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Bill increases protections for firefighters lies expect benefits from certain insurance companies. “I think for the good that Gov. Kathy Hochul recently these people do in volunteering, signed a bill, co-sponsored by we should be in a situation to State Sen. John Brooks, that protect them with any medical will provide assistance to vol- service they need associated unteer firefighters who have with the fire service,” Brooks been injured in the told the Herald. “If, line of duty. unfortunately, they Brooks, who repwere to lose their resents the 8th Senl ive s o r n e e d e d ate District, which ongoing medical encompasses Wanttreatment, they agh and Seaford, coshould be protectsigned Bill S4562/ ed.” A6767 with AssemThe legislation, blywoman Carrie known as the Chief Woerner and Sen. James Brooks Jr. Daniel Stec. The Act, is named for a legislation creates a second assistant presumption of cov- BRYAN BRooKS fire chief who was era g e under the Chief, injured on the job. New York State VolJames Brooks, a unteer Firefighters’ Whitehall Volunteer member of the Benefit Law for vas- Fire Company upstate Whitehall cular ruptures sufVo l u n t e e r F i r e fered in the line of Company, suffered a duty, according to a news ruptured aorta while respondrelease. Further, it clarifies that ing to a structural fire in Dresthese injuries suffered on the den, in western New York, on job are covered in the same way May 2, 2020, according to a as heart attacks suffered in the news release, and died that Sepline of duty. tember, after serving the comBrooks said the bill would pany for 27 years. address issues of delay, denial “He was perfor ming an of claims and litigation costs incredible service to his comwhen volunteers or their famiContinued on page 13

By MARiA CEStERo mcestero@liherald.com

Christina Daly/Herald

NASSAU CoUNtY ExECUtiVE Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order last week mandating school districts to vote this month on whether to require masks in classrooms.

Locals react to Blakeman’s executive order on masks By KAtE NAlEpiNSKi and CRiStiNA ARRoYo RoDRiGUEz knalepinski@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an executive order last week that requires the Wantagh and Seaford school districts, and all other Nassau districts, to vote this month on whether to require masks in classrooms. School boards must vote “to determine whether or not parents and children should be granted the constitutional right to reject mask mandates

while in the classroom,” the executive order drafted by the county executive’s legal counsel stated. The order continued: “Given the historical data on Covid-19 and the ongoing debate over whether masks are more harmful than beneficial to children and to school environments in general, we should protect the freedoms and statutory rights of students and parents by resting with the parents the decision whether their children should wear masks in school.”

State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa said, however, that counties do not have the legal authority to require boards of education to vote on specific issues. “School officers take an oath to obey all legal requirements,” a statement from Rosa read. “The State Education Department expects school boards will follow all legal requirements, including the face-covering regulation.” Further, a department spokeswoman said that local Continued on page 15

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January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD HERALD

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1/7/22 10:34 AM

Photos by Maria Cestero/Herald

First-Day Hike receives seal of approval By MARIA CESTERO mcestero@liherald.com

Families rung in the New Year alongside seals and wildlife on Jan. 1 when they traveled to Jones Beach State Park for New York State Park’s annual FirstDay Hike. At Field 10, Jones Beach staff guided viewers in the direction in seals, who could be spotted in the distance bobbing their heads above the water. From the beach, at least five harbour seals were spotted swimming in a group. Growing up to six feet in length, these mammals migrate to Jones Beach from late fall to early spring, looking for warmer waters to fish, according to Jones Beach Nature and Energy Educator, Mia Ramirez. Traveling from New England and Southeastern Canada, the seals hunt for schooling fish, such as White Perch and other marine creatures such as crustaceans and shellfish, Ramirez said. “People often picture whales, seals, and dolphins to be animals that live in faraway oceans, but once [people] visit Long Island beaches and turn their attention to our waters, they may see a dolphin jump out of the water for the first time,” Ramirez explained. “As an educator, I love when I look at someone’s face and I see it dawn on them that Long Island is a magical place with breathtaking wildlife.” Phocid seals, also known as true seals, are native to Long Island. Phocidae family seals can be differentiated from other types of seals in the “Pinniped” family such as Otariidae or Odobenidae by their “earless appearance,” meaning they do not have external ear flaps. Among the five species of phocid seals native to Long Island, the harbor seals are the most common in New York, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Harbor seals have shorter snouts and rounded heads, which gives them a more “puppy-

like” appearance. “They look like bowling balls bobbing in the water,” said Andrew Ricci, 43, a Merrick resident who participated in the tour. A self-described nature lover, Ricci was accompanied by his wife, Manuela Ricci, 43, and daughter, Sofia Ricci, 13. This year was their second time attending the Jones Beach First-Day Hike. A business member and leader of the Appalachian Mountain Club, Ricci said he’s explored nature through rafting, national parks and humpback whale-watching. Accompanying the Ricci family on the tour was William Ostrow, 43, and his family. Nearing the 30th anniversary of their friendship, Ostrow and Andrew, two high school friends, decided to go to Jones Beach together with their families as a celebration of sorts. Ostrow was accompanied by his wife, Glenda AlvaradoOstrow, 44, son Wyatt Ostrow, 11, and daughter Maya Ostrow, 8. “It’s so different seeing them in their natural habitat,” William Ostrow said. “It’s a great way to start the new year – enjoying nature outdoors.” On their first seal walk, the Ostrow family was captivated by the harbor seals. “It’s just so nice to be able to go outside and not have too many people here,” said Alvarado-Ostrow. Wantagh native Alvarado-Ostrow runs a composting company Grounds For a Peel, which aims to reduce food waste and to improve the environment. “Exploring nature, especially in your local area, opens your eyes to so many valuable experiences,” said Ramirez. “Once you learn more about the plants, and animals you share a home with, I guarantee you will feel more connected to your everyday life and more aware of how your actions influence the world.” Ramirez said the seals typically stay in the waters surrounding Long Island until springtime, when their “pupping season” begins, at which time seals will head

MAyA OSTROw, 8, plays Tic-Tac-Toe in the sand with Sofia Ricci, 13. north to give birth to their young. Guided seal tours will be available throughout the winter season. Check back online at: https://parks.ny. gov/parks/jonesbeach/ for more guided tours.

NATuRE-lOvER ANdREw RICCI photographed the seals utilizing his personal camera.

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

FROM lEFT TO right: William Ostrow, Maya Ostrow, Glenda Alvarado-Ostrow, Wyatt Ostrow, Manuela Ricci, Sofia Ricci, and Andrew Ricci, gather at Jones Beach State Park to attend a seal walk on Jan. 1.

Hempstead elected leaders sworn in SuperviSor don Clavin gave a speech following his inauguration.

