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November 23, 2021

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HERALD Your Health Inside

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Vol. 69 No. 52

Town opts out on marijuana

Spreading holiday cheer

Page 4

Page 12

DECEMBER 23 - 29, 2021

Seaford man pleads not guilty to sex crimes By kaTE NalEPINSkI and MalloRY WIlSoN knalepinski@liherald.com

Mallory Wilson/Herald

PaTRICk CaREY, 20, of Seaford, left the Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola on Dec. 16 after pleading not guilty to multiple charges.

A Seaford man accused of sharing sexually explicit images and videos of more than a dozen underaged MacArthur High School alumnae with a pornographic website pleaded not guilty to the charges on Dec. 16. Patrick Carey, 20, was arraigned at the Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola before Judge Robert Bogle on an indictment that charged Carey with, among felonies and misdemeanors, the promotion of a sexual performance by a child. The

arraignment was followed by a news conference led by Assistant District Attorney Melissa Scannell. More than 10 women contacted the Nassau County Police Department from January to September after they discovered images of themselves on the website, according to the indictment. Carey allegedly pulled images of as many as 50 women from their social media accounts and edited the photos to depict them performing sexual acts. The photos were taken when the women were in high school and middle school, the Continued on page 4

Mask mandate complaints abound for local businesses By IRYNa SHkuRHaN newsroom@liherald.com

Some Wantagh-Seaford business owners say they believe the indoor mask mandate issued by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month is difficult to implement, and could steer patrons away from stores and restaurants. Hochul’s mandate, which went into effect statewide Dec. 13, encompasses all indoor public spaces, including restaurants, offices, shopping centers, grocery stores, houses of worship and recreational spaces. Businesses and venues have the option of requiring proof of full vaccinated status instead of

masks, but are not allowed to mandate both, according to a New York state press release. The mandate applies to employees and customers alike. Those who implement the mask requirement are responsible for ensuring that all patrons older than 2 wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. For those who prefer a proof-of-vaccination requirement, anyone age 12 or older must be fully vaccinated, while children ages 2 to 5, who remain ineligible for vaccinations, must wear masks. “The businesses have gone through enough,” said Nick Bilotta, Seaford Chamber of

Commerce president. “I don’t think businesses should be responsible for policing people.” Individuals should decide if they want to wear a mask, he said. Mike Glavatovic, owner of Gusto Divino Trattoria, on Sunrise Highway in Seaford, agreed, saying that the new mandate was hurting his business by keeping customers away. “Some customers see the sign and don’t want to come in and put on a mask,” Glavatovic said. While others don’t mind the mandate, he said has noticed that some people become visibly upset when they are asked to wear masks. He added that he didn’t believe the mandate was neces-

sary. Violating the mandate or related guidance can result in a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation, state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said in a press release. That’s part of the reason Gusto Divino is following the new regulations, Glavatovic said. On Dec 10, Hochul announced that the purpose of the new man-

date was to protect the health of New Yorkers given the rise in the number of cases of Covid-19, reduced hospital capacity and low vaccination rates in some counties around the state. “We shouldn’t have reached the point where we are confronted with a winter surge, especially with the vaccine at our disposal,” Hochul Continued on page 5

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December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

LI CAWS pressures town to appoint board

SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

On Dec. 7, the fight for the public takeover of New York American Water continued in Hempstead outside of the Town of Hempstead Town Hall. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the South Nassau Water Authority Act into law on Nov. 3, providing a path for the public acquisition of the privately owned NYAW, which serves approximately 113,000 people in the Town of Hempstead. Because NYAW is privately owned, the Town of Hempstead is allowed to tax their property; the people who pay those taxes are those who receive water from NYAW. The Merrick-based Long Island Clean Air, Water and Soil advocacy group gathered outside of town hall, where the town board was having their last public meeting of the year. As per the new bill, the town is required to appoint three people to the South Nassau Water Authority board. The other 2 board members are to be appointed by the Nassau County legislature. At the time of the protest, no board selections had been made. The deadline for these appointments is Feb. 1, 2022. According to former Nassau County legislator Dave Denenberg, who is a codirector of CAWS, the town has a longstanding history of denying public water to the 15% of its residents who receive private water. “When I was a county legislator, in around 07, 08, there was a big outcry because the latest rate of water at that time made it very, very obvious how much more — it was called New York Water Service at the time — was charging than other public authorities,” Denenberg said. Denenberg is a Merrick resident who receives NYAW. Denenberg said he started calling on the town to constitute a water authority to take over New York Water Service, and by 2010, he started showing the town that a public authority had been created by New York State in 1992. 3 authorities had been created — one to take over Jamaica Water in western Nassau County, one to take over Great Neck Water in Great Neck, and a southeast water authority, called the Water Authority of Southeast Nassau County, to take over New York Water Service. At water rate increase hearings in 2009 and 2010, Denenberg said people came out in support, demanding that the public service commission turn down the rate increase, and implement the public authority — the Water Authority of Southeast Nassau County. “In 2012, [the town] started doing a feasibility study that they didn’t finish until about 2014,” Denenberg said, to see if a public authority was possible. “The company which did the feasibility study said it was feasible — except for political reasons the town [was] saying this new authority would have to pay taxes. As soon as I was out of office in 2015, they dissolved the [public] water authority saying it was not feasible. The town is up to the same tricks.” At the time, feasibility studies for public water were ran in other private author-

