Issuu

Wantagh

HERALD Citizen

Community thanks firefighters

Downed wires cause blaze

Scout makes safety clasps

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Vol. 68 No. 17

APRIl 23 - 29, 2020

Gordon, M.D. host webinar on Covid-19 applying for disaster business loans and other federal programs. Jackie Gordon, Democratic a After welcoming viewers to candidate for the House of Rep- last week’s videoconference, resentatives in New York’s 2nd Gordon noted the importance of Congressional Dishaving these kinds trict, hosted a Covidof sessions during 19 public informathe pandemic. She tion webinar on acknowledged resiApril 16. She was dents’ growing conjoined by Dr. Keasha cern about the duraGuerrier, Northwell tion of the lockdown Health’s director of of nonessential busiquality, leadership nesses, and and advocacy and a explained that family medicine speadhering to social cialist. distancing guideThe 2nd District lines was beneficial includes most of and would continue Seaford and Wantto be. agh. Gordon is seek“I’ve said that I ing to succeed retirwanted to join the ing Republican Rep. Ar my after I saw Peter King, of Seathat commercial on ford. TV where it said, This was the sec- KEASHA ‘We do more before 9 ond information sesa.m. than most peosion that Gordon has GuERRIER, ple do in a day,’” Gorhosted during the M.D. don said. “I wanted coronavirus panto run for Congress demic. Last month, for the same reason she took part in a conference call that that commercial states.” for local small business owners She introduced Guerrier and with Erica Chase-Gregory, direc- listed some of her credentials, tor of the Small Business Devel- including her involvement on opment Center at Farmingdale the ground in Puerto Rico proCollege, who offered tips on Continued on page 9

By J.D. FREDA

jfreda@liherald.com

Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

SoCIAlly DIStANCED SENIoR citizens lined up outside Iavorone Brothers in Wantagh. Like many grocery stores, it has reserved the early hours for seniors.

Food foraging more difficult

Shortages beginning to appear in some stores By tIMotHy DENtoN and J.D. FREDA tdenton@liherald.com; jfreda@liherald.com

It was early Monday morning, and despite the hour, senior citizens were lined up in impressive numbers, prepared to take advantage of the store’s early-bird, seniorsonly admission. Most stores now open early, offering seniors the first 90 minutes of their business days. One North Wantagh chain grocery is typical, opening to those 60 and older from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Iavarone Broth-

ers, on Wantagh Avenue, offered the 9-to-10 a.m. hour for senior customers. Inside the North Wantagh store, shoppers moved with quiet efficiency. The store had marked off one-way aisles and placed plastic coverings on keypads and other objects shoppers were likely to touch. These were changed regularly by the cleaning crew, which was provided by an outside contractor hired by the parent company. Grocery shopping, that most prosaic of day-to-day activities, has begun to feel

like hazardous duty in Seaford and Wantagh, and while markets of all sizes struggle to keep their employees and their stores safe and their premises stocked and disinfected, they are facing challenges unlike any before. At Salpino Food Market, on Merrick Road, on the border of Wantagh and Seaford — and with a second location in North Bellmore — one day bleeds into the next, with constant demand for more product. “They, as well as their Continued on page 3

here is a very specific way to take it off and put it on. I would advocate against the general public wearing N95 masks.

1085451

April 23, 2020 â€” HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Seaford, Wantagh shoppers face shortages

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

continued from front page employees, have been going above and beyond for weeks on end without a day off,” said Seaford Chamber of Commerce member Donna Jebaily.

Empty shelves

Keeping the Salpino stores stocked without raising prices has been a challenge, cutting into profits in a business already notorious for its tight margins, managers Paul Barbieri and Larry Avvenire conceded. But the stores’ delivery business has helped close the gap, they said. “It all happened pretty quickly,” Barbieri said. “First thing we did is home deliveries and curbside pickups. In less than a week, it really blew up. We went from about 10 deliveries a day to about 50, seven days a week for the last three weeks. It’s been pretty overwhelming, but we’re doing everything we can.” Salpino has not hired an outside company to handle deliveries. Staying true to OnE SupErmarkET ExEcuTivE recommended waiting the family-owned business model, they do None of the big chain stores have been it themselves. “It’s all family that’s delivering the food,” Barbieri said. “We even had able to keep paper goods in stock, and most family members come in from Brooklyn to have rationed them for the past three weeks. The best-stocked store on Saturday had perhelp out.” The big chain grocery stores wrestle with haps 200 single rolls of toilet paper on the many of the same issues. Stores would nor- shelf, with a two-roll limit per customer. And the supply chain has faced the same mally place extra orders before difficulties as every other busiholidays or in advance of bad ness. Key employees or their famweather, according to an execuily members may be quarantined tive at one of the larger grocery with Covid-19, or they may be chains responsible for several unavailable due to their families’ dozen markets in the metropolichild care needs. tan area, including Seaford and “The Covid disease is also Wantagh. Like most chain groaffecting staffing in stores, warecery employees, he requested anohouses, trucking and production nymity, both for himself and his lines,” the executive said. company. “Demand cannot be met.” “After such events, the stores could replenish,” he said, “but not over this consistent daily To glove or not panic shopping.” Starting about a week ago, With just two stores, Salpino masks were no longer optional was able to plan more concretely. for grocery store employees, “We were a little proactive and although many have been taking able to run a lot more orders in precautions for several weeks. advance,” Barbieri said. “We triBut following Gov. Andrew Cuopled and quadrupled orders, seemo’s order last week that all New ing this coming.” Yorkers wear masks in public One company that has lent a paul BarBiEri where social distancing might be helping hand to Salpino is Majes- Co-manager, difficult, some grocers have tic Foods, in Huntington Station, begun requiring customers to Barbieri said. “They bent over Salpino Food wear some sort of face covering backwards to help us with meats, Markets as well. Iavarone Brothers, Salpiincluding chicken cutlet and no and North Shore Farms, in chopped meat, and our Boars North Bellmore, are among the Head products,” he said. local merchants with such requirements. According to the chain store executive, But last weekend, it was surprising to see supermarkets in his area normally receive how many customers took no precautions at six or seven weekly deliveries of groceries, as all. On Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, a Herwell as three or four deliveries of frozen food. ald-Citizen reporter visited large groceries in These have all been cut by a third, he said. Seaford, Wantagh and Levittown, and on two “You can’t go to the store with a list of of those days, bare faces and hands far outmenus and ingredients,” the manager cau- numbered masks and gloves in all of them. tioned. “You have to wait and see what’s availAs an additional safety precaution, at least able.” one local grocer is ignoring the ban on singleStores also normally receive three deliver- use plastic bags that began on March 1. “We ies of paper goods. “The logistics chain could still had them, and it just made sense to put not — and still cannot — keep up,” the execu- them out,” the store’s assistant manager said. tive said. “As brand warehouses were depletEnforcement of the ban was postponed ed, orders were placed with other suppliers until May 15, but many stores had already that couldn’t be fulfilled, because their own recycled their outlawed stocks. It was unclear supply chains were stressed.” whether they would reorder.

