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Pharmacists plead for Hochul’s help Caremark have the power to determine how much money pharmacies are reimbursed for Rockville Centre pharmacist the prescriptions they dispense. Howard Jacobson is among the A survey of more than 300 indemany independent pharmacy pendent pharmacies earlier this owners who have struggled over year, conducted by the Pharmathe years due to the influence of cists Society of the State of New phar macy benefit York, found that 98 managers, and have percent of responurged Gov. Kathy dents had their Hochul to sign into reimbursements cut law the Pharmacy during the pandemRescue Package. The ic, and 97 percent bill was passed overfeared they would whelmingly by the h ave t o l ay o f f State Assembly and employees, reduce Senate in June. store hours or close PBMs act as middue to those cuts. At d l e m e n b e t we e n the same time, pharmacies, on one PBMs have seen side, and drug manrecord-breaking revHOWARD ufacturers and enue increases. insurance compa- JACOBSON “It’s alar ming nies, on the other. A Owner, what’s happening in lack of oversight of our state, on our Rockville Centre the managers costs island and in our independent phar- Pharmacy own little Nassau macies across the County,” said Jacobstate, which often son, the owner of face financial hardship because Rockville Centre Phar macy. of low reimbursement rates “RVC Pharmacy, a tiny little from the managers, which are location, we’re doing over 100 not legally required to disclose vaccinations every day, and their revenue streams in New that’s on top of our testing and York. trying to get our regular busiCurrently, PBMs such as Opt- ness and prescriptions out to our umRx, Express Scripts and CVS CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com

Sue Grieco/Herald

The Clauses came to town Jolly Old St. Nick and the missus strolled through the village’s Recreation Center last Sunday, greeting children and spreading Christmas cheer.

Familiar face, new role at St. Agnes Mary Brower is named assistant principal By TOM CARROZZA tcarrozza@liherald.com

After more than a decade at the St. Agnes Cathedral School in Rockville Centre, Mary Brower took on a new challenge this school year, becoming assistant principal. Last week, Brower reflected on her experience in teaching and administration, and how she and the school have adapted during the pandemic. Brower, 41, was inspired to

pursue a career in education by watching her mother, Patricia Owczarek, who has taught at St. Ann’s, in Garden City, for over 30 years. It wasn’t her original plan — she wanted to be a physical therapist — but, she recalled, sitting in her mother’s classroom with her on off days led to a change of mind. She graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in elementary education in 2002, and earned a master’s from Hofstra the following year.

Brower started her career as a teacher’s assistant and substitute in Rockville Centre’s Hewitt Elementary School before becoming the computer teacher at St. Agnes in 2006. She spent a decade in that role, witnessing a technological leap in which the school went from bulky Mac computers to individual iPads. That transition has been especially important to give students the remote option during the CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

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Former RVC bishop takes helm in Brooklyn

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com

To much fanfare, longtime Rockville Centre Bishop Robert Brennan was installed as the eighth bishop of the Archdiocese of Brooklyn on Nov. 30. Brennan, 59, was ordained at the Archdiocese of Rockville Centre in 1989, and he served there until he moved to a parish in Ohio in 2019. He was born in the Bronx, raised in Lindenhurst and spoke Mass in Smithtown, Rockville Centre, Long Beach, Roosevelt and Lynbrook over the years. Last month, he took the helm as bishop in Brooklyn, which houses 1.5 million Roman Catholics in the city’s two most-populous boroughs, Brooklyn and Queens. “It’s nice to be coming back to the New York/Long Island area,” Brennan said. “I’m getting to know the diocese, and there are lots of new people to get to know and new neighborhoods, so my initial experience is just getting to know people, and it’s actually quite wonderful.” Brennan replaces Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who held the post for 18 years. He said the outgoing bishop left the parish in “good shape,” and gave him encouragement and support. Brennan began his tenure with three ceremonial taps with a hammer on the cathedral door, part of a ceremonious welcome for the new bishop, who displayed an ornate letter from Pope Francis naming him bishop of Brooklyn and Queens. A crowd of 1,500 filled the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn for the ceremony, including the bishop’s parents, Patricia and Robert, a retired NYPD officer. The band from Brennan’s high school alma mater, St. John the Baptist in West Islip, performed outside, which he said meant a great deal to him, while Timothy Cardinal Dolan presided inside.

Photos courtesy Archdiocese of Brooklyn

FORMER ROCKVILLE CENTRE Bishop Robert Brennan was installed as the eighth bishop of the Archdiocese of Brooklyn on Nov. 30. Brennan said he enjoyed the past two years in Ohio, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, but he was excited for new experience and the multicultural feel of the boroughs. “It was very, very moving to see so many people at the installation,” he said. “Talk about a Brooklyn-Queens welcome. People were incredibly welcoming and really that was one of the first large gatherings that they’ve had in a long time because of Covid and they took all the precautions they could. We had a big celebration.” Brennan said the experience was an encouraging start to his tenure, including having students from his former Catholic school there. He added that a Catholic

school upbringing was a major part of his life. After St. John the Baptist, Brennan went to St. John’s University in Queens, which helped him become well-versed in one of the boroughs he now serves. He also recalled his three decades in Rockville Centre fondly. “I loved the church in Rockville Centre,” he said. “I was very much at home in Nassau and Suffolk counties. I knew many of the parishes, loved many of the people. We have wonderful, wonderful people and there’s a great sense of faith. People are good people and they’re trying to live good lives and they practice their faith and they raise their families, and it’s great being part of all of that.” Now that he’s in a new diocese, Bren-

BRENNAN BEGAN HIS tenure with three ceremonial taps with a hammer on the cathedral door, top right. nan said, his goals are to get to know the parishioners and the neighborhoods, and to follow the methods he has always used as a leader. “An expression I use is to live the joy of the gospel and the splendor of truth,” he said, “to live our Catholic faith boldy, unapologetically and joyfully, and my main goal right now is to get to know everybody, to give the parishioners an understanding of what the experience of life is, what the challenges of life are, and to live together that good news, that joy of the gospel.”

St. Agnes hosts first ever Rudolph Run On December 4th, the St. Agnes Mothers’ Club hosted the 1st Annual Rudolph Run! Over 150 children (grades K-6) participated in an exciting morning including a one-mile fun run through a Christmas-themed course. Students in grades 7th and 8th volunteered and help make the event a huge success! There was music, hot cocoa stations, reindeer activities and Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus awarded each runner with their special medal at the finish line. Compiled by Tom Carrozza

OVER 150 ST. Agnes students lined up for the school’s inaugural Rudolph Run on Clinton Avenue.

Courtesy St. Agnes Mothers’ Club

CRIME WATCH

A Home for the Holidays!

Unusual incident

Leaving the scene

■ On Dec. 7 at 6:39 p.m., a Woods Avenue resident reported that someone made unauthorized purchases on her credit card.

