help her find it, but he remains indifferent, and his wife’s fantasy morphs into a dangerous reality. “Gem” is scheduled to be shown at the Chain Festival on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Markowitz’s latest work, “A Couple of Guys,” which started out as a short film, is on its way to becoming a limited episodic series with multiple episodes. It follows a man who had been keeping the fact that he’s gay hidden from his family and friends. “It’s amazing to watch her translate from script to screen,” said Anthony Labriola, who appears in “Couple of Guys.” “I’m primarily a writer, so it’s great to learn from Debbie.” “It’s great to be her partner,” said Marean, who works with his wife on all of her merrick _________________

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films. “We play off each other’s ideas.” Marean, who has a background in theater, was the director of photography on “Gem and the Photo Op” and “Confidant,” and the first assistant director for “The Waiting Room.” “Gem” was originally Marean’s idea. “The Waiting Room” will also be screened at the Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival in Florida on Sept. 18. On set, Marean said, Markowitz is “very open minded, but also in charge. “She’ll listen to the whole crew, but still make up her own mind,” he said. “They know they got listened to.” In the future, Markowitz said, she plans to keep filming, and to keep her work close to home. “I’ll film out of state,” she said, “but for the most part, my own projects that I’m putting together and producing, I want to film out here. I want to pet my dog at night, and I want to sleep out here.”

IN “thE WAItING Room,” characters discover what true love really means after they find themselves in heaven.

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previous big storms, especially Superstorm Sandy, Clavin said. With $700 million secured through the NY Rising ComAt 1 p.m. Aug. 22, as Tropical Storm munity Reconstruction Program, the Henri was lashing Nassau County, Town town has been providing rebuilding and of Hempstead Supervisor Don resiliency assistance to comClavin paused for a moment to munities severely damaged give an interview on the by Tropical Storms Irene and town’s hurricane preparedLee and Sandy. ness and response effort, Some of the initiatives of PSEG Long Island’s response this program have been and how Superstorm Sandy, implemented in Hempstead, which battered Long Island in while others are now in the 2012, has influenced the town’s works. Clavin said of the and residents’ perceptions of state government, “They extreme weather events. have a couple of great proClavin said the town pregrams out there—the conpared ahead of Henri for its struction of homes, shorearrival, instilling in residents line security, and we are a sense of confidence that the going to continue to work town could handle this emerwith the state and the county gency, Clavin said. to protect our residents.” In the days leading up to He alluded to how raising the storm, PSEG Long Island houses should protect resiofficials said ratepayers could dents from future stor m expect power outages of seven surges. ”After Superstorm to 10 days. Clavin called the Sandy, you saw the redesignstatement unacce ptable. ing of how they’re building “First,” he said, “you scare houses,” he said. “You had people by doing that, and then them elevated. You’ve seen you’re indicating to them that that throughout the entire you don’t think you’re ready donald Clavin South Shore, and I think it’s to respond. They need to proworked out great.” vide the services that they’re Hempstead Town He added, “If you go to supervisor paid to do here.” any of the South Shore comHenri veered east of its munity, you see houses that projected path, so Nassau are raised, and the residents County was not hit by the brunt of the feel more secure.” storm, which was downgraded from a He remembered how people “piled hurricane to a tropical storm at 7 a.m. their entire lives in their front lawns” Sunday. Still, Nassau was hit with heavy after Sandy, and he recognizes that, along rain from Henri’s outer bands. “We are with the town, residents learned from the very, very fortunate,” Clavin said. “The devastating experience. storm tracked down to the east, which “You have a lot of residents who live in really saved the day in the Town of Hemp- the South Shore take their vehicles and stead. It lowered the storm surge and the move them north. Why? Because they winds.” knew what happened in Superstorm He remained worried about Aug. 23, Sandy. They learned that lesson, and now the day after the storm, however. “Now, they’re better prepared,” Clavin said. the overall rain amount is still a conOverall, for Henri and other future cern,” he said. “We are on standby to have extreme weather events, Clavin has some anybody who has a concern of a tree simple advice for residents to avoid loss down, we are going to get the crews down of life and property: “We ask residents to there.” stay off the roads and stay at home.” The town has learned its lesson from

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August 26, 2021 — HERALD

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

A concert-goer put her hands in the air as former “The Voice” contestant Wé McDonald performed a redition of “Rise Up” by Andra Day at the Never Forget Concert at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Saturday.

Never Forget Concert remembers 9/11 McDonAlD strucK A victory pose after the audience cheered following her performance of the national anthem at the concert.

By KAte nAlepinsKi knalepinski@liherald.com

Even an impending tropical storm can’t halt America’s pride. Despite rain caused by the approach of Henri, the Never Forget Concert at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – a music festival to honor the nation’s military, first responders and 9/11 victims — went off as planned Saturday night. All proceeds from the concert went to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit created in 2001 that works to provide mortgage-free houses and other benefits to injured veterans, Gold Star families and first responders. Around 7 p.m., the show kicked off with the bagpipe groups Emerald Society and NYPD Pipes and Drums, made up of active and retired New York City Police Department members. Two American flags on the stage waved in the wind as the national anthem was performed by “The Voice” contestant Wé McDonald. The CEO and founder of Tunnels for Towers, Frank Siller, then took the stage. “We can never forget what happened 20 years ago,” Siller said. “The foundation makes sure we never forget by honoring the sacrifice, and we honor the sacrifice by doing good. Let us do good for the greatest of all Americans: those who are willing to die for you and I.” Siller founded the nonprofit to honor his brother, Stephen, a New York City firefighter who strapped 60 pounds of gear to his back and ran two miles through the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to the twin towers, where he died in the effort to save others. Sporting an FDNY T-shirt, “American Idol” contestant Jax performed “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters. It was followed by a performance by Danny Rodriguez, a former New York City police officer who said he was two blocks from the World Trade Center when it collapsed. He devoted his cover of “Into the Fire” by Bruce Springsteen to those who lost their lives

steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band sported a U.S.A. Olmypics shirt during the Never Forget Concert. BAgpipe groups eMerAlD Society and NYPD Pipes and Drums, made up of active and retired New York City Police Department members, performed on stage. Kate Nalepinski/Herald

during the attacks. Rapper Flo Rida later hit the stage with his track “My House.” During a brief technical issue, the audio for “Wild Ones” cut out. Flo Rida invited Jax back to the stage to help him finish the 2011 tune. As the rain began to intensify, Flo Rida encouraged the crowd to keep dancing. “To see you all out here smiling for something so purposeful – my hat goes off to you guys. This is a moment to cry tears of joy, so DJ hit it,” he said, leading into his “I Cry.” After he motivated the crowd to shout “Tunnels to Towers” several times in unison, he ended with his chart-topper “Low.” Additional performances by Journey, The Chainsmokers, Wyclef Jean, the Steve Miller Band, Gavin DeGraw, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Ann Wilson of Heart and Lee Greenwood rounded out the night.

Former Heralds editor to be honored at Irish Festival

HERALD — August 26, 2021

By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

The 49th Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibernians Feis and Irish Festival is set for Sunday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Nickerson Beach in Lido Beach, and this year’s honoree will be John O’Connell, the former executive editor of Herald Community Newspapers, who retired in 2016. “It’s such a high honor to have been chosen as the honoree of this year’s Nassau County Ancient Order of Hibern i a n s Fe i s a n d I r i s h Fe s t iv a l , ” O’Connell said. “Having participated in the Nassau AOH Feis for many years, and knowing all the wonderful, hardworking Hibernian volunteers who give of themselves each year to promote and sustain the best of Irish heritage and culture that this feis and festival represents, I am truly blessed and humbled to be selected by those Hibernians as the 2021 honoree.” At the feis and festival, there will be Irish step dancing and live music by Bangers and Mash. There will also be Irish vendors, bagpipers, children’s games, Irish language demonstrations, an art competition and a raffle. Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. The entrance fee is $10 per person.

Children under 16 will be free. All local, state and federal Covid-19 safety precautions will be adhered to. For more information, go to www.NassauAOHFeis. com, or email MikeNYAOHsports@ gmail.com. Nickerson Beach is at 880 Lido Blvd in Lido.

Photos courtesy John O’Connell

the 49th naSSau County Ancient Order of Hibernians Feis and Irish Festival will be held Sept. 19 in Lido Beach, at which John O’Connell, left, the Heralds’ former executive editor, will be honored.