Photos by Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

to see what cuts of meat were available before making a menu for the week.

e went from about 10 deliveries a day to about 50, seven days a week for the last three weeks. It’s been pretty overwhelming.

OnE cOmmOdiTy ThaT is not in short supply: beer. Alcohol sales are up across the board. SOmE STOrES havE created one-way aisles to help maintain social distancing.

An untested Covid-19 survivor’s memoir Wantagh schoolteacher rides out corona at home

al,” Strauss said. “Which I am happy to be at the back of the line, in terms of medical professionals and first responders getting tested first,100 per“I definitely had it,” said Jennifer Strauss, 42, of cent.” Wantagh. She called the locations and asked if she could She laid out all of her symptoms. They matched make an appointment for the following day or days many of those that are typically associated with Covid- to follow. They advised her to self-care and “treat 19, including body aches, a persistent sore throat, an herself as if she is positive.” Those calls were inability to achieve a deep breath, chest discomfort and made on March 30, roughly six or seven days after a fever. her symptoms began. Strauss is a teacher at a private high school and, with Her doctor also advised her to visit the emergenhusband Derek, 43 is the mother of two boys, 16 and 12. cy room if her symptoms worsened,. The situation Strauss reflected on when she started never escalated to that point. feeling symptoms. “It was the week of Strauss admitted that, despite feelMarch 23,” she said. “I started feeling body ing she had the disease, she is another aches. I had a fever. Breathing in hurt. Once person that has not been added to the the fever broke, my chest and throat continofficial number of cases. She was not ued to hurt. I thought, ‘Should I self-quarancounted. She feels that there are more tine?’” out there like her, who have been Strauss said that she had a low-grade denied testing and told to self-care, but fever that never rose higher than 100 have been fighting the disease from degrees, but it was persistent, until it finally their home. broke after three days. She separated herShe was adamant that she does not self from the rest of her family, admittedly resent hospitals or testing sites for “looking out for their safety.” Her youngest denying her in favor of first respondson had been sick and out of school for five ers and medical professionals. She Courtesy Jennifer Strauss days just weeks before. agrees that they deserve first priority. JEnniFER StRAuSS, 42, of Wantagh had isolated herself from “Right away, as soon as I started feeling Much more of her issue, though, her family while battling coronavirus-like symptoms, although that way, I wanted to be more safe than stemmed through the omnipresence of sorry,” Strauss said. news feeds, giving her constant new never being approved for a test. JEnniFER She was not sure where she had contractinformation. The more she looked at, 12, Strauss’s symptoms have subsided. She has even ed it. She suggested that, as a school teacher, StRAuSS the more she became inundated with she may have picked it up from a student or Wantagh resident news of celebrities receiving tests and gen- offered to help others by calling and offering to donate a colleague. Her last day of classes was erally quick results, as opposed to what she her plasma as a Covid-19 survivor to help the critically March 11. She also said she had been going had experienced. She felt that some people’s ill. out to shop, though carefully, before social distancing status was deemed higher than her family’s, and that led Now, she still remains careful, but has freed herself really took full effect. of her isolation. She has rejoined her family, though she to more openly available testing. Strauss contacted her primary-care physician This is not the first time that Strauss just felt like a knows others have had to deal with similar situations in through an app on her phone. She said she had a video- number, she said, or a cog in the wheel. She likened this past weeks, and may not have that same luxury. conference with her doctor roughly two to three days situation to 2012, when Superstorm Sandy left her fami“I couldn’t have been the only one,” she said. after feeling symptoms. ly without a home. “They wanted to know if I was having difficulty “A FEMA rep came to us, and they were trying to breathing,” Strauss said. “I didn’t want to be an alarm- have people lift their houses, and we didn’t want to do ist, I could breathe, but I felt like I couldn’t get a deep that,” Strauss said. “At one point, they really said, ‘well breath.” She also mentioned a perpetual discomfort sometimes you can have bumps in the road, and your behind her sternum that persisted beyond many of her family is just a bump in the road,’ to the bigger picture. other symptoms, including the fever. We’re just a regular family, we don’t have connections, News Brief items including awards, honors, Strauss’s doctor gave her information on where to get we’re not super wealthy.” promotions and other tidbits about local tested. She said that the doctor made her aware of testThe situations and the response her family received ing being done by a number of Northwell Health facili- were similar to each other, Strauss said. She documentresidents are welcome. Photographs may be ties. She was also aware of the pop-up testing site at ed her frustrations in a letter sent to the Herald. “I wrote emailed as well. Deadline for submissions Jones Beach. this letter, feeling like a ‘bump in the road’ all over again is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. “I called all three locations and they told me no, I and I thought ‘Why? Why is this happening?’” Send to tdenton@liherald.com couldn’t get tested. At that point, they said it was But she is not a victim, and she does not claim to be. because I wasn’t a first responder or medical profession- She does not have that mentality, she said. As of April

By J.D. FREDA

jfreda@liherald.com

wrote this letter, feeling like a ‘bump in the road’ all over again and I thought ‘Why? Why is this happening?

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April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

County exec: Delaying school taxes could hurt sbrinton@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran spoke at length last Saturday about a proposal before the County Legislature to delay collection of school taxes that come due in May. Curran, a Democrat, said Monday that she would speak with Governor Cuomo about the possibility of pushing back school tax payments to June 1, but the Republican-controlled Legislature proceeded passed the measure that day. Many residents have been laid off or have seen their hours reduced, and so are looking for financial relief. Delaying school taxes, however, could have serious financial consequences for the county, Curran said. Curran explained that the county must guarantee all school tax collections, meaning if the school districts come up short in their collections, then the county must provide the funding to the districts — by law. She said the county is hurting financially, as are all municipalities. Sales and property tax collections comprise 67 percent of the county’s more than $3 billion budget. Sales taxes have plummeted during the pandemic, starving the county of one of its two primary revenue sources, Curran said. She worries about county employees, she said, and wants to ensure the

county maintains its force of first responders, including police officers and medics. The federal and state governments, she said, must step in to ensure the county has enough cash on hand to meet its financial obligations, including to its employees, so it can continue to provide essential services. In Nassau County, new hospitalizations declined throughout the weekend, as did ICU cases and intubations, Curran said. Over the weekend, the county was closing in on 30,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19. Many of them have resolved, the county executive said. She also said hospital “discharges continue to be robust,” indicating the county may be past the plateau. “We become more eager and ready to reopen our society,” she said, adding the county must begin planning to reopen marinas, golf courses and beaches, including the county-owned Nickerson Beach in Lido. Over the weekend, Gover nor Cuomo reopened marinas and golf courses. Curran said a strategy to reopen all of the economy must be developed. “I do believe we can strike the balance” between opening up society and controlling new infections, particularly among the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions, she said.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

By scott BriNtoN

Christina Daly/Herald

Nassau ExEcutivE Laura Curran said she worries that if school tax collections were delayed, the county might wind up paying the bill.

