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Church spreads holiday cheer

LIJ V.S. nurse is first to get vaccine

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deCeMBer 24- 30, 2020

VoL. 31 No. 52

New trustee in District 24 Former candidate appointed after outgoing member moves school district, will prove quite valuable,” District 24 board President Kimberly Wheeler said. “A The Valley Stream District 24 fresh and new perspective of Board of Education voted unani- education is always welcomed. I mously on Dec. 15 to appoint positively expect that Mr. Wilson Markus Wilson to will help District 24 the trustee seat forstrive towards greatmerly held by er things for our Joseph Shipley, who children.” resigned this month Wilson will also when he moved out be a member of the of the district. d i s t r i c t ’s n e w l y Wilson, an attorfor med Diversity, ney for 25 years and Equity and Inclua Lynbrook resident, s i o n C o m m i t t e e, had previously run formed on Dec. 15 in for the District 24 an unanimous board board. This year, vote, with the goal of M e l i s s a H e r re r a increasing diversity narrowly defeated among teaching him in the race for staff in a district the seat held then by where 86 percent of MArkuS WILSoN Paul DePace, who children are studecided not to run dents of color and 95 again. Herrera won by eight percent of teachers are white. votes, 313 to 305. “Running for office was someWilson will serve as trustee thing I always had in my head, for the remainder of the school and getting voted onto the board year, and will be up for election was a humbling experience that in May 2021, should he choose to I was excited to share with my run. family,” Wilson said. “I haven’t “There is absolutely a lot that participated in any board meetMr. Wilson can bring to the ings yet, but I’m filled with nothschool district . . . His legal expe- ing but excitement for what’s to rience, his prior New York City come in the new year.” school board experiences, as well as being an active parent in the Continued on page 2

By NICoLe ALCINdor nalcindor@liherald.com

Peter Belfiore/Herald

Snow day! Brothers Santiago, left and Thomas, 7 and 5, had a laugh after falling off their sled at Edward Cahill Memorial Park last Thursday around noon, shortly after the clouds cleared from a powerful nor’easter that struck the area.

A tale of two Birches

Village to change street name after address mix-ups By Peter BeLfIore pbelfiore@liherald.com

Birch Lane resident Edgardo Vasquez said he had had enough. In the three years since he and his family moved to their Valley Stream neighborhood from Queens, he has had frequent mail, delivery and emergency services mix-ups to his home that have ranged from inconvenient to more serious and possibly life-threatening. Boiler oil deliveries have shown up that he never asked for, as well as mail often delivered for the wrong people. At times, he said, strangers have wandered onto his property,

sometimes into his garage and backyard, believing that his home was for sale and an open house was being held. More troubling, Vasquez recounted, were occasions when ambulances called for his 88-year-old mother, who lives with him and his family, arrived at the wrong destination. Once, a doctor’s letter notifying his sister of possibly troubling mammogram test results arrived three months late — it had been delivered to the wrong address. Medications too, were going to the wrong place, he said. “It’s been a problem since day one,” Vasquez told village officials at the Dec. 7 board of trust-

ees work session. “We’ve lived here three years, and we’re ready to move out because we can’t handle it anymore.” Vasquez’s woes appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. He and his family live at 19 Birch Lane. Roughly a mile to the northeast, however, is another Birch Lane, within Valley Stream and even in the same ZIP code, but it lies in the neighborhood’s Mill Brook section, outside the incorporated village. Mill Brook falls under Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. Faced with complaints from Vasquez, the village came up with a solution. Of ficials Continued on page 20

BOE appoints trustee can not only help balance the school budWilson is a parent of four children, get during the pandemic to provide a solid education for District 24 children, two of whom attend the disbut also bring more diversity trict’s William L. Buck Eleto the district’s teaching mentary School and two staff. older children who graduat“The schools are great, e d f ro m Va l l e y S t re a m but it has been disappointing schools. Over the past 10 seeing the lack of teachers of years, he said, he has taken a color in this district. Howevmore hands-on approach in er, I think the board has defithe schools as his younger nitely shown — based on the children have moved through i n i t i a t i v e s t h e y h av e the school system. announced — that they are In his professional career, moving towards the direcWilson has worked as an tion of a more diverse teachattor ney in a variety of ing staff,” said Wilson, who roles, both public and priis Black. “I am in support of vate, getting his start in 1996 mArkuS District 24’s recent move at the Bronx District Attortowards diversity inclusion ney’s office, and later the WilSoN in the hiring process, and I New York City T ransit District 24 trustee want to make sure we are Authority and the New York attracting and hiring people City Department of Educaof color on the staff. My tion, as well as a number of private prachope, along with the DEI Committee, is tices. As a new trustee and member of the to partner with historically Black collegDEI committee, Wilson said he hopes he es to fill spots with teachers of color that are highly qualified.”

liJ VAlley StreAm nurse Arlene Ramirez was the first Northwell Health employee to receive the Moderna Covid19 vaccination on Monday.

continued from front page

want to make sure we are attracting and hiring people of color on the staff.

Courtesy Northwell Health

LIJ V.S. nurse gets first dose of Moderna vaccine By Peter Belfiore pbelfiore@liherald.com

On Monday, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream nurse Arlene Ramirez became the first Northwell Health employee to receive the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. Northwell, the largest health network in the state, administers operations at the hospital. The vaccine from Moderna is the second vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration designed to prevent coronavirus infection. Its approval came a week after that of another, produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, and differs primarily in that Moderna’s is easier to transport and

store. “This vaccine is hope,” Ramirez, 44, said becoming emotional. “We should not be afraid of the vaccine. We should be afraid of Covid.” Working in the Emergency Department, Ramirez herself contracted Covid-19 and became seriously ill, she said. She described seeing “death after death” during the early months of the pandemic. The virus also killed her father. “It’s urgent that we get everyone vaccinated,” said Northwell president and chief executive officer, Michael Dowling, but he noted that the process would take several months.

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For the past month, the Village of Valley Stream has collected new toys at its municipal buildings as well as during its Winter Wonderland drivethrough event on Dec. 4 to donate to the Toys for Tots program. After weeks of accumulating toys, on Dec. 16, members of the Fire Department arrived with their trucks to collect the items gathered at the

Hendrickson Park pool complex, and deliver them to the Marine barracks in Garden City. There, the toys will be given to various charitable organizations to donate to children in need. The U.S. Marines have run Toys for Tots since the program’s founding in 1947. “The Fire Department really stepped up to do this delivery,” village Recreation Director Jimmy Fitanzo said. “This is a big deal that they did this to help serve and give back to others.”

What’s up next door and around the corner

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

Herald neigHbors

Photos by Nicole Alcindor/ Herald

The Valley STream Presbyterian Church partnered with representatives from Staples and Chapters Cable Television Network to donate school supplies and toys to families.

Spreading holiday cheer to struggling families By Nicole alciNdor nalcindor@liherald.com

Each Saturday since shortly after the start of the coronavirus pandemic the Valley Stream Presbyterian Church has partnered with Long Island Cares, to serve as an emergency food pick-up location for families in need. But with Christmas approaching, this past Saturday, Dec. 19 the church did a bit more, and partnered with representatives from the Staples company and Chapters Cable Television Network to donate school supplies and toys to families. “What better time to have an extra toy under the tree and food, than during a pandemic?” the Rev. Kymberly Clemons-Jones, pastor of the church, said. “There are people who have never seen themselves in a line to receive food donations, but because of the pandemic they are now.” Valley Streamer Steve Vaccaro, who leads Chapters Cable Television Network, said that he partnered with the church to donate toys because helping give back to others is something that he said he has always felt called to do. “There are people who are struggling to buy both food and toys during this holiday season and when they have to choose between buying food or toys, they have to pick food first, which means they will have less under the tree,” he said. “I have trouble seeing other people struggle, and I wanted to help bring some joy to people in need.” Many of the other volunteers with Chapters and Staples shared similar sentiments about giving back during the holiday season. South Hempstead resident, LeShawn Walker, who runs “You’re Our Unity” show on the Chapters T.V. network, said she came to volunteer because she said she believes helping others is necessary. “Events like this help the community keep the children and residents filled with love and hope and it keeps them inspired and encouraged,” she said. “It warms my

Valley STream reSideNT Steve Vaccaro, center, who leads Chapters Cable Television Network said that he knew families had been struggling particularly hard this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. heart to give back because it makes me feel like I’m doing my part, as a compassionate person. This is the season for giving back and I want to make sure I spread a spirit of cheer, joy, love and togetherness.” Huntington resident, Tyler Gianchetta, who runs the Chapters Rap “Youth Heroes Show” on the Chapters T.V. Network, said he volunteered because he wanted to spread positivity to others. “The best part about volunteering is seeing everyone come together and devote themselves to a cause, which shows we are all a part of something bigger,” he said. “I

think now during the pandemic this has been even more helpful then it would have been other years when there wasn’t a pandemic.” Fadilja Kajosevic, and Joana Pena volunteered on behalf of Staples. “We are very pleased to represent on behalf of our company, Staples, and to donate to people in need,” Kajosevic said. “It’s such an honor and a heartfelt moment every time we give away a bag of supplies to a family in need,” Penia said.

