Rockville Centre Herald by Richner Communications, Inc

Rockville Centre

HERALD SSHS graduation plans confirmed

Covert celebrates fifth-graders

Covid recoverer welcomed home

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VOL. 31 NO. 24

JUNE 11 - 17, 2020

Protesters in RVC demand racial justice By BRIANA BONFIGLIO bbonfiglio@liherald.com

Briana Bonfiglio/Herald

“I’M 67 YEARS old, and this has just been going on for far too long,” said Bob Brenner, of Mattituck, a former Rockville Centre resident. “My friend says I’m too verbose, so this succinctly says it. We have to end racism in this country.”

Hundreds of protesters marched through Rockville Centre last Sunday, demanding racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. A group of South Side High School students and graduates organized the demonstration, including 18-year-old Kerryn Cleary, who said she had taken part in protests in Manhattan last week. She and her fellow organizers felt that because racial segregation is still evi-

dent on Long Island, and in the village, there needed to be a local protest. “It’s 2020,” Cleary said. “It’s time to stop murdering black people for the color of their skin and to stop segregating.” The marchers gathered in municipal parking lot No. 12, on the corner of Long Beach Road and Sunrise Highway, around 4 p.m., and got honks of approval from passing cars. One participant, 67-year-old Bob Brenner, of Mattituck, held two signs that read “Stop Racism.” Brenner, who is CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Village welcomes Phase Two reopening of businesses By JILL NOSSA jnossa@liherald.com

The local economy is slowly coming back to life as more businesses reopen in Rockville Centre this week. As the number of cases of Covid-19 continues to decline, the list of businesses allowed to reopen in Phase Two of the state timetable now includes barbershops and hair salons, real estate services and offices, and in-store sales are now allowed. L a s t we e k i t w a s a l s o announced that restaurants could offer outdoor dining beginning Wednesday. While this is good news, business owners are

still facing uncertainties about the impact that reopening in the middle of a pandemic will have on them. “As businesses reopen, they will not be returning to business as usual,” Mayor Francis X. Murray cautioned. “Each business and industry must have a plan to protect employees and customers, making physical work spaces safer, and implement processes that lower the risk of infection in the businesses.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order allowing outdoor dining last week, after the Chamber of Commerce took up the subject at its May 28 meeting.

The Village is waiving its outdoor dining permit fee for restaurants, though they are required to submit applications and diagrams of their seating plans to the Building Department in order to be approved. The chamber debated the idea of closing streets to create more seating, and the village plans to hold a public hearing on the subject on June 18. For now, restaurants are taking advantage of the opportunity to have seating on sidewalks and making use of patio and parking lot space. Art Sorenson, the owner of Bonefish Grill, on Sunrise Highway, said he had downloaded the outdoor-dining application from

the village website, and hoped to expand his outdoor dining area once it was approved. “We’re working with the village to get it done,” Sorenson said, “and I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the outdoor dining opportunity this week.” Maureen Robb, marketing director of the George Martin Group, said that both of its Rock-

ville Centre restaurants will have outdoor seating. There will be three bistro tables set up on the sidewalk in front of George Martin the Original, on North Park Avenue, and six to eight tables in the private parking lot behind the restaurant, which Robb said has been dubbed a “parking lot patio.” At GM BurgCONTINUED ON PAGE 14

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Neighbors welcome home Covid recoverer jnossa@liherald.com

After more than two and half months in the hospital, Bob Picchioni returned to his Rockville Centre home and is recovering from his battle with Covid-19. Friends, family members and neighbors gave him a warm welcome home on May 30, overcome with joy to see a man who, at one point in early April, many thought they would have to say goodbye to. “The support and prayers that I received from friends, family and neighbors was overwhelming,” Picchioni said, “and it was so emotional seeing everyone as we drove down Harvard and turned onto Yale. It was the first time I had felt fresh air in 66 days, and it was the most indescribably beautiful day, surrounded by some truly incredible people.” On March 15, Picchioni, 58, came down with mild symptoms of the coronavirus, including a low-grade fever. After 10 days, he began experiencing shortness of breath and went to an urgent care facility. From there, he was taken to Winthrop, and the next day, on March 27, he was intubated in the pediatric intensive care unit – the first Covid-19 patient in the unit. At that time, as hospitals began seeing more patients with the virus, they would create “pop-up” ICUs wherever they had space for them, according to Picchioni. Picchioni was under the care of doctors and nurses who were used to caring for children, not adults, though his daughter, Melanie Picchioni, said the care her father received was “incredible.” He spent a total of six weeks in intensive care – four weeks in the PICU, followed by two weeks in another ICU unit at Winthrop, requiring a ventilator the

Courtesy Melanie Picchioni

BOB PICCHIONI, CENTER, with, from left his sister-in-law Jennie Snyder, nephew Andrew, brother-in-law Rich, and nieces Ava and Colette Snyder. entire time before the doctors installed a tracheotomy. He was discharged from Winthrop in mid-May and transferred to Mercy Rehab, where he spent two weeks before returning home on May 30. For six weeks, Melanie said, his condition would change daily, often even going up and down over the course of a day. The worst spiral, she said, came on April 11, Holy Saturday – the day before Easter. “We got a call that he was crashing and were told to prepare to say goodbye,” she said. “They set up a FaceTime, and we

were screaming at everyone to not give up on him, screaming at him to not give up.” She said she, her mother Jeannie and her two brothers, Rob and Luke, texted everyone they knew, asking for prayers. The family stayed up all night praying. The prayers were answered. At 4 a.m. on Easter Sunday, the doctors called with good news: his oxygen levels were up. Still, they cautioned that his blood pressure was still too low. Five hours later, the call came that his blood pressure was back up. While he had improved, the doc-

tors warned there could still be organ damage due to the lack of oxygen for 12 hours. Over the next few weeks, Bob gradually improved, and, while his muscles are weak from being bedridden for so long, he has no organ damage. Melanie said they learned he had bacterial pneumonia, which was treated with antibiotics. That still does not explain how he improved from such a dire situation. Family and friends attribute it to the power of prayer. “It’s like a miracle and is such an example of hope during this dark time,” family friend and neighbor Jennifer Minnigan said. “In a hopeless situation like this, people who may not even have faith turned to prayer and it really has forced people to rally together.” Bob has owned Complete Recovery Restoration for 26 years, a company that handles fire and water damage. He named the company after his oldest son, Rob, made a full recovery from a lung disease that doctors had said he might not survive. Upon Bob’s homecoming, his best friend made T-shirts that said “Complete Recovery 2.0” in reference to this being the second “miraculous” recovery in the family’s life. For Bob’s homecoming, friends, family and neighbors lined up on Harvard, DeMott and Yale Place to welcome him home. According to Melanie, the support of the town and their St. Agnes parish community helped them get through the entire ordeal. “We have an amazing community,” Melanie said. “People in this town really came together for us.” “It was electrifying to see everyone on the block,” Minnigan said. “I believe the good will bind us together.”

SSHS graduates to have “drive-in” ceremony By JILL NOSSA jnossa@liherald.com

This year’s graduating seniors will have a very different type of commencement ceremony, but after months of being apart, the South Side High School Class of 2020 will have a live ceremony at a single location. On June 26, graduates will head to Nassau Coliseum for a “drive-in movie” type of ceremony. “Our goal is to give students a ceremony that dignifies their accomplishments, in one place,” Principal John Murphy said. “This is a place where everyone feels safe and comfortable, we have enough space to maintain distance, and it’s still close to Rockville Centre.” Murphy had been actively seeking a venue for weeks after it became clear that the students really preferred a single location rather than a split ceremony. Murphy disclosed the details at last week’s Board of Education meeting and confirmed them once the contract was finalized on Friday. He sent a “save the date” letter to the seniors on June 5 informing them of the plans. The cere-

mony will be displayed on a giant LED screen and broadcast on an FM radio station so they can listen from the car. Only one car per graduate will be permitted into the lot, but Murphy said the venue can accommodate all 300 graduates. After the ceremony, which begins at noon, the community will have a chance to celebrate the Class of 2020 with a parade back in Rockville Centre, which starts at 3 p.m. The parade route will be the one followed for the Homecoming Parade, from Sunrise Highway to the high school. In addition, a video tribute to the class of 2020 has been created, which will air locally. More information will become available as the graduation date gets closer. Last Friday, the seniors had a bittersweet day as they returned to the high school to pick up their belongings. As they cleaned out their lockers, members of the PTA made it a celebratory event by playing music and decorating the hallways with flowers and balloons. More events for seniors are planned in the coming weeks.