■ At 2:33 p.m. on Dec. 8, a motorist reported that her car was struck by a vehicle that left the scene while driving on N. Oceanside Road.

■ At 5:09 p.m. on Dec. 18, a resident reported that she was the victim of a gift card scam via email.

■ The operator of a vehicle reported that her car was struck by a vehicle that left the scene while driving on Sunrise Highway on Dec. 10 at 6:07 p.m.

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■ At 9:04 a.m. on Dec. 8, the manager of U-Haul reported that two vehicles were not returned after the rental period ended.

Property damage

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■ A Whitehall Road resident reported someone damaged the front bumper of her vehicle while it was parked in front of her home on Dec. 10 at 3:05 p.m.

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■ On Dec. 15 at 3:49 p.m., a village employee reported damage to a villageowned fence on Maine Avenue.

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■ At 10:43 a.m. on Dec. 16, a Verizon employee reported that he accidentally dropped a tool onto the windshield of a vehicle while working on overhead phone lines on State Street.

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■ On Dec. 11 at 2:25 p.m., a motorist reported that her car was struck by a vehicle that left the scene while driving on N. Long Beach Road. ■ At 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 19, a driver reported that her car was struck by a vehicle that left the scene while parking in a Merrick Road parking lot.

Narcotics destruction ■ At 10:11 a.m. on Dec. 8, the Police Department disposed of 31 pounds of pharmaceuticals from its drug takeback box.

Larceny

■ A motorist reported that he struck a village-owned street sign on N. Village Avenue on Dec. 16 at 12:27 p.m.

■ A motorist reported on Dec. 14 at 1:54 a.m. that someone stole his vehicle while it was parked in the 7-Eleven parking lot on Randall Avenue. The car was unlocked and running with the keys inside when it was stolen. Police located the vehicle in Newark, N.J. on Dec. 15.

■ On Dec. 18 at 3:01 p.m., a motorist reported that she found scratches on her vehicle while it was parked in a N. Centre Avenue parking lot.

■ On Dec. 14 at 9:29 a.m., a Hempstead Avenue resident reported that someone stole her vehicle while it was parked in her driveway.

Harassment

Graffiti

■ On Dec. 6 at 6:51 p.m., a Merrick Road resident reported that he had a dispute with his neighbor.

■ The manager of a N. Park Avenue restaurant reported finding graffiti on the building on Dec. 18 at 3:21 p.m.

Infections as of Dec. 13

3,403

Infections as of Dec. 6 3,307

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MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/rockvillecentre

Contact Alexza Eugene 516-789-2319 or aeugene@uhy-us.com

■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: rvceditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 205 E-mail: rvceditor@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: circ@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: sales@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 1155187

December 23, 2021 — ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD

The Rockville Centre Herald USPS 74660, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Rockville Centre Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Newsstand Price: $1 Subscription rates: $50 for 1 year within Nassau County. Out of Nassau County: $60 for 1 year. Copyright © 2021 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

RVC scouts partake in Wreaths Across America

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

On Dec. 18, members of Boy Scouts Troop 40 participated in the Wreaths Across America program. T h e i n i t i at ive sees scouts from all over the U.S. place Christmas wreaths at national cemeteries. Under the guidance of Scoutmasters Mike O’Hare and Ed Loud, scouts TJ Egan, Michael O’Hare, Jimmy Loud, Ryan Cook and Michael Riomao placed more than 500 wreaths at Pinelawn Cemetery. The scouts also made a vist to the grave of Lt. Ronald Winchester, a Rockville Centre resident who was killed on Sept. 3, 2004, when an IED detonated near his vehicle in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

Photos courtesy Boy Scouts Troop 40

TROOP 40 TOOK part in the Wreaths Across America program. THE SCOUTS PLACED 500 wreaths.

Courtesy Boy Scouts Troop 40; compiled by Mike Smollins

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EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Thursday, Dec. 23

Upcoming

Monday, Jan. 3

Simply Creative Chef Rob Chef Rob shares how to prepare chocolate chip cookie sticks with sprinkles. Register online at the RVC Library website to receive the Zoom link to this virtual event. Starts at 10 a.m.

Monday Mysteries (Virtual) This weekly club at the RVC Public Library meets virtually this week to discuss Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara. Register online at the library website. Starts at noon.

Game Night (In-person) Bring board games to the RVC Library and play with your friends. Limit of 24 people. Starts at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 4 Jerome Robbins: What’s the Story with John Kenrick (Virtual)

Monday, Dec. 27

A son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Robbins won acclaim as a classical dancer and choreographer before becoming the staging genius behind such Broadway musicals as On the Town, West Side Story, Peter Pan, Gypsy, and Fiddler on the Roof, among others. Learn about the behind-thescenes stories through his amazing career. Register online at the RVC Public Library website. Starts at 1 p.m.

Adult Afternoon Games (in-person) Bring your friends to the RVC Public Library with your own games for an afternoon of fun. Meets in the small room at 1 p.m.

Meditation with MaryClare MaryClare Chiofalo leads this meditation class designed to help you destress, relax, and focus. Register online at the RVC library website. Starts at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 28

Joe Abate/Herald

Molloy College Christmas celebration Molloy College’s Madison Theater in RVC hosted its Christmas Celebration shows last Saturday and Sunday.

Chi Gong with Marianna Farina Farina returns in person to the Rockville Centre library with her exercise class. Register at the library website for the session that runs from Sept. 7 to Nov. 9. Starts at 10:30 a.m.

Library Play Date Bring your child (between ages 15 months to 4 years) to the Helen Kraus Room at the RVC Public Library for a morning of free play with colorful toys in a fun environment. See friends and meet new ones! Register online at the library website. Starts at 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday Yoga with Joe (hybrid) Certified yoga instructor Joe Climi leads the class designed to accommodate the needs of people who may have difficulty with more traditional appraoches. Register online at the RVC library website. Starts at 12 p.m.

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Virtual Dungeons & Dragons Adventurers Club With a roll of the dice, you’ll traverse mysterious lands, fight terrifying monsters, and discover incredible treasure. Register online at the RVC Public Library website. Starts at 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 29 Simply Stronger with Marilyn Bunger Certified instructor Marilyn Bunger leads this exercise class to enhance strength and flexibility. Starts at 9:30 a.m.

Intermediate Bridge with Anne Bass (in-person) Anne Bass leads this class for people with a basic understanding of the fun-

damentals of the game, both bidding and playing. Starts at 10 a.m.

Current Events with Richard Skolnik (Zoom) Richard Skolnik leads a discussion of what is in the latest news cycle. A lively, moderated discussion of hot topics. Register online at the RVC Public Library website. Starts at 10:30 a.m.

Bible Study at St. Agnes Join Fr. Bright and other members of the study group each Wednesday morning either in-person or virtually at 9:45 a.m. The program meets in the second floor of the ministry building in the youth ministry room. Email Irene Vastola at iavastola@gmail.com for Zoom link.