Jordan Vallone/Herald

LONg IsLAND CLEAN, Air, Water and Soil co-directors Claudia Borecky and Dave Denenberg, with Jack McCloy, Rosalee Reeves and Helene Manas outside of the town board meeting on Dec. 7. ities in North Shore and Massapequa. Both the North Shore and Massapequa districts found that a public takeover would be feasible, however, the Town of Hempstead did not. “The town did a study and showed it would cost about 450 million dollars or less [to implement a public authority],” according to Denenberg. “They turned around and said its going to cost over 500 million. The state called them out on it, because the town was denying the results of their own feasibility study. “We want the town board to know that all of the excuses are over,” he added. “We need results.” CAWS’s co-director Claudia Borecky, who also lives in Merrick, said the current fight for public water was “like déjà vu.” “Years ago when Dave urged the town of Hempstead to reconstitute the last water authority it took them 9 months before they appointed the commissioners to that authority,” she said. “We won’t let that happen again.” Borecky said that the South Nassau Water Authority Act was written so that the town can’t procrastinate in naming 3 commissioners. “They have until Feb. 1 by law to establish the appointees, yet they haven’t even started the interviewing process,” she explained. “This is the last [board] meeting for this year so it needs to be done as soon as possible.” Compared to Town of Hempstead residents that receive public water, those who receive NYAW pay close to $2,000 a year for water. “When I was paying my mother’s bills in the South Huntington Water District

and paying my bills in the New York American Water district in Baldwin, I was paying about 116 dollars for my bill, and only 8 dollars and change for my mothers bill — for the same amount of water during the same period,” Jack McCloy, a protestor from Baldwin said. “It is crazy how much more NYAW charges customers here and utilities that are public,” he added. “We need a change.” Denenberg also explained that CAWS would like the appointed commissioners to meet certain requirements. “We need those commissioners to be

independent, nonpartisan, and civic minded people with experience in finance, law, government and municipal takeovers to get this job done,” he said. “We deserve water, tax free, just like everyone else,” Denenberg said. “The town has given us all kinds of excuses without giving us results. “They need to do right thing already — appoint these people to the board.” The Town of Hempstead was contacted regarding the appointment of commissioners to a public water board, but was unable to provide a comment.

News brief 9/11 Memorial Committee seeks nominations The Seaford 9/11 Memorial Committee is currently accepting nominations for the Honorary Patriot Award, a community-focused award that recognizes notable individuals in the Seaford community and beyond. The nominated individual should meet one or more of the following criteria: ■ Represents the courageous lives and spirits of Seaford’s five alumni who died on Sept. 11, 2001 (Tom Haskell ‘82, Tim Haskell ‘85, John Perry ‘82, Rob Sliwak ‘77 and Michael Wittenstein ‘85) ■ A Seaford High School graduate with distinction ■ A former Patriot Award-winner with distinction

■ Has made significant contributions to Seaford schools, the community or the 9/11 Seaford High School Memorial Committee ■ Has made significant contributions to society as a whole Nomination forms are available online at www.seaford911.org and can be emailed along with a reference letter to Tom Condon at: tcondonshs911@gmail.com. All nominations must be received no later than Thursday, Jan. 27. To learn more about the Honorary Patriot Award, past recipients and the Patriot Award program, visit the committee’s website at: www. seaford911.org.