Covid-19 deaths decline over the weekend In Nassau County, new hospitalizations declined for the third straight day, as did ICU cases and intubations, County For the first time since the Covid-19 Executive Laura Curran said Saturday pandemic struck more than a month ago, afternoon. New York state saw sharp declines in the On Sunday, Cuomo appeared alongnumber of overnight deaths because of side Northwell Health President and the coronavirus, and Gov. CEO Michael Dowling to Andrew Cuomo was expressannounce plans to undertake ing cautious optimism over widespread, random antithe weekend that the state body testing to determine was past the peak of the dismore precisely New York’s ease. actual infection rate. He noted, however, that Overnight from Saturday relaxing social distancing into Sunday, 507 people died could lead to a second wave of the coronavirus in New of infection. York, Cuomo said at NorthThe number of deaths well’s Feinstein Institutes for because of the coronavirus Medical Research in dropped a little more than 14 Manhasset. That represented percent across New York an 8 percent drop in the overstate overnight from Friday night death rate. into Saturday, from 630 to New hospitalizations also 540, Cuomo said Saturday declined, from 2,000 the day afternoon. before to 1,300, a 35 percent It was the smallest numdrop. ber of overnight deaths the Gov. aNdrEW And new intubations, state had seen in a day since cuoMo whereby people are placed on early April, and represented ventilators to enable them to a 32 percent decrease in the breath, were down also. overnight mortality rate from April 9, If those statistics hold, Cuomo said, when the number of deaths from one day “we are past the high point,” and all indito the next peaked at 799. cations are the infection rate is “on the Cuomo noted, however, that the state descent.” still saw 2,000 new hospitalizations overStill, he said, “Thirteen hundred is a night, which, he said, was troubling. lot of people coming into the hospital

By scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com

e just pray to God [the infection rate] remains down on the other side … We still have a long way to go.

Governor: Marinas can open New York, Connecticut and New Jersey are allowing marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers to open for personal use, provided they adhere to social distancing protocols and sanitize their facilities, Governor Cuomo announced Saturday afternoon. Chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurants at these sites will be limited to take-out or delivery.

system.” State officials are taking a breather with the infection rate appearing to stabilize. Cuomo described the crisis “as a mountain that just kept building and building and building,” and he said, he had “no idea where the top of the mountain” was. “We just pray to God,” he said, that the infection rate “remains down on the other side” of the mountain. He also noted, “We still have a long way to go.” The governor urged people to continue social distancing and practice sound hygiene. He worries that people will see the death and new hospitalization rates

“Throughout this pandemic, we’ve worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus,” Cuomo said. “Aligning our polices in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or ‘state shopping’ when it comes to marinas and boatyards.” –Scott Brinton declining, and then attempt to return to life as normal too soon. That, he said, would jeopardize the progress the state has made over the past 40 days in containing the virus. In preparing for a reopening of New York’s economy, he said, the state needs greater testing, and it needs more federal funding. Cuomo estimated the state faces a $10 billion to $15 billion deficit. That money will have to be made up somehow. Without federal funding, cuts are likely, he said, noting school districts across the state could see their state aid slashed by 50 percent in 2020-21 without federal assistance.

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

On the front lines with a Northwell ICU nurse By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

Each time a patient comes off a ventilator in the intensive care unit at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset these days, the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” plays over the loudspeaker, alerting all staff and patients that a life has been saved. Elyse Isopo, an ICU nurse practitioner at North Shore, with 20 years experience, spoke of that moment during a 19-minute Facebook Live interview with Northwell Health video producer Rob Hoell on Thursday. It is an important moment for all in the ICU, as staff members work around the clock battling the Covid-19 virus, which, Isopo said, is yet to let up in the ICU. People throughout the ICU erupt in cheers and clapping when that Beatles song sounds, Isopo said, noting, “We need those wins, because it keeps us going.” The number of new hospitalizations across New York state, including in Nassau, appears to be declining, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and County Executive Laura Curran. The number of ICU patients where Isopo is at, however, continues unabated, she said, “because people who are hospitalized are getting sicker.” Working in the ICU, she said, “is scary, and real, and rewarding at the same time,” adding, “Everybody has been amazing. It feels like a family.”

Courtesy Northwell Health

northwell health icU nurse practitioner Elyse Isopo spoke with video producer Rob Hoell about what it’s like to battle Covid-19 on the front lines. One of the hardest parts that patients must endure is the sense of isolation from their families, because visitors are not allowed into the hospital, Isopo said. Patients receive iPads so they can connect with loved ones, but it is not the same as meeting face to face. If a patient appears near death, only then is family allowed in, she said. Isopo spoke of one recent case, a patient originally from Korea. The patient asked that Korean music be played in his

final moments, and so it was. “It was beautiful,” she said, “and we supported his dying process.” Such images, however, can also be haunting. “I don’t sleep very well at night,” Isopo said. She is married with children. Worried about potentially infecting her family, she is careful each night to remove her clothes and shoes and take a shower before entering her home. “After a long day,” she said, “it’s draining.”

Working in the ICU is tough, she said. “It’s very challenging. It’s very difficult. It’s very stressful,” she said. “Everybody is as critical as the next person and the next person. “It looks like a MASH unit,” she continued. “It’s bed after bed after bed … You walk in there, and you’re in the trenches.” Isopo said the community has come out in unexpected and welcome ways, showering the nurses and doctors with praise and parades and food. “Seeing everyone in the community looking at us like heroes is very overwhelming and very much appreciated,” she said. She emphasized, though, that “I never thought of myself as a hero.” The first responders in the field, the police and firefighters, are the heroes, she said. Isopo said she believes Northwell has provided adequate personal protective equipment to hospital workers throughout the crisis. At first, workers were limited to one N95 mask per week, but now receive a new one daily, she said. Many place surgical masks over their N95 masks as an extra layer of protection to keep fluids off them. In addition to masks, all workers receive paper scrubs, goggles, face shields and gloves. She ended by saying people should stay home to reduce the infection and hospitalization rates. “The more people stay home, that helps us,” she said. For the full interview, see liherald.com.