New Year’s Eve Noisemakers Come to the Helen Kraus Room at the RVC Public Library where kids (ages 2 to 6) can make this simple New Year’s Eve Noisemaker. Register online at the library website. Starts at 2:30 p.m.

Distant Worlds Book Discussion (Hybrid) Come to the RVC Public Library or watch on Zoom from home for this Distant Worlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy book discussion of A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. Register at the library website. Starts at 7 p.m.

Evening Yoga with MaryClare MaryClare Chiofalo leads this meditation class designed to help you destress, relax, and focus. Register online at the RVC library website. Starts at 7 p.m.

HAVING AN EVENT? Items on the Community Update pages are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to tcarrozza@liherald.com

The RVC Farmer’s Market will be at Parking Lot 12 from 7 a.m. to noon on Dec. 26. The Center for Science Teaching & Learning hosts Holiday Week activities from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. South Side High School hosts the Holiday Basketball Tournamenton Dec. 29 and 30 from 10 to 4. The RVC Village Board of Trustees meets at Village Hall on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. for a regular meeting. The RVC Library meets for a drawing class with Maria Conte on Dec. 30 at 10 a.m.

The importance of the Christmas nativity scene Guest Column

sake of those who feel most in need of his love and who ask him to draw near to them. Jesus, ‘gentle and humble in heart’ (Matthew 11:29), was born in poverty and led a simple life in order to teach us to recognize what is essential and to act accordingly. The nativity scene clearly teaches that we cannot let ourselves be fooled by wealth and fleeting promises of happiness. “We see Herod’s palace in the background, closed and deaf to the tidings of joy. By being born in a manger, God himself launches the only true revolution that can give hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast: the revolution of love, the revolution of tenderness. From the manger, Jesus proclaims, in a meek yet powerful way, the need for sharing with the poor as the path to a more human and fraternal world in which no one is excluded or marginalized.” May our prayer, silent contemplation and creative family catechesis of the nativity scene help us to be instruments of a gospel revolution of humility, charity, mercy, tenderness and solidarity with the sick, the poor and the suffering. May our commitment to “holiness and mission” bless our contemplative synodal listening and our eucharistic revival and evangelization. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families!

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children how to assemble and situate darkness of night. Yet even then, God the creche, but at the same time, they does not abandon us, but is there to also have the catechetical and relational answer our crucial questions about the sensitivity to let children and grandchil- meaning of life. Who am I? Where do I dren make choices about where the come from? Why was I born at this time in history? Why do I love? shepherds, the sheep, the Why do I suffer? Why will I three kings are to be placed. die? It was to answer these Children are encouraged questions that God became to place the holy family — man. His closeness brings M a r y, Jo s e p h a n d t h e light where there is darkprince of peace — with ness and shows the way to their own hands into the those dwelling in the shadcenter of the creche. How ow of suffering (cf. Luke often children then enjoy, 1:79).” sometimes on their own We can drift through life and sometimes with brothdodging and repressing ers and sisters and family these critical existential m e m b e r s, m ov i n g a n d questions of life. We can live interacting with the figublindly and superficially. rines. How often their bibliOur Catholic belief in cal imaginations and souls ishop the unity of the nativity are set on fire with God’s ohn arres and the crucifixion, the love as they play with their creche and the cross, Bethfamily nativity sets. lehem and Golgotha, keeps Pope Frances continued: “I would like now to reflect on the vari- our lives centered and focused on the ous elements of the nativity scene in things that really count in our short order to appreciate their deeper mean- time on earth — the last things (death, ing. First, there is the background of a judgment, heaven and hell) and a belief starry sky wrapped in the darkness and in the eternal joy of heaven, our true silence of night. We represent this not home. Frances continues to press the exisonly out of fidelity to the gospel accounts, but also for its symbolic value. tential questions: “The presence of the We can think of all those times in our poor and the lowly in the nativity scene lives when we have experienced the remind us that God became man for the

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

On Dec. 1, 2019, our holy father Pope Francis issued “Admirabile Signum,” an Apostolic letter on the meaning and importance of the nativity scene. It is a beautiful reflection that I draw on at Christmas, and one which I urge you to read and pray. In it, the holy father reminds us that the simple act of arranging our nativity set links us to the past, opens questions for the present and orients the future. It is an act that has an existential impact. Pope Francis said, “Setting up the Christmas creche in our homes helps us to relive the history of what took place in Bethlehem. Naturally, the gospels remain our source for understanding and reflecting on the event. At the same time, its portrayal in the creche helps us to imagine the scene. It touches our hearts and makes us enter into salvation history as contemporaries of an event that is living and real in a broad gamut of historical and cultural contexts.” The beautiful scene of parents and grandparents setting up creches together with children and grandchildren is a powerful multi-dimensional experience of catechesis — the teaching and passing on of our Catholic faith and our belief in the Incar nation of Jesus Christ to the next generation. Parents and grandparents have that wisdom of teaching children and grand-

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L a s t F r i d ay F r a n k ’s S t e a k s i n Rockville Centre transformed into a holiday paradise thanks to interior designers Michael Delahanty and Colin O’Leary and the Santa Babies carolers. The sight of wreath-covered walls

with nutcrackers and ornaments and sound of Christmas classics gave diners a jolly and jovial atmosphere. Delahanty, who owns a design company in Malverne, returned to the restaurant where he once served as the maître d’ and worked for days on end with O’Leary, his assistant, to create t h e e l ab o r at e d i s p l ay a n d a m a z e Frank’s Steaks owner Chris Meyer.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

By TOM CARROZZA

Photos by Joe Abate/Herald

FRANK’S STEAKS OWNER and General Manager Chris Meyer, center, with partner John Casper on his left, interior decorator Michael Delahanty on his right, and the Santa Babies carolers in front of the restaurant entrance.

THE LEVITTOWNBASED QUARTET The Santa Babies set the mood with holiday classics.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS &

DINERS ENJOYED THE music and atmosphere.

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December 23, 2021 — ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD

New assistant principal outlines her goals

pandemic, as iPads have helped students access textbooks and enhanced teachers’ lesson plans. In 2016, Brower moved into an administrative role, and served as the technology coordinator until the start of this school year. “Learning the culture and the community over 16 years, and being able to see it from different perspectives, has really helped with the transition to assistant principal,” she said. She cherishes the atmosphere of a religious school, she said, recalling students’ faces lighting up as they discussed their Catholic faith. “I bring my faith into the decisions I make daily,” Brower said. “And with my family and 9-year-old daughter Emma at home, we talk about Jesus and God and how their philosophy informs every decision you make.” Being able to talk about religion has been especially helpful in difficult times like these, she said, when faith brings hope despite the chaos of today’s world. The new assistant principal said her long experience at St. Agnes has made her new role a bit easier during the pandemic. A phone call goes a long way, Brower said, in keeping parents updated on the school’s procedures. When she was introduced with her new title at the school’s open house in November, Brower recounted, she couldn’t hold back some tears of joy. “I got really emotional, because it was really

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

MARY BROWER BECAME St. Agnes’s assistant principal this year, after serving in other roles since 2006. obvious that this was where I wanted to be,” she said. “Being in front of the whole community, it felt like home.” She had worked hard, encouraged by Principal Cecilia St. John, in pursuing the assistant principal’s job, and earned an advanced certificate in school leadership from Molloy College in 2020. “The heart, soul, love and faith that she brings into St. Agnes has been wonderful,” Brower said of St. John. “She has been my rock here, and was the reason I started pursuing my administration degree.”