20-year-old arraigned, due back in court on Jan. 4 continued from front page indictment states. Allegedly altered by Carey, the photos also contained personal identifying information, including full names, addresses and telephone numbers. “The website in question is a pornographic website where the purpose is to collect images, [and] you gain sexual gratification from them,” Scannell said outside the courthouse last Thursday. “. . . These images are illicit. They weren’t consensually sent in.” All 50 women who targeted had attended MacArthur High, in Levittown, along with Carey, Scannell said. The individuals in the altered photos varied in age from 14 to 19. All the victims are currently collegeaged. In a statement emailed to the Herald on Dec. 17, Levittown district Superintendent Dr. Tonie McDonald said the district had been notified of the indictment that day. She Patrick also said that Carey had graduated in 2019. “These allegations are serious and extremely disturbing,” McDonald’s statement read. “The district will assist the Nassau County Police Department and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in their investigations as needed. As this matter is being handled by law enforcement agencies, any questions should be directed to them.” According to the indictment, some of the victims told police that they had received social media notifications that Carey had taken screenshot images of some of the altered photos. “These young women are the unsung heroes of this case,” Scannell said during the news conference. “. . . They were getting these filthy messages, and they took it upon themselves to figure out where they were coming from, and to reach out to the police and to advocate for themselves and to give us the evidence we need to hold him accountable.” Scannell explained that during examination, police determined that the majority of the posts containing images of the victims allegedly came from three specific __________________

usernames on the website, which posted over 1,200 images from August 2019 to September 2021. “These are images of these young women — just them being girls,” Scannell said. “It was images of them at cheerleading, it was them smiling at the beach. They were just living their lives.” On the website, Carey also encouraged other users to harass the victims, including sending them “lurid images, videos and sexual threats,” according to a news release. Scannell said there was as yet no known motive for Carey’s alleged actions. “He really put a lot of young women in extreme danger by sharing them all over the world,” she added. Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith said the “deepfake” images were posted online for strangers’ gratification. “His depravity deepened when he allegedly shared the victims’ personal identifying information . . . Carey [and] encouraged site visitors to harass and threaten the women with sexual violence,” Smith said of Carey in a news release. Carey was arrested on Sept. 5. He was indicted by a grand jury on Nov. 23. According to a news release, he was arraigned on two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, possessing a sexual performance by a child, second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime and second-degree stalking, all felonies, as well as 10 counts of second-degree aggravated harassment, 10 counts of third-degree stalking, three counts of harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted of the top charge, Carey could face up to 14 years in prison and be labeled a registered sex offender. His bail was set at $50,000 bond, $25,000 cash and $150,000 partially secured bond. Carey currently has 14 orders of protection filed against him. Prosecutors said there may be other victims. Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Carey is encouraged to call the Nassau County district attorney’s office, at (516) 571-2553. Carey is due back in court Jan. 4.

SEAFORD _________________

HERALD

Neighbors iN the News

Herald file photo

The WanTagh PubliC Library reopened after undergoing building maintenance.

Wantagh Public Library has reopened T h e Wa n t a g h P u b l i c L i b r a r y reopened Dec. 11 after it closed in late October for maintenance. The library had extensive building projects completed on-site, including HVAC replacement, installation of a new air filtration system and ceiling, and fire and electrical infrastructure updates. In-person pro g ramming resumed Dec. 13. “While most of the work completed is behind the scenes maintenance, the new ceiling offers a bright fresh look to the library,” Shannon Marchese, the library director said in a statement. “[We are] looking forward to seeing the Wantagh Community back at the library.” The library offers a variety of pro-

grams that residents can take part in. On Dec. 16, the library hosted a heart and health mobile unit with help from Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Councilman Chris Carini, and Legislator Steve Rhoads. The mobile unit offered flu shots, Covid-19 vaccinations, antibody testing and physical examinations. The library held a family winter cookie challenge Dec. 18, a Times Square New Year’s Eve history lesson on Dec. 22. A teen trivia game session is slated for Dec. 27. The sessions are open to the public. For more information on programs, go online to: https://www.wantaghlibrary.org/programs-events-2/.

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main Phone: (516) 569-4000 ■ Web SiTe: www.liherald.com/seaford ■ e-mail: Letters and other submissions: seafordeditor@liherald.com ■ eDiToRial DePaRTmenT: Ext. 287 e-mail: seafordeditor@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 The Seaford herald USPS 665800, 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 Seaford 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.

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December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

Shops reflect on reinstated mask mandate

SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

continued from front page

Kate Nalepinski/Herald

Some buSineSSeS in the area plan to reluctantly enforce the indoor mask mandate, including Lifestyle Sports in Wantagh. them to wear masks, but decided it wasn’t the right fit for his restaurant. He still struggles to persuade diners to wear masks when they enter, and when getting up from their tables to use the restrooms. “We live in a free country, I hope,” Luna said. “I don’t want to bother other people or get them angry.” He wants to comply with the law, but worries that he is pressuring

customers with the mask requirement, and ultimately steering them away. “It’s tough for me, because I don’t want my business to be affected by people being bothered by me,” he said. “But I’ve got to make sure everyone is safe inside.” The state is expected to reassess the mask mandate on Jan. 15.