Catholic Health Services taking part in clinical trials By Jeff BeSSen jbessen@liherald.com

Catholic Health Services is taking part in two clinical trials designed to develop treatments for Covid-19. A Mayo Clinic trial is using what is called convalescent plasma donated by recovered Covid-19 patents to treat individuals who continue to fight the coronavirus. Convalescent plasma comprises parts of the blood of people who have had the virus and recovered. The second study involves using the medication remdesivir, which was originally developed to treat the Ebola virus and has been successfully used for other coronaviruses, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The convalescent plasma study is being offered at CHS’s six hospitals. The remdesivir trial is taking place at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center® in Roslyn and at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, CHS officials said. One 200 milliliters/6.8 ounces dose of the plasma has benefitted a portion of patients, according to the initial data. People who recover from Covid-19 do so, in part, because their blood contains antibodies that are able to fight the virus. Previous research of other viruses found that treating patients with plasma obtained from those who have recovered from the same virus leads to rapid improvement, CHS officials said. Using remdesivir to treat COVID-19 follows limited testing in the United States, Canada, China and other countries that led to an improvement in the condition of some patients. The treatment regimen using remdesivir takes place over 10 days and includes a 200-milligram dose on the first day and a 100-milligram dose on days two to 10.

Herald file photo

catholic health ServiceS of Long Island, which includes Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, above, is involved in two clinical trial seeking to develop a treatment for Covid-19. “Catholic Health Services is excited to be on the front lines and participate in these clinical trials for Covid-19,” CHS Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jason Golbin, stated in a news release. “Our clinical teams have spent several weeks caring for Covid-19 patients. It means a great deal to everyone to take part in these two cutting-edge research efforts.” Potential plasma donors must have a prior, verified diagnosis of Covid-19, but are now symptom-free and

fully recovered. Donors must also be at least 18 and weigh at least 110 pounds. The plasma can be administered only to a consenting Covid-19 patient or a patient whose family member offers consent. The treatment will be given to patients judged by a doctor to be at high risk of disease progression to severe or life-threatening. To donate plasma and for more information on the two clinical trials, call Catholic Health Services at (855) 247-4500.

Cuomo extends N.Y. PAUSE to May 15 By scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

ew York PAUSE has worked, [but] we’re not there yet.

couple can now marry by video in new York state On Saturday, Governor Cuomo issued a directive allowing marriages to be performed via videoconference to help reduce the infection rate amid the coronavirus crisis. Among other conditions, the order requires the following be met:

are present in the New York state jurisdiction where the marriage is to take place.

■ The couple to be wed must present valid photo ID during the videoconference.

Local town and city clerks may provide further guidance. If a couple’s marriage license has or will expire during the Covid19 pandemic, the state is waiving the 60-day waiting period to obtain a new license. It is also waiving all fees to obtain a second marriage license.

■ The town or city clerk, the witness(es), the person to solemnize the marriage, and the couple must interact with one another. No pre-recorded ceremonies are allowed. ■ The couple must affirm that they

■ The couple must send a legible copy of the signed marriage document by fax or email to the town or city clerk, the witnesses, and the person to solemnize the marriage on the same date it was signed.

–Scott Brinton

State releases data on nursing home deaths By James Bernstein jbernstein@liherald.com

The New York State Department of Health released a list of 22 nursing homes on Long Island, including homes in Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook, where residents have died from the coronavirus epidemic. The state said its list included only deaths that took place inside a facility or location where five people or more have died. State health officials said 22 residents at the Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center had died of the virus; eight at the Glen Cove Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and six at the Lynbrook Restorative and Therapy Nursing facility. Across the state, a total of 1,135 nursing home or assisted living center deaths at 72 facilities, officials said. The Health Department lists say 128 deaths took place at a total of 11 nursing homes in all of Nassau County. The Health Department released the list after numerous complaints from the families of residents at the facilities, legislators and members of the media. Gov. Andrew Cuomo was asked repeatedly at his daily briefings about the coronavirus illness at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state. The governor had said the figures were being compiled. Cuomo ordered nursing homes to i m m e d i at e ly i n fo r m re l at ive s o f patients who test positive.

Herald file photo

the state health Department reported 22 cases of Covid-19 deaths at the Long Beach Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Administrators at the nursing homes in Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook have not released information about Covid-19 cases. But most all facilities have listed on their websites that they are sanitizing all areas within the

homes, maintaining social distancing among staff members, and noting that they are closed to outsiders, to protect the health of patients. Relatives have not been allowed to visit patients at the facilities, and many

told media outlets they had been unable to reach patients by phone. Administrators at the Long Beach, Glen Cove and Lynbrook facilities did not return calls seeking comment.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

lion of them are workers. New York on PAUSE — Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone — Gov. Andrew Cuomo last Thursday has kept the infection and hospitalizaextended New York on PAUSE, a 10-point tion rates to manageable levels, the govplan that shuts down “non-essential” ernor indicated. “We slowed the infecbusinesses and schools and requires tion rate by our actions, and that’s why social distancing, through May 15. The we’re in a better position today,” he said. announcement came during Wi d e s p r e a d t e s t i n g , his daily briefing, when he including antibody blood also continued to lay out his sampling, is needed to better vision to reopen the economy track the infection rate and — and the challenges doing assure people that they are so will present. safe when returning to their Previously, New York on workplaces. Cuomo said the PAUSE was to end April 30. state would conduct 3,000 “New York PAUSE has random antibody tests in the worked,” Cuomo said, but he coming weeks. noted, “we’re not there yet,” Last Wednesday, Cuomo referring to the reduction in said he would like to see the Gov. andrew the Covid-19 infection rate economy reopen in phases, needed to allow all people to cuomo in close coordination with retur n to work and ease six other states — Delaware, social distancing requireConnecticut, Massachusetts, ments. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode The governor said the state does not Island. yet fully know what the infection rate is. He asked on Thursday that employers To date, more than 500,000 people have begin to consider whether their workers been tested in New York, more than Cali- can continue to telecommute when their fornia, Florida and Michigan combined, workplaces reopen, as well as think Cuomo said. That figure, however, repre- about the configuration of their worksents a fraction of the state’s population spaces. How far apart might desks be — 19 million people live here, and 9 mil- spread apart, for example?

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Senator freed from prison amid pandemic By Jill nossa jnossa@liherald.com

Former State Sen. Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 and will serve the remainder of his prison term at home, according to court papers filed last Wednesday. Skelos, 72, was reportedly in quarantine at the federal prison in Otisville, according to documents filed in federal court in Manhattan by Southern District prosecutors, and has been symptom-free since April 8. Prosecutors said that medical authorities at the prison have cleared his release. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons said Skelos is expected to be approved for furlough and home confinement once the U.S. Probation Department has approved his proposed residence. A release date had not been set as of press time Monday. L a t e l a s t m o n t h , S ke l o s

requested early release, citing fear of contracting the virus after another inmate tested positive. The motion, filed under seal, was opposed by federal prosecutors in papers filed publicly, saying that an application for release must first be filed with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which can better assess his health situation. His medical condition was not made public at that point. Skelos has more than two years left on his 51-month sentence for extortion, wire fraud and bribery. Skelos was convicted in July 2018 of using his political power to secure roughly $300,000 in jobs and fees for his son Adam, also of Rockville Centre. They were each convicted on eight counts of conspiracy, extortion, and bribery. Adam Skelos was sentenced to four years in prison.

Herald file photo

former state sen. Majority Leader Dean Skelos of Rockville Centre has tested positive for Covid-19 and is expected to be released early to home confinement.