By Kepherd daniel kdaniel@liherald.com

Town of Hempstead officials began their new term Jan. 4 at Town Hall. During the nearly two-hour inauguration, Supervisor Don Clavin, Town Clerk Kate Murray, Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, and Councilmen Anthony D’Esposito and Dennis Dunne were sworn in following their re-election this past November. After the invocation by Rabbi Mordechai Kamentzky of Yeshiva of South Shore in Hewlett, Clavin was sworn in first by Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo. Months into Clavin’s first term as supervisor, the coronavirus pandemic erupted and took a toll on Hempstead. Clavin secured tens of millions of dollars in federal CARES Act funds that went to the community, including millions for hospitals, schools, food banks, villages, fire departments and community organizations. The Town Board also rolled out the first mobile vaccination unit in New York state, which has provided nearly 10,000 vaccine and booster shots to residents to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. Clavin thanked many of the government officials in attendance for the help that they have given him during his time in local government. “Today is really about just saying thank you,” he said. “We work together and for the betterment of all the residents, from the town’s finances to bond upgrades to services through the pandemic. And it’s not just that it’s the men and women that I work within the town. We do it together because we’re one big team in the Town of Hempstead.” Murray, who was sworn in next, led creation of online accessible parking permits, posted one-stop passport shop events and established outdoor service trailers where residents can continue to access clerk’s office programs. Murray became the first elected official in New York to conduct weddings using online video conferencing. In October, she reached a milestone when she performed her 500th wedding ceremony. After reflections were offered by the

__________________

Christina Daly/Herald

Rev. Dr.Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church, Attorney General Letitia James swore in Goosby, who is the firstever African-American woman on the Town Board, now entering her 22nd year representing the 1st District. During her last term, Goosby assisted in supplying free PPE kits for businesses and churches, secured personal air filters for residents at risk, aided in launching the outdoor dining initiative to help residents stay open during the pandemic and sponsored food pantries that donated more than a million meals to residents in need. Goosby discussed her tenure in government and the plans that she has for her district moving forward. “I’m going into my 22nd year, as I was elected seeking representation from my community via a historical lawsuit,” Goosby said. “I’ve been sworn in on my plaza and that’s progress,” she noted. The Town Hall plaza was recently named for her. “My colleagues are of a different party,” she continued, “but it didn’t matter to them that I’m a Democrat and they

aren’t. I’ve worked with wonderful people, and I respect them and they respect me. We made a lot of progress in this town.” D’Esposito was then sworn in by State Assemblyman Edward Ra. D’Esposito, a retired New York Police Department detective, has taught his Narcan training program to town employees, community groups and residents throughout Hempstead. And he has helped expand the Narcan training program, with the town recently announcing distribution of 10,000 Narcan kits in Hempstead. D’Esposito reflected on the town’s accomplishments in recent years. “The last four years we’ve delivered budgets to save taxpayers money, holding the line or lowering taxes,” he said. “We’ve been lauded by Wall Street, earning outlook

new infections, dec. 28-Jan. 3

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upticks and credit upgrades. We expanded programs and invested in our parks, beaches and marinas. Just this year, we’ve invested $75 million in our roads. While other municipalities were unable to collect garbage and recycle at the height of the pandemic, our sanitation crews stepped up and kept the town moving.” Dunne, who served with the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War, remains a leader among local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations, and has been pivotal in crafting legislation to create a permanent property-tax exemption for Cold War era veterans, providing a tax reduction for eligible recipients. He has also sponsored several pieces of legislation to restict vaping and vape products.

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January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD HERALD

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

Herald ScHoolS

Courtesy Levittown Public Schools

Emily lEicht, a Levittown Public School District student, was recently named a semifinalist in the 2022 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. If selected as a finalist, she will receive a $20,000 college scholarship.

Levittown senior could snag $20k college scholarship Emily Leicht, a Division Avenue High School senior in the Levittown Public School District, was recently named a semifinalist in the 2022 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation each year invests in exceptional high school students who display dedication to leadership, service and action that have a positive impact on their community. Out of 68,000 submitted applications throughout the country, Leicht was one of 1,617 semifinalists in the 2022 CocaCola Scholars Program. Semifinalists were selected based on their academic performance, leadership and service demonstrated in their school and community. “It’s an absolute honor to have been selected as a semi-finalist and I hope to make it to the next round,” Leicht said in a press release. “I would not have been able to make it this far without the support of my family, teachers, and advisors.” At Division Avenue, Leicht serves in leadership roles in various clubs. She is the president of the Key Club and

Secretary of the AV club. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Art, National and World Language Society. Her roles in the community outside of school include serving as President of Levittown Youth Organizers United to Help, which works toward awareness and prevention of teen substance abuse. Leicht also crochets tote bags for girls at the Dream Camp foundation and blankets for animals at the North Shore Animal League where she volunteers her time. Leicht plans to pursue biological sciences and veterinary studies during her undergraduate studies. She is applying to Cornell University and University of California, Davis, among others. The second phase of the application process includes essays, a letter of recommendation and a transcript. If selected as a finalist, Leicht will become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship. Recipients will be notified in March 2022 and 150 Scholars participate in the Coca-Cola Leadership Development Institute facilitated by program alumni.

Call our editors today 516-569-4000 or email knalepinski@liherald.com

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January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD HERALD

events and activities

community update Friday, Jan. 14

3 thick blankets, 2 yoga blocks and a yoga belt. For more info and to register visit http://www.eventkeeper.com/ mars/xpages/W/WANTAGH/ekpmonth. cfm?curOrg=WANTAGH.

Seal walk Families of all ages can join the ones Beach Energy and Nature Center at 150 Bay Pkwy., in Wantagh for a seal walk from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Families will learn about Jones Beach winter seal population. This is an RSVP-only event. All programs require an in-person payment of $4 per person prior to the start of the program. To RSVP, go online to: https://www.jonesbeachenc.org/ programs.

Tai Chi with Marvin Join Marvin at the Wantagh Public Library for this in-person Tai Chi lesson. The session, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., is geared toward seniors, but all are welcome. Tai Chi combines slow-moving with deep breathing and is beneficial in increasing body strength, balance, and posture. Tai Chi can also help you reduce stress and increase relaxation.

2000’s-themed skate session This $15 skate session includes admission and skate rental from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Skate to all the hits from the 00’s at United Skates, located at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford.

Thursday, Jan. 20 Virtual creation station

Jetstream live The band Jetstream will be playing at Sunset Grill at 4068 Sunrise Hwy., in Seaford starting at 9 p.m. Come down and enjoy this nighttime dance party.

Saturday, Jan. 15 Shilelagh Law live Enjoy MShilelagh Law at Mulcahy’s located at 3232 Railroad Ave., in Wantagh. The set starts at 9 p.m. For tickets go online to: https://muls.com/events.

Princess skate session Enjoy a princess-themed breakfast and skate session from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at United Skates at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford! $22 for adults and $18 for children.

Weekly social skills group Cornerstone Behavioral Services hosts a weekly socials skills group designed and supervised by behavior analysts at Sensory Beans at 3309 Merrick Rd., in Wantagh from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Children learn social skills, self management and problem solving skills in a fun way. Pre-registration is required. For further info contact admin@cornerstoneaba.com.

l l l l l

Herald File Photo

Birding at Jones Beach Individuals ages 12 and up can join the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center at Jones Beach State Park for bird-watching from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Each week a different habitat is explored. No experience required and binoculars provided. To register, visit the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center website.