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The Holiday Season is a Time for Creating Joyful Family Memories

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BROWER AND STUDENTS dressed to for the Christmas season in the front hall at St. Agnes.

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December 23, 2021 — ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD

LANI THE DOG with, from left, Clare, Emily Madeline, Patrick, and Alice McKenna.

Photos courtesy Michelle Alaimo

Hollywood Court goes for a yuletide Christmas stroll

1155327

Hollywood Court residents in Rockville Centre had their first annual ‘Hollywood Stroll’ on Sunday. Neighbors walked from house to house dressed in Christmas attire as some residents offered hot chocolate, coffee, snacks and caroling. Residents also raised $400 to go toward the ‘Adopt a Family’ charity.

ANDREW AND LISA Salvoni dressed as a couple of elves.

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HOWARD JACOBSON, WHO owns the Rockville Centre Pharmacy, spoke at a rally at Levin’s Pharmacy in Oceanside in 2019 cies to remain in business. Jacobson has been a pharmacist for 42 years and has owned Rockville Centre Pharmacy for 35. He expanded his business to another location on Mercy Hospital’s campus, but he plans to close it down in the next month amid financial struggles brought on by PBMs. “I can’t afford to keep running it,” he said. “It’s part

1154776

patients, and it’s been overwhelming.” Requests for comment from Hochul were not returned at press time. Jacobson said he was hopeful that she would sign the Pharmacy Rescue Package before the end of the year, because if she doesn’t, or vetoes it, the Senate and Assembly will have to pass the law again next year, which could extend the timeline by another six months to a year. Pharmacists, Jacobson added, can’t survive another year with PBMs. While the pandemic has helped him stay afloat, given the need for tests, vaccinations, medication and other services, he finds no joy in it, he said, and he hopes it will end soon, and give way to a sense of normalcy. When that happens, however, he said, he will struggle even more, which is why he has pushed for Hochul to sign the rescue package. Jacobson explained that he can’t just ignore PBMs because they control networks of prescription patients, and he would ultimately lose business because the system is “very manipulated,” and he would get “blacklisted.” He added that his reimbursements have gone down during the pandemic. “We’re offered one-sided contracts, and it’s take it or leave it,” he said, “and if you leave it, then not only are you telling your patients you don’t care about them, [but] you’re [also] leaving a network. You’re not going to see those people anymore.” The bill, Jacobson said, would protect thousands of independent pharmacies across the state from losing money filling prescriptions amid unregulated PBMs, who have been widely criticized for keeping drug prices high, eliminating patient choice and access, and thus destroying those pharmacies. With Covid-19 hospitalizations in New York increasing dramatically since Thanksgiving, he said, it’s important for independent pharma-

and parcel because I’ve been living this trend for 32 or 33 of the 35 years that I’ve been in my own business. We have a yoke around our necks put upon on us by these PBMs. Our patients rely on us for their health care, [but] . . . based on what we’re reimbursed, I just can’t afford to run it . . .” Hochul signed one part of the Pharmacy Rescue Package bill into law earlier this year, which enables pharmacies to administer vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The three other parts of the legislation set a minimum reimbursement level for prescriptions, so pharmacies don’t lose money taking care of patients; create oversight and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers; and prevent them from forcing patients to use mail-order pharmacies. “Pharmacists are truly front-line healthcare heroes who put their lives and businesses on the line every day for the past two years to keep their communities healthy,” Pharmacists Society President Karl Williams said in a statement. “Millions of New Yorkers are counting on Governor Hochul to step up for patients, pharmacists and taxpayers by signing the Pharmacy Rescue Package before the end of the year.” After the Pharmacy Rescue Package passed the Senate and Assembly, Gov. Andrew Cuomo opted not to sign it. With Hochul now at the helm, Jacobson said, pharmacists are hopeful for a different outcome. The independent pharmacies that PBMs’ practices endanger, Jacobson said, offer the kind of care that many big chains can’t provide. “There’s a significant part of the population that wants to use an independent community pharmacy, doesn’t like patronizing only the big guys,” he said. “They feel like a number when they walk in there. From us they get very personalized attention, not just by me, but by most of my colleagues who are independent pharmacists.”

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

1154110

December 23, 2021 — ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD

Employment

CLASSIFIED

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail you ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify and ad.

Malverne UFSD Long Island, New York

Security Guards

CLEANER M-F Full Time, Day and Evening Shifts Available

$19.37/Hour.

Required: NYS Certification w/security photo ID

Contractual Salary/Benefits

Applications may be picked up at:

Assistant Superintendent for Personnel & Administration

ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK FT:

Established Envelope Company. Excellent Phone/ MS Office/ Email/ Internet Skills. Handle Mail/ Filing. Colleen 516-244-8444 Email Resume Bruce At bruced@themercurycompanies.com

ADMINISTRATIVE

Richner Communications - a rapidly growing multimedia company and publishers of the Herald newspaper group has several administrative job openings: Receptionist (F/T), Accounts Receivable/Billing Collections Clerk Multi-Media Coordinator (Hours Flexible) Qualified candidates are fast learners with good organizational and people skills - entry level ok. Role requires working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to learn custom software programs. If you would like to join a communitydriven, fast-paced environment, please send your resume to: careers@liherald.com.

