Nassau
HERALD All the News of the Five Towns
Neighbors help fire victims
Honoring military veterans
sylvia Kaminetsky is remembered
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NOVEMBER 19 - 25, 2020
VOl. 97 NO. 47
Registering the Orthodox Jewish vote KlalVote aims to increase turnout KlalVote’s focus, Yechiel said, was on getting people out to vote in a nonpartisan way. “As an The presidential election saw organization, we don’t ask peonot only historic voter turnout ple to vote Democrat or Republiacross the country, but also more can — we’re just saying to vote,” participation in the Orthodox he said. “We have enough humilJewish communities ity to acknowledge in the Five Towns that we don’t have and Far Rockaway, the authority to propelled by the nonspeak for the entire partisan voting iniJewish community tiative KlalVote. on political issues. KlalVote was creBut once you vote, ated in October by you have a voice.” Far Rockaway resiFor Rapfogel, the dents Chaim Rapfochief operating offigel and Elie Yechiel. cer of the Rofeh Klal translates to Cholim Cancer Socicommunity in ety, the goal was to Hebrew. The initiaincrease voter turntive is not affiliated out. “We aim to with any specific avoid all controversy social issue or politiby steering clear of cal party. ElIE YEcHIEl political affiliations, “The idea for this Co-founder, KlalVote endorsements or project came from a debates over specific common perception political objectives,” within the local Orthodox com- he said. “We will leave those munity about our perceived lack important issues to others. This of political voice,” said Yechiel, is about voter turnout and gainan attorney. “Much of the com- ing a voice for our community.” munity came to the conclusion Rapfogel said that KlalVote that voting is the key to acquir- volunteers contacted roughly 70 ing a healthy relationship with synagogues in the Five Towns our elected officials.” Continued on page 12
By MATTHEW FERREMI mferremi@liherald.com
M
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald
HARRIs AVENuE REsIdENTs are angered that the field on their street has been torn up by school buses that have been parked there since September. Above, the field on Nov. 12.
Residents: De-bus our field Damage to recreation area angers many By JEFFREY BEssEN jbessen@liherald.com
Since the beginning of the school year, roughly 60 buses belonging to Brooklyn-based Seth Transportation have been parked on the Harris Avenue field in Inwood, across from the Number Four School in the Lawrence district.
Seth Transportation contracted with the district this school year and is using the field as a bus depot. It was initially thought to be a temporary situation, but the field where community members have played a range of sports through the years is now a torn-up mess, with debris littering the grounds and the once-pristine grass looking
like the aftermath of a monster truck rally. At a small gathering outside a house at 26 Harris Ave. on Nov. 12, four residents and two elected officials decried the situation, which has them asking whether the school district cares about the people who support it with their tax dollars. Continued on page 12
uch of the community came to the conclusion that voting is the key to acquiring a political voice.