Courtesy Odette Peralta/RVC Schools

SOUTH SIDE HIGH School seniors returned to the school on Friday to retrieve their belongings. The PTA decorated the hallways to help give seniors a big send-off.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

By JILL NOSSA

RVC Chamber VP returns money to SBA By JILL NOSSA jnossa@liherald.com

As businesses began to shutter early this spring, proprietors were faced with a lot of uncertainty about the future of their ventures. When information about the Small Business Administration’s financial support program became available, many jumped on board to apply, including Champion Elevator, owned by Donald Gelestino of Rockville Centre. However, when the funding came through, Gelestino decided smaller businesses would benefit more, and he returned the $3.2 million received by the company. According to Gelestino, who is the vice president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce, Champion Elevator applied for the program as soon as it became available. “No one knew what would happen, if we’d be working and how long it would last,” he said. The company, based in Manhattan, got approved for the funding and received $3.2 million in early May. However, at that point, Gelestino said, the situation for his company did not feel as dire as it seemed to be for smaller businesses. Though his company took a hit, it was still operating and all 157 employees still had jobs. “Meanwhile, I’d walk around the village and see small shops suffering,” he said. “They might never come back.” Though his company does not make a large profit, it does get monthly revenue

Courtesy Don Gelestino

ROCKVILLE CENTRE CHAMBER of Commerce Vice President Don Gelestino, left, with Chamber President Brian Croutier, took some time for this photo op in Time Square. from maintenance contracts and has been trying to grow and acquire other companies. “I felt like this program shouldn’t apply to us,” he said. “It didn’t feel right to keep the money when we’re still in business and not devastated by the pandemic.” The company did take a $600,000 hit due to the expense of personal safety equipment and as well as from loss of productivity and rescheduling. For instance, when construction had to be stopped, he

Every life matters to us …

had those workers doing maintenance projects instead. “I was not going to hurt my people,” he said. “I felt the company would have to take the punch.” While his company operates on a tight budget and would have had a nice cushion with the funds – money that would not have been required to be repaid – it weighed on Gelestino’s conscience. Businesses such as salons, restaurants, startups and those that depend on walk-in customers have been severely affected by the

CRIME WATCH

Dear neighbor:

Criminal mischief

We live and work in this community. The lives of each and every one of you is important to us and we are here to tell your stories — from beginning to end. That includes the final chapter. At this difficult time, I want to remind you that obituaries in all Herald Community Newspapers are, and have always been, completely free.

■ On June 1 at 11 a.m., the manager of a deli on Merrick Road reported someone broke the front door glass the night before.

COVID-19 has taken far too many, far to soon. Let us help you commemorate the life of your loved one with a story and photo celebrating their life. Contact our Executive Editor Scott Brinton, sbrinton@liherald.com or call 516-569-4000, ext 203, if you would like to memorialize a loved one in the Herald, regardless of their cause of death.

■ On June 5 at 6:27 p.m., a motorist reported a tire on his vehicle was damaged while his car was parked on Brower Avenue overnight.

Stuart Richner Publisher

Leaving the scene

srichner@liherald.com

coronavirus crisis, and he said, the difference to them could be survival or failure. His hope is that the money can be redistributed to smaller businesses to keep them afloat. “Giving $100,000 to 30 other businesses could be life changing for them,” he said. “I would feel good knowing it went to a small local business.” After discussions with the bank and his finance team, it seemed best to return the money to the SBA rather than disbursing funds through his company as donations. It took about a week to return the money. While there’s no way to control or track the funds now that they have been returned, he’s confident he did the right thing. “I’m a big believer in that, if you do the something good, something good will come back to you,” he said. “I do believe I’ve been lucky so far. I have a great company with great people, and I believe it’s because I always try to do the right thing.” Gelestino has lived in Rockville Centre for the past 20 years and has been involved in the Chamber of Commerce since 2011. He said is very involved in charities and always looks for ways to give back to the community. “When times are tough, that’s when people need to do something extra special to help each other,” Gelestino said. “We feel good about helping our neighbors and community and I hope others do the same.”

vehicle and left the scene while he was driving on Peninsula Boulevard. ■ On June 7 at 6:19 p.m., a motorist reported that a car struck his vehicle and left the scene while he was driving on Merrick Road.

Graffiti ■ On June 3 at 10:42 a.m., a resident reported finding graffiti on the rear of three stop signs on Harvard Avenue.

■ On June 3 at 8:07 a.m., a motorist reported that an SUV struck his work

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HERALD HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

George Floyd protest marches through RVC white, once lived in Rockville Centre, and was visiting relatives. “People have to realize it’s old people, too, that are outraged about this,” he said. “That’s why I’m out here. Really, at this point, enough is enough. Maybe finally, after all these years, we’ll get some racial equality in this country.” Chrystal Achille, 33, of Rockville Centre, was also among the marchers. Achille, who is black, is a pediatrician, and she said that, similar to what she deals with in her profession, the issues protesters were focused on are a matter of life and death. “It’s vital,” she said. “This is my community, and I’m so pleased to see the diversity here. As a black person, I am so moved to see white faces speaking out for black lives.” Before the march began, Terrel Tuosto, of West Hempstead, who is black, used a bullhorn to lead a chant of “Black lives matter!” “We need to see police officers be held accountable for their wrongful actions, their prejudices,” he told the crowd. “We need to see other cops, the good cops with the good hearts, be incentivized [and] be able to have something good happen to them if they speak out against this racism and this oppression that is happening to us.” Rockville Centre police patrolled the area where the protest began, near Long Beach Road, and blocked Sunrise High-

Briana Bonfiglio/Herald

CHRIS MARLBOROUGH, OF Rockville Centre, pulled a cart full of water bottles for protesters. His wife, Jennifer, and their twin sons, Jake and Max, 7, also marched. way, in between Long Beach Road and Oceanside Road, to clear a path for protesters to march. Meanwhile, Nassau County police blocked Maple Avenue, South Station Plaza, Centre Avenue and Lakeview Avenue, where the route continued. In an email to the Herald, Rockville Centre Police Commissioner James Vafeades expressed the department’s sympathies to the Floyd family. “We will con-

tinue to partner with the community to keep Rockville Centre a safe place to live,” Vafeades wrote. “We are determined to maintain an open dialogue with our community leaders in an effort to educate and enlighten each other while building trust and respect.” As the march proceeded, chants of “No justice, no peace!” “No racist police!” “I can’t breathe!” “Hands up, don’t shoot!” and “Say his name, George

Floyd!” filled the air. Many protesters held signs that read “Black Lives Matter,” “Silence is Shameful” and “Skin Color is Not A Reasonable Suspicion,” among other messages. The marchers made several stops, where there were speeches about racial inequality, including in front of Police Department headquarters on Maple Avenue. There they knelt for nearly nine minutes, as long as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck as he died. Aaron Duggan, of South Hempstead, condemned “redlining” — the denial of services based on racial bias — in Long Island communities. “This whole thing started way, way before any of us were even here,” Duggan said. “It’s been going on for generations, and it’s our job to unite as people regardless of the color of our skin.” While the crowd knelt, an unidentified woman made an emotional plea. “Do you assume that he is a bad person because of his skin color?” she said with emotion in her voice, referring to her son. “Evan, stand up.” Her young son stood up, and the crowd cheered. “Just think about the mothers who have laid their children to rest before their time,” she continued. “Each name — Breonna Taylor . . . George Floyd — left behind a daughter. There are so many lives. For what? For what?” More photos at LIHerald.com.

In LovingMemory Jacqueline Schnitzer October 14, 1994 – June 16, 2016

Courtesy Christopher Menedes

HUNDREDS GATHERED AT the municipal parking lot on the corner of Long Beach Road and Sunrise Highway for the march against police brutality and racial injustice. PROTESTERS KNELT IN front of the Rockville Centre police station, for nearly nine minutes, as long as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on George Floyd’s neck.

You Left Us With Beautiful Memories, Your Love Is Still Our Guide, Although We Cannot See You, You’re Always By Our Side.

Jackie’s Fourth Year In Heaven Our Hearts Are Forever Broken

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All Our Love, Mommy, Michael & Keri Uncle John & Aunt Tina

Briana Bonfiglio/Herald

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

MORE THAN A thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of George Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They came to show solidarity and protest in the hope that the laws will change and people of color will be treated equally. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence.

Protest held at Hempstead Town Hall By CHRISTINA DALY Dozens of protests have taken palce across Long Island since the death of George Floyd, 46, on May 25. Shawn Fullerton and his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held a rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall last Friday in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. Belinda told the crowd, “I’m tired. I’m tired of telling my son it’s not safe to go outside. I’m tired of shedding tears. I’m tired.” More than a thousand people gathered across from Hempstead Town Hall to protest the death of Floyd and others who died at the hands of police. They gathered to show solidarity. Many signs listed the names of those who have been victims of violence. Other signs stated, “It’s freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody,” “No Justice, No Peace,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Silence=Violence,” “All lives can’t

matter until black lives matter,” “My skin color is not a crime,” “I can’t breathe,” “This is not a riot, this is a revolution” and “It’s not white vs black, it’s everyone vs racists.” Hempstead Deputy Mayor Charles Renfroe, the Rev. Sedgwick Easley of the Union Baptist Church and Barbara Powell of the NAACP Hempstead Branch attended the protest outside of town hall. As drivers went by, they honked and yelled in support, which was met with cheers by those gathered along the street. One of the few young protesters at the event, 8-year-old Maleah Malone, said, “I care about black people, and I’m marching for them. They shouldn’t be treated this way.” Her mother, Shaunte Malone, she said her children would be the ones living in the world protesters were working to create. Dorothy Goosby said it’s so important to get people involved. “I’ve been going through this, what they’re going through, my whole life,” she said.

SHAWN FULLERTON AND his mother, Belinda Watkins, a member of the Hempstead Chamber Board, held the rally in the hope of bringing everyone together and changing the laws. “NO JUSTICE, NO peace,” chanted Maleah Malone, 8, and her brother Kendrelle, 9, as they held their signs high. Their mother said they would be the ones to live in the world the protesters were fighting for.