Queens D.A.: V.S. murder suspect found on the run By Peter Belfiore pbelfiore@liherald.com

A Valley Stream man who has reportedly been on the run since September when he, with help from his mother, allegedly shot and killed a man in Far Rockaway, has been found and indicted on murder charges, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Raymond Jackson, 22, of Hook Creek Boulevard was arrested in Florida and extradited to Queens, where on Dec. 16 he was charged with second-degree murder, along with criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of personal identification information. His mother, Avita Campbell, 38, whom Jackson reportedly lives with, was arrested in late October and indicted on similar charges, including unlicensed vehicle operation. The two are scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 19. If convicted they could face 25 years-to-life in prison. Authorities allege that the two conspired together to kill Lasaaun Lawrence, 27, in Far Rockaway over a “petty dispute” prosecutors say. At around 5:40 p.m. on Sept. 23, Campbell and Jackson were allegedly seen on video surveillance stopping their white BMW, which Campbell was reportedly driving, on Beach 31 Street in Far Rockaway. They proceeded to get out, and reportedly approached Lawrence, who was sitting in his car double parked nearby. Campbell was allegedly armed with what appeared to be a metal pipe and Jackson with a handgun. Upon walking up to Lawrence, Katz’s office says Jackson allegedly shot Lawrence “point blank” with a handgun more than a dozen times. After he had stopped shooting, Campbell allegedly took the pipe and shattered Lawrence’s windshielf before they jumped back into the BMW and fled. Upon her arrest, Campbell’s attorney in the case, Brooklyn-based Michael Kushner, said that the murder charges against his client were likely an effort to pressure Jackson into surrendering to the police. “Their own allegations don’t point to her as the shooter,” Kushner said, adding.

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diStrict 24 officialS announced additional initiatives on Dec. 15 in a continuing effort to address diversity hiring in the district

District 24 continues diversity efforts By Peter Belfiore pbelfiore@liherald.com Facebook

Valley Stream reSident Raymond Jackson is accused of working with his mother to kill Far Rockaway resident Lasaaun Lawrence, above. “I don’t think their evidence is going to show she’s guilty of murder in the second degree.” Police reportedly pulled Campbell over on Oct. 2, and upon searching her vehicle, found a loaded silver and black handgun with addition ammunition inside a book bag. After an investigation, police reportedly discovered that the vehicle she was driving was the same BMW that she had allegedly been driving on the evening of the shooting. The gun police found was also allegedly a match to the one used to kill Lawrence. Police also reportedly found $9,640 in cash, credit cards in other people’s name and a detailed ledger with the names and personal information of more than 700 different people. Some of the credit cards recovered reportedly matched the names of people listed in the ledger, police said. “This mother and son duo allegedly teamed up to kill a man,” Katz said in a statement upon Jackson’s arrest. “A minor dispute over a few hundred dollars sparked this tragic shooting . . . This was a brutal, senseless killing that should not happen in our neighborhoods.”

Valley Stream

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Valley Stream District 24 announced new diversity hiring initiatives on Dec. 15, including additional hiring data collection, and the creation of a diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, committee. The measures represented a continuing effort over the past two months since more than two-dozen parents and residents packed a Board of Education meeting in October, and called on officials to address teacher diversity concerns in a district where 86 percent of children are students of color and 95 percent of teachers are white. District 24 board president, Kimberly Wheeler, said the idea to create a DEI committee came after she recently attended a workshop on institutional racism. “Most school districts across the state are establishing DEI committees,” she said, “and I think this is something we should do in District 24.” The board unanimously agreed, and although the exact details of the committee’s makeup and mandate were not immediately available, Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Sturz said its formation would be getting underway over the next month. Any official strategic plan to address hiring a more diverse body of teachers

in the district, he said, would likely come from the committee. Sturz also announced that the district had begun collection of additional data regarding its hiring practices. While he said not enough information had been gathered to draw any conclusions, he believed it would prove useful to the newly formed committee, and allow its members to gauge the effectiveness of district hiring initiatives. The developments came on top of announcements the previous month of a slate of new diversity hiring initiatives including more direct partnerships with colleges and universities, and the expansion of online job application options to make it easier for teachers to apply, among others. District 24 parent Cristina Arroyo, who has led the calls for greater teacher diversity in the district, said the steps were a move in the right direction. “It’s evident that the school administration is committing to greater transparency, accountability and inclusion,” she said, “and this is the sort of bold leadership we need to dismantle a system that has excluded BIPOCS [Black, indigenous people of color] for decades through anemic recruitment efforts and sanctioned friends-and-family hiring.” Arroyo is also founder of the local advocacy non-profit, the Valley Stream Justice Project.

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December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

Christmas in a difficult time

Village delivers letters to Santa The Village of Valley Stream joined with the Green Acres Macy’s once again this year to mail letters written by local children to Santa. For every letter write, Macy’s pledged to make a donation to the Make-a-Wish foundation’s Believe campaign. Children were invited to bring their letters to the village’s Winterfest drive through holiday celebration earlier in the month, as well as through the Henry Waldinger

Library. More than 150 letters were collected. This is the 10th season since the village partnered with Macy’s to mail the letters. “We’re proud to continue our tradition of participating in Macy’s outstanding effort to make wishes come true for children,” Mayor Ed Fare said. “In a year where nothing was normal, Valley Stream families made the effort to keep our most meaningful traditions alive.”

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Courtesy Village of Valley Stream

Macy’s ManageMent teaM members Lauren Clasen, from left, Wendy Taurisani and store manager Phil Tomasso, with jewelry manager Pam Sink, Mayor Ed Fare and Recreation Director Jimmy Fitanzo.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

ineloquent Moses, the youngest child David, and the barren Elizabeth and Mary—a young, poor, unmarried virgin Today, over 2,000 years, the feelings to give birth to God’s son, Jesus. Many people find it hard to believe of awe and wonder that echo throughout the first Christmas is still present. the miracle of Jesus’ birth. The Gospel writers in the New TestaHowever, the Christmas celebration will be different ment recorded the birth narthis year because of the ratives of Jesus. The Gospel many unexpected events: of Luke was written by Covid-19, political unrest, Luke, a medical doctor. Luke and racial injustice. knew about how babies are There will be empty seats made. He was a detailed at the dining table for many researcher who based his families this Christmas. Gospel on eyewitness Many people have lost their accounts including Mary’s jobs and are challenged in experience. These facts can the areas of the necessities help our faith to believe this the Rev. of life: food, shelter, and miracle. Therefore, Chrisgertude nation clothing. How do we pretians and Jews, who worship pare to celebrate this ChristGod as creator of the unimas? Maybe, this is the year verse, should believe that we will focus more on the real meaning God has the power to create a child in a of Christmas. virgin’s womb. Christmas is the celebration of a At Christmas, we celebrate the birth miracle, the bir th of God’s son, of Jesus, the Messiah, who was born Jesus. A miracle is defined as a visible not only to die sacrificially for us, but interruption of the laws of nature, also to show us how to live sacrificially. understood only by divine intervention The idea of making a sacrifice is and often accompanied by a miracle uncomfortable to most of us. However, worker. this Christmas that is exactly what we Throughout scripture, we read many are called to do. stories of miracles. God chose ordinary, unqualified people to do miracles: the Gertrude Nation is pastor of the Grace United Methodist Church in Valley Stream.

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

events and activities

community update Ongoing

Wednesday, Jan. 13

December community service opportunities

Valley Stream District 24 BOE Work Session

At the Elmont Public Library, teens in grades seven to twelve can receive community service hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Dec. 1 to 31. They can attend any two of the library’s virtual programs. They can complete one of the library’s monthly take-and-make crafts. They can stop by the teen corner to make a holiday card for a senior citizen. They can also write a critique of any virtual program or they can write a book review. Email critiques or book reviews to elmontteens@elmontlibrary.org.

Tuesday, Jan. 26

At 7:30 to 9:15 p.m., the school board meeting will take place. Contact the district clerk, Jennifer Biscardi, at William L Buck School at (516) 434-2825 for more information about location.

Valley Stream District 13 BOE Meeting The meeting will take place at 8 p.m. Email the district clerk at: mrosamilia@ valleystream13.com to find out the location of the meeting.

Coffee chat with the library staff At the Elmont Public Library, every Monday at 11 a.m., participants will join the library staff over Zoom for conversation to help pass the time and see some familiar faces. Registration is required. Zoom information will be emailed before each chat. Contact adult reference at reference@elmontlibrary.org.

Monday, Dec. 28

Adult: chair yoga with Karen Taylor Bass At the Elmont Public Library, at 1 p.m., licensed certified yoga instructor and meditation coach, Karen Taylor Bass, will lead classic asanas postures, meditation, music and chanting over Zoom. This class is suitable for all levels. A chair with no wheels is required. Contact adult services; (516) 354-5280 EXT. 223 or reference@elmontlibrary. org.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Kitchen science jr. - play dough At the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, at 2 to 2:50 p.m., children in kindergarten to second grade with their caregivers will make play dough over Zoom. Program materials will be provided by the library and available for contactless pickup. Registration is required to receive Zoom information. Register here: https://forms.gle/tfgp6Q6adD7JZiVs6.

Wednesday, Feb. 3 Valley Stream District 30 SEPTA General Meeting Wikimedia Commons

Kitchen Science Over Zoom The Henry Waldinger Memorial Library will have children from kindergarten to second grade play with play dough over Zoom on December 29 from 2 to 2:50 p.m.

Teen kitchen science: slime At the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, from 4 to 4:45 p.m., teens will make slime from common household ingredients over Zoom. Contact Teen Librarian Ms. Kenney at vsteens@nassaulibrary.org to register for this program. Requests for Zoom info less than an hour before the program may not be seen.

