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Proposing a Covid-19 testing center Online petition highlights interest sizable portion of the population is African-American and Latino. At press time, Woodmere, which With the number of Covid-19 has a large Orthodox Jewish cases still rising in the Five population, had 318 cases of Towns, several civic leaders are Covid-19. Lawrence and North pushing New York state to set up Lawrence had 151, and Inwood — a testing site at the which, according Five Towns Comto the 2010 Census munity Center in is the poorest comLawrence. munity on Long On April 8, the Island — had 119. center’s board liaiRoughly 14 percent son, Pete Sobol, of Inwood’s 10,300 sent a letter to Gov. re s i d e n t s l ive Andrew Cuomo, below the federal writing, “The Five poverty level — an Towns Communiincome of 26,200 ty Center and its for a family of board would like four. to be considered SYD MANDElBAuM The campaign for the next testing CEO, for the testing site facility in Nassau has also gone Rock and Wrap It Up! County.” Sobol has online: Civic leadserved the center ers created a petiin several capacities, including tion on Change.org that had colboard chairman and executive lected nearly 1,900 signatures at director. The letter, he said last press time. Among them was Friday, was in the hands of close that of Cedarhurst resident Syd advisers to the governor. Mandelbaum, founder and CEO Sobol noted that the commu- of the Cedarhurst-based Rock nity center would be easily and Wrap It Up! “RWU has supaccessible to people who lack ported the Five Towns Commumobility in areas like Inwood nity Center since 1997,” Mandeland North Lawrence, where a Continued on page 9
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
T
Courtesy Gural JCC
MARIoN & AARoN Gural JCC SHOP licensed master social worker Renee Russo “shopped” for food packages on April 3.
Helping those in need of food Community Chest partners with JCC, 5TCC By MATTHEW FERREMI mferremi@liherald.com
Throughout its nearly 90 years, Community Chest South Shore has focused on helping others, and now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, that continues to be the charitable organization’s mission. Community Chest has teamed up with the Five Towns Community Center and the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC to help those in
need. People can apply for the organization’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, which offers financial assistance to residents of the Five Towns and sur rounding South Shore communities, and also take advantage of food assistance programs at the two centers. “Over the years, we’ve helped those in need in many different ways,” said Trudi Haber man, who oversees
Neighbors Helping Neighbors. “Right now we’re centering our help around those who are unable to put food on the table.” Haberman noted that Community Chest does more than help clients at the Community Center and the JCC. “We’re here to help anybody in the community that needs help, but we have to go through another avenue to do so since Continued on page 9
he at-risk community, if not tested, can set back the timing for reducing the curve.
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Over 120 Covid-19 patients released jbessen@liherald.com
Within the past month, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway has successfully treated and discharged more than 120 patients with coronavirus, hospital officials said. St. John’s had the first confirmed case of Covid-19 in Queens in early March. “We work hard to ensure that we are as prepared as possible to treat each Covid19 patient and have made significant investments to see that our patients achieve positive health,” Dr. Donald Morrish, St. John’s chief medical officer, stated in a news release “When we are able to successfully discharge a person, it brings us great joy, and also shows that there are people who have overcome Covid-19.” To effectively treat people with Covid19, officials said they are continuing to make substantial investments in the hospital ranging from buying 69 beds to increase capacity to 326 beds, transforming the fifth floor outpatient specialty services practice to an inpatient unit; creating several negative pressure rooms which help prevent the spread of contagious diseases through a special ventila-
Donations for St. John’s Hospital ■ New and unused Personal Protective Equipment
Local, national donations
■ Safety goggles, N95 masks, gloves and gowns. Please no handmade masks at this time. ■ Individually wrapped cold and warm meals, snacks, cookies, whole pieces of fruit and drinks are greatly appreciated. The hospital is also accepting items such as herbal teas, hand lotion, scented face wipes, warm socks, mini back massages, mints and cookies for the health care workers. To donate, contact Nancy Leghart at (718) 869-8062 or nleghart@ehs.org. The dedicated Covid-19 webpage is ehs.org/covidfund. tion system; converting existing beds to intensive care units; purchasing additional stretchers and hiring more staff. St. John’s has also bought personal protective equipment; ventilators and other essential patient care equipment; and implemented a new telehealth/virtual visits system late last month that allows patients to speak with doctors using a computer, phone or tablet. “Our investments are helping people heal during this pandemic, and I want to see more positive outcomes. We will spare
communities of the Rockaways are some of the hardest hit by the virus.
no expense,” Jerry Walsh, the hospital’s chief executive officer stated in the same release. “And, I have the utmost respect for our doctors, nurses, and entire staff who come to work each day to help those who need it most.” St. John’s is the only hospital on the densely populated Rockaway peninsula and serves a culturally and economically diverse population of more than 140,000, and the Five Towns According to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the
Face shields, 6,000, were donated to the hospital from the Ford Motor Company and a Bethesda, Maryland man, whose wife is an Episcopal pastor, donated masks and goggles, said Nancy Leghart, the director of St. John’s foundation that raises money for special projects through donations. “We are getting a lot of support from the community and all over the country,” she said, “from Personal protective equipment, food and donations for the hospital. It’s wonderful outpouring.” St. John’s is listed on the national Episcopal registry. From a woman making homemade masks that are being used for the hospital’s office staff to comfort bags for the frontline workers, Leghart said that the donations have “amazing,” including two CVS stores have donated candy and the Girl Scout gave 35 boxes of their famous cookies. The comfort bags include herbal tea, fruits, hand lotion, protein beverages and protein bars.
obituary
Far Rockaway native Sidney Soloway dies at 90 By MATTHEW FERREMI mferremi@liherald.com
According to his son Sheldon, Far Rockaway native Sidney Soloway was a loving husband and father who always put his family first. Soloway, 90, died on April 5 of coronavirus at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside. The for mer owner of PIP Printing & Marketing Services in Inwood had lived in Far Rockaway since 1958. Born Sept. 30, 1929 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Soloway grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School in 1946 which is where he met his future wife, Leatrice in 10th grade. “My mother told me that when she first saw my father in homeroom, she knew she was going to marry him,” Sheldon said. Soloway and Leatrice were married on Oct. 22, 1949 and remained together until Leatrice’s death in 2017. “My father had what most people who are married wish they have, a long marriage,” Sheldon said. “They were married for 67 years. I told him before he passed that most people are happy to live 67 years and you’re married 65 years, that’s a big deal.” The couple moved to Far Rockaway in 1958 and raised their four children in the Bayswater neighborhood.
Courtesy Sheldon Soloway
FAR RockAWAy nATIvE Sidney Soloway was the owner of Inwood-based PIP Printing from 1990 to 2005. After working as a cab driver in Manhattan for 23 years, Soloway worked “odd jobs” such as working for a delivery service. In 1990, Soloway bought a
PIP Printing franchise. Sheldon and his business partner, Mike Gliner currently own the Inwood business. “I give my father a lot of credit, most
people when they’re 60 are starting to coast into retirement,” Sheldon said. “My father decided to open a business with no customers and make a go of it.” The business is at 421 Doughty Blvd. Soloway sold it to Sheldon in 2005. Gliner credits Soloway with introducing him to the Inwood Civic Association, an organization he has served in several pots, including president. “When Sheldon and I bought the business from Sidney in 2005, he told us that we should get involved in the Inwood community,” Gliner said. “He lived a good life and was always a pleasure to deal with. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have gotten involved with the civic association.” Sheldon remembers his father as an avid fan of camping and the word game Scrabble. “I remember many trips that we would take as a family to the Catskills and the Poconos,” he said. “I think right now in heaven, my parents are playing a game of Scrabble.” Predeceased by his wife in 2017, Soloway is survived by his four children, Jay, Elaine, Peter and Sheldon, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. “My father always made himself available to his family,” Sheldon added. “He set a great example of how to be with people with how straight forward he was.” The family held a graveside service in Far Rockaway on April 10.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
By JEFFREy BESSEn
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crime watch Two men injured in Woodmere crash, driver allegedly driving while intoxicated Two men were injured and the driver was charged with driving while intoxicated after a blue 2016 Toyota crashed into a building at 945 Broadway in Woodmere at 1:24 a.m. on April 14, police said. Police responded to the intersection of Broadway and Neptune Avenue and found Deywin Gonzalez Sovalbarro, 20, the driver of the car seated on the curb. He had “glassy bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on
his breath, “ according to the police. Sovalbarro was arrested and taken to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation. The two men, both 21, were also taken to a local hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. Sovalbarro is charged with driving while intoxicated. He was given an appearance ticket for Nassau County First District Court. His court date is July 15. –Jeffrey Bessen
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
The Lawrence SchooL District has furloughed aides, assistants, cleaners, monitors and nurses to at least April 30.