Radio Daze live

Hip-hop themed skate session

Enjoy an 80’s dance party with the band Radio Daze at Sunset Grill at 4068 Sunrise Hwy., in Seaford starting at 9 p.m.

Enjoy a hip-hop themed skate from 5 to 7 p.m. with $14 admission at United Skates at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford.

Sunday, Jan. 16 Baby jam class Enjoy a baby jam class for tots ages 9 months to 5 years with a caregiver at Show Stompin Irish Dance at 2090 Wantagh Ave., in Wantagh from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Dance around to a happy beat with songs on guitar, bells, instruments and story time. Parking and entry is in the rear of the studio. Wear socks. To register go online to: https://www.hisawyer.com/marketplace/activity-set/279646.

Off the Hook live Enjoy the band Off the Hook playing at Sunset Grill at 4068 Sunrise Hwy., in Seaford starting at 6:30 p.m. p.m.

Monday, Jan. 17 Free pizza skate session Enjoy a free slice of pizza and a small drink with paid $14 admission at United Skates at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 18 Virtual net zero walk Over Zoom, explore the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center and all its features which make it a living example of an adaptive and resilient future. Find out how this building is a net-zero waste space. This walk is from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. and is for ages 12 and up. This is an RSVP-only event. To RSVP, go online to: https://www.jonesbeachenc. org/programs.

Wednesday, Jan. 19 Yoga session Join Vicky at the Wantagh Public Library from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for yoga in the community room. Bring a yoga mat,

Over Zoom look at animals and plants for inspiration to come up with renewable energy inventions, and share the idea of the inventions over Zoom. Learn all about biomimicry, the science of creating technology inspired by nature. For ages 12 and up at 1:30 p.m. This is an RSVP-only event. To RSVP, go online to: https://www.jonesbeachenc.org/ programs.

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 knalepinski@ liherald.com

There will be an AARP tax prep workshop on Feb. 1 at the Wantagh Public Library. There will be a bingo night at The Church of St. Judes in Wantagh on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Knights of Columbus will be having a community blood drive on Monday, Feb. 7 in Seaford. Check out skating events at United Skates in Seaford at: https://www.unitedskates.com/. Sensory Beans in Seaford has events coming up. Check it out: https://www.sensorybeans.org/events-1

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

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Herald sports Wantagh rallies to top Seaford By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

DAllySShA MORENO

Baldwin Senior Basketball MORENO iS lOOKiNg to lead Baldwin to its eighth straight Nassau Class AA championship and has drawn interest from a handful of D1 college programs. She is a two-time All-County selection and was an impact player as a sophomore during the team’s last county title run. She scored 10 points in its 60-52 victory over Syosset in the Class AA final held March 8, 2020 at Nassau Coliseum, marking her seventh game that season scoring in double figures. She averaged 14 points as a junior.

gAMES TO WATCh Thursday, Jan. 13

Girls Basketball: East Rockaway at West Hemp.....4:45 p.m. Girls Basketball: Lynbrook at Lawrence...................... 5 p.m. Boys Swimming: Wantagh vs South Side (at Jeircho) 7 p.m. Gymnastics: Valley Stream at Hewlett ........................ 7 p.m. Gymnastics: Sewanhaka at South Side ..................... 7 p.m. Girls Basketball: North Shore at Seaford ................... 7 p.m. Boys Basketball: Westbury at Baldwin ....................... 7 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 14 Girls Basketball: Glen Cove at Sewanhaka ..................... 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Roslyn at Elmont ............................ 5 p.m. Wrestling: Freeport at Oceanside ..............................5:30 p.m. Girls Basketball: New Hyde Park at MacArthur................ 7 p.m. Boys Basketball: Island Trees at Clarke ........................... 7 p.m. Boys Basketball: Seaford at Lawrence ............................ 7 p.m.

Boys Basketball: V.S. North at South Side................. 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 15 Wrestling: Baldwin Tournament ........................................9 a.m. Boys Bakisetball: V.S. Central at East Meadow.............. 12 p.m. Boys Basketball: East Rockaway at West Hemp. ........... 12 p.m. Girls Basketball: Kennedy at South Side ..................... 12 p.m.

With the game on the line, Madison Taylor took over to propel the Wantagh girls’ basketball team to a come-frombehind conference win against neighborhood rival Seaford. Trailing by six early in the fourth quarter, Taylor scored the game’s next eight points as part of a dominant final period in the Warriors’ 46-41 home win on Jan. 5. The senior point guard tallied 13 of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter when Wantagh outscored Seaford 17-8. “She was a beast in that fourth quarter and took over the game,” Wantagh head coach Stan Bujacich said of Taylor, who also finished with 12 rebounds and six steals. ”She is a very physical player and is such a force going to the basket.” After Danielle McHugh ended Wantagh’s 0-0 run with a three-pointer that put Seaford up 40-39, Taylor answered with a long-range shot of her own beyond the arc that gave the Warriors the lead for good. Then clinging to a one-point lead with under a minute to go, Taylor forced a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup that made it 44-41. Freshman guard Skylar Mondelli converted two free throws with eight seconds left to ice the win. She finished with 10 points. “We have always been told to not give up and make sure that we have more heart than the other team and that we do all the little things,” said Taylor, a reigning All-County player who will play college women’s lacrosse at Northwestern next year. “The win felt so good especially with everything that has been going on with Covid and that we were able to stick together and work together.” A 10- 2 Seaford run between late in the third quarter into the final period gave the Vikings a 37-29 lead. Sophomore guard Amanda Williamson delivered six points during Seaford’s run including two straight baskets early in the fourth quarter before Wantagh closed with a 17-4 spurt. Seaford raced out to a 9-0 lead to open

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SENiOR MADiSON TAylOR matched her uniform number with 24 points Jan. 5 as Wantagh rallied to defeat neighboring Seaford, 46-41. the game and led 18-14 at halftime. The Vikings were led by 11 points apiece from Brooke Surace and Alexandria Leggio. “It’s a tough loss,” first-year Seaford head coach Stephanie Bartkus said. “We knew Madison Taylor would be tough to stop and she came out hard in the fourth quarter.” Wantagh (3-1 Conference A-V) and Seaford (2-1) will square off in a rematch on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. on the Vikings’ home floor.

The Warriors, who were without second-leading scorer Juliana Cerasi due to an illness, have been battling short-handed for much of the season after losing cocaptain Ava Kornbluth and Julia Allen to injuries. “For me that is one of the more satisfying victories we have had in our program in years,” Bujacich said. “We have had some big playoff wins but for the regular season that is up there.”