CAREGIVERS With Elderly P/T Shifts Available Experience Required

Driver a Plus

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516-328-7126

CASHIER/ STOCK PERSON FT

Energetic Person Needed For MultiTasked Position. Cashier & Stock Shelves For Busy Grocery Store In West Hempstead. Answer Phones, Take Ord e r s . W i l l Tr a i n . C a l l S t e v e n 516-509-6595

Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

IVERS BUS DR TED WAN

A Growing Multi Media Company Based in Garden City Is Hiring: • Receptionist • Human Resource Director • Reporter/Editor • Sales • Multi Media Coordinator • Drivers • Pressman/Press Helper

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE Full Time/Part Time DoN’T MISS The Bus! Richner Communications, publisher NEW of Herald community newspapers STARTING SAlARIES has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in Big Bus Van our busy Circulation Department. $26.18/hr. $23.41/hr. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: Non-Benefit Rate Non-Benefit Rate heavy computer work, answering Sign On Bonus $2,500.00 for CDL driver bus and van phones, making phone calls, enter$500.00 for non CDL drivers. Will train qualified applicants *Some restrictions may apply. ing orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a EDUcATIoNAl BUS TRANSpoRTATIoN must! Knowledge of DATABASE 5th_floor • Clients • m-Clients • Malverne • 43670 Malverne Richner Communications maintenance or postal regulations a 516.454.2300 3.125x 3" Richner Communications big plus. Qualified Candidates must PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP be computer literate, able to multiLong Island Herald has IMMEDIATE opentask, dependable, reliable, orgaHUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR ings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warenized, energetic, detail orientated Richner Communications is looking for a house helper in Garden City. We are a and able to work well under deadhands-on Human Resources professional busy print shop looking for a motivated and lines. For consideration, please to oversee all HR functions on a strategic reliable individuals to assist in various dusend resume & salary requirements and tactical level. Exciting opportunity to ties in the shop. Forklift experience is a to: careers@liherald.com join a dynamic and expanding Garden City, plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours Long Island media company. This position vary, so flexibility is key. has a flexible schedule, part-time job share Email resumes or contact info to DELI COUNTER AND PREP PERSON would be considered. careers@liherald.com Full Time And Part Time. Weekends A Responsibilities: Talent acquisition: Must. Experienced. Long Beach. Call Source, screen, and interview potential Long Island, New York 516-431-5515 candidates and manage new employee onboarding Benefits administration: Liaise with brokers, providers and facilitate enrollment and updating of coverage. Manage Richner Communications has openings annual open enrollment and employee Full Time and Part Time for Outside Sales Executives to Sell benefits review. Administration of 401(k) Positions Available! Digital and Print advertising plan. Employee relations: Provide day- toBusy Print Shop in Garden City Service and sell both existing day support and problem resolution in reand developing new business. is Hiring Immediately for gards to employee concerns, questions If you have the desire to succeed in our Full Time and Part Time Drivers. and policy issues. Performance managefast paced business and are Must Have a Clean License and ment: Coach, counsel and recommend dismotivated, dependable, have strong ciplinary actions Compliance: Maintain inBoxTruck Driving Experience. communication skills and can manage depth knowledge of legal requirements reHours Vary, your own time, We would lated to day-to-day management of emNight Availability is a Must. like to hear from you! ployees, reducing legal risk and ensuring Please Email Resume to Base salary with commission plan. Paid regulatory compliance Payroll: Process biehecker@liherald.com or sick/personal days, vacation and paid weekly payroll through payroll vendor for Call (516)569-4000 x239 holidays. Sales experience is a plus but population of 150 employees Requirewe will train the right person to learn the ments: Bachelor's degree, preferably in industry. business or HR, or equivalent experience email resume to Minimum 5 years HR generalist experience EDITOR/REPORTER careers@liherald.com Knowledge of Federal, State & Local reguThe award-winning Herald Community lations governing employment Experience Newspapers group, covering Nassau with payroll processing Self-motivated, County's North and South Shores with TAX PREPARER P/T Franklin Square Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ability to prioritize and work well under hard-hitting news stories and gracefully Experience Needed. Retirees Welcome. pressure Customer-focused attitude, with written features, seeks a motivated, enC a l l 5 1 6 - 3 5 8 - 9 4 5 5 Fa x R e s u m e high level of professionalism and discretion Situations Wanted ergetic and creative editor/reporter to 516 358-9483. Email Resume: One phone call, one Excellent oral and written communication join our dynamic (and awesome) team! ed@loturco.com. order, one heck of a and quantitative skills Proficiency with MiThis education and general assignment ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Looking crosoft Office Qualified candidates should good price to run your reporting position offers a unique experiFor A Job Part Time Starting Immediately. TELEMARKETER PART TIME submit a resume and cover letter to: ad in any state, or ence to learn from some of the best in Experienced. Rockville Centre. Jacqueline Needed For Insurance Office. careers@liherald.com. the business. Historically, reporters who across the country. 516-536-6994 Must Be Experienced have launched their careers with us Call 516-724-0636 Call the have gone on to The New York Times, LADY LOOKING FOR Job As Aide For USA Classified Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Older Person Or Cleaning, Cooking For Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, Family. Also Man Wants Job As HandyHealth Care/Opportunities Network NBC News and The Daily Mail, among man. Call 516-354-6280 Or 516-503-5001 MEDICAL ASSISTANT/RECEPTIONIST today! many others. We look for excellent writF/T. Previous Experience a Must With Why Not Print ers who are eager to learn, enhance WE HAVE THE HELP Patient Check In, Collecting Copays, their skills, and become well-established Verifying Insurance, Filing, EMR, and YOU NEED!!! and respected journalists in our industry. Appointment Scheduling. Back Duties HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides To apply: Send a brief summary in the Include Taking Vitals, Draw Blood, EKG's form of a cover letter describing your caand Prep Room For Doctoer. Good Phone Childcare. Housekeeping • Eco friendly facility 5th_floor • Clients • m-Clients • Malverne • 42194 Malverne Richner reer goals and what strengths you can • Environmentally and Computer Skills. A Must. Located in choose safe soy based inks Day Workers bring to our newsroom, along with a re3.125x 3" Richner Communications • Recycled paper Island Park. Call Jim Mgr. 516-670-8800. No Fee To Employers • Help reduce the sume and three writing samples to Pg 2 Cleaners or Fax Resume to 516-670-8809. email carbon footprint Printing Services sbrinton@liherald.com Evon's Svces: 516-505-5510 wolfie65@verizon.net. Call Lou today at 516-569-4000 ext 223

To join our team, please email your resume to careers@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 Ext #235

Malverne UFSD

Sales Executives

DRIVERS WANTED

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Part-Time Cleaner Various Shifts $16.00/Hour.

Requirements: NYS Fingerprint Clearance Email or mail copy of resume to:

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ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

HERALD

1-800-231-6152

RICHNER

Communica

Can I overload my balcony?

Homes

HERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

HOME Of tHE WEEK

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Q. I live in an apartment building with balconies, and wonder if you can tell me if there’s any way to know how many people I can have on my balcony at one time. This is the first time I’m having family and friends over for a party, and during the holidays I want to be sure they’ll be safe. Also, the railings have spaces between them, and I’m very concerned about the children who will be at the party. Is there a way to know whether I should restrict the balcony to adults, or just not use it at all? What’s the rule of thumb?