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Lawrence schools furloughs employees
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Amid the coronavirus pandemic that has shutdown schools since mid-March, the Lawrence School District will furlough aides, assistants, cleaners, monitors and nurses as of April 15. All furloughed employees will “certainly” be brought back, said Jeremy www.liherald.com
April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Feder, the district’s assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations. Custodians were not furloughed. Schools in New York state are closed to at least April 30. –Jeffrey Bessen
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the coronavirus effect on minorities
5
Sources: Nassau County, U.S. Census, American Community Survey. Illustration by Christina Daly/Herald
Governors get together over reopening the economy es,” referring to the possibility that Covid19 cases might climb again if people were to go back to work without adequate The governors of Delaware, Connecti- guidelines and insufficient preparation. cut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said the and Rhode Island gathered Monday in a coronavirus spread along his state’s Interteleconference to announce a regional sate-95 corridor, otherwise known as its panel that will study how best to reopen “commuter corridor.” The virus, he t h e e c o n o my a n d t h e appeared to suggest, was schools. spread by commuters in and Governor Cuomo, leadout of New York City. ing the effort, announced Pennsylvania Gov. Tom the creation of the panel, Wo l f s a i d a r e g i o n a l which will comprise three approach to reopening the representatives from each economy is vital. “We all state — a health official, an know we can do anything economic official and the better when we work togethchief of staff of each goverer,” he said. “We need to do nor. The governors are callthis right.” ing it a regional advisory He said he believes the council, which will not have Gov. andrew six-state approach will decision-making power, but become a model for reopenrather will help formulate Cuomo ing regional economies plans for a re gional across the country. approach to reopening that are subject to Delaware Gov. John Carney said the the governors’ approval. key question is, “How do we reopen “New York believes we have reached a things in a way that’s safe?” plateau” of new coronavirus cases, “The state boundaries,” he noted, Cuomo said. “This is relatively good news “mean very little to this virus.” in a world of bad options.” The objective, Rhode Island Gov. Gina With cases leveling off, he said, it is Raimondo said, is to “develop new guidetime to begin planning for the day when lines for this new normal.” businesses are allowed to resume operaAll of the governors are Democrats. tions and students may return to classes. The announcement came after PresiNew Jersey Gov. Philip Murphy said dent Trump over the weekend signaled the regional approach would help avoid that he believes he will be the arbiter of “inadvertent and unintended consequenc- when the economy will reopen.
By SCott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com
n
ew York believes we have reached a plateau [of Covid-19] cases.
Herald file photo
Governor Cuomo Gathered five other Northeast governors to announce a regional advisory council to develop plans to reopen the economy regionally. In addition to New York, the council will include representatives of Delaware, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
Covid-19 has affected minority populations and densely populated areas more than others. The maps below show the correlation between coronavirus hot spots in Nassau County and population density.
April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Cuomo calls for SALT repeal amid pandemic By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com
In his Saturday address, Governor Cuomo called on Congress and President Trump to repeal the SALT provision of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to provide relief to residents of hightax states like New York and California amid the pandemic. The SALT provision eliminated all but $10,000 of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, known commonly as the SALT deduction, costing New Yorkers millions of dollars annually in federal taxes. “You want to help New York … you want to help the places that are affected [by Covid-19], then repeal the SALT provision,” Cuomo said. The provision “targeted” states like New York, the governor said. In a March 26 editorial, the Herald called for repeal of the SALT provision. For an excerpt from it, see box. Cuomo urged people not to play politics around Covid-19, particularly given that it is a presidential election year. President Trump, he said, has been responsive to New York’s needs amid the coronavirus crisis. “Keep politics out of the discussions,” Cuomo said. He noted that he does not plan to run for president, despite some pleas within the Democratic Party that he should jump in the race — Joe Biden is now the presumptive nominee after Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out last week. Some 783 people died of the coronavirus statewide overnight from last Friday into Saturday. The governor noted that was not an all-time high, which came three days earlier when 799 peo-
From the Herald’s editorial….
Gov. Andrew cuomo is asking Congress and President Trump to eliminate the SALT provision of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to provide financial relief to New Yorkers battered by the coronavirus. ple died. He also said the number of intensive care unit admissions and number of intubations were both down dramatically, which could indicate the state had hit a plateau of infections. Cuomo described the current phase of the pandemic in New York as the “end of the beginning.” He urged people to continue to “stay
the course” and practice social distancing. He noted that without it, a second wave of infection is possible. When New York’s economy should fully reopen is a subject of study and debate, the governor said. Reopening it, he said, “cannot be at the expense” of human life.
In high-tax regions like New York and California, the weight of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was already causing enormous fiscal strain for many homeowners, who lost all but $10,000 of the federal deduction for state and local taxes, known commonly as the SALT deduction. Loss of that single deduction in high-tax regions has cost people thousands of dollars. Many Long Island taxpayers reported that their federal tax bills rose $3,000, $5,000, $8,000 or more last year. Those bills are not expected to abate this year, unless Congress acts. It should immediately reinstate the SALT deduction. People here will certainly take $1,000 or $2,000 [in stimulus funds], but restoring the deduction would do far more for many homeowners who are suffering because of the coronavirus. For the full editorial, see liherald.com.
New York coping with a rising death toll By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com
Governor Cuomo said at his news briefing last Thursday that additional funeral directors would be brought in to aid with final arrangements for the hundreds of New Yorkers who are dying of the coronavirus. Overnight that day, he said, 799 people had succumbed to the disease, bringing the total who had died in New York to more than 7,000. That was the highest overnight death toll New York had seen to date, and at press time, it remained the highest. As of April 13, there were 846 Covid19-related deaths in Nassau County, and 23,553 people had been diagnosed with the illness. Cuomo spoke of the coronavirus as a “silent killer.” “9/11 was supposed to be the darkest day” for New York in a generation, he
Social distancing, he said, is about said. As of Wednesday, April 8, Covid-19 protecting the most vulnerable in socihad killed more than twice as many ety. The governor ordered all American people in New York than 9/11, when the flags to fly at half-staff in total number of deaths honor of the dead. statewide reached 6,268. By executive order, he As of Monday, nearly also declared that all New 9,400 were reported dead in Yorkers can vote by absenNew York. tee ballot for the June 23 “Our hospitals and primaries. health care workers continAnd all unemployed ue to be stretched to the New Yorkers will receive an limit,” Nassau County additional $600 payment, Executive Laura Curran and unemployment benesaid. fits were extended from 25 Cuomo, speaking in to 39 weeks. some of the strongest terms T here were positive he had used yet last week, Gov. Andrew s igns las t we e k. Both called Covid-19 a “vicious Cuomo and Curran said predator of a virus” that cuomo social distancing appeared preys on those whose to be working and was health has already been compromised because of underlying reducing the number new hospitalizations. medical conditions.
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/11 was supposed to be the darkest day for New York in a generation.
To maintain the plateau, they said, people must stay at home unless they are essential workers. Rapid testing for the coronavirus on a mass scale could allow people to return to work, Cuomo said he believes. He warned, however, that the virus may come in waves. He noted that the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 struck in three waves. And already, he said, there were scattered reports, including in The Los Angeles Times, that Wuhan, China, may be experiencing a second wave of infections. A secondary infection wave could come, he said, if the virus were to mutate into a new form, potentially infecting those with immunity to the first virus. There is an emotional toll the pandemic has had on many people, the governor said. Those in need of help can call the state’s Emotional Support Hotline at (844) 863-9314.
Officials: MSSN still performing surgeries sbrinton@liherald.com
Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside is still open for trauma and emergency cases, despite an influx of critically ill coronavirus patients in recent weeks. That was the message that Joe Calderone, MSSN’s senior vice president of corporate communications, and Dr. Rajiv Datta, the hospital’s chief of surgery, delivered to the public via a 15-minute Facebook Live session last Thursday. “We are still a trauma center,” Datta said. “We still take care of acute cases.” MSSN is the South Shore’s only trauma center, which treats the most urgent cases such as car crash and gunshot victims. An emergency patient, by contrast, might be suffering from an acute medical condition such as appendicitis. To remain a Level II trauma center, the hospital must maintain a trauma operating room and keep a trauma surgeon on duty at the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As of last Thursday, Calderone said, the hospital had 450 patients in total — 300, or 66 percent, were Covid-19 patients. All trauma and emergency patients are tested for coronavirus upon entering the hospital, Datta said, “so we can protect them, and we can also protect our staff.” The operating room is equipped with a
Facebook Live screenshot
Dr. rajiv Datta, chief of surgery at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside, and Joe Calderone, senior vice president for corporate communications, held a Facebook Live session in front of the hospital Thursday to let the public know trauma and emergency surgeries are still be performing at MSSN. HEPA filter to ensure the air remains pure, and all surgical tables and equipment are wiped down with bleach, he said. Surgical patients recover in the operating room, and then they are segregated in a non-Covid-19 section of the hospital. “The staff is very keenly aware of which patients are Covid positive and which are not,” Datta said. “That information is delivered to everybody.”
He emphasized, “The operating room is still functional, only doing trauma cases and emergency cases.” Follow-up care is provided in MSSN’s outpatient facility in Valley Stream and via telehealth video chat. “It’s a new way of practicing medicine,” Datta said. There is no longer visitation at the hospital. After patients are sufficiently recovered from surgery, family members or
friends must pick them up at the front entrance of the hospital on Merrick Road. They cannot enter the hospital. “This is an all-hands-on-deck situation at South Nassau,” Calderone noted. Several staff members from hospital’s surgical team, both surgeons and nurses, have been redeployed to medical wings of the hospital to help treat Covid-19 patients. Normally, the hospital might have 22 patients on ventilators. It had 80 as of last Thursday. “I’m amazed to see how our staff is helpful,” Datta said, noting that retired surgeons have called to volunteer their services. “So far we have been able to accommodate,” he said. “Everybody is stretched.” The hospital is still performing a small number of elective surgeries for cancer patients, said Datta, who is medical director of MSSN’s Feil Cancer Center in Valley Stream. Primarily, however, cancer patients are being treated with radiation and chemotherapy in cordoned-off wings — chemo at the front of the hospital, and radiation at the back. Both Calderone and Datta emphasized the importance of social distancing. “We are not out of the woods by any stretch of the imagination,” Calderone said. To watch the full video, see liherald.com.