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events and activities

community update Thursday, Aug. 26

Farmers Market Garden at St. Francis Join the St. Francis Episcopalian Church in North Bellmore every Sunday for a farmer’s market with organic produce grown in their garden! Lots of fresh vegetables to choose from, and a great volunteer opportunity for anyone interested. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October. Please visit www.stfrancisbellmore.org/the-garden for more information.

SO Fun Game Show Merrick Library Kids will feel like they are on live TV playing in a Winter Themed Game Showtogether! Get ready to laugh and cheer during this wild and exciting virtual game show. Hosted by a professional magician and writer for the tv show, The Carbonaro Effect, kids will become the stars of their very own INTERACTIVE game show production. With on-screen winter challenges, jaw dropping special effects, trivia, and never before seen surprises, this gameshow is truly SO Fun. Kids will work as a big team to beat the high score of the week! Recommended for Grades K-6. For more information, please visit www. merricklibrary.org. Taking place from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

Theater Performance The Elephant Man

Friday, Aug. 27 Virtual Covid Counseling In conjuction with the Bellmore Memorial Library, New York Project Hope will provide emotional support, outreach and education to assist individuals and communities coping with the devastation of Covid-19. It is a strengths-based initiative that promotes resiliency, empowerment and recovery. YES (Youth Enrichment Services) has partnered up with NY Project Hope. Trained counselors can assist others by providing trusted resources, group counseling sessions for youth, adolescents and adults. Their mission is to help people cope and understand their emotions during these trying times due to the pandemic. This virtual counseling session will begin at 3:30 p.m. Please register in advance at bellmorelibrary.org. Zoom invites will be sent out piror to the start of the event. Moonflower Yoga Online Book Club Meeting Join us for the next meeting of the Moonflower Yoga Book Club. They meet every 4-6 weeks and have fun discussing their book selection, as well as catching up with the other

l l l l l

Herald File Photo

Stop & Shop launches pickup at Merrick store Stop & Shop announced a new pickup spot at its Merrick location, 2160 South Merrick Mall. To schedule a pickup, customers can visit www.stopandshop.com, or use the Stop & Shop mobile app. Shoppers can then head to the store at their chosen pickup time, park in a designated spot, and call to let the store team know they have arrived. Stop & Shop team members will then deliver the order right to their car.

members. This meeting will be online via Zoom and is free to attend, but you must register in advance. Approximately two days before the meeting, you will receive a Zoom invitation link to join the meeting. For this meeting, they will be discussing “The Henna Artist”. If you have not read this book, you are still welcome to join, meet other members, and help select the next book. Moonflower Yoga is located in Bellmore at 2093 Bellmore Ave. Meeting will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Visit https://m.facebook.com/

events/2010744942424703 for additional information.

Sunday, Aug. 29

The Bellmore Friday Night Car Show

The Nassau County Fair

The Bellmore Chambers of Commerce and The Town of Hempstead presents the weekly Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. Every Friday evening through Oct. 1. Located in the Bellmore LIRR Parking Lot between Bellmore Avenue and Bedford Avenue. Free admission for spectators. $5 admission for cars. Runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Visit www.bellmorechamber.com/events.

The Merrick Chamber of Commerce and Nassau County Fairs presents a weekly market fair for fine goods and crafts. This event takes places every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Visit www.nassaucountyfairs. com for more information.

The Merrick Theatre and Center for the Arts (2222 Hwelett Ave) will be showing a performance of the play, “The Elephant Man.” Taking place in the 1880’s, it tells the story of John Merrick, a horribly deformed young man – a victim of rare skin and bone diseases. Under the care of celebrated physician Frederick Treves, Merrick slowly evolves from an object of pity to an urbane gentleman, desperate to be recognized as a man like any other. Tickets will cost $23. Please call the box office at 516-8686400 to reserve tickets, or purchase online at https://local.aarp.org/event/ performance-the-elephant-man-202108-27-merrick-ny.html. Please note, it is recommended that all guests call before attending as cancelations are possible due to Covid.

HaViNG aN EVENT? Items on the Community Update pages are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to agarcia@liherald.com

The TOH Child Safety ID Program is coming to Bellmore on Aug. 30 at Newbridge Road Pool. The Town of Hempstead is hosting two beach clean ups at Lido Beach, on Aug. 29 and Sept. 26. The North Merrick Library is hosting outdoor concerts, open to all residents in the area. The Town of Hempstead will host their last summer concert on Sept 4. at Point Lookout. Anyone can register to be a vendor at the Bellmore and Merrick Street Fairs, slated for later this year.

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

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MOUNT SINAI HEART CARE, WITHOUT THE COMMUTE. You can can get get quality quality heart heart care care without without going going to to You Manhattan or or the the North North Shore. Shore. Mount Mount Sinai Sinai South South Manhattan Nassau is is the the only only Long Long Island Island hospital hospital associated associated Nassau with The The Mount Mount Sinai Sinai Hospital, Hospital, which which has has a a U.S. U.S. News News with Top 10 10 cardiac cardiac care care department. department. Offerings Offerings include: include: Top

THEIR FRONT-LINE STORIES IN THEIR OWN WORDS

CINDY CLAIRE JOHNSON DESETTO MERRICK

ROCKVILLE CENTRE Head Nurse, Director, Peri-Operative Bellmore-Merrick & Emergency Services, Central High Mercy Medical Center School District

am nurseaat Calhoun High School,forand havea been nurse at Mercy Hospital almost I'm also the nursewas fortruly the Bellmore50 years, andlead Covid-19 the worst crisis Merrick Central High SchoolI remember District. I oversee that I have ever experienced. like it 10 throughout theeddistrict, I wasnurses yesterday. I was notifi of the fiand rst Covidact as anpatient advocate the nurses; helping positive in ourfor hospital, and they were them outfour if they need it or by carrying out sending family members who were exposed things asked by Eric Caballero, director to the Emergency Department. Theour staff were of health. also the contact our state nervous asSometimes we preparedI with appropriate representatives up equipment]. in Albany. And so the [personal protective Plus, we take careatofMercy all ofHospital. the students. Covid-19 crisis began I've been the head nurse for five years, and As the crisis peaked, my Emergency Department going through theincredible pandemichours, was moving rough infrom the staff were working beginning but we have a great teamdealing of nurses one sick patient to another. They were with in the Bellmore-Merrick district. We allhours pulled patients who came in talking and within together and were They therenever for each other. We were on ventilators. questioned work are very close-knit wewhat all work wellto loadaassignments; theyteam; just did they had together everybody is to a team player. just do. In the and morning, we tried pray together, to give us strength Before I workedtoinface theanother district,grueling I was ashift. nurse

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at Winthrop Hospital these and Iremarkable was a pediatric Working alongside men and nurse North Manhasset for. over 20 womaninwas trulyShore, an inspiration to me . . I could years. see the fear in their eyes, but they just went where nitelymost tookand a lot extra work theyCovid weredefi needed theyofdid what they do from Wethe didbest contact tracing in partnership best tous.give care to our sickest patients. withI would administrators and had to be even talk daily with my daughter, whomore is dilligent weatalready when student also an ERthan nurse anotherare facility. Weawould wasn't feeling well.how Weamazing also kept open talk about PPE and allvery nurses have communication with parents because been. We talked about the fear of bringingeveryone this was so home stressed. was lotour forfamilies. everybody. disease withItus anda to Covid-19 goal, of course, was to make sure hit Our homemain for me when my daughter contracted that all students andfor staff theunimaginable. building were the disease. The fright meinwas safe and healthy each day. Thankfully, she recovered in three weeks and I do what I do she because I love taking returned to where needed to be, in thecare ED of the kids. want to help who alongside herI always co-workers fighting theanyone battle of a needs I have three whowere all graduated lifetime.help. I always knew thatkids nurses amazing from peopleCalhoun. and true front-line workers, but it took Covid-19 to let the world know the same.

