Oceanside/Island Park
HERALD
CoMMuNity uPDAtE infections as of Dec. 7
1,353
infections as of Nov. 30 1,226
LOOk iNSide
Holiday Wrapping Paper Contest drawn by our young readers
Students of the Month in i.P.
oHS musicians hit the right notes
o’sider honored on her retirement
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DECEMBER 10 - 16, 2020
Vol. 55 No. 50
LIRR riders bemoan fare hike proposal A vote on the increases is expected in January or February, and if they were to pass, Many local residents and they would likely go into effect elected leaders say they are in March. angry that transit officials are Dana Gray-Lanyo, of Island mulling a Long Park, said she comIsland Rail Road mutes via the LIRR fare increase amid daily, so the rate the coronavirus hike would greatly pandemic. affect her. “I have The Metropolino choice,” she tan Transportation said. “If they raise Authority is prothe tickets, I’ll still posing an increase be taking the LIRR in monthly ticket to work.” prices by up to 4.3 Given the percent, weekly Covid-19 risks tickets, by as much DANA GRAy-lANyo associated with as 5.9 percent, and taking the train, Island Park resident other types of tickKelly Ann Foster et, by up to 11.2 said she might percent. The MTA is also consid- return to carpooling, rather ering several other options, than taking the LIRR, if prices including instituting a “flat were to rise again. “When takfare” for all LIRR trips between ing the train and subway stops Long Island and New York City. Continued on page 9
By MikE SMolliNS msmollins@liherald.com
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Courtesy Barbra Rubin-Perry
A tree of remembrance Members of the Island Park community gathered at a special tree dedication at Masone Beach, hosted by Cathi Hall, in memory of Caroline Previdi, one of the 26 children who were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012. The playground was built in Previdi’s memory, and the Kiwanis Club donated $500 to the Caroline Previdi Foundation. Above, Hall with her husband, Bob. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Temple lends a hand amid crisis Members donate to MSSN, soup kitchens By MikE SMolliNS msmollins@liherald.com
With coronavirus pandemic numbers increasing across Nassau County, Temple Avodah, in Oceanside, has ramped up its efforts to help the community. Cong re gation members recently raised $6,000 to donate three meals to front-line workers at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside, and have also taken part in many
other charitable events around town. “The members of the temple have been extraordinarily supportive, not only of the hospital workers, but of the community itself,” Temple Avodah President Gil Balanoff said. “We’ve been actively involved in a number of charitable events to try and help out local people as well.” The temple donated dinners to the hospital back on May 14,
breakfasts on May 20 and lunches on Nov. 22 as part of a Thanksgiving week donation. Balanoff said that temple members waited six months for the latest meal because they realized that supporting front-line workers wasn’t as necessary over the summer and into the fall after the initial wave of infections in the spring, when many local residents and busiContinued on page 6
have no choice. If they raise the tickets, I’ll still be taking the LIRR to work.
Our COvid-19 traCker With the Covid-19 test positivity rate rising across the country, the Herald is adding a weekly coronavirus tracker to the upper-left corner of our front page to help you gauge what’s happening in your area from week to week. the number is an aggregate of the communities that this newspaper covers. data is obtained from the nassau County Covid-19 dashboard, which provides the total number of cases reported in an area since the start of the pandemic, and is updated regularly.