Northwell Health clinical trials under way By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com
The Northwell Health medical system, with hospitals throughout the greater New York metropolitan area, has conducted clinical trials for a possible treatment for Covid-19 since March 18, and an effort that began with two patients now involves hundreds. That’s according to Dr. Christina Brennan, vice president of clinical research at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset. Brennan sat down with video producer Rob Hoell for a Facebook Live interview last Thursday in which she discussed the ongoing clinical trials that Northwell is engaged in. She noted Northwell was among the first health systems in the nation to undertake clinical trials for a treatment. Locally, trials are taking place at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. Early on, Feinstein Institutes researchers teamed up with Gilead Sciences and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to identify potential treatments for Covid-19 patients who are hospitalized with moderate to severe conditions. The goal, according to a Northwell release, is “to improve recovery and speed discharge from hospitals.” Brennan said last week that Northwell also undertook an additional study to gauge the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that has been touted often by President Trump. With Gilead, the Feinstein Institutes is examining the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir (RDV), an investigational antiviral drug, to reduce the intensity and duration of Covid-19 in hospitalized patients. RDV, Northwell officials said, has “demonstrated positive effects” on other viruses such as MERS and SARS. The trial with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which now involves 216 patients, is examining the safety and efficacy
Facebook Live screenshot
of sarilumab, a human antibody that may help prevent severe pneumonia in some Covid-19 patients. It is normally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Brennan said. “We’re really excited about the three opportunities and more to come of the trials,” she said. Northwell is not engaged in clinical trials to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, she noted. Brennan could not say how long development of a treatment drug or drugs would take, and if any of the drugs now in trials would ultimately be proven effective. Patients’ participation in all clinical trials is voluntary. Daily, Brennan said, clinical researchers are feeding data back to the pharmaceutical companies involved in the trials, and the companies are analyzing that information. When a sufficient data set is amassed, the companies will then approach the Food and Drug Administration for possible approvals. Northwell physicians on “the front lines” are selecting
Dr. chriStina Brennan, vice president of clinical research at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, sat down with video producer Rob Hoell for a Facebook Live session last Thursday to discuss ongoing clinical trials for a Covid19 treatment at Northwell.
patients for the trials with Feinstein researchers. “It can be tough as investigators,” Brennan said. “You so desperately want to help patients and find the right treatment for them.” She said, however, “We’re seeing more discharges daily from our clinical trials, so we’re hopeful.” Speaking of the clinical researchers, Hoell said, “You guys are, to my mind, the unsung heroes … Every day we get closer and closer to maybe finding out what’s going to work and what’s going to knock out this virus.” Brennan did say clinical research appears to substantiate anecdotal evidence from physicians in the field that Covid-19 is potentially more deadly for older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions, and that anyone, of any age, can be infected and suffer its effects, including older teenagers. To watch the entire interview, see liherald.com.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
By Scott Brinton
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April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Three MSSN employees die of coronavirus By mike smoLLins msmollins@liherald.com
Three employees at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital have died after contracting the coronavirus. Dr. Jesus Zambrano, 54, an attending pediatrician who worked in Freeport, died on March 29, while Mario Salonga, 59, a per diem physical therapist in home care, recently died, and Ferdinando Moretti, 73, an MSSN painting crew foreman, died on April 4. The hospital did not disclose the date Salonga died, and an inquiry was not returned. “They exemplify what makes every Mount Sinai South Nassau employee and medical staff member special, the willingness to be present during a time of unprecedented crisis with a special commitment to the patients we serve,” MSSN President and CEO Richard Murphy said in a statement. Zambrano was a Brooklyn resident and joined the MSSN medical staff in 2012. He worked with Dr. Luis HerreraAcevedo at a Freeport practice. He previously attended medical school in Santo
Christina Daly/Herald
three empLoyees of Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital died after contracting the coronavirus. Domingo, Dominican Republic, and trained as a pediatric resident at Lincoln Medical Center in the Bronx. He was board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, and many of his patients and
colleagues saw him as a beloved figure. Salonga had been a part of MSSN’s inhome patient care staff for five years and worked for the Visiting Nurse Service. He was described as a kind, gentle soul and
an upstanding father, husband and friend. He provided compassionate and professional care for patients and his daughter, Katrina, said he was dedicated to his profession, according to a news release from the hospital. She added she was raised by the motto “always put others first,” and her father exemplified it. In addition to Katrina, Salonga is survived by his wife, Cecilia, and their son, Joseph, in Valley Stream. Moretti retired from MSSN in 2014 after 31 years of service. He returned to work per diem in 2015 to support the hospital’s various expansion projects. His colleagues recalled that Moretti was lighthearted and quick with a joke, and that he was well versed in topics ranging from construction to cooking. He is survived by his daughter, Andrea, son, Mario, and four grandchildren. His wife, Olga, predeceased him. “I cannot sufficiently express my appreciation and respect for the contribution each of them has made to the life of Mount Sinai South Nassau,” Murphy said. “We extend our prayers and deepest sympathy to their families.”
Judge to decide if L.B. boardwalk can reopen By James Bernstein jbernstein@liherald.com
A Nassau County Supreme Court judge was to hear to hear a case filed Friday by an attorney who wants the City of Long Beach to reopen its 2.2-mile boardwalk, which was closed March 26 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. At press time Monday, no decision had been reached. Scott Cohen, who filed the case on behalf of Francis McQuade, an unsuccessful candidate for Nassau County District Attorney last year, said Long Beach acted improperly in closing the boardwalk because it did not have the permission of the New York State Department of Health to do so. “I have a problem with the boardwalk being closed,” Cohen said Monday. “It wasn’t done in the right way.” McQuade called the city’s decision “arbitrary.” Long Beach officials said the city does not comment on pending litigation. But city officials had noted that the Nassau County Department of Health had not overturned Long Beach’s decision to close the boardwalk. The suit was filed against the five elected city council members, interim City Manager Donna Gayden and her assistant John McNally. Cohen said the closing left Long Beach residents with only two ways to enter the beach, at Pacific Boulevard and New York Avenue. He said this created a hardship for people who want to walk on the beach, as well as for residents of those two streets. An excess of cars could be parked on those streets, Cohen said. “I’d like the decision to be overturned,” Cohen said. He said the boardwalk was closed at a time when fewer people were aware of the dangers of the coronavirus. “People are now more aware” of social distancing and other measures, he said. The boardwalk was closed, city officials had said, because large crowds had been gathering there and few were observing social distancing. The boardwalk is an iconic part of Long Beach, attracting thousands during summer holiday weekends. It is also a favorite spot for joggers and cyclists. The boardwalk has bathroom facilities and a large food stand. As of April 7, Long Beach City Council President
John Bendo said the number of confirmed cases in the city stood at 285, a large jump from the previous ago, when there were about 200 cases. “We’ve been informed that some of this increase is attributed to increased testing and ramped up processions of tests,” Bendo said on the City’s website. “But officials are also projecting that this and next week will see Nassau County reaching its peak epidemic. While this may be welcome news of sorts, please know that now is the time to double down on our social distancing efforts, not to relax them.” Bendo also said that Long Beach police are following up on complaints by some residents that some restaurants and bars are not adhering to social distancing and have stepped up patrols to enforce the guidelines. The city has also temporarily suspended recycling. The boardwalk close had the support of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and State Sen. Todd Kaminsky. a Long Beach Democrat, as well as by some civic organizations. Sam Pinto, president of the Eastholm Civic Association, said, “Right now, under the current pandemic situation, having the boardwalk closed will help flatten the curve. Closing it is a benefit.” The case is to be heard via Skype.
Photos by Christina Daly/Herald
a Long Beach lawyer filed a lawsuit against the City of Long Beach to reopen the boardwalk, which was closed in March because officials say people failed to adhere to social distancing.
Petitioning for a coronavirus test site
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
continued from front page baum said. “The at-risk community, if not tested, can set back the timing for reducing the curve. Parts of the at-risk community have language, cultural and economic barriers. Our community needs to be healthy and heal together, or there will be continuing interruptions.” There are now five testing facilities downstate, primarily in minority communities, including the Club House in Aqueduct’s Racetrack’s parking lot, at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. in Queens and a drivethrough facility in the parking lot of a Sears store at 2307 Beverly Road in Brooklyn. The state is expected to open three walk-in, appointment-only facilities at health care centers in Jamaica and Brownsville, in the South Bronx, this week. Residents who would like to be tested at these facilities must make an appointment by calling (888) 364-3065. State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat who represents the Five Towns, and Assemblywoman Missy Miller, a Republican from Atlantic Beach, sent a joint letter to state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker on Monday, noting the area’s demographics: 60 percent Latino immigrants and roughly 20 percent AfricanAmericans. “You and your staff have reached out and offered them assistance during times of emergency before, and now they are asking for your help again,” the legislators wrote. “An onsite Covid-19 testing center is vital to this community.” Inwood resident Sasha Young, who has handed out food and other items at the
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Christina Daly/Herald
Five Towns CiviC leaders are asking Governor Cuomo to consider using the community center in Lawrence as a testing site. Community Center for the past three weeks and runs Gammy’s Closet and Gammy’s Pantry at the center, posted her opinion on the Lawrence District 15 Residents Facebook group page. “Many in our area are without transportation,” Young wrote. “We need free local access for the undocumented and the uninsured. There should be no barrier for testing. We also need a local clinic!!! Gammy’s Closet and
Gammy’s Pantry collects and distributes clothes and food, respectively to those in need.” Sobol noted that the community center has a 113-year-old tradition of service to the community, dating back to when it was a settlement house, the first stop for many people who were becoming acclimated to a new country. It was a trade school and then the Inwood Community
Center before becoming the Five Towns Community Center. “As we did after [Hurricane] Sandy, the Community Center will service all the Five Towns,” Sobol wrote in a note sent to civic leaders. “The Five Towns have been crushed by this pandemic. We are in the process of forming a coalition of religious leaders in the Five Towns to support our effort.”