Trump lawyer, Lawrence native, to be released from prison By Jeff Bessen jbessen@liherald.com

Michael Cohen, a Lawrence native and former personal attorney for President Donald Trump, who was convicted of several felonies and sentenced to three years in prison in 2018, will be released because of the coronavirus pandemic after a 14-day quarantine period, prison officials said. He will serve the remainder of his sentence confined to home. He was serving his sentence and expected to be released in November 2021 from federal prison in upstate Otisville, where 14 inmates and seven staff members at the facility tested positive for Covid-19, as of press time. A federal judge had previously rejected Cohen’s request for a sentence reduction because of coronavirus on March 24. Cohen was found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws, tax evasion and lying to Congress, among other charges in 2018. He was also ordered to pay $1.39 million in restitution, forfeit $500,000 and pay a $50,000 fine. The guilty pleas to the federal felony charges resulted in his disbarment as a lawyer in New York state. Serving as Trump’s personal attorney, Cohen, 53, arranged sixfigure payments to a por n star known as Stormy Daniels, whose

Jeff Bessen/Herald

lawrence native michael Cohen who was serving three years in prison on multiple federal charges will be released because of the coronavirus outbreak. Above, testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last year. real name is Stephanie Clifford, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to buy their silence about their one-time affairs with the president. Cohen testified multiple times in front of Congressional commit-

tees on Capitol Hill last year, including the public hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, before which he famously called his former boss a racist and a cheat, and admitted,” I am a fool.”

News brief Long Island Trauma Recovery Network to provide free therapy The Long Island Trauma Recovery Network will provide free therapy to health care workers, first responders, essential employees, their families, and those whose loved ones are facing or have died from the coronavirus. All services will be provided remotely by trained and licensed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapists. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a form of psychotherapy in which a trauma patient is asked to recall a distressing image. It has been proven to help address the trauma symptoms that medical professionals and first responders face. The Long Island EDMR Trauma Network will offer the Integrative Group Treatment Protocol, which provides individual EDMR therapy in a group setting. The program is administered to groups of people who have experienced the same type of trauma or who share a major life challenge. There will be several groups weekly, and some individual appointments are available. For more information, email LongIslandTrauma@gmail.com and contact Cathy Menzies, LCSWR Trauma Recovery Coordinator at (631) 466 - 7053 to register. –Melissa Koenig

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Courtesy LinkedIn

Courtesy Felipe Esquivel Reed/Wikimedia Commons

Jackie gordon, deMocraTic candidate for New York’s 2nd Congressional District, left, hosted a public health webinar with Dr. Keasha Guerrier last week.

Courtesy MSSN

MounT sinai souTh Nassau hospital officials said there has been a flattening of the curve in coronavirus cases, however, the community must still be vigilant in practicing social distancing.

Gordon holds second MSSN sees Covid-19 public info session curve flattening continued from front page

including her involvement on the ground in Puerto Rico providing medical support to those affected by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Guerrier explained that, although the most commonly reported symptoms of Covid-19 are coughing, fever and shortness and breath, other early indicators include a loss of smell and taste, abdominal pain and vomiting. She also said that people at high risk include essential workers; smokers and vapers; those with upper respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes or high blood pressure; and the morbidly obese. Guerrier highlighted proper hygiene, including washing hands frequently; carrying disinfecting wipes to wipe down shopping carts, gas pump handles and public-use keypads; and using natural supplements to boost the immune system — ginger, turmeric, lime, honey, elderberry, Echinacea, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. She talked about N95 masks and their effectiveness in blocking airborne particles. She compared the N95’s 98.9 percent effectiveness with surgical masks’ 78.6 percent, and “tea cloth” masks’ 60 percent — but she advised against wearing N95 masks. “For the general public, N95 masks have to be specially fit for someone to wear effectively,” Guerrier said. “There’s a very specific way to take it off and put it on. I would advocate against the general public wearing N95 masks.” Guerrier also advised designating a “decontaminating station” in the homes. Soles of shoes, she said, can carry the virus around hospital floors, so she advise either leaving shoes outside or in a designated room near an entrance to a home to avoid contamination. For those who are already ill with the disease at home, she advised seeking advice from a health care professional, using only Tylenol and videoconferencing

By Briana Bonfiglio bbonfiglio@liherald.com

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The presenTaTion ended with an audience q&a about the virus. with close friends or family members twice a day. Having another person observe appearance and speech patterns and listen for labored breathing, Guerrier explained, can help identify symptoms the sick person may not recognize. Guerrier also said that resting and sleeping in a prone position, on the stomach with arms extended or folded past or under the face, can increase oxygen intake. Answering questions after her presentation, Guerrier predicted that Covid-19, much like influenza, was mutating every 15 to 30 days, according to its environment. She said that someone who had contracted and recovered from one strain of the virus could still be susceptible to another, but the severity of a second case would be “proportionate to its viral load” or the amount of virus detected. According to two papers published On March 23 in the medical journal The Lancet, when viruses infect the body, they replicate themselves. The more a virus replicates, the higher an individual’s viral load, and the more severe the symptoms.

The curve of coronavirus cases at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside is flattening, according to Joe Calderone, the hospital’s vice president of corporate communications. As of Friday, the hospital had 290 patients being treated for Covid-19, down from 383 on April 13, which hospital officials said they believe was the peak. “The good news is the number has been steadily flattening,” Calderone said. “The social distancing that people are doing, as difficult as it is, is definitely producing results. We are really urging people to not let up.” Of those patients, 64 were on ventilators. MSSN has more than 100 ventilators available. In addition, Calderone assured that the facility has enough personal protective equipment, or PPE, for all hospital staff. “We purchased some [ventilators] ourselves and were able to get some through Mount Sinai Health System,” Calderone explained. “Our partnership with them has been incredibly helpful through this pandemic, supporting both in a clinical standpoint in terms of new drugs being tested and plasma therapy. They also have a very good, robust supply chain operation.” As of Friday, the hospital had 238 Covid-19 deaths, while 357 patients who were previously diagnosed with the virus were treated and discharged. When cases began to climb last month, Department of Medicine Chairman Dr. Aaron Glatt spoke of the importance of social distancing during a Facebook Live session at the hospital. “I want to stress the single most important thing that everybody can do is really understand what social distancing means,” he said at the time. “That’s the

buzzword of 2020. That will be the word of the year.” One month later, Calderone urged residents to continue to heed that advice, even as the numbers continue to improve. While the toll the virus has taken is unprecedented and beyond what most hospital workers have ever seen, Calderone noted that there is still much they are grateful for. The hospital has received food donations from more than 50 local businesses. “Many have come forward and funded food for the staff,” he said, “which is really helpful because they’re working 16-hour days and barely have time to take a break. This way, [the food] is readily available and they don’t have to think about it. “But really, it’s not about the food,” he added. “It’s the message that it sends to the staff that people on the outside recognize what’s happening inside this hospital and the incredible challenge the front-line workers have faced during this pandemic, putting themselves and families at risk to care for often critically ill Covid patients. It sends a great morale boost.” Nurses at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital are also spreading positivity with their “message board of hope,” which they debuted in the hospital lobby last week. Nurses Teresa Ebehart, Angelica Hoyos and Christine Doud handcrafted the board, which displays the number of Covid-19-positive patients that have been discharged from the hospital, and how many coronavirus patients have been taken off ventilators at the facility. As each patient is discharged from MSSN, “Here Comes the Sun” is played as the board is updated. Each time a patient is taken off of a ventilator, the staff plays “Breath.” Mike Smollins contributed to this story.