During the rally outside of Hempstead Town Hall, Julia and Daniel Tellerman registered participants to vote.

PROTESTER STEFANNY CARDONA held her sign toward the police officers across the street who lined the sidewalks outside of Hempstead Town Hall.

What a little girl is teaching the world about racism sbrinton@liherald.com

Around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, I stood atop the Long Island Rail Road trestle in Merrick, looking out on the sea of people who filled Sunrise Highway as far as I could see, east and west. Officials later estimated the number of demonstrators who attended the Black Lives Matter protest at 3,000 to 4,000. The next morning, I tried to imagine Sunrise Highway with 20 million people. Would they even fit along its 120.6 miles? Twenty million was the number of Twitter users who had, as of Friday morning, watched a 15-second video I shot of 7-year-old Wynta-Amor Rogers, of Uniondale, marching beside her mother, Lakyia Jackson, at a different Black Lives Matter protest through Merrick and Bellmore, on Wednesday. (The views climbed to nearly 23 million by Monday.) In the video, taken around 6:30 p.m., Wynta-Amor chants with the protesters, “No justice, no peace!” Many among the thousands who commented on the post described WyntaAmor as “fierce.” Yes, she was. Her hands moved to the beat of the chant. Her fingers pointed furiously. At the end, she raised her fist, seemingly in anger. Her fiery spirit was evident in her eyes. Wynta-Amor, it appeared, had fully inter nalized the emotion of the moment. She was breathing it in, living it. I was live-tweeting the protest to chronicle it for the Heralds. When I posted the video, I never imagined it would go viral. By the time the protest ended two hours later, 25,000 people had viewed it. By midnight, a million had. Thirty-six hours later, 20.2 million, and counting. People from all parts of the globe viewed it. In effect, this little girl broadcast a central message of Black Lives Matter for all in the Twittersphere to see: We must have justice to find the lasting peace our society seeks. Later on Wednesday, Wynta-Amor’s mom tweeted to thank me for the support that day. “We have to show our kids the right way,” Jackson said. “Yes, Wynta-Amor,” she added, “mommy will help make your future better and all the rest of the kids in the world.” Thursday morning, my wife said she went to bed the night before with Wynta-Amor’s words ringing in her ears. She couldn’t escape them. There was a certain melody to them, a righteous power. Wynta-Amor wasn’t the only one whose passion you could feel that afternoon. There were also 21-year-old Adriana Brutus, of Elmont, and her 24-yearold brother, Matt, who are black. They gave impassioned speeches at the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station, about a half-hour before I took the video of Wynta-Amor. “I’m scared every time I come outside,” Adriana said through tears. Her words left me thunderstruck.

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

AdriAnA BrutuS, 21, of Elmont, a nursing student at NYU, said through tears that she does not feel safe leaving her own home.

ProteSterS At the June 3 demonstration marching on Sunrise Highway toward Babylon Turnpike.

As it happened, I later learned, Adriana had been communicating via Instagram with my own 20-year-old daughter, Alexandra. They’re both NYU students. Adriana is studying nursing, and Alexandra, business and technology management. Why must Adriana be afraid all the time? I thought. What sort of society do we live in that she must worry for her life because of her color? My daughter has never felt that level of fear, nor has my 17-year-old son, Andrew. As black people, Matt Brutus said, “We can’t buy property. They redline us. They say you have to go to school here.” BLM protesters aren’t saying they want to take anything from white people. They’re just saying they want an equal shot at life, liberty and the pursuit

of happiness — but that’s hard, if not impossible, for them when racism seems woven into the institutional fabric of our nation. A number of Merrick and Bellmore residents stood on their stoops and on street corners applauding the protesters on Wednesday and Thursday. They cheered and banged on pots. Now and again, though, someone called out, “All lives matter!” Sometimes the protesters ignored those shouts. Sometimes they chanted, “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!” louder and louder. The all-lives-matter folks just don’t get it. The BLM protesters aren’t saying black people’s lives matter more than anyone else’s. What they’re saying is, in

the eyes of a society with a centuriesold history of systemic racism, black lives have never mattered as much as white lives — but they should. They must, if we are to live in harmony with one another. To chant “Black lives matter!” is to affirm that the lives of black people do, in fact, matter. White people don’t have to proclaim their lives matter because they already do, according to society. In the past, a black man could die by noose because he looked the wrong way at a white woman. The George Floyd case, a number of pundits have said, is a modern-day lynching, captured for all to witness on cellphone video. The question is, what will each of us do about it?

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

WyntA-Amor rogerS, 7, marching during the Black Lives Matter protest in Merrick on Wednesday. The Herald’s video of her chanting, “No justice, no peace!” had more than 20 million views on Twitter as of Friday.

By Scott Brinton

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Keeping it fun for Covert fifth-graders By BRIANA BONFIGLIO bbonfiglio@liherald.com

Parents of William S. Covert Elementary School fifth-graders are not letting the school year pass by without celebrating. Since the closing of schools in March, the fifth-grade students, who will move up to South Side Middle School in the fall, have missed out on several year-end festivities, including trips to the Ashokan Center in upstate New York and Adventureland, seeing a Broadway show and the fifth grade dance and graduation. As alternatives to the normal, celebratory events, a group of PTA mothers who comprise the Fifth Grade Committee have been holding “Fifth Grade Fridays” for the 63 Covert students. Each week, there is a socially-distant activity, such as an online trivia with prizes, surprises delivered at doorsteps, a food donation collection for local pantries and virtual raffles. “We saw how sad upset our kids were about not being able to see their friends,” said Jennifer Pefanis, one of the moms, “so we started this so they had something to look forward to each week.” Pefanis has been organizing the socially-distant events with fellow mothers of Covert fifthgraders, Julie Rosa and Denise Finley. “This year may not be ending how we had once envisioned,” Pefanis added, “but that does not make it any less special. Our children have learned how to create

different end of school year memories.” For the first week of “Fifth Grade Fridays,” each fifth grader received a tie-dye “Peace Out Covert” magnet in their mailbox. This goes along with the class’s theme for the year. Students were encouraged to wear their school T-shirts, take photos with the magnets and post it to a group on Facebook. On May 21, the few dozen students gathered, in a socially distant manner, in the Rockville Centre Recreation Center parking lot of a graduation drone photo shoot. Students got to see one another face-to-face again after being apart for more than two months. Another Friday activity was a food donation collection for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Center pop-up food pantry and Vineyard Church food pantry in Rockville Centre. Also, Covert created a banner with all 63 elementary school graduates’ names and faces. One Friday, they were encouraged to go to the banner, find their photo, take a selfie with it and post it online. Activities like these have all helped students feel connected during this time, parents said. “The Covert Class of 2020 will be remembered for their resilience, their courage, their philanthropy, their maturity, and their strength,” Pefanis said. “Covert has given our students a solid foundation and we look forward to taking this with us as our children begin a new journey in middle school.”

Courtesy Jennifer Pefanis

COVERT FIFTH-GRADERS DONATED food to Rockville Centre’s MLK Center pop-up food pantry and Vineyard Church food pantry.

Griffin honors RVC high school students Fourteen high school students who have stood out in their school and communities received recognition from Assemblywoman Judy Griffin on June 7. Griffin hosted her second annual Student Standout Awards through Zoom video conferencing. Each recipient was presented with the New York State Assembly Student Standout Award. These Rockville Centre students were chosen as the only student from their school because they stand out for their exceptional leadership, kindness, inclusiveness, helpfulness, work ethic, creativity, career-oriented, motivation, or civic engagement. “ To d ay re c o g n i z e s t h o s e incredible students who standout in their schools and communities,” Griffin said. “These students serve as role models and are an inspiration for their peers. I

ASSEMBLYWOMAN JUDY GRIFFIN hosted her second annual Student Standout Awards through Zoom video conferencing.

am so proud to give these students the NYS Assembly Student Standout Award and I look forward to seeing where it takes them.” The award recipients were: ■ Jack Conger, Oceanside High School ■ Thomas Early, Oceanside High School, Castleton ■ Davis Luckner, Chaminade High School ■ Claire Marie O’Connell, Sacred Heart Academy ■ Mollie Resnick, the Waldorf School of Garden City ■ Gisneiry Galan Matias, South Side High School Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Judy Griffin; compiled by Briana Bonfiglio.

Courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Judy Griffin

Nominate a senior for a Herald superlative How to enter Nominate your favorite graduating high school senior today at www. liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives or on Instagram (see @longislandherald for instructions). The categories, among others, include: ■ Most likely to be at the beach ■ Most likely to become a billionaire ■ Most likely to change the world

painting again, which was an activity that I enjoyed in my childhood. Not only does this give me an opportunity to express myself in a new way, it also allows me to prepare artwork for my future college dorm. I will look at these paintings on my wall with pride, knowing I turned an upsetting situation into a positive one. And to be recognized as a Senior Superlative means a lot.” Her father, Michael Stein, said “Adina has loved to paint and draw from an early age and has shown improvement the past few years. She has spent her free time during the quarantine period painting various art projects on canvas with plans to decorate her college dorm in the fall. Her cre-

ativity and artistic skills will complement her academic endeavors in the future.” “We thought this was a fun way to honor these high school students who are graduating in extremely atypical times,” said Stuart Richner, president of Richner Communications and publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. “We would also like to thank the many businesses and organizations from the community that stepped up to sponsor the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives to allow these graduating students to be recognized.” Sponsors to date include Sacred Heart Academy, Oceanside Family Dental, Ritz Jewelry and Tim White Home Improvement.