Malverne

Exceptional Brick Colonial

xceptional center hall brick Colonial in the heart of Malverne! This beautiful home features an entry foyer with French doors, center hallway with coat closet, oversized formal living room with wood burning fireplace, formal dining room, large eat-in-kitchen, family room and powder room on main floor. There is a large primary bedroom with alcove, two additional bedrooms and full bath on 2nd floor. You will love the large yard, brand new roof and so much more. Asking $849,000

A. Good question! The answer requires a number of other questions to be asked and answered to determine how concerned you should be about safety. Consider that newer buildings were constructed with more stringent requirements, while older buildings may have maintenance issues — especially buildings nearer to the onte eeper ocean — and may not have been repaired for decades. So age and location need to be known. If you know that your building has been well maintained, age may not be as much of a concern. Other than unusual items like cars and swimming pools, one of the heaviest things that buildings are designed for is paper, in filing cabinets and bookshelves, so libraries need to be extra strong to hold such extreme loads as large racks, shelves and stacks of books and papers. The required load design for balconies is the same as libraries: 100 pounds per square foot. Balconies have to not only hold the weight of people, but also carry their own weight, and heavy snow or ice, combined with high winds, without buckling. Typically, people gathering on a balcony should be similar to people gathering in the living room inside, and it’s rare to see people packed together in such a limited space without breathing room. You should use common sense, and social distancing would mean that you could limit people to being within a foot or so apart if you choose. Again, it’s rare to see people jammed into such a tight space, but that can happen if everyone rushes out to see something going on outside, like a fireworks display, for example. The safety factor of 100 pounds per square foot will generally hold, but only if the other maintenance conditions are met.

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“Going Above & Beyond to find your Dream Home”

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December 23, 2021 — HERALD

Open Houses HEWLETT BAY PARK BA,, 40 Heron Dr, REDUCED!!10,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Proper ty on an Acre of Parklike Grounds Tucked away in Cul de Sac. 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary. Soaring Ceilings. IG Pool, Hot Tub. 285' Vinyl Bulkhead Raised & Redone. Dock.3 Car Garage...$3,499,000 R o n n i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n 516-238-4299

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NEW EXCLUSIVE! Move Right Into This 5/6 BR, 4 Bth Exp Ranch on Resortlike 3/4 acre Property. Large Gran/Wood EIK, LR/Fpl, FDR & Skylit Den. Spacious Master Ste Boasts Bath w/ Steam Shower, WIC & Fpl. Beautiful Street in SD#20 ...............................$1,299,000 1534 Broadway #103, BA, BRAND NEW GUT RENOVATION! Spacious 2 BR, 2 Bth Condo in Luxurious Jonathan Hall. LR/DR Opens Into Large Gran/Wood EIK w/ Island & Stainless Steel Appl. Laundry Rm & Pantry. Mstr Ste Boasts New Bath & Huge Walk in Closet. Terrace Facing into Courtyard. Doorman Bldg with Elevator. Indoor Garage Pkg & Storage .............................................. $850,000 156 E Rockaway Rd, BA, Rental of a Renovated 2 Bedroom, 1.5 Bth Apt with Spacious Gourmet Kitchen Use of Patio & Outdoor Space .............................................................................. RENT $3,850

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NEW EXCLUSIVE! Renovated 3/4 BR, 3.5 Bth Victorian Style with Porch in Old Woodmere. Huge Updtd Gran/Wood Kosher EIK, LR, DR & Den. All Updated Baths. O/S Yard with Pavered Patio. 2 Car Det Gar. SD#14 .................................................................. $1,100,000 NEW EXCLUSIVE! 4 BR, 3 Bth Colonial with Fin Bsmt. LR/Fpl, FDR, Sun Room & EIK. Main Floor Bedroom. 2 Car Det Gar. Convenient to LIRR, Shops, Trans & Houses of Worship. SD#14 .............. $799,000

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Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-5694000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

As for the balcony railing, the maximum vertical or horizontal baluster spacing, or rail opening, is 4 inches, and for good reason: Children’s heads, from birth, are the largest part of their bodies, and larger than 4 inches in diameter. As they grow, their bodies catch up, proportionately. Although their bodies may squeeze through the space between railings, their heads generally won’t. A child should never be on a balcony without a responsible adult, but it does happen, and the rail space will at least protect a child from a fall. Happy holidays!

© 2021 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

MarketPlace • • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

If Your Plumbing STInkS

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OPINIONS

e’re about to lose one of the most significant advances in health care made over the past decade unless Congress takes immediate action. That’s why I’m calling on Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Tom Suozzi to step up and protect lifesaving health coverage subsidies for New Yorkers. These expanded subsidies help families afford the cost of health coverage. By driving down costs, this relief ensures that Americans across LISA the country don’t lose their access TYSON to care. While this program has been an essential component of our response to the coronavirus pandemic, the impact of these benefits has been far greater. If made permanent, marketplace health insurance subsidies could cut the number of uninsured by 12 million nationwide next year, according to the Urban Institute. In New York alone, it

‘

would ensure that 163,000 people would have access to the benefits of health coverage who otherwise would not be covered. This could cut the number of uninsured by nearly 15 percent across the state. These expanded tax credits must be made permanent in this year’s final budget reconciliation package. As we continue to confront the worst public health crisis in over a century, these subsidies ensure that every community in our state can access basic care and take part in our ongoing recovery. Despite the impact of this relief, these subsidies will disappear if Congress doesn’t act soon. If they expire, the effects on working- and middle-class families could be devastating. A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that premiums could double for the millions of Americans who buy their coverage on the marketplace. Another study by the Department of Health and Human Services found that premiums could rise by as much as $600.

As we’ve fought to recover from Covid-19 and its deadly mutations, marketplace subsidies have become an essential lifeline for thousands of New Yorkers. And while it’s hard to imagine a worse time to lose health coverage than in the middle of a global pandemic, these expanded benefits are currently set to expire by the end of next year. That’s why it’s so critical that leaders like Schumer and Suozzi work with their colleagues to protect these essential benefits for every American still struggling to afford health coverage. As director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition, I’ve seen our community go through decades of debate over how best to expand access to health care. While this conversation must continue, we cannot afford to lose a program that is providing coverage to so many right now. New York has long been at the forefront of efforts to protect the health and well-being of working families. From Teddy Roosevelt making the first national call to protect against “the haz-

amilies shouldn’t have to choose between paying bills and paying for health care.

ards of sickness” to his cousin Franklin Roosevelt creating the Social Security program, our state’s leaders have long fought to ensure that working people can live and age with dignity. In more recent times, our leaders in Congress fought to pass, and then defend, the Affordable Care Act. All of these efforts have improved the lives of countless families across our state and around the country. Now we have the chance to build on that legacy by protecting these lifesaving subsidies before they expire. This will not only ensure that thousands of New Yorkers can keep their health coverage, but also move us closer to the day when every American will have access to affordable, quality health care. No family should ever be forced to choose between paying the bills and paying for health coverage. These expanded marketplace subsidies must be made permanent now, because they ensure that millions of Americans don’t have to make that choice. It’s time for our leaders in Washington to act. Lisa Tyson, of North Bellmore, is the director of the Massapequa-based Long Island Progressive Coalition.