Teamwork helps feed those in need amid pandemic Place, or SHOP, in Cedarhurst, is taking we don’t have the expertise to vet some- phone orders and arranging for pickups one,” she explained. “That’s why we’re and deliveries, since clients are not working with the Community Center and allowed in the SHOP. “The JCC has been operthe JCC.” ating a kosher food pantry Founded in 1931 as the since 2005, and we will be Community Chest of there for the community as Hewlett, Woodmere, Cedarlong as there is a need,” h u r s t , L aw r e n c e a n d Feldman said. “JCC has Inwood, the group was also been a partner of Commuknown as Five Towns Comnity Chest South Shore for munity Chest before many years. We value that rebranding itself as Comrelationship, and appreciate munity Chest South Shore all they do to help our neighin 2016 to expand into more South Shore communities. bors in need.” Its mission is to help Brent Hill, the executive other organizations and director of the Five Towns institutions. It serves as an Trudi haberman C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r, umbrella charity, raising Vice president, explained the services being money for the Five Towns Community Chest offered there. “We currently Early Learning Center in have food at the Community South Shore Inwood, the Tempo Group Center that has been donatInc. in Woodmere and Mered by Rock and Wrap It Up! rick, and the Center for Adult Life Enrich- and others,” Hill said. “Our main focus is ment in Hewlett. continuing to make sure that everyone has Gural JCC Associate Executive Direc- enough to eat.” Cedarhurst resident Syd tor Stacey Feldman said that the Rina Mandelbaum runs Rock and Wrap It Up! Shkolnik Kosher Food Pantry, at the Hill added that the food pantry at St. JCC’s Sustenance Hope Opportunities Joachim’s Catholic Church, in Cedarhurst, continued from front page
r
ight now we’re centering our help around those who are unable to put food on the table.
Courtesy Gural JCC
The Gural JCC’s SHOP, in Cedarhurst, is serving as a place to pick up food during the coronavirus pandemic. donated 350 pounds of frozen pork patties. Haberman said that feeding those in need would be Community Chest’s focus for the duration of the pandemic in Nassau County. “It’s heartbreaking for people to starve and have to worry about not hav-
ing food on the table for their family,” she said. “It just breaks my heart.” To contact the Gural JCC, email NIN@ GuralJCC.org. Contact Hill at BHill@ Fivetownsmail.org.
The doctor will see you now… On your computer, phone, or tablet!* What is a virtual visit? A virtual visit is similar to an office visit, but instead of traveling to see your doctors you can video conference with them from your home. Our providers can assess symptoms, make a diagnosis, recommend treatment, and send prescriptions electronically to your pharmacy.
How does it work? •Virtual visits take place using an application called Zoom that can be accessed using your computer, phone, or tablet. •Call us to schedule your appointment and provide your email address. •You will then receive an email containing instructions and a web link. •Through the provided web link, you will be able to have your appointment with your doctor at your scheduled appointment time.
495 Beach 20th Street, Far Rockaway
431 Beach 129th Street, Belle Harbor
To schedule a virtual visit call (347) 619-5950
To schedule a virtual visit call (718) 318-3434
Services
Services
•Adult medicine •General Pediatrics •Pediatric Neonatal •Pediatric Neurology •Pediatric Pulmonology
275 Rockaway Turnpike, Lawrence To schedule a virtual visit call (516) 400-9302
Services •Adult Medicine •General Surgery Consultation •Vascular Surgery Consultation
*Please note, you may have to download the Zoom app and/or software to access your appointment on your device.
•Adult medicine •Dermatology
327 Beach 19th Street, Far Rockaway (1st Floor, OB-GYN Private Practice) To schedule a virtual visit call (718) 869-7382
Services •Obstetric and Gynecology •Maternal Fetal Medicine •Gynecologic Oncology
327 Beach 19th Street, Far Rockaway (5th Floor Clinic) To schedule a virtual visit call (718) 869-7690
Services •Dermatology •Hematology/Oncology •Infectious Diseases •Orthopedics •Oncology •Neurology •Urology •Endocrinology •Cardiology •Nephrology •Gastroenterology
Community Mental Health Center, 521 Beach 20th Street, Far Rockaway To schedule a virtual visit call (718) 869-8822
Services •Behavioral Health Services
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April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
Hempstead Town Is Here For You! During this challenging time, we want residents to know that employees and the Town Board are working hard to keep your essential services running.
NEED HELP FROM A TOWN DEPARTMENT? Email the following departments at: Building Department:
tohbuildingquestions@tohmail.org
Town Clerk’s Office:
tohtownclerkquestions@tohmail.org
Tax Office:
tohtaxquestions@tohmail.org
Parks Department:
tohparksquestions@tohmail.org
or call (516) 812-3600
For a list of other department email addresses, please visit hempsteadtownny.gov/directory
STAY CONNECTED • For email updates: hempsteadtownny.gov/townnews-mailing-list • Swift 911 emergency notifications: hempsteadtownny.gov/ emergency-services/ swift911-emergency-notification • Facebook: @hempsteadtown • Twitter:
@hempsteadtown
• Instagram: @hempstead_town
Have Questions About COVID-19? Join Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and Dr. Dave Neubert for three Facebook Live sessions:
Friday, April 17 at 2 p.m. Monday, April 20 at 2 p.m. Friday, April 24 at 2 p.m. IMPORTANT COVID-19 RESOURCES:
JOIN US!
New York State (NYS) Coronavirus Hotline .........................................................................(888) 364-3065 New York State (NYS) Coronavirus Website .................................................... coronavirus.health.ny.gov Nassau County Coronavirus Call Center .............................................................................(516) 227-9570 CDC Coronavirus Disease Hotline ........................................................................................(800) 232-4636 CDC Coronavirus Disease Website ...................................................................................coronavirus.gov NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline ..........................................................................(844) 863-9314
Supervisor
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Don Clavin
Kate Murray
Council Members Town Clerk Dorothy L. Goosby • Bruce A. Blakeman • Anthony P. D’Esposito Jeanine C. Driscoll Dennis Dunne, Sr. • Thomas E. Muscarella • Christopher Carini Receiver of Taxes
Remote learning helps Tigers roar louder than ever LWA Antics
school’s nickname, roaring attach assignments, exams louder than ever. and other useful information “I am truly impressed with to provide students the best all of my students and coleducation possible. Students leagues,” said Laura Maffei, log into school at 10 a.m. raththe English Department’s curer than being physically at the riculum coordinator. “With school in Woodmere at 8 a.m. only one day of practice and Each period is condensed to 20 no lost class time, we all minutes from the original 40. launched into a new way of There is a 10-minute intermisteaching and learning togethsion between classes for stuer with the same rigor as dents to have enough time to b e fo re. Fa c u l t y q u i ck ly switch classes, prepare the an eraGhty learned new software promaterials for the next class, grams and transformed their and relax. There is half hour materials and teaching stratelunch break beginning at noon. The entire school day stretches gies to be used in an online format. Students rose to the occasion with engaged from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The online remote teaching initiative participation and diligent work. I am so has now been in place for almost three proud of LWA.” Junior Blake Pomerantz said, “I canweeks. LWA students have handled the transition in a typical LWA manner by not lie, it took some time to get used to the embracing the necessary change and parameters of online learning. However, exceeding the expectations of their teach- once I figured it out, it became a valued ers. Remote learning has us Tigers, the resource in my education overall. Every-
On March 12, Lawrence Woodmere Academy students were informed that school would be closed to students on March 13 as a day of practice for online remote teaching. Teachers would be at the school that Friday, teaching them remotely and then meeting to debrief and share tips. Students’ apprehension about what this really meant filled the air of LWA’s classrooms. Although they were happy to have a break from their challenging course work, they were scared for what the future might entail. Students would have a modified schedule compared to the full day of full-length class periods they normally had, but classes would continue to be academically rigorous. LWA is using Google’s applications to ensure face-to-face, real-time connectivity between the students and teachers. Google Meet is being used as a portal for students and teachers to hold classes live on camera. LWA is also using Google Classroom to
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thing is clear and straightforward. It also serves as a distraction from all of the craziness going on in the world. Plus, it’s not so bad waking up at 9:30 in the morning.” Lawrence Woodmere Academy teachers has been instrumental in keeping the momentum going at rapid speed as they continue to refine and enhance LWA’s remote learning. The exceptional education LWA offers is now available on our screens due to the teachers’ assiduous attitude. They have also transformed the remote teaching into a system of support for students and their families during these unprecedented times. While the workload given by teachers keeps students occupied, teachers also know it is important to check in on the students to ensure that everything is OK. The teachers know that their health and sanity is more important than anything else they can offer. On behalf of the LWA family: Stay home, Stay safe, Stay sane. We will be back.
THE ANIMALS ARE DEPENDING ON US TO BE HERE FOR THEM... CRISIS OR NOT North Shore Animal League America is facing critical challenges during the coronavirus pandemic – but that will never change our NO-KILL PROMISE to care for homeless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.
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PLEASE DONATE A GIFT TODAY Give what you can to help us through this emergency. We must continue our mission to rescue; provide shelter, medical care, and nourishment; and adopt out homeless pets during the COVID-19 crisis. YOU CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF INNOCENT ANIMALS NOW. VISIT animalleague.org or CALL 516-883-7575
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April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Socially Distant, Emotionally Connected
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
Socially Distant, Emotionally Connected
Please visit Lawrence.org and download the Lawrence App. Updates are posted regularly.
Please visit Lawrence.org and download the Lawrence App. Breakfast & Lunch are available for pick-up Mondayare – Friday from 9AM-11AM Updates posted regularly. at the Primary School & Early Childhood Center. Meals for the weekend can be picked up on Fridays.