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

What’s up next door and around the corner

Herald neigHbors

Christina Daly/Herald

Fourth-graders From Wantagh Elementary School compiled their illustrations of appreciation for the Wantagh Fire Department.

Wantagh F.D. gets love from community The Wantagh Fire Department posted photos on April 17 of an appreciation poster sent to them by a fourth-grade class at Wantagh Elementary School. The students showed their adulation for the first responders through a series of drawings and illustrations. All of the students’ drawings were compiled in one large poster and sent to the firefighters. Although the Wantagh Fire Department

stations remain closed for gatherings of firefighters for any other reason than responding to a call, the department vows to display the poster at its training facility for all members to see once the period of social distancing and isolation has concluded. “We are grateful for the support that we receive from so many members of the community,” wrote Wantagh Fire Department public information officer Kevin Regan.

Courtesy Wantagh Fire Department

the poster shoWed the community’s appreciation for their first responders.

Courtesy Wantagh Fire Department

Wantagh Fire department Chief Kelly is holding the appreciation poster, with Second Assistant Chief Lenny Mathewson, from left, Third Assistant Chief Bill Stevens and EMS Captain Stephen Lincke.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

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OBITUARY

Covid claims beloved coach Tony Carter By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Longtime Wantagh High School football assistant coach and Winthrop Hospital healthcare worker Tony Carter died April 14 from complications of Covid-19. Carter, a Uniondale resident who was diagnosed with coronavirus March 30, was 57 years old and leaves behind his wife Yolanda, son Idris, and daughter Sabriyah. Carter, who was Westbury’s head coach for a portion of the 1990s, served as Wantagh’s defensive coordinator for 18 seasons under head coach Keith Sachs and worked in the dialysis unit at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola for more than 30 years. “He was like a brother to me and I’m just heartbroken,” Sachs said. “He loved kids. They loved him. He was just an awesome guy.” Carter, who played football at Uniondale High School, Nassau Community College and the University of New Mexico, was hospitalized two days before testing positive and spent more than a week on a ventilator. For 20 years he battled Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that mostly affects lung function. Sachs said he first met Carter about 25 years ago in a flag football league. They played on different sides for a few years before their friendship led them to become teammates. The Warriors won two county championships with Carter on staff, plus the Long Island Class III title in 2016 over East Islip. That postseason, Wantagh allowed only 14 points in four games under Carter’s

guidance. “Tony was my go-to guy and had a great football mind,” Sachs said. “He always had the right words and vision to keep things in perspective.” For the past four years, Carter found himself coaching against his son, who was Roosevelt’s starting quarterback for the past three seasons. In 2019, Wantagh topped the Rough Riders in the regular-season finale and won an overtime thriller the following week in the opening round of the playoffs. “It’s hard to coach against your own son and find a way to avoid any conflict, and Tony managed to do that for four years,” Sachs said. “He was a man of strong convictions. We played against Idris seven times in four years. After every game, there were plenty of hugs and tears to go around.” Roosevelt football head coach Joe Vito had the pleasure of knowing Carter for about 15 years as Idris played PAL youth football in town. “Tony was a very caring guy,” Vito said. “He impacted many kids in the Roosevelt and Wantagh communities.” Idris is also a standout on the baseball diamond and will play at the next level at Stony Brook University. Elmont football head coach Jay Hegi has known the Carter family for many years, as Idris played summer league baseball with his twin sons, Matt and Ryan. “Tony was a good friend of mine,” Hegi said. “We were closest during the summer because our boys played travel baseball together. He was soft-spoken and always positive. He was a special person, and he’ll be missed.”

JOIN US AS WE SALUTE

COVID-19

HOMETOWN

HEROES APRIL 30

Courtesy Dane Petersen

TONY CarTEr, whO coached football at Wantagh High School for 18 seasons and worked at Winthrop Hospital for more than 30 years, died from Covid-19 complications on April 14.

NOW THERE’S AN EASY WAY FOR YOU TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL HEROES Donate at www.liherald.com/heroes Every dollar donated will be used to provide food & other goods to doctors, nurses, patients and other frontline essential workers in the local community. All food & items will be purchased from locally owned and operated businesses so we can support our business community, too Look for the HERALD HEROES special edition in your mailbox April 30 The Herald and Richner Communications family thank our amazing heroes! 1086961

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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The WanTagh Fire Department responded to a call for downed live wires on Dover Road in Wantagh on April 9.

Take A Walk And Save Lives

Participate in North Shore Animal League America’s virtual walk for a chance to do something positive and active, while raising crucial funds for homeless animals that need your support now more than ever. Walkers can participate anytime, from anywhere. REMEMBER: Be safe and practice social distancing along the way.

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A call for downed wires on Dover Road in Wantagh came through to the Wantagh Fire Department dispatch team on Thursday, April 9. Minutes later, at 2:40 p.m., Chief of Department Ken Kelly arrived at the scene. He reported downed wires draped across a fence and a shed between two houses. This caused a power outage in the immediate area. First Assistant Chief Tom Bloomfield, along with Engines 1, 3 and 8 arrived soon thereafter, along with Ladder 1. Engine 1 hooked up to a hydrant, and the crew stretched a hose line and stood by until the power was cut. Chief Kelly requested PSEG Long Island to respond to shut down the power line in order to extinguish the fire. According to the fire department, PSEG was at the scene to cut the power to the live wires in about 45 minutes. All units were on scene for approximately an hour and no injuries were reported. The department attributed the cause of the downed wires to heavy rain and high winds.

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Fire department responds to live wire

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Photos courtesy Bill VanLee

The WanTagh Fire Department responded to a call for downed live wires on Dover Road in Wantagh on April 9. The department determined that the downed wire was related to harsh weather conditions.

During this epidemic we’re all hurting one way or another. Here at My Own Car Guy, we’re maintaining our lowest pricing possible as well as offering $100 Restaurant gift certificates for any referrals that purchase a car. Please share with friends and family if you hear anyone needs a new car and use this gift towards takeout.

$500,000 IN GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING GRANT

Apply for your share of the $500,000 marketing grant available to assist locally owned businesses.