? N E ʼ P O S T HA

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Opportunity to be recognized as “Nassau’s best” and to win $500 Richner Communications, publishers of Herald Community Newspapers, is now accepting nominations for the Herald 2020 Senior Superlatives. Nominations are currently open through Instagram (see @ longislandherald for instructions) and online at www.liherald.com/seniorsuperlatives until June 15. Winners will be published in the Herald’s commemorative Graduation 2020 section, presented by Molloy College, on June 25. Parents, family, classmates and friends are encouraged to nominate graduating high school seniors for the chance to be crowned Nassau County’s Most Likely to Succeed, Most Likely To Cure Cancer, Best Artist, Best Athlete, and more. Students can even nominate themselves. Additionally, each Herald 2020 Senior Superlative winner will be entered into a drawing for a $500 VISA gift card, presented by Herald Community Newspapers. Adina Stein, a senior at George W. Hewlett High School, said, “This is a great way to be honored this year. Finding out that my senior year would be cut short was very upsetting to me. I realized I wouldn’t be able to have my last school spirit week, prom, a traditional graduation, and other fun events we have spent many years looking forward to. After realizing that I can use this time to work on my productivity and look forward to my college freshman year, I decided to try

■ Most likely to find a cure for cancer ■ Most likely to invent the next iPhone ■ Most likely to be an Instagram star ■ Most likely to be a future firefighter ■ Most likely to raise a family on Long Island ■ Most likely to become a movie star ■ Most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize

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June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS

Courtesy Xxxx

ERIK MERKLE, OF Lynbrook, donated 100 bagged lunches to health care workers at Mount Sinai South Nassau and Mercy Medical Center.

Meals donated to front-line workers Lynbrook resident Erik Merkle used his efforts to give back to front-line workers and those in need of support during the coronavirus pandemic. Merkle, who works as a field consultant for the 7-Eleven Corporation, worked with employees at three stores he oversees, in Oceanside, West Hempstead and Lynbrook, to donate 100 bagged lunches to health care workers.

The meals were delivered to Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside and Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre. Merkle has worked for 7-Eleven for 11 years and has lived in Lynbrook for 26 years. “He is a very humble and admirable man who does anything to serve his community,” his daughter, Sara Merkle, said.

Courtesy Janice Michaud

MADDIE MICHAUD OF Daisy Troop 842 donated the remainder of her Girl Scout Cookies to Boy Scout Michael O’Hare, who delivered them to the MLK Center.

Scouts donate Girl Scout Cookies to those in need Two young Rockville Centre residents recently joined forces to spread sweet cheer in the village. For the past six weeks or so, Boy Scout Michael O’Hare of Rockville Centre Troop 40 has been working hard to collect and deliver food and supplies to those in need within the community. He has made deliveries to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the Hispanic Brotherhood and St. Agnes Parish Outreach Center. Maddie Michaud, a kindergartner at Covert Elementary School and a member of Daisy Troop 842, had leftover Girl

Scout Cookies she had been unable to sell. Her father, Jim Michaud, read a Herald article about Rockville Camera’s cookie donation to essential workers at Mount Sinai South Nassau, and was inspired. Jim, a former Eagle Scout and leader of his daughter’s troop, coordinated with Michael, and Maddie donated the remaining 30 boxes of cookies to Michael’s cause. Michael delivered the cookies to the MLK Center on May 22. “What child doesn’t like cookies?,” Maddie said.

NEWS BRIEF Village implements energy-saving initiative

Courtesy Village of Rockville Centre

RVC recognized as Tree City USA The Village of Rockville Centre has been recognized as a “Tree City USA” for the past 32 years from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests. The Tree City USA program is a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America. Pictured left to right are Deputy Mayor Kathleen Baxley and Mayor Francis X. Murray checking in on newly planted trees in parking field 5.

The Village of Rockville Centre has launched a series of energy rebates for residential and commercial properties, as it works to reduce the amount of electricity being consumed through the summer of 2024 with sustainable energy solutions. Rockville Centre Peak Savers, which launched on June 5, is focusing on smart thermostats and commercial efficiency lighting upgrades. The objective is to meet the goal of lowering energy consumption by more than 2.4 megawatts in the summer (peak) months to avoid increases in infrastructure, which could lead to an increase in rates for our Village residents and businesses. To attract participants, the program is offering a $70 rebate for the first enrolled Nest or Honeywell WiFi enabled thermostat that is connected to their A/C system. For each additional enrolled thermostat, a $50 rebate is available.

Customers will also receive a $20 rebate every year they stay enrolled in the program. The program works by voluntarily allowing the Village of Rockville Centre to increase the thermostat by 1-3 degrees on peak days (when energy usage is high.) However, if unable to participate at that time, an override option is available. The customer will always be fully in control of their thermostat. “This innovative program will allow the Rockville Centre Electric Department to reduce peak electric demand,” said Mayor Francis X. Murray, “that will in turn help reduce the need for additional infrastructure and reduce costs over time.” For more information, visit rvcny. gov/electric-department or email info@ rvcpeaksavers.com. Courtesy Village of Rockville Centre; compiled by Briana Bonfiglio.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

We Salute our Ever yday Heroes… Thank You

Here at RVC Auto we want to make sure that all of your

automotive needs are met, but at the same time we want to make sure our community stays as safe and healthy as possible. We are taking extra precautions on our end to keep the vehicles we service as germ free as possible. We are using seat covers, steering wheel covers, gear shifter covers, and putting your keys in bags to prevent any unneeded contact.

Auto Repair in an essential business and we will be here for you during these tough times. We have also increased staffing to help with pickup and delivery of your vehicle. We hope to get through this as timely and as safely as possible. Stay Well! Anything we can do to help feel free to call us at (516) 764-1700

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was watching TV with my grandchildren one day when we saw stories about people bringing in food and safety equipment to first-responders. And they said, ‘What about desserts, grandma? They have to have desserts, too.’ They were right. We wanted to make something sweet for them, so we started making cookies. For the last four weeks, we’ve been baking cookies for first-responders. We start on Tuesdays and finish up by Thursdays. My grandson Elijah and granddaughter Elisha bag them up. We usually fit four per bag and make about 60 bags a week. Then we go out every Saturday morning to deliver them to the local hospitals. We’ve also baked cookies for the police department, because they’ve done a lot to keep us safe during this pandemic. And we’ve had a lot of people in our neighborhoods who have lost someone to this illness, or who have been sick themselves and had a hard time recovering. We decided to bake for them, too. We want them to know that they’re loved. All in all, we must have baked about 1,000 cookies so far. When I was a little girl, my mother used to take me around Queens, where I grew up, helping others, so I wanted to do the same for my grandchildren. I want them to understand that they need to give back to their community.

hen Long Beach decided to close the Recreation Department in March, we knew the coronavirus pandemic was here, and the chamber had to act on behalf of the business community. We walked around sometime after and asked the businesses what they wanted. The restaurants wanted signs announcing they could offer pick-up service, so we arranged for signs. We have an announcement page on our website, TheLongBeachChamber.com, and it has become a Covid-19 site. We post almost every day because things change almost every day. We held a Zoom meeting in May to discuss the results of a survey we had taken of Long Beach businesses. The survey showed the businesses were eager to re-open, but they wanted to do it safely. We will be doing another survey in the next few weeks. We must keep up because things change fast, and there are lots of gray areas. For example, the State of New York said beaches could be open, but not concessions. Their names were changed to kiosks, and they are now open. A lot of people worked to make that happen. We talk on a daily basis with Long Beach City officials and the city's economic development department. We're trying to do the best we can to educate the businesses and do all we can for the businesses. The reason it's all so important is that if we don't have open businesses in Long Beach, especially for the summer, those businesses will go away. As far as the chamber goes, I am really just a figurehead. I have a fantastic board that works tirelessly, with many of them having been on the board over the last three years with me building the chamber. Without them, the chamber would not be where it is .

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social worker garden city

ovid-19’s ubiquitous wrath has left people across the world devastated, confused and scared. My family has been no exception to its horrifying effects — I nearly lost my father to the virus. Thankfully, due to the dedicated work of heroic front-line workers and the unwavering support of our community, he has since recovered. In the midst of my family’s struggle, the rest of society was similarly tasked with coping with the pandemic’s resulting devastation. But several community members, including myself, had the humbling privilege of simultaneously observing humanity at its finest. By running a contact-free food drive in which donations were personally picked up from donors’ homes, I have witnessed communities, families and individuals come together to help total strangers in need. I have seen people give astounding monetary donations simply because a need existed that they were willing and able to fill. I have watched community members give their last box of pasta or canned good because “someone else needed it more.” Some of the kindest and most compassionate souls have contributed more than anyone could have anticipated, and, consequently, the amount of deliveries I have made to local food pantries are innumerable at this point. Due to all of Nassau County’s willingness to donate, I have gassed up my truck more times in the past four weeks than in the past four months. As horrific as the pandemic has been, it has left me with unshakable faith in humanity’s grace, generosity and resiliency, and it is my hope that others may share in the same faith.

critical care nurse, Mount sinai soutH nassau oceanside

don’t consider myself a hero. I consider myself a professional who has a responsibility to her community. I am just one of the many front-line workers who feel equally dedicated to their duty. As a critical-care registered nurse and qualified Spanish interpreter at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside, I have never experienced anything like the Covid-19 pandemic in my personal life or my entire 20-year professional career, 11 of which were spent in the Critical Care Unit. It began with one, then two critically ill suspected Covid-19 patients. Then, what felt like overnight, we converted multiple patient care units to critical care units to meet the specific and specialized care needed by the exponentially increasing number of critically ill patients admitted to the hospital. The surge of patients was so rapid and persistent that the entire hospital staff – doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, medical residents, patient care technicians, technicians, transporters, unit clerks, food and nutrition staff, phlebotomists, engineering, security, managers and administrators – banded together to provide the non-stop, 24/7 quality, compassionate care and helped our patients to overcome this stubborn and vicious virus Our institutional directors, managers and educators were ever present working with us at our side to inform, instruct and implement new treatment processes, plans and therapies as we learned more about the virus, its many pernicious traits and its deleterious impacts on patients with underlying conditions.