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HERALD HOMETOWN HERO

LUZ GABRIELLE OTEROHICKEY CALDERON

LUZ BRITTANY OTEROCALDERON FITZPATRICK

WESTBURY BALDWIN Charge RN, Licensed Practical South Oaks, Nurse, Mount Sinai Amityville South Nasau

he hospital, with the Town wanted to goalong into psychiatric nursing of Hempstead, created thisbyproject, specifi cally. I was inspired seeing the the Vaxmobile,work to bring to differenthealth incredible that vaccines psychiatric-mental communities have in Nassau are several professionals doneCounty. with myWe uncle, who LPNs, and of all of them, they chose me to be has schizophrenia. anAside interpreter for the many Hispanic community. from having patients admitted Every day I can you that than to the hospital withassure both Covid andmore psychiatric 50 to 60 percent patients Spanish- to diagnoses, we hadofthe uniqueare opportunity speaking. of themanaging Hispanics various work instages work with Many individuals restaurants andtoother places which they of grief related losing lovedinones, losing cannot a daymajor off tolife getchanges a vaccine. I keep jobs, andtake having resulting pestering to bring people. For example, from beingthem affected by Covid. a cook came upthe to pandemic me, and we Throughout sogave far, I him havethe vaccine. WhenonI asked him Each if he day knows anyone relied heavily self-care. at work else, he brought me his whole kitchen, like to 20 offers various challenges, so it is important men.for yourself so that you are best able to care live in fear;toward many live the careHispanics and be empathetic yourinpatients. shadows, and only that Oaks Vaxmobile have I like working at in South because

BALDWIN WANTAGH Enfermera práctica Site Manger, RN, con licencia Mount Sinai CityMDen Urgent Care South Nassau

we beenpeople able tothrough help many. Apart from helping the hardest partsbeing a nurse, I lend extra hand many of their lives is an rewarding andbecause extremely don’t know how to use the telephone, they do important. notI don't know think their telephone number, do not hospitals will be thethey same know any English, they do not know how to because of the high levels of trauma write. I love what do. population. experienced by theI whole I came from Puerto years ago, for and individuals will be livingRico with20the trauma I didforeseeable not speak English. the future. I was terribly afraid, and many people helped me. I got so frustrated that I even took classes, did a thousand things, worked in a thousand places, doing my bachelor’s and everything. In the same way that people helped me when I got here, so to pay back life, I help others.

HERALD HOMETOWN HERO

l hospital, junto con I’ve el Town ofloved Hempstead, lost lost many people really to crearon esteillness projecto, Vaximóvil, paraallevar preventable andelwanted to have vacunas a diferentes en Nassau career that resulted incomunidades healing and patient County. Somos varias LPN, y de todas ellas me education. escogieron a mímy para ser intérprete para la I had to adjust abilities to comfort comunidad patients. TheyHispana. can’t see me smile anymore. I’m Todos through los dÍas, foggy yo te puede que squinting glassesasegurar, and goggles. mástrying del 50-60 por ciento de los pacientes son I’m to spend a minimal amount of time de habla Hispana. Muchos de los Hispanos with them to reduce the risk of exposure. I trabajanseeing en restaurantes otros lugares enjoyed patients a ylotenbefore Covid. I que no van every a coger díarmed librebecause para ponerse went home dayunaffi we una vacuna. Yo les sigo molestando para que made someone’s day better. In the beginning, traiganeverywhere a personas.were Por ejemplo, people praisingun us,cocinero calling se heroes. acercó yNole one dimos la vacuna.the Cuando us questioned validityleof pregunté que conoce a alguien más,ofmethe trajo Covid when wesiwere at the beginning toda la cocina, 20 hombres. pandemic. I wascomo watching healthy 18-yearvivenfor an old Los menHispanos turn blueviven in mycon offimiedo, ce waiting muchos bajos sombras, y sóloofen ese I ambulance thatlas had a wait time hours.

Vaximóvil hemosfrom podido don’t take away the ayudar validity aofmuchos. anyone’s Apartepath de ser yo doy la mano extra career butenfermera, I chose mine because I believe usar el teléfono, no inporque mine, muchos I believeno in saben science. I want to heal my saben su número no saben nada community. That’s de whyteléfono, I’m in healthcare. deThere Inglés,were no saben escribir. months where we were shortMe encanta que hago. Yoworked vine deevery Puerto staffed to literallobones. People Rico hace y no hablaba Inglés. Yo single day, 20 no años, exaggeration, seeing patient teníapatient. un miedo y mucha me after Myterrible site, specifi cally,gente was seeing ayudó. Me frustré que hasta 300 patients a day.tanto We were burnedcogí out.clases, There hice mil en positions mil lugares, cogiendo were dayscosas, I tooktrabajé on other because mithe bachillerato y todo. la site misma manera of lack of staff, I wasDethe manager, que adesk, mí me cuando aquí, front labayudaron results, you namellegué it. What made entonces para pagarle para atrás a la vida, yo Covid bearable were my staff and coworkers. ayudo aone los demás. Holding another up when the others were falling down. Being able to cry with one another because we couldn’t see our mothers. We held on to the shreds and strings of hope in the form of bagels and pizza.

HERALD HOMETOWN HOMETOWN HERO HERO HERALD

OCEANSIDE/ISLAND PARK HERALD — May 27, 2021

August 26, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

HERALD Covid-19

MEDICAL WORKERS

CHRISTINE WOLF GARDEN CITY

WESTBURY RN, Jamaica Hospital, Jamaica

work at Jamaica Hospital in Jamaica, New York and I became a nurse because I wanted to help treat patients from my hometown with compassion and care. I also wanted to provide health literacy to the underserved community. Covid-19 affected my job because we lost so many patients and peers due to the virus. There was a shortage of materials and staffing throughout the pandemics and that made all of our jobs so hard. It was hard losing so many people. I got through the pandemic using prayer. I also had a strong support system including my fiancé, my family and my friends. The strong teamwork at my job also helped me overcome the challenges faced during the pandemic. I like working at Jamaica because it's placed in the neighborhood I grew up in. Therefore

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

TIARA LANGRASTA

THEIR FRONT-LINE STORIES IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Director of Nursing South Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Freeport

I'm giving back to my community and even my loved ones who still live there. I do think Jamaica Hospital will make a comeback post-Covid. I believe the knowledge and experience we gained will continue to help us provide better patient care experiences.

hen COVID began, I worked in a 320-bed facility. We tried to adhere to the everchanging Department of Health regulations while dealing with sick patients, sick staff, and lack of personal protective equipment. Thanks to the staff’s diligence, when I left that facility in June of 2020, it was COVID-free. I came to South Shore in July of 2020. Since then, our facility has quickly brought two COVID outbreaks under control. To this day, we continually monitor every person who comes into the facility. Almost 75% of our residents are completely vaccinated and we remain COVID-free. The new mandate that all nursing home staff must be vaccinated is another challenge. Some employees have valid reasons for not wanting the vaccine, like those of child-bearing age

HERALD HOMETOWN HERO

who are concerned as to how the vaccine will affect the development of their child. COVID has complicated nursing administration so much that sometimes, after a hard day, I’m physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. As this virus mutates and the regulations continuously change, I will do whatever I can to maintain a safe and healthy facility. But I can’t do it alone. The staff at South Shore has been – and continues to be – an important factor throughout this whole pandemic. The residents and their families have been very understanding and supportive of our efforts even when our measures seemed a bit extreme. We’ve all learned a lot, dealt with a lot and yes, even cried a lot … but at least we are better equipped and prepared for whatever the future holds.

HERALD HOMETOWN HERO

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North Merrick Public Library hosts outdoor concerts TAkiNg pLAcE OuTDOORs, “Turn Pike Joe & The Traffic Jam” catered to a crowd of roughly 50 people. Turnpike Joe and drummer Jay Sharkey entertained with classic rock hits.

By JORDAN VALLONE

August 26, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

an S jvallone@liherald.com

On evenings throughout the summer, the back lot of the North Merrick Public Library is transformed into concert space, and residents from the area are welcome to attend the many performances featuring local bands. “Before the pandemic, we had concerts once a month on Sundays,” said Taylor Smith, a librarian in the public relations and young adults department. Now due to Covid, the schedule for concerts is less structured, and patrons can enjoy concerts throughout the week. “We try to have them pretty regularly,” Smith said of the concerts. On Aug. 12, the library welcomed back the band “Turn Pike Joe & The Traffic Jam,” a “favorite at the library,” according to Smith. “We have had them here several times in the past,” she added. “They play old school rock — mostly from the 60s and 70s. They have a couple of originals too.” The concerts take place in the back lot of the library, and Smith said they set up lights. “We get a good group of regulars — about 50 to 60 people show up,” she explained. “Everyone brings their own chairs. It tends to be an older crowd, but we get a pretty good response.” Later this month, the library will be hosting the 1960s cover band “Just 60s” on Aug. 30, and next month, Beatles cover

eth Congregation Beth Tikvah A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue

cONcERTgOERs ENJOyED ThE performance, below.

band “Penny Lane” on Sept. 9. Both concerts will continue to take place outside. “We do ask people to register in advance,” Smith added, so they can prepare for the amount of people who are coming. “You don’t have to be a N. Merrick resident — we are open to all.” Registration can be done online at northmerrickpubliclibrary.org, or by giving the library a call at (516) 378-7474. Additionally, their online calendar displays all upcoming events, and Smith said potential concertgoers can look there to stay up to date on future programs.