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January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD HERALD

12/22/21 4:22 PM

Successful distribution of Covid-19 test kits At the first Board of Education meeting of the new year, Seaford Union Free School District superintendent Dr. Adele Pecora provided an overview of how the district has been providing a safe return to district buildings for Seaford students, faculty and staff. Students returned to school on Jan. 3, with regular in-person instruction. As per a Jan. 1 letter on the district website, athletics and extra-curricular activities remain available for students. At the board meeting, Dr. Pecora offered a summary of the district’s Covid19 at-home testing kit distribution that was recently rolled out. Through a collaborative effort among staff and administrators, test kits were distributed Jan. 4 and 5 at Seaford High School. One kit was available per student. For district parents to receive a kit for their child, they needed to submit a digital request form and pick up the test in person. Dr. Pecora noted that the test distribution to families was completely voluntary. All parents received information about how to obtain a kit. The distribution process went “smoothly,” she said. “We tried to make it as easy as possible for the parents to acquire the at-home testing kits,” she said. As of the meeting, the district had dis-

Herald file photo

the seaford UNioN Free School District recently distributed at-home Covid-19 testing kits to district parents who registered. tributed 1,170 tests, Dr. Pecora said. The district had not required that parents who use the test kits notify the district of the results of the test. “We suggested that you use the at-home test if your child is symptomatic, but once parents have the test, they can use them as they see fit with their children. However, obviously, if a child tests positive, we would like to be notified as soon as possible,” she said.” Test-to-stay initiatives were also briefly discussed at the board meeting. Test-tostay is a practice used by school districts in an effort to minimize absenteeism and learning loss, which can occur during athome quarantining.

At this time, Nassau County has not adopted a countywide test-to-stay policy. Dr. Pecora said that even if a test-to-stay option was adopted, it would likely not be put in place in a meaningful way. “The criteria is that … Covid would have to be transmitted during the school day or activities,” she explained. Currently, very few cases are being traced back to the school, she said. Further, for a child to stay in the classroom, they would need to be administered three Covid-19 tests along the process, which could utilize resources. Since the beginning of the school year, Pecora said, employees who are not vaccinated must get a Covid-19 test once a

week. All employees are able to obtain a test outside of school or a PCR test on school grounds through ATC Testing & Screening. Pecora said the district is required to provide Covid-19 testing for all students. “At this point in time, the surge in cases is real. We’re dealing with it as best we can. We’re very grateful for our facility and staff and the administrators who have made things work,” Dr. Pecora said. She noted that the district has seen an increase in the number of teachers that are out of work due to the virus. The district is dealing with the staff shortage “as best we can,” she said. The four remaining winter concerts, which were rescheduled due to the influx in the number of Covid-19 cases, will now take place during the last week in January or early February, Pecora said. Additional information on the concerts will be disseminated to parents. She asked for continued patience from families as the district works to make the transition back to the classroom for students. A parent in the audience, who did not identify himself, asked if the district would provide remote instruction to children in the district if a Covid-19 vaccine is mandated for students by the government. Dr. Pecora said that at this point in time, it seems unlikely that a remote learning service would be offered.

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knalepinski@liherald.com

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

By Kate NalepiNsKi

Outgoing county exec. pushes gender inclusivity By Cristina arroyo rodriguez carroyo@liherald.com

On her second-to-last day in office, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran issued an executive on Dec. 30 to create a nine-member Nassau County Advisory Committee for Gender Inclusivity to address gender identity discrimination in the county’s charter, administrative code and other regulations. The committee would report to the county executive. Bruce Blakeman, who became county executive Jan. 1, said he would not start the committee, saying the executive order was intended to play to the press. Instead of creating the committee, “this administration will respect the [LGBQT] community by placing important stakeholders on the Human Rights Committee,” Laura Blakeman said, citing the 15-member human rights commission chaired by Bobby Kalotee. Curran’s executive order came three years after she enacted an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policy that upgraded sexual harassment prevention measures, including having a separate complaint form for sexual harassment and prompt investigations into discrimination or harassment allegations. “We are working to eradicate all forms of discrimination in the workplace and to ensure equal employment opportunity for all members of our team,” Curran said during a 2019 news briefing. “This new policy will do more to protect the civil rights of our employees than has ever been done before.” The chief executive of the LGBT Network in Hauppauge, Dr. David Kilmicky, praised Curran’s work

in making the county safer and more inclusive throughout her tenure as county executive. “This longoverdue policy change for Nassau’s transgender people and families sends a clear message that all county employees are entitled to work in an environment that is safe and free from harassment and discrimination,” he said at the news briefing. Jay Kaplan, the LGBTQ youth services manager at the Bellmore-based Pride for Youth, echoed the sentiment, saying, “This policy is the first in Nassau County’s history to explicitly protect transgender people, and it is hopefully the first of many policies that will be introduced to end discrimination against this vulnerable population.” Indeed, the policy was the first in Nassau’s history to protect in EEO policy a class of “sex” against gender-identity discrimination in the workplace. The policy Curran also protects employees who report harassment and/or discrimination from retaliation and provides interactive training to educate all employees in identifying and reporting instances of discrimination and/or sexual harassment. Kilmicky, however, also noted that, despite these policies, transgender workers may still face discrimination. “Across our nation, members of the transgender community continue to endure elevated levels of poverty, housing discrimination, workplace bias and a risk of suicide and mental health challenges. They are the victims of fatal violence with infuriating frequency,” Legislator Arnold Drucker, a Democrat, said. He then added that Blakeman has publicly expressed his commitment to helping all Nassau resi-

gender inclusive definitions ■ sex: biological status that is typically categorized as male, female, or intersex. ■ gender: attitudes, feelings and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex. ■ gender identity: deeply felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man or male; a girl, a woman or female; or an alternative gender. ■ gender expression: presentation, including physical appearance and behavior that communicates aspects of gender or gender role. –American Psychological Association

dents, so Drucker asserted, “Following through on the formation of this committee would put the power of action behind his words and bring us one step closer to fulfilling the promise of ‘liberty and justice for all.’” In October, Curran also signed into law a bill that created a 15-member disabilities advisory council, comprising members with disabilities and people representing organizations that serve and advocate for those with disabilities, tasked with providing recommendations to the county executive and legislature.

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SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

I My Community Stay connected to the schools, high school sports, local government, shopping, dining and more. Start or renew your subscription to The Herald today and save. Herald file photo

Gov. Kathy hochul recently signed a bill, co-sponsored by State Sen. John Brooks, that will benefit injured firefighters.

