Oceanside/Island Park
CoMMuNiTy uPDATE infections as of Dec. 3, 2020
1,658
infections as of Nov. 26, 2020 1,353
HERALD
Toys for Tots drive brings holiday cheer
New lGBTQ camp is a success
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$1.00
The Lorraine Weber Te
Lorrai18/21 itc FG ne Weber
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lweber@c21homes.co
Results You Deserve, a
DECEMBER 17- 23, 2020
msmollins@liherald.com
Courtesy ACDS
A surprise Santa stop in O’side Program supports Down syndrome group Not much in 2020 can qualify as normal or routine, but the Association of Children with Down Syndrome’s very own Santa Claus refused to let Covid-19 disrupt his favorite time of the year. Longtime Rockville Centre resident Barry Shimkin has brought joy to hundreds of young children for the past 26 years by donning a red suit (he’s on suit No. 3), and fluffy
Vol. 55 No. 51
stimulus were approved and all the projects were to move forward, creating an economic A long-awaited $8.9 million output of more than $400 milrepair to Austin Boulevard, in lion. Island Park, is one of 12 largeT h e Au s t i n B o u l e v a r d scale projects that Nassau improvements were announced County officials and labor lead- as part of Curran’s 2021-24 Capers hope to fund with a $503 ital Improvement Plan in Octomillion federal ber. The county infrastructure allocated the fundstimulus for the ing for the project, county that is now so it will happen under considerregardless of ation by Congress. whether federal “I’m calling on funds become our federal repreavailable. sentatives to Part of the plan approve this infrafocuses on upgradstructure stimulus ing a 1.4-mile package to help us stretch of the build back a counroadway. Work is ty that is stronger scheduled to begin than ever,” County in early 2021, and Executive Laura is intended to Curran said in a improve pedestristatement. “Infraa n a n d ve h i cl e structure invest- lAuRA CuRRAN safety, as well as ments are the drainage and foundation of our Nassau County storm resiliency. economic recovery executive A similar proj— and essential to ect was slated to getting thousands of people be gin last spring, but was back to work.” shelved because of the coronaCurran said the county esti- virus pandemic. Traffic-related mates that more than 3,300 full- roadway improvements for time construction jobs would be created in Nassau if the Continued on page 16
By MikE SMolliNS
i
tbellissimo@liherald.com
Team You Trust!
County seeks funding for $8.9M project
MAEVE luCAS, oF Oceanside, was awestruck by Santa’s home visit last Saturday. Longtime Rockville Centre resident Barry Shimkin dressed as Santa and visited children in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Dec. 12 and 13.
By ToNy BElliSSiMo
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white beard, and arming himself with a bag full of presents to share with ACDS students with disabilities. T h i s ye a r, p a n d e m i c restrictions nearly ended visits by Santa, but Shimkin refused to be deterred. Working with the ACDS Parent Teacher Organization, he hopped in his sleigh — in this case, the custom vehicle ACDS uses to shuffle students to its Early Intervention Clinic — put on a festive protective mask and brought holi-
day cheer to children across Nassau County and parts of Suffolk County in lieu of the usual visit to the ACDS headquarters in Plainview. “It’s been the best day of the year for me since I started playing Santa,” Shimkin said. “Seeing the look on the kids’ faces is a wonderful thing. It’s a pleasure beyond belief.” With headquar ters in Plainview, ACDS provides resources to individuals with Down syndrome, autism and Continued on page 16
nfrastructure investments are the foundation of our economic recovery — and essential to getting thousands of people back to work.