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stated in a press release, “and I share many New Yorkers’ frustration that we are not past this pandemic yet.” As more people gathered, shopped and traveled to holiday destinations, and as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spread rapidly, cases in New York State reached a record high two days in a row last weekend. In recent weeks, the hospitalization rate in Nassau County has increased by 54 percent, and the number of cases by 94 percent, according to Dec. 19 data from The New York Times. The test positivity rate was 6 percent as of Dec. 19. Nassau maintains one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, with 76 percent of residents fully vaccinated. Andrew Kruter, Manager of Lifestyle Sports in Wantagh, called the new mask mandate “ridiculous.” “Having everyone wearing masks, in my opinion, is not going to benefit anyone,” Kruter said. All Lifestyle Sports employees are vaccinated, he said. Despite his feelings, the store will follow the mandate, and patrons who enter without masks will be asked to put them on. But Kruter said he would not force those who object to put on a mask or prohibit them from shopping in the store. The madate has left business owners in a tough situation: obey the mask requirements and potentially lose customers, or risk state-issued fines. “To be honest, I don’t know what to do,” said Vincent Luna, who opened Vincent’s Steakhouse in Wantagh two months ago. He said he had already noticed a decrease in business since cases began trending upwards a few weeks ago. “It’s my first restaurant,” Luna said, “so to lose business, for me, it’s huge right now.” He said he initially considered checking patrons’ proof of vaccination status at the door instead of asking

December 23, 2021 — HERALD

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HERALD — December 23, 2021

(516) 253-0124 info@NCChambers.org www.NCChambers.org

December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

events and activities

community update Thursday, Dec. 23

3710 Woodbine Ave., in Wantagh from noon to 4 p.m. For more information contact the office at (516) 785-2445 or email mahjonggcbt@yahoo.com. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required and masks must be worn to enter the building. A contribution of $5 per person is required.

Ugly Christmas sweater party Join Mulcahy’s at 3232 Railroad Ave., in Wantagh for their annual ugly Christmas sweater party starting at 9 p.m. Ugliest sweater wins a T.V. For tickets visit https://muls.com/events.

Friday, Dec. 31

Friday, Dec. 24

New Years Eve party

Tiny tots program

Ring in the New Year at Mulcahy’s. Doors open at 8 p.m. and there will be an open bar and buffet from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. For tickets visit https://muls. com/events

Join the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center for a tiny tots program with the theme of snow from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The center is located at West End 2, 150 Bay Pkwy.., in Wantagh. 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 visit https://www.jonesbeachenc.org/programs.

Saturday, Dec. 25 Christmas skate jam Join United Skates at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford from 9 to 11 p.m. for a Christmas skate event. $10 admission includes a skate rental.

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.

Sunday, Dec. 26

LI Rewind live The band LI Rewind will be playing at Sunset Grill at 4068 Sunrise HWY., IN Seaford starting at 9 p.m.

New Years Eve family skate session Herald File Photo

art with amy at Seaford Public Library Kids in grades 1-5 can join the Seaford Public Library for art live session with Amy on Zoom. Kids will learn how to draw Snoopy step-by-step. Supplies needed include drawing paper, pencils, Sharpies, and a choice of colored pencils, watercolors or markers. Register on the library’s website. the Lustgarten Foundation.

Monday, Dec. 27 Mad science session KIds ages 6 through 12 can join the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center for a session featuring a wild new experiment investigating the science behind circuits, owl pellets and more. The center is located at West End 2, 150 Bay Pkwy., in Wantagh. This is an RSVP only. All programs require an inperson payment of $4 per person prior to the start of the program.

Post-Christmas pub crawl Join Mulcahy’s at 3232 Railroad Ave., in Wantagh for their annual post Christmas pub crawl starting at 4 p.m. Searano and Smitty will be playing at 5:30 p.m. There will be a 50/50 raffle and drink specials. Proceeds benefit

l l l l l

Tuesday, Dec. 28 Trolls skate session Join United Skates at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford from 3 to 5 p.m. for a

Trolls best friends skate. To purchase tickets, go online to: https://www. eventbrite.com/e/winter-break-publicskate-united-skates-tickets-223448920737.

Wednesday, Dec. 29 Yoga meeting 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, 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.

Thursday, Dec. 30 Snowy owl pinecones craft Join the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center for a cabin fever craft from 10:30 a.m to 12 p.m. Families of all ages can take home a custom canvas tote, make a beautiful bookmark, and more during this craft series. The center is located at West End 2, 150 Bay Pkwy.., in Wantagh. This is an RSVP only. All programs require an in-person payment of $4 per person prior to the start of the program. To RSVP visit https://www. jonesbeachenc.org/programs.