Wednesday, Dec. 30 Kitchen science - play slime At the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, at 4 to 4:50 p.m., children in grades three to sixth grade with their caregivers will make slime over Zoom. Program materials provided by library and available for contactless pickup. Registration needed. Register here: https://forms.gle/bh9ejfhTzENzTNzK7.

Monday, Jan. 4 Saturday stories - shapes Paint party! With Celicia Cargill of Authentic HeARTwork At the Elmont Public Library, at 1 p.m., participants will join over Zoom for a virtual paint party with Authentic HeARTwork’s artist Celicia. Cargill will show participants how to create their own painting. Registration is required by Monday, December 28. Pickup for supplies will be on Tuesday, December 29 and Wednesday, December 30. Contact adult reference; (516) 354-5280 EXT. 223.

Understanding the presidency with Jim Coll At the Elmont Public Library, at 12:30 p.m., adults will have a virtual discussion to analyze the intent of the framers and the text of the supreme law of the land regarding our nations chief executive. Registration is required. A link will be emailed before the program. Call adult reference; (516) 354-5280 EXT. 223.

Tuesday, Jan. 12

Valley Stream Central High School District BOE Meeting At 8 p.m., watch the school board meeting live streamed on the Central High School District website under the VS TV LIVE option. For more information contact the District Clerk at (516) 8725628.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Additional information concerning meeting dates and times can be obtained by contacting Ms. Janet Carson, Clerk of the Board, at (516) 4343600, EXT. 5222.

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 pbelfiore@liherald.com

l The Masjid Hamza food pantry is open every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. l Go to the Village of Valley Stream official website, to sign up for recreation programs: https://vsrec.org/ l The Village currently has an ongoing video short series called “The Valley Stream Road Show.” l The Valley Stream Presbyterian Church serves as an emergency food distribution center on Saturdays l The village Sanitation Department is collecting paper and cardboard recyclables for the week of Dec.

28.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

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Experts discuss benefits of 5G at Inside LI webinar

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com

“It’s safe,” Dr. Purna Prasad, chief technology officer at Northwell Health, said of recent advancements to 5G technology. Thus was the resounding opinion given by experts during the latest episode of the Herald Inside LI webinar series, “The Power of 5G,” in which Prasad and other professionals in the technology field spoke about 5G’s increasing role in public and professional connectivity. Panelists alongside Prasad included Ana Rua, the government affairs manager at Crown Castle; Caitlin Brookner, spokeswoman for New Yorkers for 5G; and Fan Ye, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Stony Brook University. Skye Ostreicher, of Herald Community Newspapers and RichnerLive, moderated the discussion. She kicked off the episode by naming a number of the devices that already use 5G technology, including household security systems, pet and baby monitors, and GPS guidance applications in cars. The potential for 5G is far-reaching, Ostreicher added, such as monitoring elderly parents’ blood pressure while they are in Florida and you are in New York. “The technology has been peer reviewed — both nationally and internationally by renowned and reputable organizations — and it has been found safe,” said Rua, noting the Food and Drug

ThE lATEsT EpIsoDE of Herald Inside LI, “The Power of 5G,” featured, from left to right from top row: moderator Skye Ostreicher; New Yorkers for 5G spokeswoman Caitlin Brookner; Crown Castle Government Affairs Manager Ana Rua; Stony Brook University Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Fan Ye; and Northwell Health Chief Technology Officer Dr. Purna Prasad. Administration, the National Health Institute and the American Cancer Society have deemed the technology safe. On the electromagnetic spectrum, 5G exists in the realm of visible light, with wavelengths similar to other harmless wavelengths commonly found in households. These exist within the non-ionizing spectrum of wavelengths that are lowenergy and low-frequency. In contrast, the ionizing spectrum, which includes gamma rays and X-rays, can harm a person. The debate and discussion surrounding the implementation of technology like 5G has been happening for decades, Prasad said. In the 1990s, he authored a study on the topic and found no evidence of nega-

tive effects. Those findings, he added, have not changed. 5G technology was developed from its four predecessors. When 2G was the norm, mobile phones were basically no different from any others, as they were primarily used for making calls. The era of 3G, however, turned mobile phones into computers, giving unlimited access to the internet, explained Ye. 5G “is just naturally the next step,” Ye said, “because people are always asking for a higher data rate with lower loss and lower latency.” Certain advances are only possible with the assistance of 5G, such as augmented reality, which requires streaming high-

quality video, Ye explained. Doctors can also perform operations on patients thousands of miles away if remote surgery is able to rely on 5G. 5G connectivity allows for the bandwidth needed for advanced medical services. An ambulance responding to an emergency call, for example, can use the full set of tools at its disposal, connect to a doctor via 5G and treat the patient at the scene, Prasad said. “It’s going to save lives,” Prasad said. Although 5G offers an enhancement of 4G technology, 4G isn’t going anywhere, Rua said. The 4G network that exists across Long Island will be the foundation for 5G developments, allowing for public and professional use between the two. “4G is not going to go away — we need to enhance that current infrastructure for 4G and build on top of it for 5G infrastructure,” Rua said. “High speed connectivity really impacts every facet of our lives and will have a large effect on almost every industry out there,” Brookner said. This episode of Herald Inside L.I. — the final episode of the first season — was sponsored by New Yorkers for 5G and Crown Castle. All 14 episodes of the premiere season can be found at liherald. com/insideli. The first episode of the second season of Herald Inside L.I. is set to stream on Jan. 7, 2021 — “Set your calendars,” Ostreicher said. “We have a lot of things planned.”

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Mental health

Focusing on

VALLEY STREAM HERALD â€” December 24, 2020

your HEALTH body / mind / fitness

Feed your mind

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

Superfoods that can soothe your anxiety We all know the important of eating well to improve our physical health, but the all-important superfoods can do wonders for a mental health as well. Recent research indicates that dietary changes may improve cognitive function and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.

Oily Fish Numerous studies have revealed that “oily” fish like salmon, mackerel and trout promote optimal brain health. These fish contain high levels of the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA. The study, spearheaded by Professor Welma Stonehouse, at New Zealand’s Massey University, revealed that DHA-rich fish improved both short-term “working” memory and long-term memory in the 176 healthy adults who participated in the study. Findings also reveal that DHA is a key nutrient that has the power to actually prevent the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. Other “oily” fish that are high in DHA include pawns and sardines. High levels of DHA are also found in certain shellfish, such as mussels.

phenolics and flavinoids, which have been found to cleanse the brain, eliminating the toxins that serve to inhibit an array of functions, including memory. According to a study published in the Annals of Neurology, researchers discovered that women who ate strawberries (and blueberries) saw a delay in the on-set of age-related mental decline. The study was performed over the course of 36 years. A total of 16,000 women took part in the study and it was discovered that the women who ate lots of strawberries saw a 2.5 year delay in the on-set of memory problems and the development of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Sage Sage is commonly used to add flavor to a wide range of different culinary dishes, but it also contains powerful antioxidants and compounds that are similar to those Sage has also been found to improve the “interconnectivity” among the different regions of the brain, which serves to improve comprehension speed, concentration and problem-solving speed. Improving memory isn’t the only benefit that sage offers; it also has anti-inflammatory properties and it’s high in Vitamin K (which is also known as a brain-friendly vitamin!)

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Tomatoes Lycopene-rich tomatoes have been found to help individuals maintain optimal brain health for longer, enabling their bodies to stave off the impact of damage that’s caused by free radicals, which progressively damage the brain over time, resulting in an age-related decline in mental capabilities. Tomatoes contain the antioxidant known as lycopene, has been found to combat free radicals, which would otherwise damage brain cells.

•Bring your questions and concerns. •Find support among peers. •Discussions on pre and post limb care. •Discussions on short and long-term goals. •Have your questions answered by our medical team. •Outreach for support services.

Broccoli Broccoli is high in Vitamin K, which has been found to enhance brain function. Vitamin K has been found to reduce your chances of developing age-related dementia.

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Blueberries Blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants and compounds called polyphenolics, have been found to improve short-term memory and concentration, while also delaying the onset of conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Studies performed at Tufts University’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging have revealed that the antioxidants successfully cleared away toxins that had accumulated in the brain. These toxins inhibit brain functions, especially short-term memory, attention-span and concentration.

Strawberries Like blueberries, strawberries contain poly-

Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, which serves to boost your memory, problem-solving skills, and mental speed. They also contain niacin, which serves to enhance GABA activity in the brain (while also reducing LDL cholesterol levels); this results in decreased anxiety. They also contain lots of protein, antioxidants and essential minerals like copper, iron, magnesium and selenium.

Whole Grains Whole grains such as wheat and oats contain choline, which enhances the body’s ability to produce acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that improves memory. So you’ll enjoy a boost to your short-term working memory and your long-term memory when you eat plenty of whole grains.