Hochul signs health legislation for firefighters munity in which he lost his life,” Senator Brooks said of Chief Brooks. (The two men were not related.) “. . . At the end of the day, [firefighters] perform one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, out of the goodness of their hearts, out of the respect and love they have for their communities. They perform at a level that can only be recognized as professional.” After he was injured, Chief Brooks and his family fought for benefits under the Volunteer Firefighters Benefit Law. Senator Brooks, who served in the Seaford Fire Department for over 50 years, met with the family and assisted with the passage of the bill. “I am grateful to hear this new legislation has passed,” Chief Brooks’s cousin Bryan Brooks, the Fire Chief of the Whitehall Volunteer Fire Company, said in a news release. “Firefighters protect lives and property under very strenuous conditions. I am pleased to know that the injuries my cousin . . . received in the line of duty could someday help another firefighter facing similar circumstances.” Wantagh Fire Department Chief Thomas Bloomfield said in a statement that he hoped the bill would “provide current and prospective members with the assurance that they or their loved ones will receive some compensation should they become disabled, or worse yet, die, as a result of performing their duties as a Volunteer Firefighter or Medic.” According to a study by the National Fire Protection Association published in 2021, sudden cardiac events consistently accounted for the largest share of

on-duty firefighter deaths. Cardiac-related deaths have comprised 43 percent of on-duty deaths over the past decade in the U.S. A 2017 study funded by the American Heart Association linked extreme heat to an increased risk of heart attacks in firefighters. Studying a group of 19 nonsmoking firefighters in Scotland, researchers concluded that the increased physical exertion and high temperatures increased the risk of blood clotting. Assemblywoman Woerner said she was pleased to co-sponsor the legislation. “Volunteer firefighters are an invaluable part of our safety, and this legislation is a small way to provide security for the families of firefighters who incur this life-threatening injury while volunteering on our behalf,” she said in a news release. “Firefighters and their families deserve this benefit for the risks and sacrifices they make to help and protect our community.” Bloomfield, a firefighter for more than 30 years, said he was well aware of the dangers. In addition to initial exams in order to join a department, volunteers have annual examinations to maintain their health, he said. They are closely monitored by EMS personnel during training, after periods of heavy exertion and in extreme weather. “I chose to be a volunteer firefighter, as do most volunteers, in order to help my community,” Bloomfield said, “and I get a great deal of satisfaction and fulfillment from doing so. In addition, I enjoy the camaraderie of working beside other like-minded people for a common goal. While not all dangers can be eliminated, proper training and discipline can help minimize some.”

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An unknown driver plowed a vehicle into a business on Wantagh Avenue in Levittown on New Years Eve.

Wantagh Ave. crash results in severe building damage On New Years Eve, a driver plowed a car into a cleaners store on Wantagh Avenue, Nassau County Police confirmed last week. At approximately 8:15 a.m. on Dec. 31, 2021, the Wantagh Fire Department responded to a report of an individual stuck inside the structure at 349 Wantagh Ave. in Levittown after a car crashed directly into the building, according to a Wantagh Fire Department spokesperson. Police did not disclose the condition of the driver, who crashed into Demetri’s Valet Cleaners and neighboring Dcer Wine & Liquor. The Levittown shopping strip is located near Sunrise Lane. The fire department’s Second Assistant Chief, Lenny Mathewson, and Third

Assistant Chief-Elect, Bill Van Leer, responded, along with Engine 2 and Squad 1. The department found no one trapped inside the structure. According to the fire department spokesperson, an evaluation was completed by fire department heads and the structure was deemed safe – there was immediate danger of collapse and no nearby utilities were compromised. The building sustained visible damage. Police said the driver was taken to a nearby hospital for injuries. There were no additional injuries reported. The Herald attempted to contact the owner of the Demetri’s Valet Cleaners and Dcer Wine & Liquor multiple times for comment but did not get a response.

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Masone Masonry welcomed to community Masone Masonry, located on Merrick Road in Seaford, hosted its grand opening on Dec. 10, 2021. In attendance were Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Carini, Town Clerk Kate Murray, owners Michael and Jennifer Masone and staff; Seaford Chamber of Commerce President Nick Bilotta, former President Kenneth Jacobsen, Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads and New York State Senator John Brooks.

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Long Island’s Covid-19 test positivity rate was spiking at more than 25 percent — the highest in the state — and a growing number of school districts were reporting increased transmission of the disease, with some, such as Long Beach, being forced to close some schools because of staffing shortages. Hospitalization rates were rising as well. Other parents expressed concern about the potential safety hazards that could arise if school boards do not mandate masks. “I am a senior citizen and have no more children in school,” Rosemary Johnstone, of Wantagh, told the Herald, “but I did work in a school, and feel as though the kids need to mask, to protect the teachers and staff, and … each other.” Johnstone added that the community needs leadership, and the decision to mask children should not be left up to individuals. The county is also expected to distribute KN95 masks to private and public schools staff and faculty. Many school districts, including the neighboring Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, say they are conferring with their legal counsel, and await further clarification from Hochul’s office and the State Department of Health regarding Blakeman’s order. The Wantagh and Seaford school districts had not responded to requests for comment at press time.

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school boards cannot vote to violate either SED or State Health Department policy. Blakeman also announced on Jan. 6 that he would lift the mask mandate for all county agencies. Blakeman, a Republican, said he was directly opposing an order put in place in early December by Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, requiring mask use in public spaces. The state mandate was originally set to expire in mid-January, but Hochul recently extended it through Feb. 1. “School boards are composed of elected officials who make decisions based upon the unique circumstances of each District,” Blakeman said in a press release. “They are in the best position to make these decisions, not an autocracy in Albany.” In a letter to the community dated Jan. 9 that was signed by the Seaford Board of Education and central administration, district officials reviewed the situation and stated that “all students, staff and visitors will be expected to wear masks while inside any of our schools.” “We are disappointed that current conditions do not permit us to return to a prepandemic school environment,” the letter continued. “As always, we will continue to monitor the COVID positivity rates. Although they currently reflect a surge in positive cases, please know that very few transmissions occurred in our schools. With the protocols we have in place, negli-

gible cases trace back to classrooms. Our able to decide whether their children wear masks in class. schools are safe.” “My daughters love school and their In Wantagh and Seaford, parents have already responded to Blakeman’s order. teachers, but unfortunately, another year Some, like Seaford resident Matthew Rob- in masks is making them frustrated and not wanting to go to school,” erts, say they support the deciGallina wrote in an email. sion to unmask children in “We are praying that our schools. Roberts wrote in an superintendent and Board of email that he was “very Education make the right thankful someone like Bruce decision and allow parents to Blakeman is finally standing make the decision for their up to Governor Hochul. own children. It’s time we “These poor kids are going learn to live with this virus on almost now a third year of and allow our children norhaving to wear these masks,” malcy again.” Roberts added. “It’s not right. The parental choice moveSelfish adults and power-hunment has grown rapidly in gry, overbearing politicians Wantagh, mainly on social get to enjoy their lives, while media platforms like Facechildren who are the least book. The Facebook group, affected by this virus suffer Wantagh Parental Choice, the most.” formed last July, now has over Heather Bulone Umhafer, 750 members. of Seaford, agreed, saying it Some have criticized the was “beyond the time to BeTTy Rosa parental choice movement. remove the masks. “Choice is fine in situations “Our children are suffer- Commissioner, where your choice only affects ing,” she said. “But I don’t feel NYSED you, but that isn’t the case our current Board of Educahere,” resident Judy Kudysch tion or superintendent will go against the grain. We have been fighting Kule said. “Seatbelts would be an example this for two years, and they are afraid to go of laws made to protect you. Seatbelts also don’t save lives in 100 percent of car acciagainst the state.” Wantagh resident Daniela Gallina, who dents, but most of us wear them, because, has two daughters in Wantagh Elementary in many cases, it does save lives.” Blakeman’s order came at a time when School, has advocated for parents to be

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

continued from front page

1158936

January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD 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.