Weekly Mahjong and Cards The Juliets are playing Mahjong and cards at Congregation Beth Tikvah at

Join United Skates at 1276 Hicksville Rd., in Seaford from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to a family NYE skate. Admission will include skate rental, unlimited pizza, unlimited soda, glow necklace, chips, cookies, a dance party and a mock count down to the new year. Call (516) 795-5474 to make a reservation.

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

The Jones Beach Magic of Lights show will run through January 2. Check out Mulchay’s events at https://muls.com/events. Don’t forget to check out all of the events that the Wantagh and Seaford libraries offer. Check out skating sessions at United Skates of America in Seaford at https://www.unitedskates.com/. Sensory Beans in Seaford has events coming up. Check it out: https://www.sensorybeans.org/events-1.

Making a “paw”sitive community impact

By Mallory Wilson mwilson@liherald.com

Jaclyn Gentilesco, an art teacher in Wantagh Middle and High School, said that she’s always enjoyed completing community-based projects. As of last week, one of those projects can be spotted on the walls inside of the Starbucks cafe in the Willow Wood Shoppes in Wantagh. Gentilesco had some of her high school students create portraits of the animals at Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation in Wantagh in an effort to increase adoptions. Tenth graders in her art class selected the animal they wanted from a photo collection and created portraits using any medium they preferred. As of last week, there were 40 portraits hanging in the cafe. After the art teacher was sent images of some of Last Hope’s animals and she took her own pictures, students were able to select their photo as inspiration. “They all know the animals by name,” Gentilesco said. “They’re really proud of it. Everyone’s really into it.” Gentilesco said she wanted to display the portrait in a location with a lot of foot traffic. After speaking with a manager at the Starbucks on Wantagh Avenue, the portraits hit the wall. “A lot of people go into the Starbucks, the workers said it was one of the busiest ones,” Gentilesco said. “It’s where the kids go.” The project began last year when she asked Wantagh Middle School and High School students to paint or draw portraits of Last Hope pets awaiting adoption by using their photos as models. Gentilesco then visited the shelter and placed each student’s artwork next to each pet’s cage in an effort to increase adoptions. When the animal was adopted, the portrait was given to the new owners as a keepsake. Joanne Anderson, the outreach coordinator for the shelter, said the shelter is grateful for Gentilesco’s efforts: “It’s a great project. … the animals get adopted and the new owners get a nice portrait gift with it.” It was only last year that the new owners got the portraits. This year since the project grew, they will only be featured in the Starbucks.

Photos by Mallory Wilson/Herald

Last year there were only about 14 portraits, but Gentilesco said that Anderson told her that a lot of the animals got adopted that had the portraits put on their cages. The student-artists were receptive to the project, including Bethany Boland, a tenth grader at Wantagh High School. She decided to illustrate Mooshie, a cat up for adoption at Last Hope. “I chose Mooshie because she was so cute and I was drawn to her big beautiful eyes,” Boland said in a statement. “I liked that I could help raise awareness for the animals that need loving homes. I feel good that I could help get the animals adopted.” “It feels good to give an animal a chance to be adopted,” Tenth grader Catherine Ibrahim said in a statement. She painted a white and gray cat named Chase. Tenth grader Brooke Minogue held a similar sentiment: “It felt good to know that people would see the animals and hopefully want to adopt them,” she said. She painted a beagle named Droopy. This isn’t the only community-based project that Gentilesco has taken on. She’s asked students to take photos at Jones Beach State Park, and asked students to create artwork of the Jamaica train car at the Wantagh Museum. Gentilesco said she appreciates the

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

ForTy porTraiTs oF animals up for adoption at Last Hope Animal Rescue were completed by Wantagh High School tenth-graders.

Happy Holidays! Health In The New Year! For All Your Real Estate Needs Call On Me! Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Douglas Elliman Real Estate

1154473

Legislator, District 13

516-571-6213

“The lasT hope Project” can be seen at the Starbucks in the Willow Wood Shoppes in Wantagh.

Francine Basse

TOM McKEVITT NASSAU COUNTY LEGISLATURE 1550 FRANkLIN AvE, MINEOLA, NY 11501

community’s support and believes that children should participate in as many community-based projects as possible to give back. “I wanted to add more community projects [to the students curriculum],” Gentilesco said. “The kids love living in Wantagh. Their families live in Wantagh, their cousins live in Wantagh. It’s a special community.”