You are not alone

hese are unprecedented times. We need to work extra hard to manage our emotions well. Expect to have a lot of mixed feelings. Naturally we feel anxiety, and maybe waves of panic, particularly when seeing new headlines. Our anxiety — while uncomfortable — can be bonding, especially if we manage it well. At the same time, we must make an effort to prevent panic contagion and create periods when we can be screen-free and calm, engaging our attention in normal daily activities. Seize opportunities to share lightness and humor. Laughter right now is a relief for all of us! You can also find moments of hope and resilience all around us despite the uncertainty. It may be helpful for you to make a list of what you can and cannot control right now. Mental health experts suggest radical acceptance of the situations we cannot control, and focus on what we can do. Stay physically safe from the virus In this case, the biggest safety behaviors (physical distancing and hand washing), which decrease transmission of the COVID-19 virus, are also an integral part of anxiety management. Stay home when you can. When outside the home, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. To help us make the thorough hand-washing a new habit, try this: “Wash as if you just chopped up a jalapeno pepper (without gloves) and you now have to put in your contact lenses.” Don’t forget the sides of each and every finger, the back of hands, palms, the creases and nail beds, and the back of nails. Wash for at least 20 seconds — as long as it takes you to silently hum the Alphabet Song, Happy Birthday, or recite the Loving Kindness Prayer. If you are a speedy hummer, say it twice. Limit media to reduce anxiety By now you have heard this recommendation many times and there is research behind it: Watching or scrolling through the media makes us even more anxious. An excess of news and visual images about a traumatic event can create symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and poor health years later, according to research by UC Irvine’s Roxy Silver, Ph.D., and others. Try to limit Covid-19 media exposure to no more than twice a day (i.e. checking for updates in the morning and before dinner) and try to avoid news about Covid-19 before bedtime. Take a vow to not forward (and thus propagate) alarming headlines to friends and family. Get and provide warm, comforting, social support Find and encourage support by video, phone, or text. This is critical! Taking time to share your feelings and to listen and support others will go a long way. Talking with others who have our best interests at heart makes us feel safe. Use phone, video, text, or email. Fortunately these new highways of social contact are unlimited resources. More than just providing social support about the current crisis, it is a good idea to use these connections to talk about the things you normally would — host your book club online, for example — which can create feelings of connectedness. Host a dinner using FaceTime or Zoom so you can talk while you eat (and talk about some positive things, not just this crisis). Loving and caring for our pets can be phenomenal stress reduction for us too! Find ways of expressing kindness, patience, and compassion Be extra kind to yourself. This is a hard time for everyone. Humans across the world are sharing this experience with you. We are all in this together and we may all emerge with a renewed appreciation for our interconnectedness. Helping others in need is both critical to get through this well, and also creates more purpose to our days and well-being. Donate blood if you are able. The American Red

Staying in control in a world that’s out of control Coronavirus stress takes many forms but can be managed

Cross faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Eligible and healthy donors are strongly urged to make an appointment to donate and help ensure that lifesaving blood products are available for patients. Create new routines and keep practicing health behaviors Routine and ritual are restorative to us. Our brain wants predictable activity so we can relax our vigilant nervous system. Go to bed early and go outside each day to be active. Remember that our activities, thoughts, and mood are closely linked. If you want to change your mood, change your activities and/or your thoughts. Eat well Good nutrition helps our mood. Stress makes us seek comfort foods, and in turn high carbs and sugars impact our mood. Many population-based studies show that a Mediterranean diet has been linked to better mental health and stress resilience, whereas a junk food western diet is linked to depression and anxiety. Try to fill your home with fresh produce, frozen vegetables, and whole foods when possible. Work well enough from home Working from home may be new to you and can have its own challenges, especially in a small home with children. Don’t expect to have the same type of productivity as usual. We are all distracted and needing to cope with a different daily life now, while helping others. Reduce your goals for typical work that is not urgent, if possible. Here are some recommendations on how to stay focused and productive during work hours: Confine your workspace to a specific clear area in your home so your job doesn’t intrude on your personal needs. Use this same space regularly to work. This will focus your mind and increase your productivity. Control sound. Use noise cancelling headphones or earbuds, or use music or fans to create white noise. End the workday with clear boundaries. Put away electronic devices and work tools at the end of your workday and set clear hours in the day for work. Have a morning or evening check-in with a colleague or supervisor to reduce social isolation and provide structure to your day. Use video communications when you can. Seeing faces provides more social connection and information than just talking. Above photo: Covid-19 has disrupted our routines and made everyday activities, such as work and caring for loved ones, challenging. Those changes, on top of the general uncertainty around this pandemic, has resulted in increased stress even for those who are generally not prone to stress-related concerns.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives, from health and exercise to work, school, parenting and socializing. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), many Americans are experiencing considerable stress related to the coronavirus. While you can’t control the virus, you can take steps to control how you respond to it. Coronavirus-related stress takes many forms Covid-19 has impacted many aspects of our lives, so it makes sense that our reactions to it vary widely. Many people experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive problems or muscle tension. Some may have problems sleeping or may sleep too much. Others may lose their appetite or overeat. Coronavirus-related stress can also have psychological effects. People whose income has been affected, for example, may be anxious about paying their bills or supporting their families. Working remotely and distance learning can take a toll on both adults and children who thrive on social interaction, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Depression and irritability are common reactions. If you don’t get a handle on your stress, you can raise your risk of more health issues. “When we’re stressed, our blood pressure goes up naturally,” says psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Brackin.“That puts you at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke, or even developing cancer.” How to deal with stress The pandemic has left many feeling a loss of control over their lives. The usual routines have been disrupted indefinitely, and the future seems uncertain. Coping techniques help. Dr. Brackin offers some tips to help you feel more in control of your life and keep your stress level in check. Maintain routines. No matter what your age is, it can be helpful to create some type of structure in your day. If you exercised before work, for example, try to continue to do so. Have meals at the same time as you did before the virus. Try to maintain familiar routines for yourself and your family. Of course, there will be

some changes, but attempt to create normalcy where you can. Stay in touch. Social distancing requirements have significantly changed how we connect with our friends, coworkers and even our own family members. Except for those in your household, you probably aren’t seeing family as often as you used to. Children and teens may find it particularly difficult to be isolated from their friends and sports groups. It’s important to continue to find ways to connect with people when you can’t see them in person, says Dr. Brackin, such as scheduling weekly phone calls or meeting virtually on Zoom. Getting outside of the house can help relieve feelings of isolation, and spending time in nature has been shown to help reduce stress. Arrange to walk with a friend or get together in the yard while maintaining a safe distance. Get adequate rest. If stress makes it difficult to fall asleep or you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, take a look at your sleep habits. Avoid looking at your phone, tablet and other screens for an hour before you go to bed. Not only can texting, watching news videos or playing games stimulate your mind, the blue light from screens can interfere with sleep. Having a glass of wine may help you relax, but it can also disrupt sleep later. If you wake up and can’t get back to sleep right away, it can help to leave the bedroom and read or do something else relaxing until you feel sleepy again. Breathe. Any time you feel stressed, take a few minutes to practice deep, mindful breathing. Focusing on your breath can interrupt your body’s stress response, slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Take a slow deep breath in for three seconds, hold it for a count of four, exhale for three seconds. Repeat this a few times until you feel calmer. “Mindfulness meditation is a wonderful intervention to give yourself a sense of peace, regardless of what’s happening externally,” says Dr. Brackin. Above photo: Pandemic-related stress affects people in different ways. It depends on age, coping skills, genetics, even a person’s financial situation.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

Emotional well-being during the pandemic

HEALTH MEMO

NSPC surgeon performs cutting-edge epilepsy treatment at local hospital

eurosurgeon Brian J. About Neurological Surgery, Snyder, M.D., P.C. (NSPC Brain & Spine operated on a young Surgery) man suffering from refractory Founded in Freeport in 1958, seizures with a new deep brain Neurological Surgery, P.C. (NSPC stimulation (DBS) technique at Brain & Spine Surgery) has grown a local Long Island hospital. He to become one of the largest, implanted the Medtronic DBS private neurosurgical groups in the System for Epilepsy to reduce U.S. with seven conveniently the frequency of his patient’s located offices on Long Island, seizures. Dr. Snyder is a partner including offices in West Islip, and attending neurosurgeon Commack, Port Jefferson Station, with Neurological Surgery, P.C. and Riverhead. (NSPC Brain & Spine Surgery), The practice’s experienced Brian J Snyder, M.D. Rockville Centre, NY, and a neurosurgeons and interventional fellowship-trained, board neuroradiologists are experts in certified expert in “Bloodless” brain and spine neuromodulation, surgery for epilepsy, movement surgery, including laser spine surgery, endoscopic disorders, and refractory pain. spine surgery, ultrasonic spine surgery, radiosurgery, Known as bilateral stimulation of the anterior and other advanced minimally invasive techniques nucleus of the thalmus (ANT), the technique uses which are used to treat brain tumors, brain aneurysms, trigeminal neuralgia, herniated disc, electrical impulses delivered by electrodes placed in spinal stenosis, chronic back pain, and other critical portions of the brain to block the onset of conditions. Please visit www.nspc.com to learn seizures. The electrodes are powered by a battery more. placed just under a patient’s collar bone. Affecting nearly 50 million people, worldwide, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases. “Studies have shown,” observes Dr. Snyder, “that treatments such as deep brain stimulation (DBS) can reduce seizures in epilepsy patients for whom other therapies have failed.” An expert in 100 Merrick Rd., #128w, Rockville Centre DBS, Dr. Snyder has implanted more DBS systems on 516-255-9031 • nspc.com Long Island than anyone else. Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

