__________________ Nassau _________________
CoMMUNItY UPDAtE Infections as of May 24
7,655
Infections as of May 17 7,438
$1.00
HERALD All the news of the Five Towns
Reflecting on Memorial Day
Cedarhurst rally for assault victim
Medical services take to the road
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Vol. 98 No. 22
MAY 27 - JUNE 2, 2021
Honoring a humble benefactor By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
tHE MARk RAMER Chessed Center, in the Leon Mayer Fund’s Hewlett office, had its grand opening last Sunday. At left, with ceremonial scissors, were Adam Ramer, left, and Buzz Mayer. Dr. Naomi Ramer, Mark’s widow, was at far right.
The clothes, from shoes to shirts, are on shelves, as they would be in a store. The items are in boxes, and the apparel has the same tags shoppers would see. Created to help those in need, the newly opened Mark Ramer Chessed Center has set up assistance with the same dignity and understated style that its namesake assisted others. Ramer, who died in 2019, was known for his Continued on page 9
H-W students, parents frustrated by canceled activities By MAttHEW FERREMI mferremi@liherald.com
Hewlett-Woodmere School District students and parents have expressed their displeasure with the cancellation of events that traditionally honor the senior class because of the lingering coronavirus pandemic. One of those events is the annual Hewlett High School senior barbecue, typically held the day after the prom, and when it, too, was canceled, Hewlett High senior Olivia Confino was moved to create a petition on change.org titled “Let them celebrate! Help The Class of 2021 with End of Year Senior Celebrations!” As of press time, more than 300 people had signed on.
“The Hewlett High School class of 2021 has endured a challenging senior year, to say the least,” Confino said. “Our time-honored traditions such as the Homecoming parade, senior breakfast celebrations, a pep rally, even so much as a senior class photo on the bleachers have not been granted.” Confino said that the explanation they were given for the cancellation of the senior barb e c u e w a s u n s at i s f a c t o r y. “This has been canceled with no explanation other than the district’s attorney saying no, since it would be too much of a logistical nightmare,” she said. “All year long, even with restrictions lifting constantly and surrounding community schools having senior celebra-
t
he Hewlett High School class of 2021 has endured a challenging senior year, to say the least.
olIVIA CoNFINo
Senior, Hewlett High tions of time-honored traditions, the response from the Hewlett-Woodmere administration has been, the attorney has said no.” At the May 19 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Ralph Marino Jr. said that canceling the barbecue was a “building-level deci-
sion.” “The building does not feel comfortable that they can have a large event like the barbecue,” Marino said. “The building decides what activities they want to do in a safe way.” One event that is taking place is the senior prom, on June 14 at Gatsby on the Ocean at Jones Beach. In a May 21 letter to high school parents, Hewlett High Principal Dr. William Galati wrote that Covid-19 testing has been arranged for the event. “Due to overwhelm-
ing demand, the district will be offering walk-in Covid testing for students attending the June 14 Prom,” Galati wrote. “This opportunity is also available to prom guests who do not attend Hewlett High School.” Galati added that the tests would be administered by HealthCare Logics. PCR testing is scheduled for June 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rapid testing will be available on June 14, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Continued on page 8