Mobile 516-972-0880 Oﬃce 516-795-3456 Francine.Basse @elliman.com

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SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

Wantagh High School art students create pet portraits for Last Hope Animal Rescue

Hempstead Town opts out of marijuana sales Garden City Antiques

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December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

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The Town of Hempstead Board voted Dec. 8 to opt out of a New York state law that will take effect next year allowing the sale of marijuana at local retail shops. The 7-0 vote was much to the relief of local school officials who had called on the Town Board to ban the sale of the drug within Hempstead’s borders. Among the school districts submitting letters to the town in favor of the ban were Baldwin, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Island Park, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Oceanside and Seaford. The town recently held a public hearing on the matter. Alison Erickson, of Oceanside, who is project coordinator for the Oceanside Safe Coalition, spoke before the Town Board at the hearing, urging council members to opt out of the state law. “I stand before you today as a resident of Oceanside representing the Oceanside Safe Coalition, but I’m also a mother and a longtime advocate for the safety of the youth in my hometown,” Erickson said. “It’s moments like this that we must recognize the responsibility that we do have as leaders and decision-makers, and our children do deserve to grow up in communities that are designed to protect them. “With the local commercialization of marijuana,” she continued, “we do need to ask ourselves what message will this send to today’s youth? We have the ability to opt back in at any time. What is the rush to do so now when there are currently no regulations that could potentially keep our community safer or ensure that these products will stay out of the hands of children?” Meanwhile, Jesse Bravo, of Oceanside, expressed support for the retail sale of marijuana. “They’re making this a process that is difficult for dispensary owners,” Bravo said. “If they move the wrong way, they are shut down, and that includes not advertising in front of your kids. We are addressing a market that is already here, whether you put dispensaries in your neighborhood or somewhere else, it’s still going to be brought in. If you opt in, people get to buy what they are already buying right now and in a safe manner. The amount of processing going in from seed to sale is insane.” Ruthanne McCormick, of the Rock-

Kepherd Daniel/Herald

ruthanne McCorMiCK, of Rockville Centre, said she worries that young people would be attracted to retail cannabis shops. ville Centre Coalition for Youth, said she was against the of the retail sale of marijuana in Hempstead, noting that the Village of Rockville Centre, under Mayor Francis X. Murray, recently opted out. “As shops had opened in anticipation of being able to get retail licenses,” McCormick said, “they had marijuana flags flying on Sunrise Highway, and it was attracting our youth. They were going there just to see this flag. We have seen firsthand in Rockville Centre the mental anguish that our youth are suffering, and many of them do turn to marijuana and other substances thinking that they can self-medicate and improve their health. We have seen it in the opposite direction.” Sean Corbitt, of Island Park, said he supported the town opting in to retail sales. “I’m a medical marijuanna patient,” he told the Town Board. “I’ve been using medical marijuanna for roughly a year. I have friends who have smoked marijunna laced with fentanyl and been hospitalized. It’s something that should be considered not just for the safety of your children but for everybody. If it already exists, it is already being tampered with. We, as marijuana users, are advocating for safe marijuana for everybody.”

SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

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Holiday spirit with a dash of giving back By Mallory Wilson mwilson@liherald.com

Ron Vecchio, 50, never thought he would decorate his house much for Christmas. But over the course of about 20 years, the decorations just multiplied, he said. Some old, some new, some bought and some created, the decor comes in all shapes and sizes. Now, his house at 2505 Woodland Ave., in Wantagh has become a crowd favorite. “The kids love it,” Vecchio, 50, said. “It’s something that they’re always going to remember.” But the effort doesn’t just stop there – he’s made sure to give back to the community through his holiday fun. For the past five or so years, he has collected money for the Wantagh Special Education Parent-Teachers Association. The Wantagh resident since 1999 has about 16 inflatable decorations, a faux snow machine, a Santa projector and thousands of lights. His son Aidan, 17, usually helps him decorate the outside, while his wife Christina and daughter Hayley, 20, decorate inside of the house. It’s hard to even count the total number of extension cords that are outside the home, Vecchio said. His son Grayson, 5, who has down syndrome and Autism, is the reason why the family chose to donate to Wantagh SETPA. Grayson is in the special education program at Mandalay Elementary

Courtesy Ron Vecchio

The house on Woodland Avenue has 16 or so blow-ups and thousands of lights. School. “Ever since we had Grayson, we’ve been donating for him,” Vecchio said. “We donate to whatever school he is in at the time.” Wantagh SEPTA representatives were overjoyed that the family chose to donate to them. “We’re very grateful and pleasantly surprised that they picked us as the recipient,” Debbie Derupo, the responding sec-

RecRuiting a great team is Really simple.