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Unpredictable can become unmanageable It all seems different — because it is

tress in these unpredictable times is a normal reaction but you can implement techniques that can help you, your coworkers, employees, and friends and family get through these challenging times. The unfolding of this pandemic can lead to individuals experiencing a range of emotional reactions with accompanying symptoms that can occur at varying levels of severity. You may find yourself shocked, scared or traumatized by this experience. You may even cycle between these feelings, going from being scared for what the future might hold to later noting how well you can adapt to the new normal. Your response and the responses of people in your life can vary based on a multitude of factors including perceived risk from Covid-19 to yourself and others, financial status, mental health history, familial/social support, and those helping with the Covid-19 response such as health care providers. Common reactions can include: √ Denial, shock, numbness √ Feeling vulnerable, unsafe √ Anxiety, panic, worry √ Difficulty concentrating √ Withdrawal, isolation √ Remembering other life traumas √ Headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances √ Helplessness, hopelessness √ Sadness, crying, despair √ Irritability, anger √ Appetite changes √ Being hyper-alert Managing emotional response Stress and anxiety are common responses to scary events like Covid-19. It’s important to remember that psychologically speaking, anxiety and stress are not emotions. Anxiety and stress are physiological responses to physical or emotional threats. Our bodies get into fight or flight mode when we experience psychological danger just as it does when we experience physical danger.The more we can become aware of our emotions and effectively process them, the more you can effectively manage your anxiety. Times like these can provoke a lot of fear, but how we manage our fear can make a big difference in how much psychological distress we experience. Many of us are prone to excessive worried thinking without the Covid-19 pan-

demic, but it may be even more likely given the current global situation. As much as possible, try to be aware of your thoughts, your emotions and what your body is experiencing. Much of the time we are on autopilot and not aware that our minds are going around and around on the same issues. Take a slow deep breath in and out. Check in with your body and see if you are holding tension in your shoulders, chest or jaw. What is your body telling you? Are you feeling fear, sadness, helplessness? What is the narrative going through your mind? Are you worried about the future or catastrophizing? Slow down, breath and count to 10. Now is a good time to remember that there are things that you can control but many that you can’t. Try to let go of the things that you can’t change and change the things that you can. Some other good practices to cope with in these uncertain times: Talk about your feelings. Use the time that you may have been commuting to work to talk to friends or family about your feelings. Instead of texting a friend you haven’t seen in a while, give them a call. Social distancing means that it is more vital than ever to make sure that you are still connecting socially by phone, video chat or in-person (as appropriate). Take care of yourself. Feeling scared can make you act more impulsively.Take care of your body by watching what/how much you eat; your use of alcohol, drugs, caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and medicine. Be sure to get regular exercise by walking around your neighborhood or instituting a daily workout in your home. Now is also a great time to try out that meditation or mindfulness practice. Practice gratitude. Try to find things that you are grateful for. Try to reframe the shelter in place as an opportunity to spend more time with family, catch up on home projects or get outdoors and exercise. Utilize self-compassion. Try to give yourself latitude and kindness during this time. Don’t expect that your level of energy and focus on everyday tasks will be the same as it was before. Expect that some days will be better than others.

Above photo: The emergence of Covid-19 and subsequent major changes to our day to day lives has affected our emotional health.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

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Metro Physical & Aquatic Therapy expands

etro Physical & Aquatic Therapy, a leading provider of comprehensive therapy and wellness services with locations across Long Island and in Florida, is on the move again, expanding its facilities and rebranding others to reflect its high end, spa-like facilities. Most recently, on Sept. 21, 2020, the organization opened the doors of its Greenvale/ Roslyn facility on Glen Cove Road. This was a relocation from the previous facility inside the nearby Roslyn JCC. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the new facility is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Metro officially introduced this office to the Roslyn/ Greenvale community on Oct. 29, 2020 during a ribboncutting ceremony sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Roslyn. According to Metro Physical Therapy CEO Michael Mayrsohn, DPT, OCS, “We have been part of the Roslyn JCC community for over 20 years. It was a great experience, but due to Covid-19, increasing patient demand and physician referrals, we needed a standalone space. Our new space affords us the opportunity to serve more patients in the Greenvale community, while also offering the same topnotch facilities and amenities with the addition of parking spaces located right outside the

facility.” Metro Physical Therapy will provide its comprehensive physical, occupational and speech therapies, as well as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage and aquatic therapies. Services are provided by experienced, certified manual therapists who provide one-to-one therapy services for each patient to facilitate the best outcomes. “We are receiving and want to continue receiving a steady increase in patient referrals from area physicians who recognize the value in one-on-one patient care. In addition, we are treating over 100 patients in a week and are looking forward to watching that number grow,” added Mayrsohn. “It is a testament to the high caliber of our medical team and the emphasis we place on quality care. All treatments are performed by experienced healthcare professionals and not assistants. Our goal is to elevate the healthcare experience through a culture of caring, quality, safety, service and innovation.”

50 Glen Cove Rd., Greenvale • (516) 626-8787 • www.metrophysicaltherapy.com Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

HEALTH MEMO

Limb loss and well-rounded care

bout two million individuals in the U.S. are living with a loss of a limb, with more than 185,000 amputations performed each year according to the National Limb Loss Information Center. As many as 54 percent of amputations are caused by vascular disease including diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. Lynbrook Restorative Therapy and Nursing saw a need in the medical field. Patients that have recently lost a limb not only have very specific medical needs but they also have psychological challenges that cannot be ignored. Any rehabilitation facility can care for amputee patients. However, Lynbrook Restorative took the initiative to contact prosthetic companies to discuss how to develop a well-rounded program that would not only focus on the care and education of a new amputee patient but also post amputation support. Rehab will begin immediately; however, before any therapy is begun, an assessment will be carried out by Dr. Rai, our in-house physiatrist. Lynbrook Restorative also has a protocol for safety and pain management. Our dietician is on board to insure dietary needs are met for patients and to promote optimal wound healing. Social work provides support from admission to discharge creating a smooth transition back to the community. Wound care nurses not only care for the patient but also educate them on how to care for their limb. Lynbrook Restorative also hosts an Amputee Support Group. This group is instrumental in assistance of

moving forward with healing. The support among peers brings another level of healing. After all, who better to understand the day to day challenges than others that have been through the loss of a limb themselves. In fact, during a support group meeting one of our former patients admitted to another amputee that she had always loved to paint her toenails. She was feeling depressed she could no longer enjoy that luxury. Her friend in the group assured her she was still able to enjoy pretty painted toes as she could use nail polish on her prosthetic! Our patient was over the moon with the realization that painted toenails was not lost to her. As important as it is to have an educated medical support team, the support from peers can bring a welcomed comfort like no other. Lynbrook Restorative Therapy and Nursing’s Amputee Support Group meets via Zoom on the second Wednesday of the month, from 12 to 1 p.m.; Meeting ID# 818 847 4277, Passcode 234123. For more information about the Amputee Support Group. call (516) 634-1400.

243 Atlantic Ave., Lynbrook • (516) 634-1400

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD â€” December 24, 2020

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December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

Herald ScHoolS

Dever students create art for veterans Recently, students at James A. Dever Elementary School have been practicing their art skills along with their SEL skills. Janis Boremski, Art Educator and District Coordinator of Fine Arts wanted to incorporate this month’s character trait at Dever, empathy, into her student’s curriculum by having them create a Veteran’s Day bald eagle display. “There are many Veteran empathy projects nationwide and showing empathy as opposed to simply honoring our vets, is found to have a better impact on Veterans re-integrating into life after serving in our armed forces,” Boremski said. “Our students did a great job demonstrating their ability to display empathy for others.” Students have been learning how to put themselves in another’s shoes and feel and think as another person. Together they created a collaborative bald eagle for the school’s hallway to remind everyone of the freedoms that were fought for by each and every veteran. Students were asked to write a message of empathy on a feather to create a pattern representing freedom and America.

Photos courtesy District 13

StudentS at dever created an Eagle display at the school in honor of the country’s veterans.

Memorial students make holiday cards for children Valley Stream Central High School District’s Memorial Junior High School’s seventh grade adviser Ms. Amanda Milano organized a community service breakfast in the school’s cafeteria. Seventh, eighth and ninth graders teamed up for the event and created cards for children in the NYU Winthrop Hospital, which is now called NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. Students were excited to craft these holiday greeting cards, as a way to put smiles on the faces of many children.

Photos courtesy Central High School District

Seventh-grader anjewl williamS Lefever with her holiday card.

memorial StudentS crafted holiday cards for children at NYU Winthrop Hospital, which is now called NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island.

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

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LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there will be a Public Hearing of the Board of Zoning and Appeals of the Inc. Village of Valley Stream, Nassau County, New York at the Village Hall on the Village Green, 123 South Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. Due to public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 and in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 202.1, the hearing will take place via videoconferencing. The public can watch the live meeting through the Zoom App. Members of the public can ask questions and provide comments through the written chat section of the Zoom meeting. Comments and questions can also be sent to the Board via email at jpiazza@vsvny.org before the hearing. Plans and other materials associated with any agenda item may be reviewed by making a request via email to jpiazza@vsvny.org. On January 5, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. access the public hearing via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/88454806657 and clicking on “Join a Meeting” and enter Meeting ID: 884 5480 6657. You can also call in to the ZOOM meeting at 1-646-558-8656. Case No. M/D 7-05 Waqar Ali Syed, 96 South Montague Street, Valley Stream, New York Re: 96 South Montague Street, Valley Stream, New York Application pursuant to Chapter 99, Article XXI, Section 99-2101 of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream for a threeyear extension of time to an existing Mother/ Daughter Special Use Permit. The subject premises is located on southeast corner of South Montague Street formed by the intersection of West Valley Stream Blvd. and South Montague Street known as No. 96 South Montague Street, Valley Stream. Case No. M/D 10-08 Jacqueline Cronin, 159 West Valley Stream Blvd., Valley Stream, New York Re: 159 West Valley Stream Blvd., Valley Stream, New York