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their Front-Line stories as toLd to our reporters annette raMos os Molly Miskiewicz Franklin square Baldwin

Businesses were eager to reopen this week BONEFISH GRILL, ON Sunrise Highway, was looking forward to offering expanded outdoor dining to customers this week as Nassau County began Phase Two of its reopening.

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE er Bar, on North Long Beach Road, Robb said, the village was allowing an extension of the outdoor seating area to accommodate about 20 people. “We’re very excited about it,” Robb said. “Of course, it’s all weather-permitting, but it’s a step in the right direction.” In-person dining is set to resume during Phase Three of the reopening, which is scheduled to begin in Nassau County on June 24, if the number of coronavirus-related hospitalizations and deaths remains steady or continues to decline. While restaurants have taken a hit, many have managed to remain open for takeout and delivery. Hair salons, on the other hand, have been closed since mid-March. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called the planned opening of STEVEN barbershops and salons “great news,” and said that Cuomo’s PICCIANO order gives “our business ownCo-owner, ers the certainty they need to Glass Beauty Bar reopen safely.” For Glass Beauty Bar, the closure has meant not so much a lack of work as a loss of business. Co-owner Steven Picciano said the salon has been preparing to reopen by making sure that physical distancing and sanitation protocols are in place. The entire space has been deep-cleaned and treated with anti-microbial steam, and furniture has

’m looking forward to working again, and I know my team is prepared, and understands the importance of following the protocols.

Christina Daly/Herald

been removed in order to spread out the work stations. For now, Picciano explained, clients are being asked to come in with their hair clean and dry to reduce the need to share chairs at hair-washing sinks and potentially spread germs by moving around. Additionally, the waiting area has been eliminated. Clients must call when they arrive, wait outside, and sanitize their hands and sign a health questionnaire and waiver when they enter. And the salon is required to keep a detailed client log, Picciano said, to facilitate potential contact tracing. “We have to be prepared to handle the situation, and this is the best and simplest way to provide information so it doesn’t come back to us,” Picciano said of the waiv-

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er. “We abide by the same protocols, so we’re acknowledging that we’re both doing all that we can to stay safe.” Glass Beauty Bar is booked for the rest of the month, having given priority to clients who had to cancel when it closed in March. Each of three stylists will see five clients a day, in stark contrast to the typical 15 to 22. As well, face-to-face conversation must be limited. The stylists may get bored, Picciano, acknowledged, or they may find a pace that suits them, but, either way, the salon is ready to reopen. “I’m looking forward to working again,” he said, “and I know my team is prepared and understands the importance of following the protocols.”

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Girls on the Run virtual 5K set for June 20 By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Girls on the Run Long Island, a physical activitybased positive youth development program for 3rd-8th grade girls, had 750 runners participate in its 5K run last fall and expected to surpass 1,000 for this spring’s event scheduled for June 20 on the campus of Hofstra University. However, in response to Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, the nonprofit organization will be holding its first virtual 5K to conclude its 10-week program for girls. Registration is free and open to all who wish to participate, said Doreen Dunne, Council Director. “As we are adjusting to a new way of life for the time being, Girls on the Run continues to provide inspiration, support and joy to our communities and girls during this challenging time,” Dunne said. “In addition to transitioning to a Virtual 5K event, we have mobilized other strategies to drive our mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.” With options to complete the 3.1-mile distance at “your place, your pace,” kids and adults alike are welcome to sign up at no cost. The fee for each non-member of the GOTR program is normally $25. By registering for the run at www.gotrlongisland. org/5k, participants will receive free downloadable goodies, such as a race bib to decorate and a finisher’s certificate. GOTR Long Island prize packs will also be raffled off, chosen from those who have registered, on race day. More information and updates on activities can be found on GOTR Long Island’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@gotrlongisland. This will include training for walking or running the 5K, indoor alternatives, and safety tips. The traditional Happy Hair, kid-friendly hair coloring, and Bling Your Bib activities. “Important to note is these are girls ages 8-11 who train for a 5K over the course of 10 weeks,” Dunne said. ‘We’re not a competitive running program but we encourage the girls to keep moving forward so our girls

Courtesy Girls on the Run/John Eng photography

GIRLS ON THE Run holds two 5K runs each year and is going virtual this spring to adhere to social distance guidelines. will run or walk the 5K and they all finish beaming with pride. It’s an incredible program that builds confidence through accomplishment.” Participants are encouraged to share their race day photos and videos with GOTR’s social media platforms using the hashtag #GOTRLI5K. In addition to the virtual race, Girls on the Run has created at Home lessons packaged in a new Power Up Kit which provides fun and interactive lessons that girls and families can do at home, designed specifically for

girls in mind. These lessons aim to provide girls of all abilities with an opportunity to learn and grow, just as they would have at their scheduled practices. GOTR at Home lessons are available in an easy-to-follow written format so girls and their grown-ups can participate together and as a YouTube video series specifically for girls. These will be available for purchase June 15-Aug. 1 and shipped directly to homes. Please visit gotrlongisland.org for more details.

Drive-in movies make a comeback in RVC By SCARLETT LIRIANO CEPIN The image of cars gathering in front of a huge screen has somehow become all too familiar, though drive-in movies have been relatively obsolete for decades. Classic films like “Grease,” and Disney Channel favorites like “Teen Beach Movie,” have made drive-ins recognizable to even those who have never experienced them. Pop culture has kept them alive long after their creation in New Mexico in 1915. However, as a result of Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, Long Islanders can now experience the wonder of an auto cinema in real life. A lot of businesses are acknowledging that people are getting tired of staying at home and watching Netflix all day. Dennison Silvio, President and CEO of Sportset Health and Fitness Club in Rockville Centre, recognized the lack of external entertainment opportunities available to Long Islanders amid a pandemic. “This is something to do in a somewhat social setting,” Silvio said. “You’re in your car, so you’re social distancing.” He added, “We sacrifice parking spaces to keep the cars further apart.”

Even as more and more places contin- gence of the drive-in as another familyue to reopen for business on the Island, friendly silver lining to the pandemic,” it’s crucial to make sure to continue to Maccone said. “Sportset did an excellent exercise the appropriate safety precau- job organizing. We will definitely return.” NYCB Live, Home of the tions. These drive-ins are Nassau Veterans Coliseum, offering people a contact-less has also recently started way to have a night of family showing a drive-in movie in fun. To avoid any risk to its its parking lot every weekend. customers, Sportset isn’t sellWhereas Sportset’s experiing snacks to moviegoers. ence costs $20 per car, the ColHowever, they’ve teamed up iseum drive-in is $30 per car. with local restaurants George The Sportset Parking Lot CinMartin, GM Burger Bar, and ema shows various movies Grillfire to make a special from Thursday to Sunday and drive-in menu. Food is availthe movies have ranged from able to be picked up at the resthrowbacks like “The Breaktaurants before the show DENNISON fast Club” to family favorites starts. Orders must be placed like “Frozen 2.” Nassau Coliby 8 p.m. if needed for the SILVIO movies. President and CEO, seum has chosen to stick to one movie per weekend. Silvio wants people to Sportset Movie snacks are available on know that Sportset is differthe premises for an additionent from its competitors because it prioritizes the Rockville Centre al cost. You can purchase meals from a community. Marleen Bello Maccone, a food truck on-site, and ice cream from a Rockville Centre resident and Sportset truck on-site as well, but you must pracdrive-in attendee, raved about her experi- tice social distancing on both of these lines. Both screenings have been consisence. “We will likely remember the resur- tently selling out before showtime.

his is something to do in a somewhat social setting.

Susan Nilsen-Jerome attended the Coliseum drive-in’s showing of “How to Train Your Dragon” this past week with her family. Despite the rain and other difficulties she faced, she thoroughly enjoyed her experience. When asked if she would recommend the drive-in, she answered affirmatively. “It was our first time,” Nilsen-Jerome said. “Definitely will be better next time. More pillows and blankets to make the car more comfy. We ended up backing in and sitting in trunk. My only suggestion would be to have some grab and go options for food. Some pre-packed food/ snacks, so the line moves quicker.” This week, Sportset is showing the Pixar movie “Coco” on Thursday, June 11, Disney’s “Moana” on Friday, “Dirty Dancing” for the parents on Saturday, and the original “Mary Poppins” on Sunday. Illumination Entertainment’s “Sing!” featuring the voices of Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Tori Kelley, will be screening at the Coliseum. Tickets tend to sell out quickly and can be purchased at sportsetrvc.com or nycblive.com.