The Lawrence Board of Education thanks the teachers, social workers, administrators, Maypsychologists, each and counselors, every member of our community, secretaries, and the facilities, technology, and food service along with their friends and families, departments for helping us transition to distance learning.
be healthy, safe, and strong through this crisis.
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Breakfast & Lunch are available for pick-up May each and every member our community, Monday – Friday fromof9AM-11AM along with their friends families, Center. at the Primary School & Earlyand Childhood be healthy, safe, and strong through this crisis. Meals for the weekend can be picked up on Fridays.
$500,000 IN GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW TO LOCAL BUSINESSES
SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING GRANT
Apply for your share of the $500,000 marketing grant available to assist locally owned businesses.
STUART RICHNER Publisher Herald Community Newspapers
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We are a small business ourselves, so we understand the pain that small business owners are going through right now. We at the Herald want to do our part to make sure that members of our small business community can continue to promote themselves during this trying period.”
Herald Team
WHO For all locally owned and operated small businesses on Long Island that have been negatively impacted by coronavirus.
WHAT A $500,000 grant program to support local small businesses. Each local business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for Herald Community Newspapers print, digital and direct mail products in April through July 15, 2020.
WHERE Apply at www.liherald.com/grant.
WHEN Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020 or until maximum grant funding has been distributed. Businesses will be contacted within two business days of submitting their application.
WHY Studies show that businesses that continue to market themselves during down times are the ones that fare the best long-term. This grant program will allow Long Island small businesses to continue promoting themselves and any new services they are offering during these unprecedented times.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: • Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on marketing in Herald products will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied towards marketing costs. • Businesses must be locally owned and operated. • Grants range from $300 to $15,000. • Grants can be applied to any Herald Community Newspaper marketing product or service during April through July 15, 2020. • Grants applied to direct mail products are net of postage/mailing costs.
RHONDA GLICKMAN VP Sales
LORI BERGER Sales Manager
rglickman@liherald.com
lberger@liherald.com
ELLEN REYNOLDS Sales Manager
AMY AMATO Executive Director
ereynolds@liherald.com
aamato@liherald.com
COURTNEY MYERS Media Consultant cmyers@liherald.com
For more information call Rhonda at 516.569.4000 ext. 250
APPLY TODAY AT
WWW.LIHERALD.COM/GRANT
A Special Collaboration With The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores
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April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Public Notices Helping through the
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News briefs
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR 2020 DRAINAGE I M P R OV E M E N T PROGRAM NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed Bids for 2020 Drainage Improvement Program will be received by the Village Clerk’s office, located at The Village Hall of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 until 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Local Time, on May 15, 2020, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud. The Contract Documents, consisting of Notice to Bidders, Instructions to Bidders, Bid, Bid Bond, Agreement, General C o n d i t i o n s , Supplementary Conditions, Payment Bond, Performance Bond, Drawings, Division 1, Specifications and Addenda may be examined at the following location: D&B Engineers and Architects, P.C. 330 Crossways Park Drive Woodbury, NY 11797-2015 All bidders must obtain a set of the Contract Documents. Copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at the office of D&B Engineers and Architects, P.C. for the sum of $50.00 for each set of documents, paid by check made payable to the Inc. Village of Hewlett Harbor. Each Bid must be accompanied by a certified or bank cashier’s check made payable to the Village of Hewlett Harbor, (Village) or a Bid Bond issued by a surety licensed to conduct business in the state where the Project is located and having a Best Rating of A- or better from A.M. Best Company and named in the current list of “Companies Holding Certificates of Authority as Sureties on Federal Bonds and as Acceptable Reinsuring Companies” as published in Circular 570 (amended) by the Financial Management Service, Surety Bond Branch, U.S. Department of the Treasury, in an amount not less than five percent of the amount of the Bid submitted. The list may be ordered from the Government Printing Office Bookstore, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 110, New York, NY 10278, (212) 264-3825. www.liherald.com
April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
LNAS1 0416
Each Bidder must complete and submit with his/her bid the “Iranian Investment Activities Certification” provided in the Bid Form in compliance with General Municipal Law 103-g, Iranian Energy Sector Divestment. Each Bidder must complete and submit with his/her Bid the “Certification of Compliance with New York State Labor Law Section Two Hundred One-G” provided in the Bid Form regarding the implementation of a written policy addressing sexual harassment prevention in the workplace. The Bidder to whom the Village proposes to award the Contract will be required to furnish performance and payment bonds and the necessary insurance certificates as prescribed in the General Conditions and the Supplementary Conditions upon the execution of the Agreement. Bidders are required to execute a non-collusive bidding certification required by Section 103-d of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York. The attention of Bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to the conditions of employment to be observed and the minimum wage rates to be paid under the contracts. Bidders are also required to comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of Sections 290-301 of the Executive Law of the State of New York. This project is being financed with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (“CDBG-DR”) funds administered by the NYS Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (“GOSR”). Attention of bidders is particularly called to Section 3 (Housing and Development Act of 1968) requirements, M/WBE goals, Federal labor standards, Federal and State prevailing wage rates, online reporting requirements using Elation Systems, Inc. and other requirements included in the GOSR Supplementary Conditions for Contracts. See Instructions to Bidders for additional Information.
The Vendor is required to submit a Minority/Women Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) plan with their proposal or risk their proposal being rejected as non-compliant. The Vendor will have an opportunity to modify this plan prior to executing a contract offered as a result of their proposal. Any contract or contracts awarded under this invitation for bids are expected to be funded in part by an Appropriations Act grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Neither the United States nor any of its departments, agencies or employees is or will be a party to this invitation for bids or any resulting contract. This procurement will be subject to regulations contained in 40 CFR PART 200.” The Village reserves the right to reject any or all of the Bids received, to readvertise for Bids, to abandon the project, to waive any or all informalities in any Bid received and to accept any proposal which the Village decides to be for the best interest of the Village. After Bids are received but before it is awarded, there will be a pre-bid meeting between the Village, the potential contract awardees and the Governor’s Office of Stormwater Recovery (GOSR), at a date and time to be determined. After the issuance of the Notice of Award and the Contact signing, a preconstruction meeting will be held at Village Hall of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 on a date and time to be determined. THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR By: Michael Ryder, Village Clerk Date: April 6, 2020 121575
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR RE-NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE VILLAGE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 NOTICE OF MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., via teleconferencing only, for the purpose of adopting the Village’s Tentative
Budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2020 and ending May 31, 2021. There will be no personal appearances by members of the Board or the general public. Under normal circumstances meetings are held at Village Hall, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, New York 11557 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that in accordance with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order No. 202.1, the meeting will only be held remotely via audio teleconferencing. The call-in phone number is 1 (712) 432-6110. The conference number is 360002. All persons will be given an opportunity to be heard during the teleconference. Comments may be submitted prior to the meeting via regular mail or by e-Mail to villageclerk@hewlettharb or.org. A copy of the budget is accessible on the Village website at hewlettharbor.org. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the regular April, 2020 monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees is canceled. Dated: Hewlett Harbor, New York April 13, 2020 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR MAUREEN MCCARTHY DEPUTY VILLAGE CLERK 121590
coronavirus outbreak By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Kiwanis Club of the Five Towns weekly meetings have been canceled for the foreseeable future because of the coronavirus pandemic, however the civic-minded charitable organization continue to serve its community. Immediate Past President Tom Cohen said that the 76-year-old group has, under the leadership of current President Anthony Campanile, contacted several local organizations asking if they needed help. “Yesterday [March 31] we were in touch with Rabbi [Steven] Graber from Temple Hillel in North Woodmere,” Cohen told the Herald in an email. “Generally, the rabbi supervises our annual model Passover Seder, unfortunately this years was canceled due to coronavirus. The Five Towns club is renewing their commitment regardless and is donating $400 to the temple.” Cohen added that the Town of Hempstead’s Oceanside Senior Center, although
closed, is still offering food and meals to local seniors. The club arranged with a local delicatessen to provide box lunches for 40 seniors who still come to center for food assistance, while maintaining their social distancing. Five Towns Club member and Woodmere resident Ann DeMichael is still actively seeking food donations for the seniors. After contacting Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital board member Steve Gold, the Five Towns Club decided a monetary contribution would be the best course of action and will be donating shortly. The club also contacted the Nassau County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct in Hewlett and is coordinating with the police for the best methods to assist our first responders. Annually the Kiwanis endows scholarships to Hewlwtt, Lawrence and Lynbrook high schools. The club will maintain its commitment to all three schools. Should you want to help DeMichael with food donations for the seniors, call her at (516) 361-8020.
PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST LEGAL NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 5 Section 5-508 Subdivision 3 of the Village Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing will be held to review the Tentative Budget of the Village of Cedarhurst on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 8:00 P.M. at Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York 11516. The purpose of such meeting will be to discuss and review the tentative budget. All interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at this time. Dated : Cedarhurst , New York April 13, 2020 By Order of Mayor Benjamin Weinstock And the Board of Trustees Salvatore Evola Village Clerk-Treasurer 121591
Legal Notices are everyone’s business
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Courtesy Five Towns Kiwanis
HEaltH caRE woRkERS at Franklin General Hospital with the facemasks donated by the Kiwanis Club of the Five Towns.