HERALD Community Newspapers

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

LVAL1 1224

Application pursuant to Chapter 99, Article XXI, Section 99-2101 of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream for a threeyear extension of time to an existing Mother/ Daughter Special Use Permit. The subject premises is located on northeast corner of West Valley Stream Blvd. formed by the intersection of Verona Place and West Valley Stream Blvd. known as No. 159 West Valley Stream Blvd., Valley Stream, New York Case No. M/D 2-96A Dorothy Pollari, 16 Haven Avenue, Valley Stream, New York Re: 16 Haven Avenue, Valley Stream, New York Application pursuant to Chapter 99, Article XXI, Section 99-2101 of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream for a threeyear extension of time to an existing Mother/ Daughter Special Use Permit. The subject premise sis located on the west side of Haven Avenue, 150’ north of the corner formed by the intersection of Rose Avenue and Haven Avenue known as No. 16 Haven Avenue, Valley Stream, New York. Case No. 3993 Alfredo Noguera, 624 Dubois Avenue, Valley Stream, New York Re: 624 Dubois Avenue, Valley Stream, New York Application for a Variation from Section 99-1802.B of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream to erect a fence. Section 99-1802.B of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream requires side yard fences not to exceed 4 feet in height; whereas, proposed fence is 6 feet in height. The subject premises is located on the south side of Dubois Avenue, 105.50’ west of the corner formed by the intersection of Gotham Street and Dubois Avenue known as No. 624 Dubois Avenue, Valley Stream, New York. Case No. 3994 Gibson Associates LLC, Michael Gallo, 21 Locust Street, Manhasset, New York Re: 50-52 Gibson Blvd., Valley Stream, New York Application for a Variation from Section 99-2203.D.1.a, Section 99-2205 and Section 99-2203.C of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream to maintain off-

street parking configuration. Section 99-2203.D.1.a of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream requires offstreet parking spaces to have minimum dimensions of 9 feet in width by 20 feet in length; whereas, dimensions of subject offstreet parking spaces range from 8.17 feet in width by 14.83 feet in length, to 8 feet in width by 19.25 feet in length. In addition, offstreet parking spaces shall provide a minimum of 20 feet of maneuvering area for ingress and egress; whereas, subject offstreet parking spaces at south-west, and north side parking areas do not have maneuvering area for ingress and egress. Section 99-2205 of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream requires ingress and egress for offstreet parking spaces to cause the least amount of impact on vehicular and pedestrian traffic on streets and sidewalks servicing such parking areas; whereas, subject proposed offstreet parking spaces’ ingress and egress has the potential to impede and/ or obstruct the vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the adjacent street and sidewalk at north entrance portion of parking area. Section 99-2203.C of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream requires driveway access aisles to have a minimum width of 11 feet for one- way direction traffic; whereas, proposed driveway access aisle width ranges from 8.08 feet - to - 10 feet, at north and south portions of vehicle circulation path on site. The subject premise is located on the west side of Gibson Blvd., 531.53’ north of the corner formed by the intersection of Dubois Avenue and Gibson Blvd. known as No. 50-52 Gibson Blvd., Valley Stream, New York. Case No. 3995 Gibson Associates LLC, Michael Gallo, 21 Locust Street, Manhasset, New York Re: 50-52 Gibson Blvd., Valley Stream, New York Application for Final Site Development Plan Review/ Approval per Article XXVII of the Code of the Village of Valley Stream. The subject premise is located on the west side

of Gibson Blvd., 531.53’ north of the corner formed by the intersection of Dubois Avenue and Gibson Blvd. known as No. 50-52 Gibson Blvd., Valley Stream, New York. Dated: December 24, 2020 James J. Hunter, Village Clerk 124213

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE OF GENERAL EXECUTRIX KARRINE NATASHA MONTAQUE ESTATE I, Montaque, Karrine Natasha do hereby give notice of my acceptance to occupy the position of General Executrix and Administrator of the KARRINE NATASHA MONTAQUE, Estate bestowed upon me by KARRINE NATASHA MONTAQUE, in accordance with the testator’s Will. To administer the distribution of assets, credits and interest as well as to settle claims as to the decedent’s estate. i shall act in good faith to carry out the testator’s Will regarding the administration of said estate property. 07/29/2020. 124093 LEGAL NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE OF OWNERSHIP OF ASSUMED NAME KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: that the I, Montaque, Karrine Natasha I am owner of the assumed name KARRINE NATASHA MONTAQUE located at 159 Washington Avenue, Valley Stream, New York 11580. I hereby claim all rights, title and interest in said name. Refer to Certificate of Assumed name filed with the Secretary of the State of Minnesota, filing number 1168912700022. If any person claiming interest in or use of said assumed name known as KARRINE NATASHA MONTAQUE, rebut this claim of ownership of assumed named within 30 days. To: EVA DUZANT, NOTARY PUBLIC C/O 223-12 LINDEN BOULEVARD, CAMBRIA HEIGHTS NEW YORK 11411. 124094

No Paper, No Justice

Weigh the advantages of legal advertising. For information of rates and coverage call 516-569-4000.

Peter Belfiore/Herald

The village plans to rename a portion of Birch Lane, off Cochran Place, to Birch Way after a mix-up between a house on the block and that of one with an identical address in Mill Brook.

Village to rename street after mix-ups out to them, Hopkins explained, was only planned to change the name of a portion made more difficult by the coronavirus of the village’s Birch Lane to Birch Way. pandemic. “It’s been nearly impossible with The board of trustees had planned to vote Covid-19 getting in touch with people,” he to approve the measure on Monday, but it said. To ease disruption, only the stretch was postponed. The decision of Birch Lane from Cochran would affect nine homes. Place to Helen Court would M ayo r E d Fa re s a i d be affected. Fare said the deciVasquez’s was an unprecesion to change the street from dented situation. In the 95 a lane to a way came at the years since the village’s suggestion of the local postincorporation, the dueling master. Birch Lanes hadn’t been a It took nearly a year for problem — until, he said, two the village to come up with people with the same last edgardo what Fare described as an names moved into the same vasquez “amicable resolution” to the addresses on their respective situation. Now, all that’s left streets. Without any differen- Birch Lane resident is for the board to vote to tiating infor mation, Post change the official village Office and emergency dispatcher mix-ups map to reflect the street name change. became common. After hearing the solution, Vasquez While village Attorney Michael Hopkins said that changing the street name said it seemed reasonable. “We’re ready to was relatively simple, the challenge came move forward,” he said, noting that Monday, when village officials had originally in notifying the affected homeowners of what they would need to do. Credit card, scheduled the final vote on the name financial, identification and home records change, was his birthday. would all have to be updated. Reaching continued from front page

t’s been a problem since day one.

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Buyers are enjoying lifetime low interest rates. Sellers are getting multiple offers at and above asking prices. Housing inventory is extremely low and buyer demand is strong.

1 Thompson Dr, BA, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Exp Ranch w/Open Layout in Waverly Park Area. Updtd EIK. O/S Prop w/Deck. Att Gar. SD#20 ...................................................................................$599,000 101 Emmet Ave, BA, WATERFRONT! Rebuilt in 2010, 4 BR 3.5 Bth Split w/ Pool, Outdoor Kit & Deck. Open Layout. Private Mstr Ste, 2 Car Gar, SD#20 ..................................................................$1,250,000

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EAST ROCKAWAY 101 Emmet Ave, NEW WATERFRONT! Rebuilt in 2010, 4 BR 3.5 Bth Split w/ Pool, Outdoor Kit & Deck. Open Layout. Private Mstr Ste, 2 Car Gar, SD#20..$1,250,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-429 HEWLETT HARBOR 3 Payne Circle, OPEN HOUSE BY APPT, Spacious Split on Beautiful Street in Cul de Sac. State of the Art EIK, 2 Dens, Bsmt, & 2 Car Gar. SD#20...$1,190,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

WOODSBURGH 185 BAY Dr, OPEN HOUSE BY Appt, 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Q u a r t e r s , F u l l B s m t , 2 C a r G a r. SD#14...$1,450,00 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

Call me for a free professional consultation.

House For Sale

Melinda Beauchamp Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Mobile: 516.721.7805

mbeauchamp@coachrealtors.com mbeauchamp.coachrealtors.com 314 Sunrise Highway Rockville Centre NY 11570

Melinda & Thor

Apartments Wanted

Open Houses

HEWLETT HARBOR ba, 236 Richards Lane 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Home on an Acre Of Resortlike, IGP, Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14...$1,499,000

1113586

Help Wanted

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

REAL ESTATE

Now is the time to buy or sell a home.

CASHIER WANTED For Grocery Store West Hempstead. Experience Helpful. Email Resume: ianddglatt2@optonline.net Or Call 516-444-6010

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EMPLOYMENT

e s t. 1 9 1 1

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Homes

February 4, 2021 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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

OPEN HOUSES BY APPOINTMENT SUNdAY, 12/27/20

HERALD

January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021 4 p.m.

Homes 1113585

Phone: 347-713-3552

INC

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HERALD Community Newspapers

HERALD

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EAST ROCKAWAY WATERVIEW! 3Bds, 2Bths, EIK, FDR, LR, Den, FBasement, Garage,,Large Yard. Zone X-no flood insurance. Too Much To List! 516-241-6075 MLS: 3271059/ Coldwell Banker HEWLETT BAY PARK NEW TO MARKET! 10,000 Sq Fet. Waterfront Property on an Acre Of Parklike Grounds. IGP, 5 bds, 5.5 Baths Comtemp., $4.650,000 Ronnie Gerber 516 -238-4299 Douglas Elliman

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

HERALD

It’s not that different from surgery

Homes

HERALD

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

HOME OF THE WEEK

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

Q. Due to the pandemic, my family has been home together, and our house needs work. We have outdated stucco walls and a small kitchen. We want to see if we can remove walls, but the plumbing from two upstairs bathrooms goes right down the main dividing wall. Taking out the wall means changing the bathrooms, we’ve been told. That’s more than we can afford, and we don’t want to move out. The bathAsk The rooms were renovated less Architect than five years ago and are on an outside wall. We would like to add seven to 10 feet so we have a breakfast space, possibly with a high ceiling. What would you suggest we do?