MSSN poll: Residents reluctant to return to normal Experts urge community to follow guidelines MSSN’s experts recommend that people remain vigilant and wear masks in public. Hand washing is key, as is maintaining social distancing and avoiding unnecessary gatherings, even through the summer months. These practices can help reduce a second surge.

vaccine, if one were available. In a previous Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage, conducted in early February before the height of the outbreak, 55 percent of respondents said they would get vaccinated compared to just 45 percent now. Respondents 65 and older remained committed to getting a vaccine, with 53 percent saying they would get vaccinated in both polls. This poll showed that interest in a vaccine also increased depending on whether or not the respondent was diagnosed with the virus or knew someone personally who was. “It’s disturbing that there is reluctance about a potential vaccine,” Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Aaron Glatt said. “However, we’re hopeful that as one is developed, tested, and proven effective, people’s attitudes will change, Although a vaccine is still some months away, early research shows promise that a vaccine could prevent a resurgence of Covid-19. Science is on our side. Right now, there is still too much unknown about a potential vaccine, and I assume that uncertainty is what we are seeing reflected in the poll results.” Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced a phased reopening of Long Island’s economy. During Phase One of the reopening, Long Island and the MidHudson Valley may begin construction staging to prepare for resuming projects, curbside retail, manufacturing, agriculture and fishing. However, most residents made it clear they are not

Public Notices

LROC1 0611

LEGAL NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre (Village) will hold a public hearing with respect to the following proposed local laws: RVC 2020E. A local law to amend the Code of the Village of Rockville Centre, in relation to temporary outdoor dining licenses. Date of Hearing:June 18, 2020 Time of Hearing:6:00 pm Place of Hearing: The meeting and public hearing will be conducted virtually pursuant to Executive Orders issued by the Governor. Interested person may access the virtual meeting

a t : https://zoom.us/j/996608 50186. Audio of the meeting may be accessed at 646-558-8656, Meeting ID: 996 6085 0186. Pursuant to Executive Orders, the Village Hall is closed to the public. The proposed local law is available for public inspection on the Village website at www.rvcny.us . Please check the Village website for any possible changes with respect to the hearing or propsed law. All interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard with respect to the public hearing (a) prior to or during the public hearing by email to feedback@rvcny.us or by

written submission to the Village Administrator, One College Place, PO Box 950, Rockville Centre, New York 11570-0950, or (b) during the hearing by oral comment or Chat comment using the Zoom website. The Village complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Disabled persons with special needs should contact the Village Clerk’s office at 516-678-9212 at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to accommodate such needs. Dated: June 6, 2020 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OF THE VILLAGE ROCKVILLE CENTRE 122060

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that a license, number 1327015 for restaurant wine has been applied for by the undersigned to sell beer, wine and cider at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 306 Sunrise Hwy, Rockville Centre, NY 11570, Nassau County for on premises consumption. SHREE DANESHWOR INC. dba COLOR OF SPICES 122036 PUBLIC & LEGAL NOTICES To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

willing to resume their pre-pandemic activities, the poll showed. New York City is the only region to remain on New York’s Pause, Cuomo’s 10-point executive order to keep New York safe during the coronavirus outbreak, but it was due to start reopening June 8. One-third of area residents polled have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or know someone who was. Nearly all respondents said they will continue to wear a mask to protect themselves until circumstances change. Only 3 percent of respondents reported that they do not wear a mask. “Very few aspects of day-to-day life have remained unchanged during the Covid-19 era,” said Dr. Adhi Sharma, the hospital’s executive vice president for clinical and professional affairs and chief medical officer. “It is a positive sign that the vast majority of people remain reluctant to resume normal life post-Covid-19. The public health education that has been going on during the last two months has made a lasting impact, which is good. The virus is still out there and active. We must remain vigilant in our social distancing effort. There is good reason why we should not be returning to life as normal just yet.” New York City has been the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. Long Island and Westchester County also have been particularly hard hit. This is Mount Sinai South Nassau’s second Truth in Medicine poll, sponsored by Bethpage, on the region’s response to coronavirus. The first poll, conducted February 5-9, found that 62 percent of respondents were very concerned about the coronavirus outbreak. However, at the time, residents saw the flu as a more serious threat than coronavirus. A majority of respondents in this

poll said they felt comfortable receiving medical care, going to an emergency room and returning to work, only if safety precautions were followed. Fiftytwo percent said they would go to a beach or park with social distancing and sanitizing practices in place. Nearly one in 10 respondents has either personally delayed seeking treatment or has a family member who did so for chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness in the limbs or slur red speech due to fear of catching the virus. Thirteen percent of those who had been infected with the virus or had a family member who was have delayed care. As the rates of Covid-19-related hospitalizations and deaths decline, some 25 percent of poll respondents said they would still not visit an emergency room. Sixty-three percent said they would seek emergency care only if social distancing guidelines and sanitizing measures were enforced. There is concern among physicians about the impact of delayed medical care. For example, individuals with chest pain who avoided the emergency room could damage their heart muscle and cause additional blockages or, worse, a severe heart attack. “People should not delay seeking care, including going to an emergency room if necessary,” Sharma said. “Visits to emergency rooms remain low compared to pre-Covid-19, which is an indication that people are delaying seeking treatment due to coronavirus fears. We have taken all necessary precautions, including deep cleaning and segregation of Covid-19 versus nonCovid-19 patients in our ER, so people should not put their health on hold. It’s more dangerous to sit home when you are experiencing serious symptoms.” In every case of the poll, men are more willing than women to resume public activities, both with and without restrictions. Respondents under age 50, especially parents of children under age 18, are more likely to return to the workplace, go to the beach or a park, attend a religious service, eat in a restaurant/go to a bar, attend a sporting event and go to a movie than older respondents and those without children. Courtesy MSSN; compiled by Mike Smollins

NEWS BRIEF School budget, election deadlines extended Saying “No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their right to vote,” N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the deadline for mailin ballots in local school budget and school board elections, originally scheduled for Tuesday. Hand-delivered ballots still must be received by 5 p.m. on June 9, according

to a news release, but mail-in ballots may be received until June 16. In the same executive order, the governor allowed absentee ballots in the state’s presidential primary to be counted if postmarked no later than June 23. This means voters may mail their ballots as late as the day of the election.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Two-thirds of Long Islanders and New York City residents would not attend a sporting event, watch a movie or ride mass transit because of Covid19 fears as Long Island reopens, the latest Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital public health poll shows. Eighty-six percent of respondents said they would not shake someone’s hand, while most were still eager to have children return to school. Seventy-one percent of respondents with children under the age of 18 said they will send their children back to school in the fall, although 52 percent will do so only with appropriate social distancing and sanitizing practices in place. Sixteen percent said they will not send their children back to school in the fall. A majority of parents believe remote learning has gone “very well” or “well.” Concern about coronavirus returning in the fall is high. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning “not concerned at all” and 10 meaning “extremely concerned,” the mean level of concern was 7.71. Concern is higher than average among Hispanic respondents, women and those 65-plus. The Mount Sinai South Nassau Truth in Medicine Poll, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, is a quarterly survey of Long Island and New York City residents that aims to gather data about attitudes on key public health topics and help spur education to improve public health. The poll was conducted May 11-14 via landlines and cell phones with 600 residents in New York City and on Long Island. Poll findings are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent. The latest findings showed that the majority also is uneasy about flying on an airplane, eating in a restaurant, or going to a bar, the poll showed. Despite 100,000 recorded deaths due to coronavirus nationwide, notably, 55 percent of area residents said they are either unsure (30 percent) or would not (25 percent) roll up their sleeves for a

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his grand stately home is for the discerning buyer looking for spacious living inside and out. All it needs is loving care to reclaim its potential. You will enjoy extraordinary park-like property. This home boasts original details signaling the era of gracious living. A true Center Hall Colonial that has a large family room off oversized living room. There is an extra large dining room adjacent to eat in kitchen and enclosed porch along with three full baths, four bedrooms and a third floor bonus room. This home also comes with a two car detached garage, new water main and gas burner. It is located in the incorporated village of Rockville Centre, a vibrant town loaded with restaurants and shopping and is close to LIRR. This home is waiting for you! The potential and possibilities are endless with a property size of over a half an acre! $850,000

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Installing a bidet: no simple project Q. Because of this crazy time, we couldn’t get toi-

let paper, so I saw an advertisement for a bidet that attaches to the bottom of the toilet seat and ordered one. After weeks of waiting, there seemed like toilet paper was back in the stores, but then the bidet arrived. With no job to run off to, I decided to put the bidet on, and the instructions looked simple enough. That’s when I discovered that, like you often say, nothing is simple, and you’re right. My toilet is the kind that is sleek and modern, called “low profile.” Since we have never replaced the toilet seat, I didn’t know that the seat was Ask The attached with hidden bolts Architect that can’t be loosened or taken off. After going on YouTube, I saw in an instructional video by Kohler, the maker, that with a special-order kit that includes a flat tool, new bolts and special expanding sleeves, which I would need to use with a bunch of drill bits, a screwonte eeper driver and a mallet, I could do this “simple” job. I called a plumber, who looked at it and made one of those sounds like air rushing out of a balloon, and he said, after he couldn’t get the screw to loosen, either, that the toilet might get damaged if they drilled it out but they could try. If it got damaged, he said, as a backup, be prepared to replace the toilet and select what you would want to replace it. Even though I’m now searching for a new model toilet, I thought other readers would want to know about this problem before they go through this, as well. It all started with a simple roll of toilet paper that could have been available if people hadn’t swept them off the shelves in a panic. What would you do in this case?

