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VOL. 31 NO. 41
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This month’s color is pink RVC Breast Cancer Coalition is going strong amid pandemic ed to make this month, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a “give back” month as it bbonfiglio@liherald.com focuses on supporting those As the coronavirus pandemic affected by the disease. drags on, the Rockville Centre Board members have hung Breast Cancer Coalition will not pink bows, symbols of breast host its annual cancer awareness, Black & White Cockd ow n t ow n . T h ey tail Party fundraiser, also plan to co-host but its services to free cancer screenthose with breast ings at Mount Sinai cancer have continSouth Nassau hospiued. tal, in Oceanside, on Last year, the big Oct. 25, from 8 a.m. event, at EGP to 3 p.m. Those who O c e a n s i de, d rew would like to schedmore than 400 peoule an appointment ple and raised about can call (516) 255$35,000, which bene8220 and mention fited breast cancer the event, which is patients and survialso being sponsored vo r s o n N a s s a u by State Sen. Todd County’s South Kaminsky. Shore. Michael’s Jewelry “We’re in a good Designs, on North s p o t , ” s a i d P e g PEG McDONALD Park Avenue in the McDonald, co-presi- Co-president, village, designed a dent of the coalition. RVCBC Coalition custom necklace for “We just want people the coalition, and a to know that we’re portion of the prostill here and available to them ceeds for every one sold this for services.” month will go to the organizaMcDonald said that all fund- tion. “We were more than happy raising is now on the back burn- to do something for the coalier, even virtually, because she tion,” said owner Michael Zuckknows businesses are hurting. Instead, the coalition has decidCONTINUED ON PAGE 3
By BRIANA BONFIGLIO and JILL NOSSA
Courtesy Matt Cliszis
Lemonade for a cause Rockville Centre residents, from left, Alexa Cliszis, Emily McFeely and Ava Paulson, all 9-yearolds and fourth-graders at Hewitt Elementary School, ran a lemonade stand on Sept. 26 near the entrance of Hempstead Lake Park in honor of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and residents Gabi Pellicani and Mary Ruchalski, who lost their lives to the disease. The girls raised more than $250, and donated all of the proceeds to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Mary Ruchalski Foundation.
Preschoolers head back to class Buildings reopen with virus protocols in place By JILL NOSSA jnossa@liherald.com
Rockville Centre’s youngest students have returned to classrooms around the village over the past few weeks, giving families, educators and the children themselves a sense of normalcy. The guidelines for preschools are different from those for public schools, falling under the state Department of Health’s child care program, so each
school has been able to develop its own plan for reopening while following distancing and safety guidelines. On Sept. 29, two weeks later than normal, students returned to the preschool program at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, which offers classes for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. “It’s been great,” Karen Polito, the center’s acting superintendent, said. “The kids were so happy to come back and see their teachers, and
especially to see their old friends, many of whom they hadn’t seen since March.” On the first day of classes, Mayor Francis X. Murray and Village Trustee Nancy Howard greeted students and parents. “There were a lot of smiles, and only a few tears,” Polito said. “Sometimes it’s harder for the moms than for the kids.” Students’ temperatures are CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
W
e’re in a good spot. We just want people to know that we’re still here and available to them for services.