Kidney donor tells story of the gift she gave

ear Ms. Kreiss: “I read your article in the Herald about your friends’ son who needs a kidney (“Hoping for the gift of life in this season of giving” Dec. 9-15). I suspect people who read the column or see pleas like this in general don’t believe they can help because organ donation is so serious. It made me think that, as a kidney organ donor, it would help if I told my story. “I met ‘Jane,’ another parent, at my daughter’s RANDI school. I came to KREISS know her through her devotion to various class projects and activities. When I realized I hadn’t seen her in a while, I asked a mutual friend, who told me Jane’s husband was dying of kidney failure. “I called Jane to offer support, and she told me her husband’s best chance to survive was with a live kidney donation. I immediately felt the sense of urgency and thought, ‘I’ll get tested,’ not realizing I actually said it out loud. She

guided me to the program that was testing his potential donors. Turns out I was a match, and a very good one. “Now it was up to me to decide if I could really do this. All the bravado I had shown in getting tested started to wane a little bit now that it was a reality. What was I thinking? I had three kids of my own who needed me. I was in my late 40s, and while I was in decent physical condition and had no ailments, I was more than a little overweight. “And I didn’t even know this guy. “But somehow, I knew I was supposed to do this. I was given a lot of information and data about organ donation, and the more I read about it, the less I feared it. The clincher for me: Without a donor kidney, this man would die too young after spending the rest of his days tied to dialysis. “I went through many tests, and my results were all good. Then I was told that his brother was most likely going to be the donor, so for about nine months I was on the reserves list. Then, suddenly, his brother and sister were eliminated as donors for medical reasons. I was

‘

once again at bat. After almost a year of uncertainty, it was now a go. “At every stage of this process, my medical team (you have your own medical team that is separate from the recipient’s medical team) reminded me I could pull out at any time. But I was ready. All the delays just made me feel that if it was meant to be, it would happen. “When I woke up after the surgery, it was evening, and my dear brother was standing over me, holding a can of kidney beans (in case I needed a spare). I didn’t feel any pain but was tired. I was told the operation was a success, and that my recipient was doing well. “They always say the best way to get things working again after surgery is to get up and walk. So walk I did, every day, at least once an hour. I felt minimal pain. “The recipient’s new kidney began functioning beautifully right away. Each day he got stronger and stronger. We both healed well, and though he has other physical challenges unrelated to the transplant, his kidney is functioning

y recipient is healthy, and I’m healthier than I’ve been in years.’

very well and normally. “A question I am often asked is, ‘What if your kids or someone in your family needs a kidney? Now you can’t help them.’ To which I answer, ‘I am so confident that this is a safe process that I know someone else in my family would step up and donate. We’ll be OK.’ “My donation has only affected me for the good. It increased my faith. It gave me more confidence in myself, and it made me finally act on my desire to live healthfully. I have struggled with my weight since I stopped playing competitive sports in my 20s. I have since lost all my excess weight. I am now 56, but physically I feel like I’m 30. “My recipient is healthy, and I’m healthier than I’ve been in years. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to have done this. It changed my life forever, and for the better.” The donor has asked to remain anonymous to protect the privacy of the recipient. To find out more about donating a kidney to Scott Englander of Woodmere, whom I wrote about two weeks ago, email scottneedsakidney@ gmail.com. Copyright 2021 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

Washington must act to protect affordable care

HERALD EDITORIAL

Rockville centRe

December 23, 2021 — ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD

HERALD Established 1990

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We must act now to stem the opioid crisis

Merrick pain doctor, Michael Belfiore, 58, was sentenced on Dec. 16 to 23 years in prison after he was convicted of selling opioid prescriptions to patients, many of whom were desperately addicted to opioids and often writhing in pain from a variety of injuries. Belfiore might have begun his career as a respected doctor, but he ended it ignominiously, as a common drug dealer. We were pleased that Belfiore was given a tough sentence, after he arrogantly fought the charges against him in 2014 and 2016, despite overwhelming evidence against him. His case should serve as a stiff warning for any doctor thinking of selling scripts for cash: The law will eventually catch up with you, and you will eventually be sent to prison for a long time. It’s about time the law caught up with the medical practitioners who, in part, at least, have fueled the opioid crisis that the nation, including Long Island, now faces. Belfiore’s case is especially egregious. According to federal officials, he wrote 5,000 prescriptions for 600,000 pain pills between January 2010 and March 2013. His case is, however, anything but unique. There are many like him. On top of that, too many doctors have overprescribed opioids for patients without giving proper thought to the possible long-term consequences of their actions. To be clear: This is not every doctor. Most physicians follow the rules. The doctors who have cavalierly prescribed opioids as

their default practice, however, are partly to blame for the addiction pandemic that we find ourselves in now. The coronavirus pandemic has only worsened the opioid addiction crisis. In the first year of the pandemic, between April 2020 and April of this year, the U.S. recorded 100,000 opioid overdose deaths — 100,000! That meant an American died every five minutes of an overdose. President Biden’s $1.75 trillion Build Back Better legislation — which Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, effectively killed last weekend by refusing to vote for it — included $11 billion to fight the opioid crisis, which is now increasingly driven by fentanyl, a powerful opioid. There remains a chance that the legislation could eventually pass. If it does not, though, there will be any number of consequences for the nation, not the least of which will be reduced resources to cope with the opioid crisis. Shame on Senator Manchin. Earlier this year, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran directed $15.3 million to addiction prevention and treatment services from a $230 million settlement that New York state reached with the pharmaceutical manufacturer Johnson & Johnson for its part in causing the opioid crisis, which has plagued the U.S. since the late 1990s. With the settlement, Johnson & Johnson avoided a trial. Last summer, state Attorney General Letitia James filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the state against pharmaceu-

LETTERS Creating Covid chaos To the Editor: Out for a drive on a bone-chilling day, my wife and I passed several urgent-care facilities on Merrick Road with lines of people out the door, waiting to get tested for Covid-19. With the Omicron variant surging, elected officials issuing dire warnings and the media complicit, there’s a frenzy at the testing venues. It’s a safe bet that many of the folks on line are feeling fine. Why do they want to be tested? For others, the power of suggestion may create faux symptoms. Will their sniffles disappear if the results are negative? (Or do they keep getting tested until they get the result they want? After all, “they’re free.”) What’s the purpose of waiting on line except to tell friends they’ve done the right thing? Hurray for us! We’re good citizens. Of course, there will be some who test positive, but so what? While Omicron spreads rapidly, at this point, reports are it’s not virulent. Now we’re on the verge of another fine mess brought to us by elected officials and augmented by the medical establishment. The mayhem depletes the supply of tests for those who should be tested, places a burden on beleaguered medical staff, makes

tical giants Teva Pharmaceuticals, Amerisource Bergen, McKesson Corp, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Allergan Finance and Cardinal Health. The outcome of that suit remains to be seen. We must also remember this: The opioid crisis gave rise 10 years ago to a heroin crisis. This is how we described it in an April 2010 story, “From painkillers to heroin addiction”: “Nassau County police say that prescription painkillers have flooded the local illegal drug market in the past decade, which is driving the recent spike in heroin use … “With the drugs readily accessible, painkiller and heroin addicts are getting younger and younger, according to the experts … In the past, the average age of the heroin addicts … was 24. Now, most are 18 to 23. Many begin using prescription painkillers at parties as young as 14 and 15. When the painkillers become too expensive — they sell for $80 per pill on the street — the teens graduate to heroin, which goes for as little as $5 a bag.” Not much has changed over the past decade — except the drugs have become more powerfully addictive and potentially deadly, and the crisis has only gotten worse, not better, as we had hoped. A two-pronged approach that mobilizes both police and therapists is needed to address the crisis. That requires money. Nassau County Executive-elect Bruce Blakeman will take office in a week. We urge him to prioritize funding for drug enforcement and addiction treatment.