IVERS R D S U B D WANTE

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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.

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The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to sbrinton@liherald.com HAIR CUTTER NEEDED Barber Shop Rockville Centre. F/T. Experienced, Immediate. 516-491-6611. HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Richner Communications is looking for a hands-on Human Resources professional to oversee all HR functions on a strategic and tactical level. Exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and expanding Garden City, Long Island media company. This position has a flexible schedule, part-time job share would be considered. Responsibilities: Talent acquisition: Source, screen, and interview potential candidates and manage new employee onboarding Benefits administration: Liaise with brokers, providers and facilitate enrollment and updating of coverage. Manage annual open enrollment and employee benefits review. Administration of 401(k) plan. Employee relations: Provide day- today support and problem resolution in regards to employee concerns, questions and policy issues. Performance management: Coach, counsel and recommend disciplinary actions Compliance: Maintain indepth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risk and ensuring regulatory compliance Payroll: Process biweekly payroll through payroll vendor for population of 150 employees Requirements: Bachelor's degree, preferably in business or HR, or equivalent experience Minimum 5 years HR generalist experience Knowledge of Federal, State & Local regulations governing employment Experience with payroll processing Self-motivated, ability to prioritize and work well under pressure Customer-focused attitude, with high level of professionalism and discretion Excellent oral and written communication and quantitative skills Proficiency with Microsoft Office Qualified candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to: careers@liherald.com. PRESS-ROOM/WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME Pressroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for a motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Sales Executives Outside Sales

Richner Communications has openings for Outside Sales Executives to Sell Digital and Print advertising Service and sell both existing and developing new business. If you have the desire to succeed in our fast paced business and are motivated, dependable, have strong communication skills and can manage your own time, We would like to hear from you! Base salary with commission plan. Paid sick/personal days, vacation and paid holidays. Sales experience is a plus but we will train the right person to learn the industry. email resume to careers@liherald.com TAX PREPARER P/T Franklin Square Experience Needed. Retirees Welcome. C a l l 5 1 6 - 3 5 8 - 9 4 5 5 Fa x R e s u m e 516 358-9483. Email Resume: ed@loturco.com.

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Special Education Teacher Aide & General Education Teacher Aides Qualifications for Civil Service: • Must have knowledge of classroom routines. • Must have the ability to perform basic clerical tasks. • High School Diploma • Must be at least 21 years of age. Duties Include: • Assist teachers in the classroom by performing varied duties associated with teaching. • Must have the ability to maintain positive classroom environment. • Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, parents, and school staff members. • Supervise students at lunch and recess. Send letter of interest along with your resume and a copy of your diploma to the Personnel Office, Attention Nancy Soevyn at the address above or by email to: Nsoevyn@elmontschools.org

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SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

HERALD

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Q. A few contractors have looked at my attic so I can finish it for more bedrooms and a family room. The 1920s house has a very large attic with stairs to the second-floor landing. The attic stairs are much steeper and narrower, and the contractor says the walls will need to be taken down and wider and longer stairs put in. Is this necessary? The stairs are already there, and even though they’re steep, they work. Also, one of the contractors said that the horizontal 2x4s going across the attic, which are too low to walk around, could be removed or raised. Is that true? He said we could put them higher and add more so we can add finished wallboards to them. Do you agree, and is there anything I should know about doing this before we start?

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A. Good thing you asked before you started. Instead of starting, you need to stop and take a few steps back. What you’re describing has multiple issues that you have to address. First, your state building code doesn’t allow the occupancy of a third floor in a single-family, woodframed dwelling. This is because of the many danonte eeper gers involved in surviving a fire at that level. In the process of getting the permit to occupy a third story, which you left out of the description of your investigation, you would need to have a licensed architect or engineer prepare plans that include specific methods of escape, including the correct size and number of windows, distances to exterior and interior levels below to escape to, sprinkler locations along the entire path of travel to get out of the dwelling, heights of ceilings and fire-rated materials to be installed. This is because, as I have often written, the chances of surviving a fire in the third floor of a wood-framed dwelling are statistically remote, only 5 percent. That means you or your loved ones could be among the 95 out of 100 who will die from smoke inhalation or burns. The plans for a finished third story are submitted to both your local building department, which will rightfully reject them, and to the State Codes Division for a public hearing, where your case will need to be represented by a code-knowledgeable professional. I have seen people represent themselves, which generally doesn’t go very well, since safety is the reason for the codes, and there are many laws and standards that the average owner is unaware of. The stair access must be 3 feet wide, and the tread must be at least 10¼ inches, while the risers cannot exceed 8¼ inches. The horizontal 2x4s you described are collar ties, and they serve the important function of holding the roof together, especially in high winds and under snow loads. Moving or removing them can be dangerous. The higher up, the less effective, and without first calculating several factors, it should not be done.

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Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

OpINIONS

n Christmas Day, NASA sent into space the James Webb telescope, which, if all works out as planned, will provide us with our first look into the beginning of time. The telescope will bring into focus the oldest stars in the universe, and examine the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets for signs of life. But who the heck was James Webb? He has largely been lost to history. He was a Marine Corps pilot, an aide to several members of Congress, JAMES undersecretary of to President BERNSTEIN state Harry S. Truman, president of a New York company, Sperry Gyroscope, and NASA’s second administrator. A pretty impressive biography. But just as Webb’s name has largely been forgotten, so has a tragic incident that occurred during his administration that almost ended America’s space program. On Jan. 27, 1967, three astronauts

— Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom, 40, Edward H. White, 36, and rookie Roger Chaffee, 31 — were killed on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida when a fire erupted in their command module during pre-flight training. At the time, it was the world’s worst space disaster. Little is said or written these days about the three astronauts and their destroyed Apollo 1 spacecraft. For one thing, there was the success of the moon landings beginning in 1969. And there have been other disasters — two space shuttles, Challenger, in 1986, and Columbia, in 2003, were lost, resulting in the deaths of 14 astronauts. The country was in shock after the ’67 fire in Apollo 1. NASA’s carefully cultivated image of infallibility had been badly damaged. There were calls from various corners to nix the space program, and let the Russians have the moon. It wasn’t worth human lives, some editorials in leading newspapers said. Webb saw it differently. But perhaps the most distinguishing factor of his leadership, something rarely seen in gov-

ernment or politics these days, was that Webb publicly took the blame for the disaster, pulling no punches. “We’ve always known that something like this was going to happen soon or later,” he told the press at the time. “Who would have thought that the first tragedy would be on the ground?” Not only did he shoulder the blame, but Webb was determined to get all the facts and keep the space program moving forward. America, he thought, had to be first on the moon. He went to President Lyndon Johnson and asked that NASA be allowed to handle the investigation into the fire, promising to be truthful with the agency’s findings. Webb was grilled by various congressional committees, and kept the backlash away from NASA and the Johnson administration. As a result, Webb was assigned much of the blame, and NASA ultimately regained its “right stuff ” image. An investigation indicated that a faulty electrical wire inside the Apollo 1 command module likely caused the fire.

fter a tragedy, he was determined to keep the space program moving forward.