Congregation Beth Tikvah

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

Congregation Beth Tikvah A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue

A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue

Congregation Beth Tikvah

A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue Congregation Beth Tikvah Congregation Beth Tikvah Congregation Beth Tikvah

A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue A Conservative Egalitarian Synagogue u al This past year has presented unusual challenges to c e lives andhe concern for the health of our This pastour yeardaily has presented e loved ones, ourdaily community and the world but with unusual challenges to wo our lives and concern the and health mil thefor love support of our family, y friends, , This past year has presented unusual challenges to of our loved congregation ones, our community we and our faith in G-d will prevail. w our daily lives we and concern for the health of our This pastthe year has presented and world but with unusual the lovechallenges lovedtoones, our community and the world but with our lives of andour concern the health of ourthe love and support of our family, friends, anddaily support family,forfriends, loved ones, our community and in theG-d world butcongregation with and our faith in G-d we will prevail. congregation and our faith the love and support of our family, friends, we will prevail. congregation and our faith in G-d we will prevail. Wishing you and your family

r Wishing you and your fa family evu L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu, 5782. This past L'Shanah year has presented unusual challenges to Wishing you and your family Tovah Tikatevu, 5782. our daily lives and concern for the health of our L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu, 5782. 3710 Woodbine Avenue Wantagh NY 11793 (516) 785-2445 1139591

loved ones, our community and the world but with 3710presented Woodbine Avenue Wantagh NY 11793 (516) (email: www.congbt.org Thisyear pastpresented yearpresented has unusual to 785-2445 This past year has unusual to family, the loveunusual andchallenges support ofchallenges our friends, This office@congbt.org past has challenges to (email: office@congbt.org www.congbt.org congregation and our G-dofwe will prevail. 3710 Woodbine Avenue 11793concern (516) 785-2445 ourNY daily lives and concern for the health our our daily lives and for the offaith our ourWantagh daily lives and concern forhealth the health ofin our

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

THE VAXMOBILE 5,000 VACCINES AND COUNTING… Coming Soon to a Neighborhood Near You!

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and will prevent you from getting seriously ill, even if you do get COVID-19. Get Your Vaccine Today. The Vaxmobile is coming soon to your neighborhood. For the most updated schedule, visit our Facebook page @MountSinaiSouthNassau. Or southnassau.org/vaccines

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This public health announcement is made possible by Bethpage. Together, we can help prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Clam-eating champ crowned at Peter’s Merrick’s Thomas DiBlasi conquers the competition By Kepherd daniel Kdaniel@liherald.com

Hundreds of spectators from aross Long Island gathered for the annual clam-eating comtest hosted by Peter’s Clam Bar in Island Park Sunday. The friendly competition returned after it was on hold last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The year the contest brought out some of the Island’s toughest stomachs. Firefighters from Merrick, Island Park, Glen Cove and even as far as Southampton gathered to test their intestinal fortitude. First place went to Thomas DiBlasi of the Merrick Fire Department after he devoured 78 clams in the first round and 141 clams in total to win $2,500 for his firehouse. Alex Araya of Islip Fire Department and Mike Leitke Sr. of the North Lindenhurst Fire Department tied for second place after both eating 15 clams each in the final round. Owner Butch Yamali, of Merrick, started hosting the contest after the Island Park Fire Department was decimated during Superstorm Sandy. “It was a dark time after Sandy’,” s a i d Tow n C o u n c i l m a n A n t h o ny D’Esposito, a former Island Park fire chief. “There was a lot of damage here,

Tom diBlasi saT victorious alongside Alex Araya of the Islip Fire Department, left, who tied for second. a lot of abandoned houses, unfortunately. The fire departments, whether it was Island Park, whether it was Long Beach, whether it was Oceanside, our fire departments became everything — community centers, emergency operation

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

anThony d’esposiTo presenTed DiBlasi with the official Peter’s Champion belt.

centers — because our [village] halls were completely flooded.” Yalami and D’Esposito were speaking in August 2013, almost a year after Sandy hit. They had both grown up in Island Park. “Butch wanted to give back to the local firehouses,” D’Esposito said. “We happened to be watching the hot dog-eating contest [at Coney Island]. Butch said, ‘Why don’t we do it with clams?’ and here we are.” Long after proceeds from the clameating contest had helped South Shore fire departments recover from Sandy, the feeding frenzy continued.“The first two years we did it for different firehouses, Island Park, Oceanside. Whatever money we raised, we split it amongst the fire departments as they were rebuilding during Sandy,” D’Esposito

said. “Once everything was rebuilt and there was no need for the fire departments to get the money, we said we have to keep doing this, so we moved it to first responder charities.” Among the organizations that have benefited from the contest are the Nassau County Firefighters-Operation Wounded Warriors and the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center in Uniondale This year funds are going to the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums, a nonprofit organization. “Over 40,000 clams have been donated by Butch since the contest has been going. There’s a lot of generosity that comes from right here at Peter’s,” D’Esposito said. “Coney Island has hot dogs. We have clams.”

Provided as a community service by:

516-569-4000

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August 26, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

Fellow merricK FireFighTer and contestant Crystal Desiano, center, joined DiBlasi, Merrick firefighters, friends and Butch Yamali after the competition.

Public Notices

LMER1 0826

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 9th day of September, 2021, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE and REPEAL “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations: BALDWIN TWAIN STREET (TH 242/21) West Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 114 feet north of the north curbline of St. Lukes Place then north for a distance of 20 feet. EAST MEADOW HUDSON STREET (TH 203/21) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Kenmore Street south for a distance of 30 feet. LEVITTOWN GARDINERS AVENUE WESTSIDE MARGINAL ROAD (TH 268/21) West Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 117 feet north of the north curbline of Jeffries Ro MERRICK BELLMORE ROAD (TH 253/21) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Clubhouse Road north for a distance of 15 feet. BELLMORE ROAD (TH 253/21) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Clubhouse Road south for a distance of 15 feet. UNIONDALE 1st Place (TH 286/21) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER starting at the north curbline of Lowell Road north for a distance of 35 feet.

GREENGROVE AVENUE (TH 282/21) West Side NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 140 feet south of the south curbline of Hempstead Boulevard then south for a distance of 275 feet. WANTAGH BELTAGH AVENUE (TH 236/21) East Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 10 feet north of a point opposite the north curbline of Birch Drive then south for a distance of 82 feet. WEST HEMPSTEAD LINDEN STREET (TH 274/21) North Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at the northwest curbline of Marie Court then west for a distance of 100 feet. MARIE COURT (TH 274/21) West Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at the northwest curbline of Linden Street then north for a distance of 82 feet. WALTON STREET (TH 278/21) South Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Palm Lane west for a distance of 45 feet. WOODMERE ALTHOUSE STREET (TH 271/21) North Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the east curbline of Prospect Avenue east for 30 feet. ALTHOUSE STREET (TH 271/21) South Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the east curbline of Prospect Avenue east for 30 feet. ISLAND AVENUE (TH 261/21) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - from the north curbline of Peninsula Boulevard north for 30 feet. ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following locations: WEST HEMPSTEAD WALTON STREET (TH 537/07) South Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Palm Lane west for a distance of 86 feet. (Adopted 1/22/08) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid. Dated: August 3, 2021 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 127183 LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington

Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 9th day of September, 2021, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-15 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PROHIBITION OF LEFT TURNS” at the following locations: MERRICK MERRICK AVENUE (TH 294/21) NO LEFT TURN all traffic exiting the driveway apron of the Pat’s Farm Garden Center (opposite Larkspur Avenue) shall be prohibited from executing left turns onto northbound Merrick Avenue. ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid. Dated: August 3, 2021 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 127203

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking On Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 9th day of September, 2021, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations: ATLANTIC BEACH MARK LANE - west side, starting at a point 42 feet south of the south curbline of Park Street, south for a distance of 18 feet. (TH-220/21) EAST ATLANTIC BEACH ROCHESTER AVENUE starting at a point 223 feet of the south of the south curbline of Park Street, south for a distance of 14 feet. TH-279/21) BETHPAGE BOONE STREET - south side, starting at a point 161 feet west of the west curbline of North Wantagh Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-235/21) BOONE STREET - north side, starting at a point 367 feet east of the east curbline of Farmedge Road, east for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-280/21) EAST ROCKAWAY