OPINIONS

he war on local school boards, teaching and history is escalating as conservative activists and Republican politicians prepare for the 2022 congressional midterm elections. This year, 66 gag-order bills to prevent teaching about race and racism were introduced in 26 states, and at least 12 became law. Among the measures was Assembly Bill 8253, introduced in New York by Republican Assemblyman Colin Schmitt of upstate New Windsor, which, if passed, would ban ALAN students and teachers in SINGER K-through-12 schools from learning about The New York Times’s 1619 Project, which examined the nation’s beginnings through the lens of slavery. According to a report by the nonprofit PEN America, many of the bills mirror legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate by Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, and former President Donald Trump’s 2020 executive order “combating race and sex stereotyping.” Most include a provision prohibiting “divisive concepts.”

One frightening development is a shift in strategy by groups like the Proud Boys, whose members were involved in the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Proud Boys are now picketing school board meetings in protests against mask and vaccine mandates, and school curricula and reading assignments that they don’t like. This fall there were Proud Boy rallies on Long Island in Rockville Centre, Bay Shore and Patchogue. In New York, school board elections are scheduled for next May 17, six months before November’s congressional election. Filing petitions are due in most school districts on April 18. The New York State School Boards Association provides a booklet for people considering becoming school board candidates. On Long Island, insurgent candidates challenging coronavirus mask mandates and a fictionalized version of critical race theory won three seats on the Smithtown Board of Education last May. Now a Republican consulting firm is organizing classes to further polarize and politicize school board races. Among those offering the classes are a former Trump activist, a former contractor with the Nassau Coun-

he debate over mask mandates and history courses may continue next spring.

LETTERS it take longer to get results and lines the pockets of the testing companies. And the shutdowns, which are occurring sporadically (think Radio City and some Broadway shows), are another blow to the economy. The last 22 months have made people more skeptical of politicians (an unsavory lot) and therein lies a healthy negative. About this, the politicians should beware. Most of us have been vaccinated and boosted and are willing to wear masks. We’ve given at the office. We’ve done the right things. What more do they want? But they want more. They want to show us that they care, and can get us to a better place. What they really know, and are effective at, is how to create chaos. What the people want is normalcy. I’d like to administer my own Covid test to a select group: the elected officials and their medical brethren. (Get in line, Dr. Fauci.) Instead of jabbing the slim stick up their nostrils, I’d choose a wide pole up their … well, you get the idea. ED SCHWARTZ Rockville Centre

Questions Blakeman’s stance on mask mandate To the Editor: Our newly elected county executive, Bruce Blakeman, in one of his first acts,

ty government when it was under Republican control and a Republican Suffolk County legislator. The latest Long Island school district to erupt with a critical race theory controversy is Great Neck. Some residents accuse a Great Neck North High School 11th-grade English teacher of presenting in class that whites are racists and students need to understand white fragility and reject privilege. The local parents appear to be working with a national organization, Parents Defending Education, which claims it wants to ensure that American schools do not promote “harmful agendas.” The group’s website has slides that were supposedly shown in the English class. What is missing from their attack on teachings is any attempt to learn what actually took place in the classroom. Students read the book “Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, which won a National Book Award. The slides were part of a lesson introducing students to the issues raised in the book, and by other authors who question or challenge what they perceive of as racism and white supremacy in the U.S. Students were asked to pledge to think about the issues raised in the book, not to agree with a par-

has rejected the recent New York state mask mandate. The announcement came at a time when Long Island’s positivity rate was increasing rapidly — it stood at more than 9 percent at press time — and was the highest in New York state. Here is what Blakeman, a Republican, recently told The New York Post: “Come Jan. 1, my administration will move Nassau forward with a common-sense approach that acknowledges the facts, science and progress made by our residents while also protecting businesses and jobs from any further damage created by government mandates. Nassau County is not in crisis and should not be painted with the same broad brush as the rest of the state. Ninety-seven percent of adults in Nassau County have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, and Nassau hospitals have adequate capacity to handle existing demand.” So, Blakeman seems to say, don’t worry if you get the Covid virus as a result of his no-mask-mandate policy. Nassau is ready with your very own ICU bed. Blakeman also touts the 97 percent onedose adult vaccine rate. One dose has little effect on the new variant, and what about the children who are now contracting the virus in higher numbers? Yes, acknowledge the facts. Don’t make up your own. DR. ALLAN SIMON Lawrence

ticular author. According to state Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young, “The New York State Board of Regents policy on diversity, equity and inclusion is not an attempt to, in fact, teach critical race theory. Critical race theory is not our theory of action. Our theory of action is cultural responsiveness.” The official position of the state educational governing body, and the reality of what gets taught in the classroom, have not stopped conservative Republicans from mobilizing white families to stop CRT. Jay Worona, deputy executive director and general counsel for the New York State School Boards Association, has called the political assault on school boards a “false narrative.” Worona responded to the assault, “There are many people who are proclaiming that the curriculum is being designed to indoctrinate students to think in a particular way, as opposed to what we’ve done for eons, which is to teach critical thinking skills.” Dr. Alan Singer is a professor of teaching, learning and technology and the director of social studies education programs at Hofstra University. He is a former New York City high school social studies teacher and editor of Social Science Docket, a joint publication of the New York and New Jersey Councils for the Social Studies. Follow him on Twitter, @AlanJSinger1.

FRAMEWORK by Christina Daly

Lighting up the night — Island Park

CORRECTION In the article titled “Firm provides update on superintendent search” published on Dec. 16, it was reported that the letter read aloud to the board and School Leadership representatives came from the RVC Diversity and Inclusion Council. This was incorrect, as the letter was actually penned by the speaker and was not written on coordination of the council. The Herald apologizes for the error.

All of us at Herald Community Newspapers wish our readers of the Christian faith a very Merry Christmas!

ROCKVILLE CENTRE HERALD — December 23, 2021

Conservative politics could play into school elections

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