Webb retired from the space agency in October 1968, just as the Apollo program was nearing completion. Astronauts landed on the moon a year later. There were bumps along the way in Webb’s career. In 2015, a Seattle Times columnist revived talk that when Webb was undersecretary of state, thousands of gay men and women lost their government jobs in what was known as the “Lavender Scare.” There was never any evidence that Webb had anything to do with the firings, although people speculated he must have known about them. Perhaps the thing to remember about James Webb is that he kept the complex machinery of NASA humming so America could stay true to the goal that President John F. Kennedy set in 1962: to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade and bring him back safely to Earth. Much of the technology had not even been invented yet when Kennedy made that bold pledge, and many thought the goal was impossible. Webb was one of the believers. Jim Bernstein is editor of the Long Beach Herald. Comments about this column? JBernstein@liherald.com.

Choosing to read hope in the crystal ball

hat if we got knocked out of our socks by a brilliant turnabout in our national life? At the moment, “Happy New Year” rings hollow. We all know how heavy the baggage is that we dragged from December to January this year. But my hope is in the mystery of the future. We could never have predicted the dreadful twin plagues of Covid and civil unrest, and that is exactly why we can’t predict a change, a windfall of good RANDI karma and good KREISS timing. Twenty-two years ago, I wrote a New Year’s column for the Heralds offering my predictions for the year ahead, 2000. First, I suggested, sell all your stock. In my capacity as a person with little understanding of financial markets, I firmly believed that stores would become obsolete as online shopping became more popular. The markets would go south from there. As it turned out, if you just kept your stocks for these 22 years, you would have made a tidy bundle. So my first predic-

tion was dead on arrival. Even with the dot-com bust in the early 2000s and the Great Recession, the average annual return in the stock market was about 10 percent. I also predicted that that we would not go to war with Saddam Hussein. On the national front, I lamented the scandals in Congress, and said our officials would out one another until no one would be left in government. That one was particularly interesting: Apparently, the worst thing I could imagine about Congress 22 years ago was that folks were having sexual flings. Man, wouldn’t you take that scenario in a heartbeat? What if someone told you back then that on New Year’s 2022, our country would be stumbling ahead, staggered by more than 800,000 deaths from a virulent pandemic that shut down schools and services and sent millions into isolation and quarantine? Could you possibly have believed that political fighting, a violent attack on the Capitol and hordes of know-nothing anarchists would threaten the integrity of Congress, the presidency and the Supreme Court? Would you have believed that a Marjorie Taylor Greene could exist

if I described her to you back then? How about this one: Donald Trump would get elected president in 2016. Hell, 22 years ago, the twin towers were still standing in all their massive glory at the tip of Manhattan. Perhaps it’s best that crystal balls are cloudy. The unexpected is what I am counting on — that unpredictably good things may save us. As I think about the year ahead, my head and my heart do battle. Our hearts don’t heal according to a turn of the calendar page. My heart is aching for our losses. Some friends have died. My city is set back on its heels. Our kids are out of school yet again, as we enter the third year of the pandemic. Part of my head is worried about tomorrow. But I’m going with the part of my brain that knows unexpectedly beneficent events in the year ahead could heal the country and get us healthy again. We can go back to work, and bring back birthday parties and theater and family dinners. The virus could burn out. Our political leaders may find their best selves. Airplane travel will take off and people, too long sequestered in their homes, will embrace one another again.

nexpected events in the year ahead could heal the country and get us healthy again.

This could happen, and is no more unlikely than a raging global pandemic that stopped the clock for two years. I wish this for all of us in 2022: that we are off-the-charts lucky and blessed in our lives and work. In the meantime, the poet John Roedel offers this advice: “My heart is always sad about/something that happened yesterday/while my head is always worried/about something that may happen tomorrow, I lamented . . . “My gut squeezed my hand./‘I just can’t live with my mistakes of the past/or my anxiety about the future,’ I sighed . . . “My gut smiled and said: ‘In that case/ you should stay with your lungs for a while . . . “If you are exhausted about/your heart’s obsession with/the fixed past and your mind’s focus/on the uncertain future/ your lungs are the perfect place for you/ there is no yesterday in your lungs/there is no tomorrow there either/there is only now/there is only inhale/there is only exhale/there is only this moment/there is only breath/and in that breath/you can rest while your/heart and head work/their relationship out.” Let us say goodbye to 2021 hoping to be astonished, in a good way, by 2022. Copyright 2022 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

The Webb telescope is up, but who’s James Webb?

Herald editorial

Seaford

January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD HERALD

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No school district should overturn mask mandate

n his first week on the job, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman addressed the coronavirus pandemic in a way that can best be described as premature, if not downright foolhardy. Last week, Blakeman, a Republican from the Five Towns, signed a set of three executive orders, all of which were intended to loosen state regulations whose purpose was to protect public safety during this most recent surge of infections caused by the Omicron variant. Blakeman was clearly thumbing his nose at Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, who on Dec. 10 ordered mask wearing in public to reduce the spread of Covid-19 as it fans out like wildfire across New York state, and the nation. Before taking office, Blakeman had said he would not enforce the public mask mandate, as required by Hochul. Then, on Jan. 6, he took this political showdown one step further when he signed a surprise executive order directing local boards of education across Nassau to vote on whether to require masks in the schools. Refusing to enforce the mask mandate was bad enough. To require school districts to weigh in on a measure that is, incontrovertibly, intended to protect the health and safety of students — many of them unvaccinated — along with teachers and school workers, represents an abdication of his duty as county executive to protect Nassau’s most vulnerable. It’s been a while since Blakeman, 66, has been in school, but surely he must

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letters Blakeman’s decision is ‘misguided’ To the Editor: The news generated by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s recent publicity stunt of signing an executive order allowing school districts to decide on mask-wearing is nothing more than a glaring example of misguided judgment and poor leadership. Surely Mr. Blakeman knows he cannot supersede Gov. Kathy Hochul’s mask mandate or the state education commissioner’s similar order. It is nothing more than playing to the cheap seats, on top of being quantifiably false (the idea that there is no science to support mask wearing as a Covid mitigation practice). It’s both an embarrassment and an invitation to those who believe such nonsense to cause disruption and only furthers divisiveness. It’s a sad day in Nassau County to be represented by a person willing to sow discord to be