Kiwanis, Hewlett Harbor village donate supplies The Kiwanis Club of the Five Towns and the Village of Hewlett Harbor independently donated supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic. Kiwanis members dropped off meals for the Nassau County Police Department’s ambulance bureau and facemasks to Franklin General Hospi-
tal. Hewlett Harbor through Trustee Tom Cohen, the village’s police liaison donated gloves and masks to NCPD. Cohen is also a Kiwanis member. –Jeffrey Bessen
By TIMOTHY DENTON denton@liherald.com
Courtesy PSEG Long Island
Osprey cams offer respite from Covid-19 PSEG Long Island has installed two webcams to offer a peek into the daily lives of local ospreys. Employees work throughout the year to balance PSEG Long Island’s commitment to deliver power for its customers with its commitment to being a good environmental steward, utility officials said. Providing a safe nesting area for the osprey away from vital electrical infrastructure helps PSEG Long Island maintain strong electric service reliability. Ospreys often use utility poles and transmission structures for nesting, which jeopardizes system reliability, causes outages and equipment. “The osprey have made a triumphant comeback here since the 1970s, and PSEG Long Island works to make sure that they can continue to flourish,” said Dan Eichhorn, president and CEO of PSEG Long Island. “Especially now, with so many of us remaining inside our homes for the sake of public health, these webcams offer a much-needed front-row seat to the comings and goings of these majestic
birds.” PSEG Long Island has installed 24-hour webcams at two of the nests that were relocated by line workers during the time of year when the birds are not raising young. The first shows a live feed of a nest in Oyster Bay; a second webcam has gone live from a nest in Patchogue. At the Oyster Bay location, the osprey pair returned late last month. Since the resurgence of the osprey population, PSEG Long Island and its team, with the guidance and support from environmental partners, have identified best practices for when to move a nest, and when to create alternative safer nest locations for the ospreys, utility officials said. PSEG Long Island workers have relocated two-dozen osprey nests to ensure the birds are out of harm’s way from high voltage systems. View the cameras online at https:// www.psegliny.com/wildlife/ospreycam.
ToH earmarks $40M for road improvements By J.D. FrEDA and TIMOTHY DENTON jfreda@liherald.com; tdenton@liherald.com
Town of Hempstead Supervisor Donald Clavin announced a $40 million stimulus package last week “in an effort to get people back to work once it is safe to do so.” Clavin said the money would be used for roadway improvements. With more than 1,200 miles of roadways in the town, the investment could “help workers recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, while enhancing quality-of-life and driver and pedestrian safety.” The town’s 2020 approved budget allocated roughly $150 million to fund the highway department and its various duties. Which new projects will be undertaken with the allocation remains to be determined. Some of the repair work has already
begun, according to Town Councilman Christopher Carini, whose district encompasses Wantagh and Seaford. Repaving the stretch of Beltagh Avenue between Forest Lake School and Old Mill Road began on March 23. “The road surface will be replaced, and, in addition, new concrete curbs, driveway aprons and handicap ramps will be provided,” Carini said. “Being near an elementary school, it’s an important improvement that will increase safety for residents. I look forward to its planned completion in the middle of May.” Clavin said the stimulus package represented a movement toward a return to normal life, following the Covid-19 virus. “This major capital investment symbolizes a significant step toward economic recovery … as we face the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic together,” he said.
As the wizards of finance begin to g rapple with the fallout from the Covid-19 crisis, it is clear that sales tax revenue — a major component in Nassau County’s 2020 budget — will drop off by at least 4 percent, according to a New York Association of Counties study. The study, cited in Moody’s Investors Service’s commentary on the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, estimated the loss “could punch a sizable hole of at least $50 million” in Nassau County’s 2020 budget, according to Moody’s Senior Credit Analyst Robert Weber. Because the county had already estimated a year-over-year increase of $33 million in sales tax revenue, the loss will likely be more than $80 million, or 2.5 percent of the budgeted general fund revenue for the year, Weber wrote. Citing the same NYAC study, however, Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman said the sales tax losses could be as high as $180 million, or 12.7 percent of the budget. “No one knows how long this will last or how deep the hole will be,” Schnirman said. The one bright spot was the strength of NIFA’s credit quality, Weber wrote. The authority is rated Aa1; Nassau County has a rating of A2
Courtesy Nassau Interim Finance Authority
ADAM BArskY, cHAIrMAN of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority since 2018. — still solidly investment grade. But NIFA’s higher rating will enable the county to borrow money at lower interest rates — critical in the coming recovery, Weber wrote. Finally, the 2021 budget for New York State includes provisions for restoring NIFA’s bonding authority. It also extends the Authority’s oversight of county finances to 2051 from 2025, enabling the county to continue to benefit from NIFA’s stronger credit.
Comptroller to launch study of post-Covid recovery to crisis-related expenses, the modeling is complex and challenging, he added. Schnirman said the Covid-19 crisis Nassau County Comptroller Jack more closely mirrors the economic Schirman announced late last week that downturn of 2008-09 than the aftermath his office will begin conducting an in- of Hurricane Sandy. “We need to know a depth analysis of the impact the Covid- range of potential impacts on county 19 virus has had on the counrevenues so we can ensure ty’s finances. The analysis essential government servicwill provide “a series of proes will continue unimpedjections on critical revenues, ed,” he said. so that Nassau can best preThe financial impact pare for recovery,” Schniranalysis will provide projecman said in a news release. tions of models relating to “Covid-19 is an unprecesales tax and various fees, to dented threat to the health project the county’s finanand safety of our communic i a l t re n d l i n e s i n t h e ty, as well as our fiscal months ahead, Schnirman health,” Schnir man said. said. Jack schnirman The difficulty in making any On the expense side, projections is that “we do direct purchases have not not know how long his will yet had a critical fiscal last or how deep the hole will be,” he impact relative to previous crises, said. because only a few million out of a Economically dependent sales tax “is multi-billion dollar budget have been key to plan for the immediate future” spent thus far, Schnirman explained. “It and what comes after that, Schnirman is the revenue side that will take longer said. Because revenue losses take longer to materialize and is of greater concern to materialize than potential increases at present,” he said.
By TIMOTHY DENTON tdenton@liherald.com
17
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
Sales tax losses ‘punch hole’ in county budget
PsEG LONG IsLAND has installed two osprey cameras — one in Oyster Bay and the other in Patchogue — so people can watch the daily lives of these birds.
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COMBINED INSURANCE EXPANDING Long Island operation! Full time W2 sales agent opportunity full company benefits and leads provided. Call Bob (516) 567-7733 for immediate interview.
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No Experience Needed, we will train!!!!! F U L L T I M E M O N D AY - F R I D AY 11:30- 8:00 5-20 HOURS OF OVERTIME!! MEDICAL, DENTAL, 401K. 2 WEEKS VACATION, HOLIDAY PAY. $15.00 PER HOUR PLUS OVERTIME. APPLY IN PERSON AT: CALLAHEAD C O R P. 3 0 4 C R O S S B AY B LV D , QUEENS NY 11693 APPLY MONDAY- FRIDAY 12:00- 7PM JOB OPPORTUNITY $18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI Up to $13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553
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Richner Communications, one of the fastest growing media, event and communications companies on Long Island is seeking a Sales/Marketing candidate to sell our digital, events, sponsorships and print media products. Salary, Commission, Eligible for Health benefits, 401k and paid time off. Will consider part time. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to rglickman@liherald.com
Child/Eldercare Offered A LOVING PERSON Will Care For Your Loved Ones. 20+ Years Experience, CPR Certified, Good References, Own Transportation. 347-205-3554
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his 11 Room, 2 story home is completely renovated, inside and out. Grand open living room with gas fireplace has custom cabinetry, shelves and archway to family room. This home boasts a beautiful formal dining room, eat-in-kitchen with Italian Carrera marble countertops, Thermador professional series appliances with oversized cast iron Kohler farm sink, Monogram Advantium micro/convection oven, double electric ovens, pantry, custom cabinetry including dishwasher and refrigerator, gas heat and 175’ deep lot. The bath-
Kevin Leatherman Real Estate Broker Direct Line: (516) 362-1828 | Client Text: (516) 271-2236 Leatherman Homes 25 S Village Ave. Rockvile Centre, NY
Child/Eldercare/Help Wanted CAREGIVER WANTED: Experienced, Oceanside. 9am-8pm, Must be Certified and have References. Must Drive, Clean License. Becky 929-248-2272
rooms are high-end white and red onyx, Travertine flooring, paver walkway and driveway with power gates leads to 4 car garage used as 3 with 10’ wide doors. It also has brown wave stone, custom coco Andersen windows, barrel gutters and is professionally landscaped..A legal 2 family home with highest and best use as a single-family is located in the South Incorporated Village. a prime location for being in the heart of the village, just 3 short blocks to LIRR and in the Riverside Elementary School District Near All! $1,350,000. Taxes $18,529.50 © 2018 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. All rights reserved. CENTURY 21® and the CENTURY 21 Logo are registered service marks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC. Century 21 Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. It is your responsibility to ensure that the marketing materials you choose or create are compliant with real estate and other local laws in your area.
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Phone: 516-551-0796 Email: BobLewisNY@gmail.com Instagram: @BobLewisNY 2911 Long Beach Road Oceanside, NY 11572
FORECLOSURE DEFENSE
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DM Bernard, Esq. Attorney FREE 20 Minute Consultation
JUAN JARA Licensed RE Broker Associate Cell: 516-318-0142 Juan@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com CAMILLE GIARDINA Licensed RE Broker/Owner Cell: 516-318-1392 Camille@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com
Interested in selling your home, buying, or investing? An experienced Realtor, former Baldwin High School Business Educator, & local resident for 35+ years, I’m an expert in helping people buy, sell, & invest in residential and commercial real estate on Long Island and in New York City. Contact me today for a free, confidential consultation and a free market appraisal.
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*If your property is currently listed with another brokerage, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the listings of other brokerages.