retary for SEPTA said. “We hope we can use the money to help more in the community.” Any money donated to SEPTA goes to scholarships for students who have been in special education programs or students who have helped those in that program. Donations could also help fund teacher grants, family activities, or pay for Wantagh SEPTA meeting guest speakers. Money is collected in a little mailbox at the end of the driveway. Vecchio said he goes through it at the end of every day. The box has been out since the beginning of December and the money will be collected until the beginning of January. Vecchio said he loves all of his decorations equally, but he might be partial to his snow dispenser machine, or the Santa Claus in the house’s upstairs window. Most of his decor is from online stores or created from pieces he’s found. “It’s amazing what you can do with PVC and red duc tape,” he said. “I’ve made candy canes with them and I’ve

made lanterns.” The day after Thanksgiving, Vecchio begins to convert his house. It takes him about a week to put up all the decorations. He begins the dismantling process on Jan. 1. “My kids ask practically every night if they can go see Santa in the window,” Dawn Cavallo, a Wantagh neighbor, said. “They love that and the snow.” Cavallo and her children Noelle, 4 and Abrielle, 2, live down the street and have stopped by the home every season for about three years. “I love seeing the decorations,” Cavallo said. “We decorate but not nearly as much as he does.” Vecchio said the neighbors have always been positive about the display; many of them look forward to it. As Christmas nears, traffic tends to accumulate near the house, he said. Next year, Vecchio said he wants to expand his decorating efforts even more. The plan is to take over the driveway and create a little spot for Santa to stop by.

News brief

We HiRe tHe Best

Collection boxes for tornadoes victims

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 to join our team, please email your resume to careers@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 Ext #235 1154219

December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

The Town of Hempstead has set up collection boxes at Hempstead Town Hall and other municipal buildings located throughout the area to collect items for the victims in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri who lost their homes from the tornadoes. “My heart goes out to all of the families who lost loved ones this past weekend,” Supervisor Don Clavin said. “The Town of Hempstead has always stepped up to help Don people in need across our nation and throughout the world. Today, we are calling on town residents to help provide essential supplies to people who lost so much during these devastating storms.” Items such as bottled water, laundry

detergent, dish soap, hand sanitizer, diapers, baby wipes, paper towels, first aid kits, baby formula, garbage bags, towels, blankets, pillows, work gloves, safety glasses and extension cords will be collected through Dec. 31. There will be boxes stationed at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington St., Hempstead; Old Town Hall, 350 Front St., Hempstead; the Hempstead Town Receiver of Taxes Office, 200 North Franklin St., Hempstead; and Echo Clavin Park, 399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead. “We are confident that Town of Hempstead residents will come through for their fellow Americans during this difficult time,” Clavin added.

SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

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December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

Merry Christmas, from St. William the Abbot “…you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Greetings and Christmas blessings to you all from St. William the Abbot Catholic Church in Seaford! It has certainly been a challenging couple of years for us on the South Shore of Long Island – but Hope is embedded into the DNA and foundation of who we are. As we prepare our hearts and homes for the coming of the Christ child, so often we return to simpler times. Memories of gathering as family at our grandparents’ home, Christmas carols in the neighborhood, hosting Christmas Eve or Christmas Day – this truly is the most wonderful time of the year! The sights, sounds, and smells of our past come back – the nostalgia of “Christmases – long, long ago.” But at the core of it all is the birth of a Child, the Son of God born to the young girl, Mary of Nazareth – and the world would be forever changed. In the busyness of this season, I invite you to slow down and take a personal inventory of your life, family, and loved ones – and ask yourself what has been missing? The last thing we need is more screen time – social media, national news outlets, video games or Netflix series – these are “supposed” to keep us more connected, but we know that never in the history of the world has humanity been more isolated and alone. The Incarnation – where the God of ‘way up there’

comes to us and lives among us is a mis- ing human dignity and common courtesion of presence. Jesus does not shy sy? Those virtues and values have been away from our messiness and imperfec- replaced with a spirit of, “it’s my world tions but desires to enter in. The Human and you live in it – so do not inconveExperience will always lead to communi- nience me.” I too can get caught up in the whirlwind. ty, family, and relationship. My friends, in our comWhen we choose to open mon humanity it cannot be ourselves up to a personal that way for us – especially relationship, we show a willif you identify yourself as a ingness to reveal our own believer in the Baby from baggage and accept other Bethlehem. May I invite you people’s limitations. Jesus to carve out some time this was born into a family – the week to gather with your Holy Family. His family was family and return to your blended, filled with disruphouse of Worship. To honor tion and movement, developGod, but also to reconnect ing amid political conflict, with community, express financial insecurity, and an gratitude, and dialogue with uncertain future. Sound God regarding your blessfamiliar? ather oseph ings and challenges. Trust What has always resonatme you will not be disaped with me about the Holy itzgerald pointed whether at St. WilFamily (Jesus, Mary, and liam or the many local faith Joseph) was that they were communities all are preparnever referred to as “the perfect family.” For us in our humanity, ing for the arrival of “your” Holy Family. we know that perfection is unattainable, If it has been a long time, let this be the but with God’s grace and help, our fami- sign or the voice you have been waiting lies, our community, and ourselves can for – come home. Maybe you have driven all move towards holiness. Holiness calls by our church or others and said, us to live different than what the world “they’re all hypocrites in there.” My presents as normal. Have you observed response would be no – we are just sinhow people drive today? How they inter- ners in need of a savior. The very promact with check-out clerks and sales asso- ise of the angels in the Gospel: “I prociates at the grocery and department claim to you good news … that will be for stores? Whatever happened to recogniz- all the people… today in the city of