WILLIAMSON STREET south side, starting at a point 74 feet opposite the northeast curbline of 8th Avenue, east for a distance of 18 feet. (TH-255/21) ELMONT HEATHCOTE ROAD - west side, starting at a point 35 feet north of the north curbline of 109th Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-187/21) EMPORIA AVENUE - west side, starting at a point 410 feet south of the south curbline of Atherton Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-202/21) KELLER AVENUE - west, starting at a point 356 feet north of the curbline of L Street, north for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-230/21) FRANKLIN SQUARE JAMES STREET - west side, starting at a point 212 feet south of the south curbline of Fenworth Boulevard, south for 20 feet. (TH-246/21) ADMONT AVENUE - north side, starting at a point 130 feet east of the east curbline of Roosevelt Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-258/21) LEVITTOW RESTFUL LANE - east side, starting at a point 120 feet south of the south curbline of Swirl Lane, south for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-272/21) MERRICK GRUNCLY PLACE - north side, starting at a point 254 feet east of the east curbline of Merrick Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-204/21) UNIONDALE SOUTHERN PARKWAY south side, starting at a point 330 feet west of the west curbline of Nostrand Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-196/21) VAN BUREN STREET west side, starting at a point opposite the northeast curbline of Knull Street at the utility pole, north for a distance of 101 feet, then north for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-244/21) LENOX AVENUE - west side, starting at a pont 605 feet north of the north curbline of Braxton Street, north for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-251/21) WEST HEMPSTEAD BEDELL TERRACE - north side, starting at a point 153 feet east of the east curbline of Hempstead Gardens Drive, east for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-191/21) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons: ELMONT HILLSBORO AVENUE east side, starting at a point 307 feet south of the south curbline of

Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

MeMbers of the Community Club at Calhoun High School met to discuss ideas and initiatives for the upcoming year.

Students step up to aid the community continued from front page

started thinking about the most Covidfriendly way to help them.” It started with a GoFundMe intended to aid the Community Cupboard, for which the duo had “no expectations at all,” Hardstone said. “We didn’t think people would donate. We started with a goal of $1,000, and we thought that was a complete reach.” Within two months, Hardstone and Gavnoudias raised $2,000, with which they purchased nearly 100 Stop & Shop gift cards for the Cupboard. Once they saw the project’s success, they realized the potential to go further. “We saw the opportunity to make something sustainable that can work over the years,” Hardstone said. “We wanted to make something that, whenever there’s a Calhoun, there is this club associated with it.” They started a Community “Cluboard” at Calhoun, which eventually adopted the name Community Club and gained an additional co-president, student Alyssa Formisano. The club’s members have since helped supply the pantry through several initiatives and community partnerships. To give a donation event a competitive twist, the club brainstormed Clash of the Classes, pitting Calhoun’s grades against one another to see who could collect the most non-perishable food items. The seniors came out on top, thanks to help from National Honor Society members, a majority of whom were seniors. Connections have also been made with the Calhoun Alumni Association, the Merrick Community Nursery School and

Burgrito’s, a Merrick restaurant that has donated gift cards and holiday meals. St. Demetrios Church’s philanthropic chapter, run by Barbara Philoptochos, has also supplied the Cupboard with donated food, turkey dinners, cases of water and other necessities through a continued partnership with the club. “The amazing thing is that the Cupboard supports Bellmore-Merrick families,” said Mark Melkonian, assistant principal of Calhoun and the club’s adviser. “For young people, you can donate and raise money for a national campaign — which is great — but we can raise and donate for a local campaign that impacts your community directly. I think it’s very empowering.” Community Club members met at the Cupboard — which is housed in the Brookside School — on Aug. 11 to pack bags for families and organize the shelves. Hardstone and Gavnoudias passed the mantle to new presidents and rising seniors Julie Moehringer and Steven Aievoli. “I have lived in Merrick my whole life, and have nothing but good things to say,” Moehringer said. “The Community Club has impacted me in unimaginable ways. I have realized that there are so many people in my own community who are in need of everyday items that I myself take advantage of.” More information on the Cupboard can be found on the district website, www. bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us/, or by calling (516) 992-1073. Donations can be dropped off in a container outside the Brookside School Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and noon.

Public Notices

Atherton Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet. (TH-490/15 - 11/24/15) (TH-273/21) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be Heard on said proposal at

the time and place aforesaid. Dated: August 3, 2021 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR.

Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 127186

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

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: GTRETROS, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 05/18/2021. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 1657 Westmoreland Road, Merrick, NY 11566. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 126901

HERALD

Employment

CLASSIFIED

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

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

LAWRENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS POSITIONS AVAILABLE

an equal Opportunity employer

Immediate Openings Available

school nurse positions (2) early childhood center & high school (September start date. Retirees welcome to apply.)

Elementary School Nurse

teacher aides & teacher aide suBs (HS Diploma Required)

Candidates must hold a NYS Registered Professional Nurse License CPR Certification required

monitors & suB monitors part-time cleaners & suBs (day and evening positions) NEED IMMEDIATELY

Per Diem Substitute Teachers Candidates must hold a High School or College Diploma $125 Daily

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT HUMAN RESOURCES AT

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Candidates must hold a High School Diploma All positions require fingerprint clearance

SCHOOL HALL MONITORS

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School Monitors Part Time $15.00/Hour. 17 ½ to 25 Hours/Week. Starting Immediately!

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Applications may be picked up at:

Qualifications: Appropriate New York State Registered Nurse License necessary. Must have diabetic insulin pump knowledge. Elementary school nursing experience preferred but not required.

Send cover letter & resume to: hr@merrick.k12.ny.us In the email subject line please include the job title for which you are interested in applying. EOE

$18.50 NYC, $17 L.I., up to $13.50 Upstate NY! 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.

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Please submit your application online at www.olasjobs.org

Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

EMPLOYMENT

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COMPANION w/ Elderly

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FREEPORT SCHOOL DISTRICT

to join our outside sales team, contact Rhonda glickman. send your resume today. rglickman@liherald.com, 516-569-4000 x250. salary, commission, bonuses and benefits. must have own vehicle and valid driver’s license.

HERALD Community Newspapers liherald.com

real local, real news CSC Holdings LLC seeks a Lead Wireless Engineer in Bethpage, NY to develop and optimize troubleshooting methodologies for diagnosis and research of technology system problems. Automate tasks utilizing software scripting and programming. Execute system implementation, upgrade tasks, and incident management support. Maintain and administer system availability, providing backup support for incident review and analysis. Evaluate, monitor, and conduct performance tuning for a variety of production environments. Architect, design, and implement new technologies to ensure efficiency. Position requires a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related STEM field, and 3 years of experience with designing and integrating IP connectivity for the deployment of OCS, OFCs, PCRF, and provisioning platforms. Experience must include a minimum of: 3 years of experience with complex network systems, including routers, switches, loadbalancers, CGNAT, Cacti, and security devices, including firewalls; 3 years of experience troubleshooting solutions with MPLS, MP-BGP, QoS, ISIS, OSPF, STP, L3VPN, L2VPN, and MPLS TE; 3 years of experience with IP integration of Mobile Core nodes, including STP, DRA, SDM, HSS, SMSC, PCRF, HLR, MME, SGW, and PGW; and 3 years of experience with OpenStack, Cisco SDN, SSL Offloading, Nat Box-to-Box, IPSEC, TACACS, MySQL, Python, Expect and Shell Scripting. To app l y, s u b m i t r e s u m e o n l i n e a t https://www.alticeusacareers.com/ and search by job title or enter job ID number 2021-28521. DELI COUNTER HELP: Overnight Position 10pm- 6am/ All Shifts. Experienced P r e fe r r e d . O c e a n s i d e 2 4 H r. B a g e l 516-678-7070

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vaLLeY StReam ufSD tHiRteeN

1611

August 26, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

Freelance Sportswriters Wanted! Herald Community Newspapers is looking to bolster its award-winning sports coverage with additional freelance staff. Weekly responsibilities include on-site high school spor ts game coverage and/or features. Please send resume and two spor ts writing samples to sports@liherald.com and sbrinton@liherald.com.

FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST: Knowledgeable With Billing. Part Time. Cedarhurst Ofiice. Call 516-374-2605

OFFICE ASSISTANT P/T

Small, Busy College Finance Office Seeking P/T Office Assistant For Answering Phones, Filing, Scanning, Data Entry, Etc. E mail Resume To: reception@ wilsoncollegeconsulting.com

REAL ESTATE SALESPERSONS WANTED

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HERALD

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

PARKING ATTENDANTS WANTED

Needed For Corporate Office In Valley Stream Must Have Clear Verbal And Written Communication Capabilities. Responsibilities Include: Phone, Mail, Keeping Track Of Supplies, Booking Conference Rooms, Meeting And Greeting Guests Email Resume Or Inquiries To: ReceptionVS@nhca.com SALES PA R T / F U L L T I M E AVA I L A B L E . Flexible Hours in a Busy Women's Hosiery & Accessories Retail Store in Cedarhurst NY. Some Experience- Will Train to help customers and promote sales & restocking merchandise. 516-395-5408. Ask for Chuck

Exceptional Luxury

VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE NEIGHBORHOOD AIDE. P/T 19.75 HRS PER WEEK $20 PER HOUR. Must pass background check and phyical. Valid NY Driver’s License required. Application available at https://www.r vcny.gov/human-resources/files/ pre-employment-questionnaire Return application to RNugent@RVCNY.US

Eldercare Needed HOME HEALTH AIDE Needed- Rockville Centre. Monday -Saturday, 1pm-7pm, Assist Senior, Including Cooking Dinner. CNA and HHA Required. Call Hyacinth 516-476-8954.

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

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TOW TRUCK DRIVERS: FT/PT. Days, Evenings, Weekends. Experienced Only Apply. Call Sacha or Mike 718-291-2992

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Homes

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

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prawling 6 bedroom, 5.5 bath Colonial! Nestled on a verdant lot with just under an acre of land. High-end design elements and top tier finishes have been thoughtfully incorporated throughout the home. Tasteful living areas have been carefully designed to create a welcoming atmosphere. Custom ceilings add grandeur to many rooms, while multiple fireplaces provide traditional ambiance. The gourmet kitchen is a pure chef's delight, with top quality appliances. The entertainment room boasts rich wood paneling and coffered ceiling. The lower level includes a game area, steam room, sauna and a massive climate controlled wine cellar. Outside you will discover the custom in-ground pool, cabana, and basketball court. For private tour please contact V.I. Properties Team at Compass 516-791-1313

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984 Singleton Ave, 11:30-1, NEW EXCLUSIVE! Expanded 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Colonial on Oversized Lot in Old Woodmere. Bsmt & 2 Car Det Gar. Near All. SD#14 ..... $899,000 4 Clubside Dr, BA, Renovated 3 BR, 3.5 Bth Townhouse in Cedar Glen. Updtd Gran/ Wood EIK & Bths. HW Flrs. Fin Lower Level. Att Gar. Community Pool & Tennis. Near All. SD#14 .....................................................................................REDUCED! $699,000

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HEWLETT Bay PaRK

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HEWLETT

1534 Broadway #103, BA, NEW! Spacious 2 BR,2 Bth Condo in Luxurious Jonathan Hall. LR/DR, Large EIK, Laundry Rm, & Pantry. Terrace Facing into Courtyard. Doorman Bldg with Elevator. Indoor Garage Pkg & Storage .......................... $599,000 395 Serena Rd, NEW! 5 BR, 2 Bth Col on O/S Property. Updtd EIKs. 3 BR Main Level, 2 Upstairs with OSE. SD#14.Possible M/D with Proper Permits. Near All .... $799,000 1610 Hilary Ct, 11:30-1, Beautifully Gut Renovated 4600 Sq Ft Colonial in Cul de Sac. 5 BR, 3.5 Bth with Full Fin Bsmt, 2 Car Att Gar. SD#20. Tax Grievance Filed ...........................................................................................REDUCED! $1,279,999 1390 Broadway #102, BA, 2 BR, 2 Bth Coop in Luxurious Hewlett Townhouse. LR/ DR, Updtd Kit & Office/Den. Elevator, 24 Hr Drman, Valet Pkg, Pool. Priv Storage Area. Great Location Near Shops & Trans ...................................REDUCED! $349,000

EaST ROCKaWay

54 Rose Lane, BA, PROPERTY LOVERS DELIGHT! 3 BR, 2.5 Bth Split on Over 1/2 Acre Parklike Property in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK, Den/Fpl/Vaulted Ceiling, FDR & Mstr Ste/Updtd Bth & Sitting Rm. 2 Car Gar. SD#20 ......REDUCED! $949,000

CEdaRHURST

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OCEaNSIdE

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55 Merrick Avenue, Merrick NY 11566

John Lawlor, CBR, SFR

REAL ESTATE Real Estate Attention Sportsmen! NY-VT Border, Minutes to Bennington, VT. 30 acres, Only $99,900! Open and wooded, trails throughout property. Abundant wildlife, great views with southern exposure. Town road, power, telephone, Owner Financing 802-447-0779

Open Houses EAST ROCKAWAY OPEN HOUSE BA 54 Rose Lane, NEW!PROPERTY LOVERS DELIGHT! 3 BR, 2.5 Bth Split on Over 1/2 Acre Parklike Property in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK, Den/kpl/Vaulted Ceiling, FDR & Mstr Ste/Updtd Bth & Sitting Rm. 2 Car Gar. SD#20...$949,000 R o n n i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n 516-238-4299

1140110

HEWLETT HaRBOR

105 Lake Dr, BA, Spectaular Waterfront Prop With Golf Course Views. 4 BR, 4.5 Bth 4500 sq Ft Contemporary w/ Open Layout & Soaring Ceilings, 2 Car Gar, New Bulkhead, SD#14 ....................................................................... REDUCED! $1,725,000 267 Channon Rd, BA, 7 BR, 4 Bth Exp Ranch w/ Full Fin Bsmt on Quiet St in SD#20. 2 Car Att Gar .............................................................................. REDUCED! $1,100,000

1208 Broadway Hewlett, NY 11557 516-791-1313 www.vipropertiesny.com

Open Houses HEWLETT HARBOR BA 105 Lake Dr, ,REDUCED & MOTIVATED! Spectaular Waterfront Prop With Golf Course Views. 4 BR, 4.5 Bth 4500 sq Ft Contemporary w/ Open Layout & Soaring Ceilings, 2 Car Gar, New Bulkhead, SD#14..$1,725,000 R o n n i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n 516-238-4299 HEWLETT HARBOR OPEN HOUSE BA 267 Channon Rd, REDUCED! 7 BR, 4 Bth Exp Ranch w/ Full Fin Bsmt on Quiet St in S D # 2 0 . 2 C a r A t t G a r. Wo n ' t Last!...$1,100,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299 HEWLETT OPEN HOUSE BA 395 Serena NEW EXCLUSIVE! 5 BR, 2 Bth Col on O/S Property. Updtd EIKs. 3 BR Main Level, 2 Upstairs with OSE. SD#14. Possible M / D w i t h P r o p e r Pe r m i t s . N e a r All..$799,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429

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

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MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

Employment HERALDHomes

Open Houses

Commercial Prop./Rent

WO OD M E R E 4 C l ub s i de D r, O PEN HOUSE By Appt, REDUCED! Renovated 3 BR,3.5 Bth Townhouse in Cedar Glen. Updtd Gran/Wood EIK & Bths. HW Flrs. Fin Lower Level. Att Gar.Community Pool & Tennis.Near All. SD#14...$699,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

HEWLETT: COMMERCIAL SPACE, 2 suites for rent, 2 baths, multi-room, private entrances, private parking, handicapped accessible, central AC, close to ALL, CALL FOR PRICING 516-569-7250

WOODMERE OPEN HOUSE 984 Singleton Ave, SUNDAY, 8/29, 11:30-1, NEW To Market! Expanded 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Colonial on Oversized Lot in Old Woodmere. Bsmt & 2 Car Det Gar. Near All.SD#14...$899,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

House For Sale BETHPAGE: FOR SALE BY OWNER 3 Bedroom Solid Brick Ranch With Detached Garage In Desirable Hahn Estates. Full Finished Basement, Wood Floors Throughout, Newer Roof, Boiler, A/C. 1.5 Baths, IGS, Low Taxes. $539,000. Shown By Appointment Call Bob 631-987-6707, No Brokers Please

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

Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-569-4000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

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

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JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, It’s inESTATE the Herald Classifieds... REAL & MORE... To Advertise Call 516-569-4000 JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... press 5

Q. I am so frustrated about my construction. I am acting as contractor, and the guy framing my house, whom I trust completely, is saying my plans are ridiculously over-designed, and the beams are much too big and don’t even have columns in the plans. Can I switch architects in the middle of construction, and what would it take to do that?

Ask The Architect

1140717

August 26, 2021 — HERALD

HERALD

Trust the framer or the architect?