STUART RICHNER Publisher Herald Community Newspapers

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We are a small business ourselves, so we understand the pain that small business owners are going through right now. We at the Herald want to do our part to make sure that members of our small business community can continue to promote themselves during this trying period.”

Herald Team

WHO For all locally owned and operated small businesses on Long Island that have been negatively impacted by coronavirus.

WHAT A $500,000 grant program to support local small businesses. Each local business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for Herald Community Newspapers print, digital and direct mail products in April through July 15, 2020.

WHERE Apply at www.liherald.com/grant.

WHEN Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2020 or until maximum grant funding has been distributed. Businesses will be contacted within two business days of submitting their application.

WHY Studies show that businesses that continue to market themselves during down times are the ones that fare the best long-term. This grant program will allow Long Island small businesses to continue promoting themselves and any new services they are offering during these unprecedented times.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: • Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on marketing in Herald products will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied towards marketing costs. • Businesses must be locally owned and operated. • Grants range from $300 to $15,000. • Grants can be applied to any Herald Community Newspaper marketing product or service during April through July 15, 2020. • Grants applied to direct mail products are net of postage/mailing costs.

RHONDA GLICKMAN VP Sales

LORI BERGER Sales Manager

rglickman@liherald.com

lberger@liherald.com

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For more information call Rhonda at 516.569.4000 ext. 250

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April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

Herald ScHoolS Morning announcements go Hollywood Wantagh Middle School’s daily virtual announcements were given some celebrity flair recently. Local and regional celebrities lent a helping hand during the week of April 9–17 with the daily announcements streaming through the Wantagh District website. Middle School Principal Anthony Ciuf fo explained that the daily announcements have switched from a live broadcast over the school intercom each morning to a scripted and prerecorded format uploaded onto Google Classroom, YouTube and other social media platforms. This keeps students connected to the school community and informed on all school happenings. This new format also allowed for a few celebrities to get involved. The local and regional celebrities that were involved included New York Mets announcer and Howard Cosell’s grandson Colin Cosell, Broadway production “Frozen” cast member Ben Bogen, former music teacher and Sir Cadian Rhythym band member Matthew Carlin, News12 reporter Erin Colton, TikTok persona Jake Miller, “The Sopranos” actor Joe Gannascoli, “Impractical Jokers” actor James “Murr” Murray and New Jersey Devils hockey team player Kyle Palmieri. Additionally, the school incorporated “Thank a Front Liner Week,” applauding members of the Wantagh community who have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Those include healthcare workers, first responders, military members and essential business operators.

Courtesy Wantagh Schools

durINg the morNINg announcements, the middle school paid tribute to those workers on the front lines. James “murr” murray of “Impractical Jokers” made a special guest appearance in one of the school’s recent virtual morning announcements.

Courtesy Wantagh Schools

New12 LoNg IsLaNd reporter Erin Colton delivered Wantagh Middle School’s morning announcements to students during the week of spring break.

Courtesy Tru TV

Have a great school story? Call our editors today 516-569-4000 or email tdenton@liherald.com

www.liherald.com

April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Photos courtesy Steve Rhoads

Jack FriedFertig, middle, helped Councilman Christopher Carini, left, and Legislator Steve Rhoads during the most recent Personal Protective Equipment Drive.

Boy Scout’s big brain aids collection drive Inclement weather did not stop ingenuity on last Saturday as Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads and Town of Hempstead Councilman Christopher Carini hosted another Personal Protective Equipment Drive at Wantagh Park, with the aid of a local Boy Scout with a knack for creation. Jack Friedfertig is a member of Wantagh Boy Scout Troop 96. Applying his affinity for technology, Friedfertig used a 3-D printer and a template designed by another Boy Scout in Canada to create homemade clasps for surgical masks, to keep them tight and secure. The clasps allow medical workers, who wear the masks for extended periods, to alleviate the discomfort of wearing them around their ears. The Boy Scout hand delivered the bags of clasps to Rhoads and Carini,. They are being donated to medical facilities across Nassau County to help healthcare workers stay safe — and comfortable.

FriedFertig’s knack For creation has directly aided the county’s healthcare workers. the clasps are to be used by healthcare professionals across Nassau County. the boy scout used a 3-D printer to create clasps to hold a surgical mask in the proper place and alleviate discomfort. the design For the clasps came from a template created by a Boy Scout in Canada.

Nassau County is child care desert: official

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

By TimoThy DenTon tdenton@liherald.com

Much of Nassau County is a child care desert, resulting in billions in lost revenue, according to a study released on Friday by Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman. The lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus has highlighted the issue, showing that many Nassau County families depend on schools to provide daycare for their older children. Care for younger children, however, has always been a challenge for many families. “Nassau County is a patchwork, varying widely from district to district,” Schnirman wrote in the study. “Despite nearly $9 billion in public school tax levies, only 10 percent of 4-year-olds have access to publicly funded pre-K programs, compared to universal access in New York City,” Schnirman wrote in the report. Both Seaford and Wantagh are considered child care deserts — any census tract where more than 50 children are without providers, or where providers are so scarce that they are able to serve less than one-third of the total need, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 60 percent of New York State is considered a child care desert. Nassau County has a total of about 43,650 pre-K places, where more than 138,000 are needed, the study found, with minority and low-income families having the least access to pre-K programs. Averaging more than $15,000 per year, infant care represents about 12 percent of a median family’s income of $116,300. For a family earning $52,400, or 200 percent of the official federal poverty level for a family of four, infant care for one child represents nearly 29 percent of the family’s pretax income. According to the Census Bureau, “c=Child care is critical. It either propels or stalls the local economy.” Locally, “child care has one of the highest economic multipliers, with a return of $1.95 for every dollar invested,” Schnirman wrote. Of those who work part-time, lack of child care is

Herald file photo

nassau CounTy shows a wide disparity in access to affordable child care. the most commonly cited reason for not accepting fulltime work. Women make up 94 percent of the involuntary part-time workforce, due to child care concerns, Schnirman wrote, and 46 percent of Nassau County

families have no reliable child care. Child care is an $800 million industry on Long Island, employing roughly 9,000 workers.

Belmont Park delays horseracing season The opening of the Belmont Park’s spring-summer horseracing season will be delayed because of the Covid19 pandemic from April 24 to June 6, when the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes is to take place, said New York Racing Association officials last week. The date of the Belmont Stakes is subject to change, however. “The Belmont Stakes is a New York institution and American tradition,” NYRA CEO and President Dave O’Rourke said. “We are committed to running the race in 2020 and aim to deliver an announcement in the very near future.” The racing season normally runs 51 days. “We are working closely with the New York State Gaming Commission and public health officials to determine a timeline for the resumption of live racing at Belmont Park,” O’Rourke said. “The

health and safety of our racing community is paramount, and any decisions or necessary adjustments to the racing schedule and operations must reflect that priority. I’d like to thank New York’s horsemen and the backstretch community for their dedication and patience as we navigate these uncertain times together.” The Belmont backstretch, which is home to 585 workers who tend to the essential daily care of the more than 1,300 thoroughbreds stabled there, has remained open to the horses’ caregivers and operational for training. Owners are not permitted access to the backstretch until further notice. NYRA posted coronavirusrelated signs in English and Spanish across the backstretch, noting key information about social distancing and hand washing, and a hotline to call for workers feeling the onset of symptoms.