A. I not only got calls from people I knew that they ordered the bidet attachment around early April, but I ordered one myself, and learned from your question that there were many who are experiencing the same issues. I’m often told by prospective clients that they want a simpler look, something more modern and “updated.” People seldom want to hear the truth when they have an idea about how to make things simpler, and I didn’t imagine that the engineers of that type of sleeklooking low toilet, with no indents or hidden places to clean, would actually be more complicated to work with. Who would have imagined that changing a toilet seat would mean changing a toilet? When people see something in a magazine, like an incredible staircase with no walls underneath or a fancy sports car, I wonder if they really understand the amount of complicated engineering that goes into the “simple” design. I would drill out the bolts with the kit standing by from the manufacturer and have the toilet selected, readily available to purchase for installation. Good luck!

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OPINIONS

table neighborhoods are the backbone of every community. But in places like New York state, where housing costs continue to rise dramatically, housing stability is threatened for far too many, particularly families and individuals who rely on public assistance. On any given day, more than 92,000 New Yorkers are homeless. The gross inadequacy of housing subsidies is a critical factor in the rise of homelessness and housing instability. Long DON Island is home to FRIEDMAN about 1,800 homeless households staying in shelters, while another 3,200 or so families and individuals struggle to get by on public assistance allowances that cover only 40 percent to twothirds of their monthly rents. These households are on the brink of becoming homeless, and most will find themselves facing eviction, having to double up with family or friends, or living in shelters or places not fit for human habitation. This crisis is manifest throughout our

state, where, for example, more than 150,000 children experience homelessness over the course of the school year. Many of the more than 80,000 public-assistance households that struggle to pay their rents every month will constitute the next wave of families and individuals to lose their housing. These families will need to find shelters, hotels, tents, abandoned buildings, cars or sofas where they can spend a night, a week, a month, a lifetime after literally losing the roofs over their heads. We have learned a great deal about the impact of housing instability and homelessness on individuals and families. Children who experience the intense stress of these hardships don’t do as well in school, and are more likely to have behavioral issues; adults are less likely to secure jobs and keep them, and more prone to mental and physical health problems; and families are often less able to succeed as cohesive units. But it doesn’t need to be this way. There is a solution in the form of legislation that has been pending in Albany for the past few years called Home Stability Support. HSS is a common-sense remedy

to the homelessness crisis that is supported by 129 members of the State Assembly, 37 state senators, more than 100 faith leaders, including the New York State Council of Churches and the New York State Catholic Conference, as well as dozens of local officials and scores of human services agencies and other advocates. The design is simple: HSS would bridge the divide between public-assistance housing allowances and reasonable rents in order to enable homeless and at-risk New Yorkers to leave or avoid the impermanent shelter system and secure stable housing of their own. Critics of the bill point out that the state had no resources for a program like HSS even before the coronavirus pandemic. But with homelessness in the state at record levels, shelters are overcrowded, and it costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year to leave this problem unsolved. HSS would not only help our homeless neighbors and those at risk of becoming homeless to become stably housed, it would also contribute to neighborhood stability and benefit taxpayers by preventing evictions, helping those

ousing instability turns the lives of children and adults upside down.

fleeing unsafe homes and reducing the use of costly shelters. Moreover, the pandemic has exposed longstanding systemic inequities: wealthy families have been weathering the crisis away from dense metropolitan areas, while low-income workers have lost their livelihoods or continue to be exposed to the virus. While some have been able to work from home, others have neither a computer nor access to the internet. For the rich, the pandemic presents investment opportunities never seen before, but for the poor, it means the total depletion of their savings. Now that New York state is slowly coming back to life after the lockdown, it is critical that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders recognize the need to end the vicious cycle of homelessness for families. Almost everyone in the Legislature agrees that Home Stability Support would be the immediate solution to our statewide, cyclical homelessness crisis. Now it’s now time for Cuomo to ensure that the post-pandemic comeback isn’t built on the backs of low-income communities. Don Friedman is a former managing attorney of the Long Island office of the Empire Justice Center, a statewide legal services and advocacy organization for low-income New Yorkers.

My own silver lining is in the mirror on’t go changing to try and please me . . . Don’t change the color of your hair.” —Billy Joel

Why would women stretch out on their backs with their hair floating behind them in vats of lye? Apparently, in the 1600s that was the price of beauty for fashionable women in Venice. It was what one did on the Rialto to bleach one’s hair into “golden” locks. I mention this because my husband and I recently had “the talk.” There are lots of pandemic-fueled talks going on now RANDI in America, and while this one KREISS started in a jokey kind of way, with a slow burn, it quickly ignited. The accelerant was oldschool ageism. I realized we were talking about identity. I asked him if he liked my hair, which has been growing in gray since I decided not to risk Covid-19 by going to a hair salon. (As businesses open, I realize this

is now my personal choice.) Yes, it is a loaded question from spouse A to spouse B. Of course, just by asking, I’m making his opinion of my appearance important. And it is. As an older, pretty traditional couple, that has been the way we roll. We tell each other if a sweater looks too worn or pants are too tight. We accept opinions on new shoes or eyeglasses. We have an actual agreement that we don’t say anything negative about each other’s appearance before we go out for the evening, but upon returning, we are allowed to say, “Burn that shirt.” When I asked about my going gray, he said, “I like your hair dark.” Well, I liked it better when my hair was dark, too, but it can’t get dark unless I go to a salon, or color it at home, which is a project I am not taking on. Besides, why should I? Why was I hitched to a wagon that dragged me to a salon every eight weeks for a “touch-up”? When I said I didn’t plan to change my hair, he said, “Well, OK, but I like it better the other way.” “Well, OK,” I said, “I liked it better when you had wavy black curls and rip-

pling muscles in your arms.” The double standard suddenly popped out in high relief. Why is it OK for him to have gray hair and not think that it diminishes him in any way, and I have to dye my hair in order to “improve” my appearance when I start to show signs of aging? If the pandemic had not struck, confining us to home base and prohibiting socializing, I probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done. Every eight weeks I’ll go to the theater instead, for the same money, should the theaters ever open again. Meanwhile, stuck in the house, I’m getting comfortable with the me in me. I’ve outgrown that woman with highlighted hair and ritualized applications of makeup. While we’re at it, let’s burn the bra. I see my husband’s eyes scan my upper torso and I know what he’s thinking. I go for it: “I’ve decided not to wear a bra anymore.” “I noticed,” he says. “Don’t you think your clothes look better when you wear a bra?” “My clothes would look better on a mannequin with Barbie Doll measure-

probably would have continued to color my hair indefinitely. But now? I’m done.

ments,” I say, “but I am an imperfect human woman, and bras are uncomfortable, and I don’t want to be pinched and wired into place anymore.” I mean, why don’t fat guys wear Spanx? I know some men color their hair, but most don’t, whereas some 70 percent of American women color theirs. The selfimprovement industry comprising hair coloring, makeup and dieting has been largely aimed at women. We have been all too willing to believe that we aren’t thin enough or pretty enough or sexy enough in our own skins. Especially as we get older, it’s big business to convince women to cover the evidence of aging by dyeing hair, applying more makeup and submitting to surgeries. This is a very old story, but it has been made new again by the coronavirus, which reminds us what is important in our lives. In the age of masks, it is unmasking us. When your partner asks what you think of her going without makeup, a bra or hair color, or he asks if he can forgo the haircut, there are only eight acceptable words to utter: “I love you just the way you are.” Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

Include Home Stability Support in the recovery phase

HERALD EDITORIAL

Rockville Centre

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Protests should lead to reforms in New York

assau County wound ing on the sidewalk. That led down a whirlwind police to escort the BLM proweek of Black Lives testers around the counterproMatter protests testers. through local neighborhoods The next day, roughly 2,000 last week that were, with one BLM protesters turned out in exception, peaceful and upliftMerrick and marched through ing. local streets, from Sunrise Tens of thousands marched, Highway to Merrick Road, on to from Valley Stream to Bellmore Bellmore and back to Merrick. and from Hempstead to Long They chanted and cheered, Beach. They came seeking jusrapped and sang. This time, tice for George Floyd, killed by many local residents came out a Minneapolis police officer to welcome them. who pressed his knee into The day after that, 4,000 proFloyd’s neck for 8 minutes, 46 testers turned out, and they seconds. kept coming every day through At the same time, the protestlast Sunday. Outstanding! ers said they wanted social jusOn Saturday, a group of tice for all people, regardless of about two dozen protesters skin color. rushed at Nassau County police It’s about time that protests officers while to protest on the of this magnitude happened Meadowbrook Parkway in Merhere in Nassau. Often in the rick in the rain, according to past, when protests of this kind authorities. One officer’s ankle took place in response to an was broken. Another suffered a injustice, they happened in big bruised nose and a scratched cities like New York, Washingcornea. ton and Los Angeles. That left This should never have hapGOV. ANDREW Nassau residents with the dispened. No one should have CUOMO tinct impression that the social attempted to protest on the injustices that black people parkway, particularly when it have faced were not their concern. This was wet and slick. As one Facebook user time, protesters brought the demonstracommented, to do so would have been a tions to our otherwise quiet suburban “death wish.” neighborhoods, making them impossible More important, police never should to ignore. have been injured. The NCPD did an excelBravo! lent job of maintaining the peace and And these protesters weren’t taking no keeping everyone safe throughout the for an answer. In Merrick, a group of week. They didn’t deserve this. about 30 people, a number of whom were There were only 11 arrests of protesters from local neighborhoods, tried to stop 150 last week, all in Merrick, and all were Black Lives Matter protesters from march- among those who tried to jump onto the

don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.