A. Picture if you will a group of people sitting in a courtroom. One is your framer, another is your architect and the judge is hearing the case in which you spent way too much on beams, or even worse, your lawyer is going over the damages of cracking and sagging ceilings and walls. Who do you imagine will be the onte eeper responsible party in the eyes of the law? Your framer? No, your architect. Why? The state grants a license, upon proof of a rigorous education followed by an internship and one of the longest exams given to show competence, not to your framer, but to the architect. Your County Office of Consumer Affairs, which licenses contractors, not framers, can confirm what the qualifications are: no formal educational background, no particular experience, not even an exam. Your framer gets elevated to the status of a licensed professional by you and you alone. He may be smart, even experienced, but the call isn’t for him to make, any more than a couch potato making the calls for a professional football team. There are no consequences for framers whether they’re right or wrong. If they choose not to put in beams prescribed on the sealed, permitted plans, just to make a point, and the house seems sturdy on the sunny day when they drive away, they may pat themselves on the back — that is, until the wind blows like it did recently in one of many heavy storms, or until the first heavy snowfall, when the roof begins to creak and sheetrock cracks. At that point, the amateurs you trusted are long gone. Framers can say anything, and they often do, confusing homeowners into believing their bold, unsubstantiated claims and calling into doubt the designated professional’s judgment or competence. “Rule of thumb” has no place in construction, but homeowners regularly and naively believe nonsense claims. The claim of no columns to support the beams makes no sense, since all beams require support. It sounds more like your framer is flexing his ego to you instead of speaking to the architect. If your plans carry the professional’s seal and received a permit, to change the situation requires a lot of backtracking. The owner and new architect, if they have any ethics, should notify the current architectof-record of the change in status. New, redrawn plans and new paperwork carrying the new architect’s seal, with an explanation letter, must be submitted to your building department; all this because you granted an amateur the level of responsibility they have no legal standing to hold over a licensed professional. Good luck!

© 2021 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.

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t’s hard to believe that the Cuomo dynasty has come to an end, but New York now has a new governor, Kathy Hochul. I use “hard to believe” because for nearly 11 years, Andrew Cuomo had such a dominant role in the daily life of all New Yorkers. To the best of my recollection, no governor in my lifetime was in your face as much as Cuomo was. As I look back over the past 55 years, there have been eight governors occupying the Albany mansion. At least five JERRY of them served four or more KREMER years. But none of them was as powerful a figure as Cuomo. During the height of last year’s coronavirus crises, New Yorkers — and people around the world — looked forward to his daily briefings on how New York was coping with the pandemic. For that brief period, Cuomo was a 24/7 presence. If you think back on past governors,

whether Nelson Rockefeller or Mario Cuomo, you realize that none of them was as front-and-center as Andrew Cuomo. If it wasn’t an update about Covid-19, the news would carry a story about the almost daily feud between Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. No matter what media you followed, there was a daily story about some Cuomo initiative. It seemed for some time that the only place the governor didn’t inhabit was your bedroom. But the days of a Cuomo in the news are over, at least for now, and many in the political arena consider this a blessing. Hochul may be surprised to find out how many people are ready to welcome her with open arms. As much as Cuomo accomplished — and he did do a lot — the state was ready for a respite with a new face on the Albany scene. It’s a historical fact that New York governors and New York City mayors have a hard time getting along. They view the political stage as having only one spotlight, and they will do anything

to grab it. Of all the feuds that I recall, none was as nasty as the Cuomo-de Blasio wrestling match. If de Blasio announced that he was lifting some Covid restriction, Cuomo would immediately step in and say not so fast. In the run-up to her swearing in, Hochul met privately with de Blasio, and they exchanged pleasantries. In addition, she spoke extensively with de Blasio’s likely successor, Eric Adams. Don’t be surprised if, in the coming weeks and months, the new governor takes the extra time to make nice with any politician who had been scorned by Cuomo. At the top of his hit list were the two leaders of the State Legislature, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins. No one has ever written a love story about a New York governor and an Albany legislative leader, but Cuomo’s relationship with the current legislative leaders was especially hostile. Both would sit down with him and hammer out state budgets, but the level of dis-

ut Hochul will have only a short window of time to attack a host of issues.

trust was always high. Every legislative leader has a pretty strong ego, but none could eclipse Cuomo’s. In the weeks ahead, Hochul will no doubt go out of her way to establish a close working relationship with both state leaders, and they, in turn, will shower her with compliments and pledges of harmony and good things to come. That is a welcome change of atmosphere, because the new governor has a lot on her plate, and she’ll only have a short window of time to attack a host of issues. At the same time that she’ll be wrestling with new challenges, there will be a handful of politicians plotting to challenge her next year in a primary contest. For now, though, New Yorkers can look forward to their state government functioning normally, with no sign yet that former Governor Cuomo is planning a return to power. Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Heading west, into smoke and wildfire hell

confess, the headline is hyperbolic, but for a Long Island woman on her first cross-country road trip, the wildfires and smoke demand purple prose. We arrived in an area of California that is designated “purple” because conditions are “extremely unhealthy,” according to the weather service. It rained ash. We sea-level dwellers are accustomed to clean air and no elevation issues. Right now I am at 6,700 feet and I can’t see the mountains in front of me. We RANDI knew the West KREISS was in a wildfire and air-quality crisis, but we needed to move, to change the scenery and mostly to see our kids and grandkids who live out here. We started planning this trip last year during the lockdown, and the planning itself was liberating. Driving cross-country has been my dream. My husband has always put it off, dreading the endless driving days through the middle. But that’s what I wanted, to experience the unchanging open prairie and the nothingness. How can you really know it’s all out there if

you don’t drive through it? Like most dreams, I got just a piece of it, but these days that counts. Early last week we flew to Denver, picked up a rental car and drove to Cheyenne, Wyo., then Park City, Utah, then Elko, Nev., before we arrived in California. The experience has been both better and worse than expected. The flight was great and the car was waiting for us. This sounds matter-of-fact, but as an obsessive planner, I had spent dozens of hours scrolling through hotel and car websites, trying to find the best — and the most cancelable — plans. We heard all the horror stories of people being stranded at airports with no cars available. The day we landed, Denver had the worst smoke and air quality of any place in North America. We headed out, stopped at a Walmart to buy a cooler, a small bed for Lillybee the dog and enough water for a Sahara crossing, and then we drove to Cheyenne. In the months since we first planned this adventure, the Delta variant has overwhelmed the hotel experience. Everything that can be is online. Breakfast buffets are masked affairs with no real buffet, just grab and go. No house-

cleaning services unless requested. Cheyenne itself is hot, dry and seemingly the center of the American military complex. Streets are named for generals. We drove by a life-sized missile on display in the park. The only surprise in Cheyenne was Mort’s Bagels in the center of town. The drive to Park City made me think of the movie “North by Northwest,” in which Cary Grant gets strafed by a crop-duster out in the middle of nowhere. We drove through featureless high plains studded with occasional red rocks. The openness can feel disorienting. We stayed in Park City for two nights. I’ve wanted to visit ever since Robert Redford brought the Sundance Film Festival to the area. As it turns out, we should have gone 25 years ago. Today, Park City is emblematic of all the overdeveloped mountain towns overrun by rich folks who want seasonal mega-mansions on the slopes. Two days into the trip, the Delta surge necessitated that we wear masks indoors everywhere and eat only at restaurants with outdoor tables. On a personal level, we were doing well. Lillybee turns out to be a roadie. Eight hours in the car is doable. She isn’t picky about

he day we landed, Denver had the worst air quality of any place in North America.

sleeping arrangements. We felt good just being let loose, but there were new constraints, and we knew we were losing ground to the virus. Our luggage comprised two huge bags, one carry-on and Lillybee’s bed. We were quite well organized, and only lost one Kindle along the way, although we thought we’d lost the car keys and our phones too many times to count. News of the world popped up along the way on the phones and in headlines splashed across newspapers. It was all disturbing: masking meltdowns, Governor DeSantis of Florida on the ascendancy, Cuomo self-destructing and then, suddenly, Biden hitting a wall in Afghanistan. Fortunately, the TVs in our hotel rooms didn’t work and we wouldn’t let a repairman in, so no TV. Our last night on the road was in Elko, and it must have been forgettable because it was just three nights ago and I forgot the highlights. The big takeaway so far is the smoke and the intense heat around the country. Driving along the Great Salt Lake felt like traversing Mars. Nothing but shimmering heat as far as we could see, the salt flats stretching in all directions like a prophecy. Copyright 2021 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