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April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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© 2020 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
1076858
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1084810
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A. Unfortunately, no onte eeper one knows the answer to your question. We’ve heard many ideas from the medical community, but nothing is certain other than keeping a distance to avoid transmission. I just learned that I now have to stay at least 6 feet away from Bengal tigers as well. The theory and observation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health is that the coronavirus lives and multiplies in cooler and drier environments, and not as well in warmer, more humid environments. The rate of death has us all concerned for our safety and health. I’m beginning to hear of the deaths of people I either knew or who are related to friends, so it’s becoming more and more alarming as it becomes more personalized. I’m not sure what’s best in your particular circumstance, because absorbent finishes such as carpet, drapes and clothing require more effort to clean than hard flooring and furniture, for example. It is speculation, however, to think that these materials hold the virus longer than 24 hours, assuming that it is capable of latching onto surfaces, but people keep sending me bulletins about how it can live on hard surfaces, like metal and plastic, for that long. We can learn from the past, and 100 years ago, when the Spanish influenza struck, the equivalent of the surgeon general told the public, in the middle of winter, to keep their windows open. He believed that getting a breath of fresh air could keep the illness at bay. I can only tell you that it would have gotten pretty cold pretty quickly indoors. That’s the reason why, even for decades afterward, steam-fed radiators were so large and overdesigned — and why people regularly kept the windows open. Just under 30 million people died worldwide, and everyone knew of someone who was laid out in the parlor of their home, since funeral parlors were overburdened. In 1920, when the pandemic had ended, Ladies Home Journal made the uplifting suggestion that the parlor, a place of bad memories and sadness in the home, be renamed the living room. Room-unit air conditioners aren’t specifically made to filter viruses, so get some fresh air and keep a safe social distance.
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1085480
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1082954
I’m concerned about the coronavirus getting into my home. We live near a shopping strip where a lot of people come and go. We only use our single- room air conditioners when it’s absolutely necessary. I’m noticing that in warm-weather states, they’re still contracting the virus, so I doubt it will go away just because it’s getting warmer outside. Will my room air conditioners be enough to filter the air, and should I rely on them instead of opening my windows? We like the fresh air and need to save money by not running the units if we don’t have to.
Market Place •
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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
Keeping the coronavirus outside
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April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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t’s good news that Congress was able to reach agreement on a financial rescue of our economy at a moment of grave national emergency. More than $2 trillion will pump oxygen into an economy that’s gasping for life. Along with the extraordinary measures the Federal Reserve has adopted to help keep businesses and financial institutions alive, the rescue legislation represents for our economy what respirators and ventilators are to those suffering from Covid-19 itself: a life-saving intervention to give them a chance to aLfonse survive. d’amato It’s particularly heartening that the legislation wasn’t held up for narrow political purposes. Partisanship has no place here. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has shown that kind of nonpartisan leadership. As he has pointed out, the coronavirus doesn’t play politics. It kills Democrats and Republicans alike. Congress didn’t play politics with the economic life of the nation, either. In a period of just three weeks, bills to help our health care system fight the virus and strengthen social safety net programs like unemployment insurance, Medicaid and
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food stamps were sent to President Trump and signed into law. Language added to the rescue legislation provided greater transparency and accountability in the disbursal of $500 billion it set aside for loans to help American businesses meet their cashflow shortfalls and keep workers on their payrolls. The legislation stipulates that none of the funds can be used by corporations for stock buybacks or executive pay raises. And like the GMChrysler rescue bill passed during the Great Recession in 2008, the bill provides that once companies recover, they must repay as much of the money as possible. If more billions or even trillions of dollars are needed in the next few weeks or months to deal with this crisis, Congress should pass additional appropriations bills and send them to the president, who has signaled that he would sign whatever necessary spending legislation the lawmakers pass. That legislation should provide more help to state and local governments and our hospitals to help them meet the extraordinary costs they face. The ongoing emergency also presents Washington with a challenge to address some of the underlying problems the spreading virus has highlighted. America can no longer afford to be reliant on China
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or other countries to produce drugs or medical equipment. That critical production must be brought home to America. Another thing this crisis has taught us is that the government and business can accomplish more when they cooperate in public-private partnerships. Witness how quickly our auto industry converted to the manufacture of desperately needed ventilators, and how the pharmaceutical industry is working with the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our academic research facilities to fast-track new treatments and an eventual vaccine. Cutting bureaucratic red tape has been central to getting these things done, and this flexibility should continue to guide government as we move forward. There are other areas where our government must take a new view. Our unemployment insurance system is proving woefully outdated when it comes to handling an unprecedented flood of jobless claims. Congress should look carefully at replacing unemployment insurance with employment insurance like that offered in Germany, where, in times of economic contraction, the government pays part of workers’ wages to keep them on company payrolls. We’ll also ultimately need to do some-
awmakers cut bureaucratic red tape to get people the help they need.
thing to assure that American workers’ health insurance isn’t interrupted by business downturns, and that they have adequate paid medical leave so they can stay home when they’re sick. The emergency bills move in this direction on both fronts, and that progress should continue. Our education system needs to learn a lesson from this crisis, too. Families have been getting a crash course in distance learning. In the future, our schools should fully embrace online education to allow students to more seamlessly do their schoolwork at home. That will require making sure that all students are equipped with the computers and internet connections they need. And for our higher education system, as I’ve said before, that also means discarding an outmoded teaching model that is bankrupting students with crushing debt and inadequate preparation to enter the workforce. When colleges and universities open this fall, they will face a drastically changed landscape, and they will need to change with it. The emergency measures Congress has taken are bold, life-saving ones that can help get our economy out of this emergency. America has stepped up to battle a crisis. Let’s keep it up. Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.
Living through Covid-19, in bits and pieces
’ve been thinking about wagon trains; I’ll tell you why later. If I remember. Yeah, a serious side effect of the pandemic is definitely attention deficit disorder. It is increasingly difficult to focus and concentrate. Composing a sentence, which requires a grabby subject followed by a lively predicate, is challenging. Putting together 750 words is work. So I gave up. This week I will share the fragments that have been ricocheting around my brain. * * * My family is now the husband and me, and we seem to have shed RandI all the amenities of kReIss civilized life and regressed to our prehistoric roles. Example: He, the hunter-gatherer, risked his life this week to raid the local market in search of baking yeast. My hero. As the tender of the hearth, I decided to bake bread. Apparently, baking bread is an activity that fires all the endorphin receptors at once. * * *
I had a nightmare that dogs could carry the virus. That scenario would have terrible implications for Lillybee and all beloved pets. Real life is tough enough; why does the imagination offer up even more horrific iterations of the catastrophe? * * * How quickly we revert to basic survival mode. My friends and I are bartering: two rubber bands for a spool of thread, matzo ball soup for homemade muffins, hand sanitizer for a printer cartridge. * * * After years of railing against the dangers of too much screen time, my eyeballs are basically falling out of my head from looking at screens all day, my phone, my computer and my iPad all vying for my attention. * * * My husband has a bra on his face. It’s mine, and it’s nothing weird; we’re just following orders. We saw a website that explained how to make two masks from one bra, so I made the ultimate sacrifice and we now have two “brasks.” * * * There’s something about a global pandemic that flushes people out of hiding. I’ve been contacted by two long-lost rela-
tives, one I haven’t seen for 19 years and the other I haven’t seen for 27. They didn’t care if I was dead or alive for decades; now, suddenly, they want to say hello. * * * I’ve learned something about myself during this siege. I’ve always been fond of social distancing. I don’t mind time alone, and I don’t need to fill it up with phone calls or constant Zooming gettogethers. I’m composing a book about cooking through Covid-19 called “The Last Supper?” Everyone in the family is required to submit recipes and photos. I’ll trade you a copy for 5 Ziploc bags. * * * Our Seder was a table for two. We didn’t want to miss the fun part, so we hid the matzo (a Passover tradition) from Lillybee. She never found it, although it was hiding in plain sight on the carpet. This proves for all time that matzo is more cardboard than food. Lillybee can sniff out a peanut across the room, but matzo, not so much. * * * I stop in my tracks three or four times a day because I can’t believe something I’m reading or seeing in the news. There was the mother whose daughter had just died in her arms after contracting Covid-
19 while working in a nursing home. She had no protective gown. There were no masks. Then there was the doctor, a Kuwaiti refugee, who traveled on his own dime and at his own risk to work alongside the doctors in New York. He looked into the camera and said, “Don’t worry. We’re here. We’ll take care of you.” * * * I miss my kids and my grandkids, and I have no plans to see them. All these open-ended questions of contagion and immunity and pressing mortality preclude any planning at all. Enter the wagon train, last night’s epiphany. Our kids are out West. We won’t fly or drive in the foreseeable future. We aren’t great drivers, so an RV is out of the question. The obvious solution is to buy a wagon and a horse and rumble across the country in a convoy with other like-minded travelers. It could be OK. We could social distance. The only problem I can foresee is hitting the Rockies just as winter sets in. Come November we could get stuck in Donner Pass, and we all know how that ends. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
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Congress steps up to battle the coronavirus crisis
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Herald editorial
Nassau
April 16, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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Students, educators need to know what’s next
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ew York City Mayor Bill de Blasio probably overstepped his authority when he decided late last Friday that he would keep the city’s 1,800 public schools closed through June, and he certainly bungled the decision politically. For starters, he didn’t tell Gov. Andrew Cuomo first — but he did tell Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, according to The New York Times. And when de Blasio did inform the governor, he did so by text. That led Cuomo to argue Saturday that only he has the authority to make such a decision, and he wanted to take a coordinated regional approach to school closings. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran immediately backed Cuomo, saying
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she, too, would like to see a regional approach. We agree. Lost in all the rhetoric, however, was an important point that de Blasio was making: He wanted to provide greater certainty to students, educators and parents about what they could expect over the next two and a half months. The governor has taken a wait-and-see approach to school closings, shutting them down two weeks at a time. We understand the need for such an approach. We shouldn’t be hasty in deciding to close the schools. Everyone wants children back in the classroom as soon as possible. That approach, however, leaves all parties involved in limbo, wondering what will come next. What educators and children need is certainty.