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LETTERS Sidewalks, trees and weeds To the Editor: Since Gov. Cuomo issued the “stay at home” order, I have noticed an increase in the number of residents walking, riding bikes and jogging throughout the village. This is true in my household, as my family has joined me on the daily dog walks with Maggie, our golden retriever. The Village of Rockville Centre needs to do a better job with ensuring that sidewalks, trees and weeds are all maintained, trimmed and eliminated. Not just on village property, but around residential and commercial buildings. Many sidewalks have cracks, missing pieces or are just uneven, usually from settlement or from tree roots from a nearby tree. The uneven gap in the sidewalk squares can be as large as three or four inches. This is potentially a dangerous situation for anybody using the sidewalk. I have tripped several times, especially in the snow and ice, and quite often walk in the street once I reach these blocks. Village codes clearly places the responsibility for

Meadowbrook. We seem in this nation to be in a perpetual cycle of violence against people of color, followed by protests that at times turn violent, as they did in major cities around the country last week. It’s time that we end that cycle. Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo renewed his call for enactment of the “Say Their Name” reform agenda, saying that police have to do their jobs, but do not have the right to abuse those they police, and that society will no longer tolerate delayed justice. The Say Their Name agenda would: ■ Make public prior disciplinary records of law enforcement officers by reforming Section 50-a of the state’s Civil Rights Law. ■ Ban chokeholds by law enforcement officers. ■ Prohibit false, race-based 911 reports and make them a crime. ■ Designate the attorney general as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the deaths of unarmed civilians caused by law enforcement. We fully support passage of this legislation, and we call on the State Legislature to act on it immediately. “Police have to do their jobs, protect public safety,” Cuomo said. “There’s also police abuse. There’s abuse of power. Protesters — most of the protesters are peaceful — they are indignant. It is righteous indignation. I don’t see anybody who can see the Mr. Floyd video and not be indignant. I don’t understand how you can see that murder on videotape and not be outraged. I said from Day One, I share that outrage.”

OPINIONS

he largest pandemic in 100 years gave us a crash course in public health. We quickly learned the epidemiological concepts of “flattening the curve, the risk of exposure, asymptomatic carriers, incubation periods, and why we must quarantine. Even though everyone may not have understood these concepts, we all learned what to do: isolate and minimize contact with others to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This was enforced here through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “New York State on Pause” — even MARTINE if you wanted to HACKETT go to school or a bar or a movie, you couldn’t because of the policies that closed them all for the sake of the public. Individuals had to sacrifice for the greater good. Eventually these policies, and changes in behavior, worked. On Long Island, the percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 has dropped from 20 percent to 2 percent over the past six weeks. The number of daily deaths in New York City

LETTERS the repair of the sidewalks on the property owners (residential or commercial), but when nobody enforces the code, why fix it? Something has to change. A l s o, t re e s, s h r u b s o r h e d g e s shouldn’t be allowed to grow onto the sidewalk. In some places, hedges cover 85 percent of the sidewalk, forcing people to walk in the street! I would hate to see someone hit by a car or bike because they had to walk in the street, since the sidewalk wasn’t a viable option due to overgrown hedges, shrubs or low-hanging limbs. Per village code 303-2, all overhanging limbs are to be kept trimmed at all times to allow a passage space no less than 8 feet above the center of the sidewalk and not less than 13 feet above the roadway, measured at a point 5 feet from the curb line. Last fall I spoke to one of the co-heads of the Department of Public Works and mentioned the issue, and saw very little compliance from owners. Already this spring I have spoken to several homeowners directly, and most have complied with my request. Finally, the dreaded weeds! Has anybody been to the downtown area or driven through the village parking lots lately? I hope so, because maybe you are supporting the local merchants, but all I notice are weeds growing — from the base of the post holding the hanging baskets, from the front and sides of commercial buildings and all along the cracks and gaps in the cement, especially in the village parking lots. Cleaning

dropped to zero last week for the first time since March. Nassau and Suffolk were among the hardest-hit counties in the United States, and we have been meeting the metrics of declining hospitalizations and deaths, and are moving toward reopening. We also learned that even though a virus cannot be seen by the naked eye, we can see its effects on the body. We understand that this invisible agent can be spread without the knowledge of those who have it, and that it can be deadly. The same is true for police brutality and its root cause, structural racism. Invisible to some and supported by many who are unaware of its impact, the overwhelming police presence in communities of color takes a continuing toll on people of color. Just as electron microscopes made it possible for viruses to be visible 90 years ago, police brutality is now visible is cellphone documentation that is viewed and shared on our myriad screens. The shocking and deeply disturbing video of George Floyd’s death as a direct result of a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck made it painfully clear how racism

and law enforcement violence intersect. The fact that Floyd’s autopsy revealed that he also had Covid-19 the month before he was murdered further connects the vulnerability of black people to public-health threats. The protests that followed across the United States and the world demanded an end to systemic racism. The American Public Health Association states that racism structures opportunity and assigns value based on how a person looks. The result is conditions that give an unfair advantage to some and unfairly disadvantage others. Racism hurts the health of our nation by denying some people the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. We know that in Nassau and Suffolk counties, Covid-19 deaths have disproportionately affected black residents. In 2018, the APHA also recognized that law enforcement violence was a publichealth issue. Racism and injustice have resulted in the deaths of more people than the 110,000 that Covid-19 has caused thus far in the U.S. We have seen that public-health solu-

icroscopes have made viruses visible, and cellphones allow us to see brutality.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — June 11, 2020

A virus and police brutality: two public-health problems I

tions can work to reduce the virus’s toll. However, just talking about what to do — wearing masks, social distancing, disinfecting — does not work unless those recommendations are followed rigorously. tinue t Without conscious and vigilant action, ty is th Covid-19 would continue to spread and larly fa cause sickness and death. But as we wait on pub for a vaccine and the building of herd immunity, we may one day gain control of the virus, and live our lives without thinking too much about it. There is no similar one- or two-shot solution to an unjust societal system. Eliminating the public-health problems of police brutality and systemic racism will require public-health-sized solutions: consistent monitoring; education about how structural racism, especially on Long Island, came to be a force in our schools, communities and health care system; policy changes; and changes in citizens’ behavior and attitudes. Police brutality, and the underlying causes of systemic racism, require the 3,200 or same unprecedented level of action and gle to g ances t resources we used to address the pandemic. We are all connected, whether we thirds househ see it or not. homele Martine Hackett is an associate professor facing family of public health at Hofstra University. places Thi

FRAMEWORK by Christina Daly

Why backs w them in 1600s th fashion

An installation in Pratt Park — Glen Cove

this up and spraying a weed-killing solution should be a priority. Whether the village does it or the commercial owners, the village owes it to businesses to provide an attractive space for all to enjoy shopping and eating, especially when outdoor space is going to play an important part in the recovery. For those merchants, like Gino’s, that cleaned up and planted plants in the dirt square in the sidewalk by the curb where a tree might grow or was once planted, I applaud you. It makes curbside pickup, which is thenew norm, a little more pleasant. I’m not sure what the village has planned for the remaining dirt squares, but can we at least plant a tree? We have been a

member of Tree City USA for the past 32 years! It would be easy to say hire more employees, but the village has been reducing the headcount in the DPW over the past few years. With that said hopefully resources in the village can bequickly shifted and the downtown area cleaned up prior to the nextschool phase of the reopening. Mayor, if you need any help, feel free I rea to reach out to me. We all have a reason to make Rockville Cen-ty. tre succeed. Let’s make it happen! I ask has bee KARL H. GARRETTnot to r Rockville Centresalon. (

June 11, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

GETTING BACK TO OUR LIVES BEGINS WITH OUR HEALTH. To our fellow Long Islanders: For months, we’ve all endured a crisis that has reshaped our world. And, although our daily lives will be affected for some time to come, we’re beginning to move towards some sense of normalcy and optimism. Along with the desire to protect lives, we all want to get back to living. And living well starts with your health. Your total health. That’s why we’ve instituted extensive safety measures throughout our hospitals and physician ofﬁces. There’s no need to ignore health issues or postpone procedures, because we’ve made it safe to get the care you need. The new summer is here. Now is the right time to refocus on your greatest asset of all—your health. Just know that, at Catholic Health Services, we’re here for Long Island and, most of all, we’re here for you. Sincerely, The Catholic Health Services Medical Staff

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® • Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center • St. Charles Hospital St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center • Mercy Medical Center • St. Joseph Hospital

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