Welcoming a new face in Albany

Herald editorials

Merrick

August 26, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

HERALD and Merrick Herald News Established 1994

Incorporating Merrick Life Merrick Beacon 1950-2020

Andrew GArciA Editor robert cumminGs Advertising Account Executive office 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: merrickeditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2021 Richner Communications, Inc.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ cLifford ricHner stuArt ricHner Publishers micHAeL boLoGnA Vice President - Operations ■ scott brinton Executive Edtitor

New York must require masks in school

ew York’s new governor, Kathy Hochul, made it clear in the days leading up to her ascension to the state’s highest office that she would like to see a statewide mask mandate for schoolchildren and their teachers. Thank you, Governor. We need you to work toward, and enact, such a mandate, by way of the State Department of Health, in order to end the partisan bickering that we have seen at Board of Education meetings of late. Anti-maskers, extolling the virtues of personal freedom, clash with parents who are concerned that their children may be next to fall victim to the coronavirus, and often older teachers who are worried that they might get sick and perhaps die. On June 15, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo, believing the vaccines had tamed the viral invader, lifted all Covid-19 restrictions. For the schools, that was a mis-

take. Children under 12 are now most vulnerable to the disease because they cannot, as yet, receive the Covid-19 vaccines. Their only forms of protection are vigilance and masks. Kids tend not be vigilant, so, really, masks are it for them. Infection rates — and even hospitalizations — are soaring across the country among children. We have a sacred obligation to protect them. That is the primary reason the state should require students to wear masks at all times in school. Otherwise, what we will get is a hodgepodge of rules. The Massapequa School District came out last week to say it would not require masks, but rather recommend them. Recommend them? Who are officials there kidding? Meanwhile, the Baldwin, Roosevelt, Jericho and Riverhead school districts have all said they would continue to

require masks. Good for them. That’s the right thing to do. No single Board of Education should have to make this decision, however. That’s why the state must step in. In June, we thought we had beaten back Covid-19. Then along came its close cousin, the so-called Delta variant, which is significantly more infectious and potentially more deadly for the unvaccinated than the original strain of the disease. The variant had been with us for months, but it hadn’t really taken hold in New York until recently. Let’s face it: We have a ways to go before we eradicate this disease. No one is suggesting that we return to the restrictions that we saw in the early days of the pandemic. We should, however, take every reasonable precaution to limit the spread of the virus. That begins with requiring masks for all students.

Jim HArmon

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Get a Covid-19 booster when it’s offered

fficials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week that those who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will likely need a booster shot after eight months — meaning that those who were first in line to be vaccinated in January are already coming due for their boosters. CDC officials said that the Food and Drug Administration is now reviewing the efficacy and safety of booster shots, but they will probably become available this fall. We say this: Be prepared to get a booster if and when it is offered. All of us must do all that we can to eliminate this terrible scourge and restore normalcy to this country. Vaccines, masks and social-distancing requirements are our only real defenses against the coronavirus, for which there is no known cure. The Covid-19 vaccines are extraordinarily effective in keeping people out of the hospital and preventing death. We are, however, seeing an increasing number of “breakthrough” cases, in which vaccinated people are testing positive for the coronavirus and even getting sick. But their symptoms are most often mild to moderate, officials say. The overwhelming majority of people who are on ventilators (97 percent) and who are dying (99 percent) are unvaccinated. As of last Friday, the seven-day Covid-

19 infection rate for Long Island had crept up to nearly 4 percent — that is, the Island is now seeing four times as many cases as it did at the start of the summer. Officials attribute the spike to the Delta variant, which has spread across the country like wildfire, particularly in states like Florida and Texas, where peo-

ple tend to eschew basic safety precautions like masks and social distancing, and the vaccination rate is significantly lower than in the Northeast. Bottom line: If you haven’t been vaccinated, now is the time. If you have been, be ready for a booster.

opinions

ndrew is out and Kathy is in — a stunning political tale that seems to have taken everyone by surprise. Unless you have a long memory, that is, and have lived in Nassau County for a generation or more. Remember Karen Burstein? She’s still alive and well, and as far back as 1970, when she was 28, she ran as a Democrat for Congress opposed to the Vietnam War. She lost that contest. In 1972 she was elected to the State Senate from the Five Towns, and ended up serving three ronALD J. terms. The long comrosenBerG mute to Albany must have given her plenty of time to think — and seethe. Burstein has since revealed that she found herself immersed in a misogynistic world where male chauvinism was just a prelude to sexual harassment, and where high skirts and low blouses were often the requirements for staff advancement. In an era when demands for equal pay for equal work

were met with smirks, and staying after office hours wasn’t about reviewing legislation, Burstein has said she found it a toxic, demeaning and corrupting environment. She confronted it publicly, condemning it for what it was. The result was indifference. Albany’s sexist culture crossed partisan divides, Senate districts and generations of politicians. As late as the 1990s, political consultant Dick Morris told the Village Voice, “Our image of the Empire State is as a bastion of liberalism, feminism and good will to women who seek higher office. In fact, it is one of the most sexist political environments in the nation.” And now here we are, solidly in the 21st century, when we have made enormous progress in creating genuine equality in the workplace — unless you review the predatory actions of one Andrew Cuomo. Let legions of therapists try to analyze his tortured person. This was a man who, at the same time he was signing legislation empowering women to speak out against sexual harassment in the workplace, was

sexist culture crossed partisan divides, Senate districts and generations.

Letters

FrAmework by Joe Abate

Cuomo wasn’t that great

Enjoyed Brinton’s column on his yard

To the Editor: In August 2018, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “America was never that great.” He forgot about the millions of immigrants who have come here to seek a better life and live the American dream. During his administration, scandals included sexual harassment, several thousand nursing home deaths from the coronavirus, and the alleged use of state employees on the taxpayers’ dime and time assisting in ghost-writing his book, for which he was paid $5 million. With ever-increasing taxes and long-term debt, job losses, a failed public education system and declining public transportation, it is the Empire State that was never that great, as it declined under Cuomo’s watch. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Governor.

To the Editor: Re Scott Brinton’s column “Restoring a lost habitat in our backyard” (Aug. 19-25): I was smiling throughout the whole thing. I also have certified my yard as a wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. However, my property is 30 by 50, which includes my little bungalow, so I’ve had to squish a lot of plants in here, which I have done. After Superstorm Sandy in 2012, most of my neighbors went to grass with a couple of flowerpots, and one neighbor took out the entire yard and put in cement, much to my horror. At my age, it’s getting a little more difficult to rein everything in, especially since I’m so close to other people here in East Rockaway, but I do my best to keep everyt h i n g s o m e wh a t c o n t a i n e d (although my neighbors would beg to differ, I’m sure). I’m so glad Brinton wrote this column. Great to see like-minded people.

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

engaging in inappropriate, unwanted behavior that would have fathers of daughters lying in wait outside the governor’s mansion to pop him in the nose. Now, New York’s first woman governor has taken over the office. Kathy Hochul has an urgent agenda that ranges from ever-changing coronavirus issues to public works to a progressive State Legislature that is pushing jobs, investments and entrepreneurs out of state. Oh, and she also has to raise tens of millions of dollars to run what may be a primary followed by a general election. She also needs to clean house of Cuomo staff loyalists who would like nothing more than for her to fail. It still remains a rocky road for women in New York state politics. Geraldine Ferraro ran for U.S. senator twice and never got past the primaries. Elizabeth Holtzman was another Senate race loser. Burstein ran and lost the race for state attorney general. Kathleen Rice didn’t survive the primary for that job. There are other names as well, like Mary Ann Krupsak, who are known only

MARTHA ROWAN East Rockaway

What better place for morning yoga? — Long Beach

to students of arcane state politics, but their experiences reflect the difficult life of women in an Albany distilled by Cuomo’s most recent actions. There is an axiom in politics that says if you aim for the king, your shot better be fatal. In the case of Cuomo, a punitive, vindictive, abusive politician who has fallen from grace is far from mortem. Consider his interview with New York Magazine. “I feel like I did the right thing,” he said. “I did the right thing for the state. … I’m not gonna drag the state through the mud, through a three-month, four-month impeachment, and then win, and have made the State Legislature and the state government look like a ship of fools, when everything I’ve done all my life was for the exact opposite. I’m not doing that. I feel good. I’m not a martyr.” This is surely not the voice of a penitent man. Karen Burstein would probably ask us, “And just what were you expecting?” Ronald J. Rosenberg has been an attorney for 42 years, concentrating in commercial litigation and transactions, and real estate, municipal, zoning and land use law. He is currently with the law firm he founded in 1999, Rosenberg Calica & Birney, in Garden City.

MERRICK HERALD — August 26, 2021

History repeats itself in Albany — again and again

August 26, 2021 — MERRICK HERALD

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