Seaford
to all our readers of the Christian faith
HERALD infections as of Dec. 21
638
CoMMUNiTY UpDATE
infections as of Dec. 14 586
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Next generation of leaders named
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DECEMBER 24- 30, 2020
Vol. 68 No. 52
Desperate for an end and a new beginning “only socialize within our home.” Some said that no one had the Amid a coronavirus pandemic that shows no signs of slow- right to tell others how to ing, Wantagh and Seaford resi- behave, even in this situation. dents were preparing to cele- Asked if people should be celebrate the holidays this week. But brating the holidays in large to many, this holiday season felt groups, as in years past, Wantagh resident Liz Greco said, “I different. “It doesn’t feel right to cele- think that’s their decision, and nobody else should brate right now,” decide for them. said Celia Carlson, Nobody should tell of Seaford. “. . . It’s anybody else they just a sad situation.” cannot be with each The Centers for other.” Disease Control has Carlson, a guidsuggested postponance counselor in ing travel plans and the New York City celebrating virtually school system, said instead. But some she had “lear ned residents said they CEliA CARsoN very quickly that w e r e c o n c e r n e d Seaford you can’t change about what might people’s minds” — happen to Covid-19 case counts after the holidays, though, she added, you can eduwhen it seemed clear that many cate them. “You have to worry people were ignoring those sug- about your own immediate cirgestions and traveling anyway, cle, because, unfortunately, a lot of people don’t understand how as they did on Thanksgiving. Ken Jacobsen, a wealth man- severe this is, because it’s invisiager, part-time contact tracer ble,” she said. “You can’t control and the immediate past presi- everyone’s behavior, but we’re going to make the best of it.” dent of the Seaford Chamber of “All along, the numbers had Commerce, said, “The trend [in new cases] comes from people been low, so people let their socializing.” He added that he guard down,” Jacobsen said. “If and his family would continue to Continued on page 3
BY DEREK FUTTERMAN
Courtesy Lisa Garcia
DEspiTE ThE pANDEMiC, the Seaford PTSA has played a continuing role in lifting the spirits of the student body, including donating a balloon arch for a socially distanced Spirit Week.
Vikings continue to navigate choppy waters, and stay afloat Seaford PTSA adapts to uncertainty amid Covid BY J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com
A year ago at this time, members of the Seaford Parent Teacher Student Association were scrambling to gather all of the appropriate resources for their annual hallmark fundraising event, the After-Grammy PTSA Fundraiser. It was held a few weeks later, on Jan. 30, at Massapequa American
Legion Post 1066, and featured more than 70 patrons. After netting nearly $9,000 in one night, the PTSA was set to slow its pace for the rest of the academic year. That was its usual method, after all: prepare throughout the fall for a large in-person charity event that would bring in the majority of the money for the year, and then focus on smaller projects with comparatively little overhead.
In early February, Lisa Garcia, the group’s event planning co-chairwoman at the time, reflected on the preparation for the AfterGrammy event, referring to it as “insanity.” One month later, meetings came to a halt, communication between PTSA members and the school district changed dramatically and in-person events were suspended. Continued on page 16
i
t doesn’t feel right to celebrate right now.