Wantagh

A Family Dream Home

here will be no weeping for this willow, you will be cheering! Mint 4 bedroom 2.5 bath custom built 19 year young colonial. This home features sky lit family room with gas fireplace, granite sky lit eat-in-kitchen, king size master bedroom suite with full bath and 2 walk in closets, gleaming hardwood floors, huge finished basement with high ceilings, stunning entertainer’s backyard with saltwater heated in ground pool with waterfall with new liner and outdoor sprinklers with generator hook up. You will also enjoy a 2 car garage. Taxes are confirmed and are $10791.62 with star exemption. Only $999,000.

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Happy Holidays

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A. What it really comes down to is getting the right people to find onte eeper solutions for each of the problems. Doctors and dentists often tell me that many people get the wrong advice from those who are unqualified, so that by the time they break down and seek trained professionals, the problem has gotten much worse, but the solution finally gets solved correctly and often more quickly. Your project has that possibility. All of the conditions, just like medical testing, involve choosing one of two ways to investigate the conditions. Unfortunately, people often expect all the answers to a construction project without the ultimate removal of materials, so the main way to plan is by gathering information on the probable location of main columns and beams as well as piping. Your problem has a solution, which may or may not include the extreme of altering the bathroom finishes. Often, when everything is finally exposed, a trained professional can see creative ways that installers may be afraid to try. In the presence of a plumber and carpenter, I have seen their concern of the unknown, where knowing what calculations to perform, it was possible to figure out the answers. It takes the cooperation of a team of skilled professionals — the architect, plumber and contractor — to plan, cut and assemble all the components to make this work. I suggest that the planning take advantage of the existing structure’s nature: the way the ceiling joists connect, the direction they run, and the potential to move plumbing in the same direction or identify how to correctly intersect the pipes through the main beams. With correct calculations and the right materials, your project can be accomplished without your having to spend the extra money on the bathrooms. Necessary disturbance of surrounding materials may be minimal. You have to make sure that each of the people you hire is communicating, and I highly suggest that you make a point to be in those meetings. Your involvement, your scrutiny that the people you hire are listening to one another and that you hired the right people, is no less important here than if you were advocating with medical staff for a family member’s procedure. The surgery might be much different between a building and a body, but the process isn’t all that different. Good luck!

Laura Dupkin Memisha Licensed Broker Associate laura@therealtyadvisors.com Cell: (516) 984-0343 3342 Park Avenue, Wantagh NY

1109112

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

© 2020 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.

Market Place • •

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

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VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

HERALD

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

HERALD

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Answers

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opinions

anding in Bulgaria nearly 30 years ago, I felt as though I had stepped through a portal into another dimension. After a 24-hour trip, I at last arrived at Sofia International Airport — then a dim, decrepit facility, a far cry from the modern airport that it is today. There was, at the time, a definite divide between West and East. The Soviet Union had crumbled only a year earlier, and Bulgaria, a satellite of the USSR, was reeling, politically and economically. Food and scott gasoline were in short supply and brinton rationed. In the airport, which was hot and stifling without air conditioning, you realized fast that you were leaving behind the modernity of the West and taking a step back in time to a still developing nation. Bulgaria, where I served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer, has since opened to the world and modernized. Its economy is now fully globalized. But I will never forget those first startling, heartwrenching steps onto Bulgarian soil. Recently watching the wonderful Apple TV+ series “Long Way Up,” with the hosts Ewan McGregor and Charley

Boorman, I was instantly taken back to that steamy June day in Sofia. For the series, McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the middle three “Star Wars” films, among many other roles, and Boorman, also an actor, rode custom-made Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles for 13,000 miles from Ushuaia (pronounced oo-SWAY-a), Argentina, practically the southernmost tip of South America, to Los Angeles in 2019. Toward the end of the 11-episode series, as the pair pass from Mexico into the United States, the stark difference between the two countries is glaringly obvious. At the border, they meet refugees who had fled narco-violence and were camping out in makeshift tents, hoping, praying, to enter the U.S. It is a squalid scene, full of desperation. Then, after a bit of chaos at the border crossing, McGregor and Boorman appear, as if by magic, in America, and all is suddenly well as the two ride, surrounded by a pack of motorcyclists, into Los Angeles. The road is pristine. There is order, a sense of lawfulness. “Long Way Up” shows us the clear socioeconomic differences between the U.S. and the nations south of its border. McGregor and Boorman never intended to play politics, they have said, but they show us the reasons why so many have

fled their homelands in South and Central America and Mexico in search of a better life in the U.S., despite the terrifying uncertainty of the journeys they must undertake. At the same time, our intrepid hosts show us the unwavering resiliency of people living on the edge. “Long Way Up” is a reality TV documentary that is one part travelogue and one part buddy film. It’s about the close friendship between McGregor and Boorman, but more so, it’s about their relationship to the road and the people they meet serendipitously and befriend along the way. They ride through some of the most unforgiving regions of the Western Hemisphere — particularly in Peru and Chile, where they pass through the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert, which is so dry that NASA uses it for Mars simulation exercises. Traversing treacherous terrain, the two fall off their motorcycles a lot, and stall occasionally. But they have a capable backup team in producers David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, who travel behind them, though far out of sight most of the time, in two 2.6-tonne Rivian electric pickup trucks. They also bring three stellar videographers — Claudio von Planta, Jimmy Simak and Anthony von Sek — along for

TV series reminded me of going from one world to another.

the ride. With drones, the three capture the breathtaking beauty of the terrain through which the team travels. “Long Way Around” is a perfect antidote for the pandemic cabin fever so many of us are feeling. The show is all about motion — moving from one stage of the journey to the next in rapid-fire succession. McGregor and Boorman never stop anywhere for long before they’re off to their next destination. They linger only when they stop to promote projects undertaken by the United Nations Children’s Fund, ranging from providing schooling for Indigenous people previously denied an education to sheltering orphaned children fleeing violence. McGregor and Boorman have featured UNICEF projects in each of their three travel series — the first two were “Long Way Round” (from London to New York via Central Europe, Eurasia, Russia and Canada in 2004) and “Long Way Down” (through Europe and Africa in 2007). I never realized how much good UNICEF does around the globe. I had to make a donation. “Long Way Up” offers lessons in geography and culture. More so, though, it is a lesson in basic humanity that I would highly recommend watching for yourself, along with its two companion series. Scott Brinton is the Herald Community Newspapers’ executive editor and an adjunct professor at the Hofstra University Herbert School of Communication.

2020: What did you do while you waited?

or me, the theme of 2020 has been waiting learning to wait, summoning the B (balance) C (courage) and D (determination) that Type A’s struggle to find. If someone had told me in February that I would wait months to see my children and grandchildren, that I would wait more than a year to score a Shake Shack burger, that I would wait, mostly in my home, to hug a friend . . . I would not have found it credible. Our collective big wait has been for a viable Covid-19 vaccine, and now that it’s here, we’re waiting for our turn in line. I remember when the Salk polio vaccine was administered in my public school in 1955. They told us kids to line up in size order in the cafeteria, and I knew I would be first. Now we wait based on other criteria: age and general health and value to the community as front-line workers. We wait, too, on the political front.

Every process, from the Mueller investigation to the impeachment, to the election and now to the inauguration, has dragged out in agonizingly slow fashion. “Breaking news” generally means we will live with a story for countless days and weeks with little or no resolution. The Trump presidency has forced us to learn patience. Some of us have been waiting for more than four years for the foolishness of the conspiracists and the racists and the ill-informed to be swept into the past. Now it seems more patience will be required. As we wait, we hope this is the beginning of the end of the pandemic. It sinks in slowly that more than 320,000 of our fellow Americans have died in the past year from the disease. As we wait, we come to realize that many might have been saved if we had acted sooner. As we wait, we grieve the personal loss of friends and family and the suffering of 17 million who have struggled with the challenge of raising kids, going to work and getting health care while sick with the coronavirus. There are epic stories of waiting. My

favorite is from the novel “Waiting,” by Ha Jinn, which won the National Book Award in 1999. Based on a true story, it recounts the life of an Army doctor in China who waits 18 years to get a divorce from his wife in their home village so he can marry the woman he loves, a nurse who serves with him. While you’re waiting, you might give it a try. How ironic that we are the children of the instantgratification culture. From Amazon addiction to DoorDash to the ability to connect to others in a heartbeat, we have been trained to be impatient. We expect immediate satisfaction of our needs. We impatiently waited to ride bicycles and then to drive cars and to graduate from schools, and we wait to get through treatments and to dance at landmark birthdays and anniversaries. But 2020 pushed back. The demands of this year forced our attention outside ourselves. Think about this remarkable year, the year we hope to survive, the year we will never forget. It is said that the lesson of nature is patience, as we wait for seeds to sprout

ow ironic that we are the children of the instantgratification culture.