Right now, there is no coordinated approach to how schools should handle the state’s curricula, and so, statewide, we have a hodgepodge of approaches. Some districts are fully online, with regular teaching schedules. Others, citing privacy concerns, are not teaching remotely, but rather are emailing students their assignments. Many students — particularly those in low-income areas — don’t have computers and internet connections. The state must make a decision soon about the fate of this school year, and if the schools are to remain closed through June, there should be one plan for all that ensures children will continue learning during this trying time.
Don’t wait — fill in your census forms
pril 1, Census Day, came and went, but if you didn’t fill in your census forms, it isn’t too late to do so, and we urge you to complete them. With the coronavirus battering New York in every conceivable way — including financially — the state could use all the federal financial help it can get. The federal government uses census data to determine the number of representatives states have in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 435 House seats are apportioned based on the population of each state. The larger its population, the more seats a state receives — and the greater the voice it has in federal decisionmaking. The federal government also uses census data to distribute funding for pro-
grams like Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, a 2015 paper by the U.S. Census Bureau found that 132 federal programs used census data to distribute more than $675 billion in funds that year. Here’s the thing: If a state is underrepresented in the decadal census, then it receives fewer representatives and less federal funding than it deserves, and New York, by many accounts, is typically undercounted in the census. Now, not later, is the time to go online and fill in the census, or fill out the paper census you received in the mail and send it in. If you don’t, federal workers will swing by your home looking to count you and everyone who lives there. At a time like this, when a potentially deadly virus has spread among us, census workers shouldn’t have to do that when it
letters
Spring brings signs of hope To the Editor: New Yorkers are celebrating the arrival of spring differently this year and in their own way. Although we come from different faiths, the season brings a message of resilience, renewal and hope. Spring is a metaphor for positive change and rebirth. We can all agree that hope is more important now than it has been at perhaps any moment in the recent past. We are all facing unprecedented challenges and anxiety for ourselves and our loved ones. At this moment, our faith, our family and our friendships are more important than ever. This is the time for us to try to be the best partners, parents, siblings, friends and neighbors that we can be. As we take the time for spiritual reflection, consider what brings us together. The things we have in common, our shared love of family and community, are what will carry us forward. I wish every-
takes only 10 minutes or so to fill out the forms online. According to the Census Bureau, you should be counted where you are living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1. If you’re responding for your home, count everyone who lives and sleeps there most of the time. That includes young children, foster children, roommates, and any family members or friends who are living with you, even temporarily. If someone is staying with you because of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, they should be counted where they usually live. This includes college students, who should still be counted at school, even if they’re home early. If they live in student housing, the college will count them. If they live off campus, they should respond for their offcampus addresses.
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ewly released data highlight major racial disparities in deaths from Covid-19, and it’s not surprising. It’s a reflection of the structural racism that has created an unequal foundation for so many aspects of life in America, including widely documented, underlying health disparities for African-American and Latinx people. It should move us to examine structural racism more closely, illuminate its impacts, and redouble our efforts to eliminate it. According to data released by the City of New eLaiNe York, black and Gross Latinx people are dying of coronavirus at twice the rate of white people. In New York state, excluding New York City, blacks account for 18 percent of deaths, despite comprising just 9 percent of the population. Fourteen percent of the deaths are Latinx people, who make up 11 percent of the population. In Michigan, according to The Washing Post, African-Americans account for 33 percent of Covid-19 cases and roughly 40 percent of deaths, despite comprising only
14 percent of the population. In Chicago, according to The New York Times, African-Americans account for more than half of those who have tested positive and 72 percent of virus-related fatalities, even though they make up a little less than a third of the population. Beneath these numbers are underlying health disparities for African-Americans and Latinx people. It is those underlying health problems that land people in the hospital and that lead to more deaths from the virus. Higher rates of infection for African-Americans are likely exacerbated by such factors as whether they can work from home, whether they work in “essential” services, whether they have routine access to health care, and how quickly they can get that care, among others. A study by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer found that 75 percent of so-called front-line workers in the city — grocery clerks, bus and train operators, custodians and child-care workers — are minorities. Those circumstances are a function of structural racism, not a function of race, which is a social construct. In considering these racial disparities, we shouldn’t confuse the two. We shouldn’t give credence to the idea that there is something inherently
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different about African-American or Latinx people that makes them have higher death rates — other than the circumstances of structural racism. What we should focus on is this: How do we address the racism that has caused and continues to cause health and other disparities? That’s the question that rightly examines the impediments to racial equity that are leading to these racial differences in Covid-19 deaths. Structural racism is partly a function of conditions that are baked into our society: the effects of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining and other historic conditions. But it is also partly a function of ongoing activities. ERASE Racism’s own research, and a recent landmark investigation by Newsday, evidenced widespread, contemporary racial discrimination in real estate practices on Long Island, for instance. That discrimination continues to steer black and Latinx people to less-integrated communities with fewer resources, and thus to lessintegrated schools with fewer resources. Anecdotal evidence already identifies disparities in students’ access to distance learning. Some schools send students home with laptops, for instance, while others do not. Some schools provide students
hreequarters of the city’s nonemergency frontline workers are minorities.
Letters one a healthy gift of spring. THoMAS DINAPoLI New York state comptroller
Objects to town budget practices To the Editor: Covid-19 has unleashed a catastrophic financial crisis. our economy is shuttered, and it is uncertain when it will rebound. Leaders must make every effort to retain workers, but also to tighten spending. Shockingly, as municipalities across the country are doing just that, Supervisor Don Clavin and the Town of Hempstead Board gave $770,000 in promotions, raises and new jobs for party favorites on March 30. With unemployment in New York soaring 360 percent and more than 10 million Americans suddenly left jobless, with no income or health insurance, last week it was Christmastime in Hempstead. Clavin and Council members Anthony D’Esposito, Dennis Dunne, Tom Muscarella, Bruce Blakeman, Chris Carini and Dorothy Goosby gave away almost $1 million in taxpayer dollars to friends and family while they thought no one was looking. In an empty, debate-free meeting lasting 10 minutes, they doled out political favors while hardworking residents wondered how they would pay their bills. As 450,000 New Yorkers lined up for initial unemployment assistance, Clavin’s cronies, Hempstead GoP club leaders and their children lined up at Town Hall to collect unbudgeted raises and promotions.
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t’s with video-based instruction, while others to give them packets of material. New York cu state has left the details of remote learning gra to individual school districts, and that just amplifies the differences between the well- $2 trilli my tha resourced schools and those with fewer Alon resources. Again, structural racism is the determi- sures t help ke nant. The overwhelming percentage of black and Latinx students are in segregated and less-resourced schools, and are at a disadvantage now and, most important, in the fall, when they will most likely return to school behind their peers and the grade level standards. In 2018, ERASE Racism launched an ongoing regionwide public initiative called How Do We Build a Just Long Island? That’s exactly how we should approach this problem: How do we look at this data and together seek a just America — an America of shared action to disassemble structural racism. The coronavirus is creating a new future. Let’s create a future together that wasn’t does not accept the idea that these dispari- poses. P In N ties are unchangeable. Let’s take advantage of the light that Covid-19 is shedding shown on our society and come together to reflect ship. A that light onto a path to justice. It’s time to rus doe and Re work together as a nation and root out Con structural racism for good. econom period Elaine Gross is president of the Long our hea Island-based ERASE Racism. strengt unemp
Framework by Christina Daly
Compounding this outrageous and irresponsible betrayal was the March 30 vote to reduce the town’s fund balance by more than 50 percent. The fund is a rainy-day reserve to see the town through difficult times. Years of Nassau GoP patronage and irresponsible hiring practices, aggravated further by last week’s largesse, have led a financial structure in which payroll and related costs exceed 60 percent of the town’s budget. Couple this with the town’s debt burden, the new fund balance would not be sufficient to cover just two months of required payroll and debt service, not to mention utilities and other important expenses. At this meeting, there was no mention of how any of this might harm the unconnected rank and file. No one mentioned that the current town comptroller inflated revenue projections for 2020 — a concern that I raised during the budget process before Covid-19 hit. There was also no mention of shrinking mortgage recording tax fees, permit fees, recreation fees, a potential increase in health and pension costs, and potential decreases in utility payments from cash-strapped consumers. None mentioned how all of this might impact the town’s bond rating. This matters to residents, because when our bond ratings plummet, town costs rise, leaving fewer dollars for infrastructure and services. Not one board member mentioned Hempstead residents’ current pain before giving away their money. There was no voice of dissent speaking up for the rest of us. LAuRA GILLEN Rockville Centre Gillen was Town of Hempstead supervisor from 2018-19. Clavin, then the town tax collector, defeated her last November.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 16, 2020
No surprise: More blacks and Latinos are dying of Covid-19
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UNFORTUNATELY, ORTHOPEDIC PAIN DOESN’T STOP IN A CRISIS.
With our new on-call only model, neither does the opportunity to receive care. Balancing the need to be there for our patients with the health and safety of our staff and community, we’re temporarily becoming an “on-call” practice – offering both in-person and telehealth visits – for those experiencing orthopedic pain. If you think you have an orthopedic issue that can’t wait, call Orlin & Cohen and a member of our team will work with you to assess whether you need immediate attention. It’s a new, creative approach to our practice: Because in this crisis, protecting each other should be everyone’s top priority.
In light of this broad accessibility to our services and for everyone’s safety, we are suspending our Merrick after-hours and weekend walk-in clinic for the duration of the crisis.
On-call orthopedic care by appointment only! Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Call for your care needs assessment:
Nassau: 516-536-2800 Suffolk: 631-706-2800
Stay safe!
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