remember the conditions in which students and teachers work. Twenty to 30 people are confined to a room for six to eight hours a day, with ventilation systems that are often decades old, unless a district has recently upgraded them. In short, students and teachers must spend hours a day within feet of one another, in rooms of stagnant air. One infected student or teacher could spread the coronavirus to dozens of people in a single day. Why not mask up? What, precisely, is Blakeman’s point here? Anyone who enters a school must wear a mask, period. Some parents say they worry about the potential psychological effects of their children wearing masks throughout the day. In studies since the start of the pandemic, however, children were found to be highly resilient, reporting few, if any, effects from mask wearing, and health experts across the country have weighed in, saying children are, generally speaking, doing just fine wearing masks. At the same time, as we reported in last week’s editorial, numerous studies indicate that mask wearing does, in fact, reduce the spread of the coronavirus. That is, there is no real downside to children wearing masks in school — and only an upside, the likely reduction of community spread of the coronavirus. Thus, it would be just plain wrong of any school district, for what could only be described as political reasons, to overturn the state’s mask mandate in a vote. Hochul quickly weighed in on the mat-

ter last week, saying that any school district that voted to overturn the mandate, ordered by both the State Education Department and the State Department of Health, could — and likely would — face the loss of state aid for education. She was right to weigh in aggressively. There will be those who say that the Omicron variant, according to studies, is less virulent and less deadly than previous strains of the coronavirus. They are correct. This variant is still, however, a virus with the capability to send the unvaccinated to hospitals. And people who believe that even a three-dose vaccination will entirely protect them from it should think again. The vaccinated are becoming infected as well. They might not experience the heavy symptoms that unvaccinated people do, but they can still get sick. Further, the risk of a vaccinated person being hospitalized by the Omicron variant is extremely low, but it is not zero. The bottom line: Blakeman appears to be playing a game of political brinkmanship, which has garnered him a good amount of publicity across the state and made him something of a hero to farright conservatives. That is why we find his first two weeks in office to be so disappointing. We honestly expected better of him. We hope and trust he will see the error of his ways and restore one of the best measures that we have to guard against the coronavirus — the mask mandate.

opinions

ational Public Radio and ABC News warn, “Teachers are on the front lines in the Jan. 6 culture war.” Depending on where they work, teachers experience different political pressure when it comes to how to discuss with students the events that rocked the U.S. Capitol a year and a week ago. For younger children, important themes are community decision-making and fairness, the building blocks of a democratic society. In grades five to eight, students aLan learn about the foundations of the sinGer democratic process — rights and responsibilities, civic action and voting — along with injustices. In grades 11 and 12, students should follow congressional hearings, evaluate media coverage and discuss the implications of current events. For these grades, the anniversary of Jan. 6, with expanded media coverage, offered a teachable moment for more in-depth analysis. While students and teachers are entitled to their opinions about the implications of the events, discussion in class about them must be respectful, and speakers must support statements with evi-

dence. The teacher must prepare documents for evaluation, ask questions of student speakers and moderate discussion. The teacher must guide students through multiple sources with different perspectives so they can form their own questions, evaluate the sources and information, and arrive at conclusions supported by evidence. This process must not include deciding whether the Jan. 6 insurrection happened. It happened, and it was indeed an insurrection, intended to block certification of the presidential election. One difficulty in addressing the events of that day is the country’s partisan divide. An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey found that despite widely viewed video footage, 60 percent of Republicans claimed the attack on the Capitol was not violent or somewhat violent. Here, teachers should ask students to suggest additional documents to allow them to discuss and decide whether the events were violent or not. To be clear, more than 700 people have been charged with various crimes at the Capitol. The FBI estimates that about 2,000 people were part of the mob that breached the building after a pro-Trump rally at which then President Donald Trump and other speakers repeated

unsubstantiated charges that the election was stolen. Some 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the attack, one died, and the Capitol sustained more than $1.5 million in damage. More than 160 of the rioters entered guilty pleas in exchange for lighter sentences. Seventy have been sentenced. Thirty-one were jailed and 18 received home detention. The longest prison term so far is five years. About 100 defendants have ties to extremist groups. Trump tweeted many times on the afternoon on Jan. 6, attacking then Vice President Mike Pence more than once. At 2:38 p.m. — more than an hour and a half after Trump supporters first breached the Capitol — Trump tweeted, “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!” At 4:17 p.m. Trump tweeted a video in which he told his followers, “I know your pain, I know your hurt. We love you, you’re very special. You’ve seen what happens, you’ve seen the way others are treated . . . I know how you feel, but go home, and go home in peace.” Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, called what happened on Jan. 6 “an insurrection, incited by the president.” On Fox News, Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, said, “There’s no

t offers a teachable moment for indepth analysis, if discussed respectfully.

Letters more popular with a loud and uninformed minority. MICHAEL LUDWIg, PH.D. Rockville Centre Ludwig is director of Hofstra University’s health education master’s program.

No wonder Democrats are in trouble To the Editor: Alan Singer’s analyses of why the Democratic Party is in peril of losing control of government (“Democrats election perils have little to do with ‘wokeness,’” Dec. 9-15) is yet another anti-Republican screed with selective omissions of facts. Nowhere in his op-ed piece does he mention the Southern border, which is a lawless catastrophe for our country as well as for Biden, Harris or whoever is supposed to be in charge. Singer fails to mention that with no clear mandate, a 50-50 Senate and a razor-thin majority in the House, Biden and company are trying to pass a multi-trillion-dollar package that can only be paid for with higher taxes. Nowhere does he mention the murder, mayhem and chaos that are a direct result of flawed policies in Democratic-run cities across the country.

Weakening support for Israel; kneeling to an Iran deal, which is a pathway to a nuclear weapon for a country with a malevolent, untrustworthy government; abandoning friends and weapons in Afghanistan; sitting idly by as China steals land in the South China Sea to build military outposts; closing down the Keystone Pipeline (while green-lighting Russia’s), which has led to soaring gas prices as we struggle to electrify, are just a few other omissions. Throw in the teaching of a flawed critical race theory, the 1609 Project, FBI surveillance of school board meetings, support of the corrupt and often violent Black Lives Matter movement and consideration of reparations for descendants of people who were slaves more than 150 years ago, and it’s quite understandable why the Democratic Party is in trouble. Its record of failure in one year is breathtaking. Most people who are, or will turn from, blue to red are neither racist nor violent. They abhor the Jan. 6 insurrection. They are pragmatic! And yes, like it or not, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted by a jury of his peers who heard all of the evidence. To become purple, we need moderate leaders on both sides of the aisle who listen to and respect one another. Ignoring reality when it conflicts with one’s point of view is a prescription for failure. DR. MEL YOUNg Lawrence

question the president formed the mob. The president incited the mob. The president addressed the mob. He lit the flame.” The New York Times published useful lesson ideas to aid teachers. It also recommends consulting the websites of Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance), Facing History and Ourselves and the Anti-Defamation League. The Times package includes documents with questions sorted by these themes: ■ Understanding what happened and reacting to it. ■ Investigating President Trump’s responsibility. ■ Exploring why democracy requires a peaceful transfer of power. ■ Understanding the roots of the riot. ■ Considering the role of the news media and the power of language. ■ Scrutinizing how social media can facilitate insurrection. ■ Putting Jan. 6 into historical context. 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 Joe Abate

The first of how many? — Island Park

SEAFORD HERALD — January 13, 2022

How to teach about the Jan. 6 insurrection

January 13, 2022 — SEAFORD HERALD

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