and babies to talk and trees to flower. During the days and weeks and months of waiting, we have become keener observers of smaller things. When you are homebound forever, you notice fluttering red wings outside the window that never caught your eye before. You take the many hours of a day to put together the ingredients of bread, feeling the stretch and pull of the dough because you actually have time to think about it. For women, the iconic wait of our lives is pregnancy, the time we go inward and focus attention on the seed of life growing inside. The young women I know who have had babies this year seem more intensely focused on this life event, more careful, and now they are waiting patiently to introduce their new children to the world outside and to other people. For many toddlers, life has been confined to rooms. We are all waiting for them, and the teenagers, to bust loose. I have tried to find music and art and conversation to get me through. But I am desperately awaiting 2021. I want to quietly close the book on 2020 and leap into a fresh new year. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

‘Long Way Up,’ a deeply satisfying travelogue

Herald editorial

Valley Stream

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

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It’s time for renewed vigilance over the virus

he Food and Drug Administration last Saturday issued an emergency-use authorization for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, which is administered in a series of two shots one month apart. Announcement of the EUA came after a whirlwind week of media coverage following the EUA for the Pfizer vaccine. We can only say bravo to the vaccine researchers who developed these two treatments at breakneck pace, taking months to produce what, in the past, has taken years. The science behind the vaccines seems futuristic, but it’s very much in the here and now. Both use genetic material, rather than the virus itself, to trigger an immune response by the body. Amid the jubilation that so many of us felt as the vaccines were rolled out,

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— to our holiday gatherings, full of family members and friends. We are a long way from that. We are not likely to begin a staged return to our pre-pandemic lives until we see a precipitous drop in the infection and death rates, which Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s leading infectious disease expert, warns could come in April, at the earliest. Over the weekend, we also received word from Great Britain that the coronavirus may have mutated into a new strain there, causing countries around the globe to ban travel from the United Kingdom in the hope of stopping the spread of the mutated virus. No, this is no time for apathy. It is a time of hope, yes, but we must not be lulled into a false sense of security. We’ve been down that road before.

Finally, Congress offers relief

t long last, Congress members agreed on a $900 billion Covid19 relief package that will, we hope and trust, bring desperately needed aid to Americans reeling from the continuing coronavirus crisis. We are closing in on 10 months since the start of the pandemic in the U.S., and job losses remain unacceptably high. The national unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in November, but without the relief package, it could have climbed back up into the double digits. The unemployment rate peaked at nearly 15 percent in April before drop-

jeffreY NeGriN Creative Director

new Covid-19 cases — and deaths — continued to skyrocket. On the same day that the EUA was issued for the Moderna vaccine, the U.S. recorded more than 250,000 new cases — more than on nearly any other day since the coronavirus was first reported here in early March. That same day, some 2,800 people died of the virus. The day before that, nearly 3,300. The day before that, 3,600. We would be foolish to believe we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It will be months before we understand the true effect of the vaccines. The coronavirus became so widespread in the U.S. that it is now ubiquitous across the land, and is truly inescapable, except through mask wearing and social distancing. We cannot believe that we can, at this moment, magically return to normal life

Remembering pets in verse To the Editor: Reading Randi Kreiss’s column about the end of life of her daughter’s dog, and Randi’s tribute with Mary Oliver’s poem, reduced me to tears (“Saying goodbye to a force of nature on four paws,” Dec. 10-16). It really hit home, and was so well written. This year I had to put my 17-year-old cat to sleep, so I’ll share my poem. Mittens Such a small loss Amidst overwhelming chaos. Such a minor tragedy In this present time of losses. Does the weight of a dying cat Equal one pound of human flesh? How does one measure a life so small

ping steadily in the following months, though the pace of job creation has slowed since September. By infusing another $900 billion into the economy, lawmakers hope to stabilize many of the small and medium-sized businesses that are on the edge of collapse, while continuing to drive down the unemployment rate. We can only say, it’s about time, and what took you so long? Providing relief to the American people at such a dire time should have been a bipartisan nobrainer, but instead it became a protracted battle of political wits that bene-

fited no one, most especially the American worker. The new aid package will provide a $300-per-week supplemental job loss benefit and, for most Americans, a $600 direct stimulus payment. As Presidentelect Joe Biden noted, such a package is a good start, but more will be needed if the pandemic carries on longer than expected. That is why it’s about time that members of Congress set aside their partisan differences and stop playing games with the health and welfare of the American people.

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Our promise to never forget means we must wear our masks

want you to remember waking up on the morning of Sept. 12, 2001 — that is, if you had slept at all the night before. Recall how you felt about your country, your neighbors, and especially our lion-hearted first responders, whose bravery, selflessness and sacrifice we promised never to forget. Remember how you felt in the weeks and months that followed, when first responders and volunteers from Long Island and throughout the nation gathered at ground zero to search for survivors and victims sara and start the difficult task of DIrector rebuilding. We were rightly in awe of our first responders, mourning those who had laid down their lives for us, and profoundly moved by their devastated brethren, who spent months digging through the rubble, atop a smoldering pile of pulverized concrete and glass, dioxin, PCB, benzene,

asbestos and other deadly toxins. There was nothing we would not do for them. Those first responders, and indeed the downtown community of office workers, students, construction workers and residents who returned after the attacks, are now disproportionately filling operating rooms, chemotherapy rooms and oncologists’ offices. They are struggling to breathe, fighting cancer, fighting lung disease, fighting for their lives. Since 9/11, 68 cancers have been linked to the toxins, as well as numerous respiratory diseases. Today, the 9/11 community is in the grips of a health crisis. We have lost more people to diseases that arose in the aftermath of the attacks than we lost that day. What does our promise to Never Forget require of us now? The answer is simple: wear a mask. Many members of the 9/11 community have compromised immune systems and serious co-morbidities that make them especially vulnerable to the effects

Letters

of Covid-19. The men and women who sacrificed so much for us, who rushed to answer the call and who eventually rebuilt New York City’s financial heart, are all around you. They are behind you at the supermarket, picking their kids and grandkids up from school, on your train, on your bus — they are everywhere. Yet if you just look at them, they are unidentifiable. You may not know that your child’s teacher taught in a school in Lower Manhattan on Sept. 11 and now, as a result, suffers from chronic asthma. Or that your co-worker was a volunteer firefighter who answered the call of duty on 9/11, eventually resulting in a diagnosis of lung cancer. If today were Sept. 12, 2001, and Long Islanders were asked to wear masks to protect the 9/11 community from the spread of a virus, we would not hesitate. We would wear our masks with pride — pride for those first responders, and pride for our country. And we would be proud of our-

any members of the 9/11 community are vulnerable to the effects of Covid.

selves, for coming together and protecting those who protected us. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, we are all Long Islanders. Whether you believe that masks can stop or help slow the spread of the coronavirus or not, we are all Long Islanders. Whether you are a member of the 9/11 community or not, we are all Long Islanders. And we now have an opportunity to demonstrate the same unity we did 19 years ago, by following the safety precautions recommended by public health officials: wearing masks, socially distancing, washing our hands frequently and staying home when we’re not feeling well or showing any symptoms of Covid-19. We can protect our families and communities, particularly those with preexisting conditions, and we can and will crush this virus. The 9/11 community did its part. It is time for us to do ours. Never Forget. Attorney Sara Director, a native of Glen Cove who now lives in Locust Valley, is a partner at Barasch & McGarry, which has represented more than 20,000 9/11 first responders and survivors.

Framework by Alyssa Seidman

In the huge universe? Can the tiny paw petting my arm Or her face tilted to mine Be important enough to earn one day Of mourning among a year of lamentations? These questions hang in the air, The answer written in tears. EvELYN KANDEL Nassau County poet laureate Glen Cove

Stop the LIRR’s fare hikes To the Editor: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning to raise fares yet again, during a global pandemic, no less. Just as we return to work and our daily commutes on the Long Island Rail Road, the MTA plans to ask us to cough up even more cash to take the train each day. That’s unacceptable and unconscionable. We need to fight back and make sure the MTA rejects its wrongheaded plan. The MTA needs help from Washington, but it also must make the tough, necessary choices to trim fat, cut waste and deter fraud. But fare hikes always seem to be its answer, no matter the problem, or the decade, or whether service is good or bad. The cost of a monthly pass from any of our communities to Penn Station over the past two decades has doubled, far outpacing the rate of inflation. Indeed, a monthly pass that sold for roughly $150 in 1999 now costs nearly $300. What’s more, hiking the cost of an LIRR ticket at this juncture would do nothing to boost ridership, and frankly could dissuade

Read all about it! — Merrick

many commuters from coming back. Now is the worst possible time to contemplate yet another fare hike, when trust in public transit is low. I spoke out at a recent hearing against the fare hikes, but when we speak loudly with one voice, we can accomplish anything. So please log on to http://bit.ly/fightthefarehikes to submit your testimony to the MTA in opposition to its

proposal to charge us more for an LIRR ride. Together we will fight the fare hikes, and work toward fairness and affordability for Long Islanders. TODD KAMINSKY State senator, 9th Distric

VALLEY STREAM HERALD — December 24, 2020

meri-

December 24, 2020 — VALLEY STREAM HERALD

HERE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED US. HOLIDAY HOURS

Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve All locations open until 4:00pm

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Christmas Day, New Year’s Day Merrick office open for walk-in patients 9:00am – 5:00pm 1728 Sunrise Highway, Merrick

That’s why Orlin & Cohen, Long Island’s premier orthopedic group, is open

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to treat them. All locations will be open until 4:00pm on Christmas Eve

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and New Year’s Eve, and our Merrick location will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. As always, we employ strict safety protocols to ensure the well-being of our patients and staff.

Happy Holidays and Stay Safe!

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