Guest Column

David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.” That same promise is offered to us today. May the light, hope, peace, and love of Christ dwell with you and your family, our world, and our nation. Merry Christmas. Father Joseph H. Fitzgerald

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Herald ScHoolS Seaford students give back this season Students throughout the Seaford School District are showing their generosity this holiday season. With several community service initiatives, they are helping out others in need across Long Island. Seaford Harbor Elementary School’s newly reconstituted Safety Patrol held its first charitable drive, collecting winter accessories for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. The drive ran from Nov. 30 to Dec. 15. A donation box was placed in the school’s lobby to collect gloves, hats and scarves. “I’m glad to be a part of being able to donate these items to people less fortunate than me,” fifth grader Lyla Hanshe said in a press release. “It makes me happy to know that I’m making a difference.” Meanwhile, the student council at Seaford High School began its annual toy drive on Dec. 6. Officers will visit Head Start early childhood education centers in Hempstead and Westbury to donate items to approximately 190 kids. Each child will receive a toy, book and various trinkets. Additional toys will be provided to children at the MercyFirst home in Syosset, while surplus toys from last year will be donated to Amityville-based Hope for Youth, which has a location in Seaford.

Courtesy Seaford School District

Brooke SuraCe, Student council president at Seaford High School, showed the toys that had been donated throughout the first week of the annual holiday toy drive.

SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

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December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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Part-Time Cleaner Various Shifts $16.00/Hour.

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1154357

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SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

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Can I overload my balcony?

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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?

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Exceptional Brick Colonial

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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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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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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.

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Answers

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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.

SEAFORD HERALD — December 23, 2021

Washington must act to protect affordable care

Herald editorial

Seaford

December 23, 2021 — SEAFORD HERALD

HERALD Established 1953

Incorporating Wantagh/Seaford Citizen Kate NalepiNsKi Editor

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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

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

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-

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 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

America’s ‘awakening’ To the Editor: Re Dr. Alan Singer’s column “Democrats’ election perils have little to do with ‘wokeness’” (Dec. 9-15): Singer is right: The Democrats’ dismal election showing in November had little to do with “wokeness,” but it had a lot to do with “awakening.” People are showing disgust over the deceit of progressive attempts to redefine American values and traditions. The failure of House Republicans to hold Rep. Paul Gosar in contempt for his thoughtless tweets about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was unfortunate. But why was no contempt shown for Rep. Maxine Waters, who in April called on her followers to “stay on the street” and “get more

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-

confrontational” if Derek Chauvin hadn’t been found guilty of murdering George Floyd? This could be interpreted as inciting others to riot, which is not protected speech, but there she was, on video, saying as much, similar to when she called on her supporters to harass Trump officials when they were having dinner at restaurants with their families. Waters was never sanctioned or censured over that, either, emboldening her to even more such calls for abuse. In August 2020, Kyle Rittenhouse naively and stupidly brought his AR-15-style rifle with him to the Kenosha, Wis., riots, where he said he intended to offer only medical aid. He was walking with a fire extinguisher to put out a fire set by the arsonists, within their view — not very smart — when he was attacked. He didn’t assault or threaten anyone, but they overreacted violently toward him, provoking his justifiable self-defense. Members of the “Republican rank and file” have not challenged local school boards over critical race theory, but rather parents of children being subjected to it. To espouse the belief that this country is essentially racist is a fraud, and is itself racist. No wonder parents object to this divisive propaganda of hate. The greatest contributor to climate change is China, not the United States, but the 2016 Paris Agreement would have given China a longer time frame to clean

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

up its carbon pollution than the U.S. Former President Donald Trump wasn’t against such initiatives, but only wanted them to be implemented fairly and equitably, consistent with his belief that America stop being made the scapegoat for the world’s evils. As more Americans see the truth, the Democratic Party will continue to decline. ROBERT RUBALSKY East Rockaway

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