Herald file photo

BelmonT Park’s sPring/summer meet will not open April 24 as originally scheduled.

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things can become so complicated? On one hand, your mother simply changed her mind and didn’t have the porch built, and on the other hand, the building department simply wants paperwork from you that seems simple enough to get but isn’t that easy. I’m concerned that none of the children was given authority to act on your mother’s behalf, and you should seek an attorney to resolve the matters of her estate. As for the voiding of the permit, building departments are run by human beings with a heart, and you should write a letter so there’s a document on record explaining the situation. Sign it in front of a notary, and arrange to meet with a senior official before having more discussions with the building inspector. The premises will still need inspecting, to verify the work was never done. To prove the home has no more issues with permits required, to satisfy the bank and the buyer, a new building department search sheet should be requested, showing no open permits. The biggest problem is time, and this isn’t a real situation. In most cases it’s a made-up bank or buyer timeline, because your closing is dependent on another closing, and so on and so on. Because the search and a site review weren’t done early in the sales process, and because most people don’t really believe you need a permit to make changes to a home, great sleepless stress sets in and everyone is pointing fingers. It’s not unusual to get calls from people who need an ambulance architect — you know, the ones with the rotating light on the roof of their car and the siren blaring as they race to your home to start the process of satisfying the bank, their lawyers, etc. We see it all the time, and it’s avoidable if the seller calls an architect to check the home code compliance against recorded permit plans well before the sale has begun. Good luck.

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s the nation emerges from the coronavirus lockdown and begins to return to a semblance of normalcy, many of our cherished institutions will face some harsh realities. Nowhere will this dose of reality be starker than for America’s colleges and universities. While our public school system will go through some wrenching times as it comes back to life, K-12 parents and students will not face the prospect of crushing debt and soaring costs that have been inflicted on consumers of Alfonse higher education. d’AMAto College students, in contrast, will return to campuses not only having missed most of a semester of classes; they will also struggle with exorbitantly high costs that will financially burden many of them for the rest of their lives. How did we come to this sad turn of events, in which college degrees that should create a pathway to opportunity and prosperity instead present a long road of debt and possible financial ruin? Today, tuition and costs at some private colleges hovers in the range of $50,000 to $70,000

per year. College grads carry debt that can run from tens of thousands of dollars for undergraduate degrees to over $100,000 for post-graduate degrees. As they struggle to cover this debt, buying a home often becomes a distant dream. Even buying a new car often gives way to making the monthly college debt payment. Total college student debt today exceeds $1.5 trillion. With the added burden of the current financial crisis, much of this debt is unsupportable. Student loan defaults on a large scale are likely unavoidable. And while the just-passed national financial rescue legislation provides some relief by postponing debt payment and interest for a time, the overall financial burden will remain. Predictably, some in Washington are calling for forgiving much, if not all, college debt. But like the other emergency financial measures passed by Congress, such relief couldn’t go on indefinitely. Future college students will continue to face high costs and mountainous loans. The cycle of debt and default will continue to loom on the financial horizon. The leaders of our higher education system have a moral obligation to break this vicious cycle. Just as the Federal Reserve system has taken extraordinary

measures to shore up the nation’s finances, colleges and universities should also take emergency action to ease the financial burden on their students. College administrators shouldn’t cry hardship and shirk from this responsibility. Nationwide, colleges are sitting on endowments of well over half a trillion dollars, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. They should seriously consider making these funds available to students to help pay down their current loans and reduce future tuition costs. If the Fed can tap into the national treasury for “quantitative easing” to lessen strains on our national economy, higher education treasuries can likewise tap into their great wealth to help ease their students’ money crisis. And going forward, it’s long past time for colleges and universities to get real about not just containing, but lowering their stratospheric spending. Too many campuses have become islands of extravagance and excess amid a sea of hardship in their surrounding communities. In just one glaring example here in New York, a college president makes $5.1 million a year, 35 times what the school’s professors make, on average, and equal to the tuitions of 99 students, according to the Chronicle

an’t colleges use their vast endowments to help students pay down debt?

of Higher Education. Yet the community in which the school is located is one of New York’s poorest, with finances so precarious that it hovers near bankruptcy. In that town, as in so many others, the college is literally the shining, distant fortress on the hill with the surrounding town languishing below. This college, and others like it, should take a hard look at themselves. Every expense should be examined, every bit of excess wrung out. The goal should be to reduce tuition and keep costs manageable over students’ academic careers. In the future, public policy in Washington and Albany must be to stop rewarding higher education’s financial excesses and incentivize affordability instead. Federal and state aid should increase only for schools that bring their costs down. That means fewer top-heavy college administrators tripping over each other, more professors teaching more than only 10 or 12 hours a week, and fewer extravagant campus building sprees. When students return to college this fall, they’ll return to a world changed by nature and hard times. If colleges want students to succeed, it’s time for them to lead. Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column? ADAmato@liherald.com.

A loving tribute to my irreplaceable elders

y aunt Sylvia Gentile Brownstein died April 11 in a nursing home in New Jersey, of Covid-19. She was 97 years old, and lived in a room at the facility with her husband of 74 years, Murray Brownstein. He was my mother’s older brother. The last time I saw him was seven years ago, when I visited him in Florida, and he insisted we go to a pub nearby because they were serving free ice cream to World War II veterans. A proud Navy vet who lied about his age to get into the service when he was 16, Uncle MurRAndi ray served on a kReiss minesweeper in the Pacific. Aunt Sylvia died alone, because Uncle Murray had become sick and unable to comfort her. Before the pandemic, which precluded visitors, they were cared for by their daughter, my cousin, who has shepherded them through these last difficult years. But only the ending was sad. Murray met Sylvia in Brooklyn just after the war. He fell in love, and defied

his Jewish family by marrying an Italian Catholic girl. Smart guy. She was a gem, loving and mildly crazy, so she fit right in, seeing as how everyone in our anxious, highly emotive clan is a notch off plumb. When I was a kid, Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray lived in Valley Stream and we lived in Cedarhurst, so the visits were frequent. Murray was a Garment District wheeler and dealer who won big and lost big over the years. Aunt Sylvia was a homemaker extraordinaire. She cleaned that house until it sparkled, every single day. And she was an outstanding cook. Her specialty was Italian food, and an invitation to their table was a gift. When she hosted Thanksgiving, the meal started with homemade minestrone, and was followed by eggplant parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs and veal cutlet parmesan. I don’t recall seeing anything green, as in a string bean, on the table. The last entry was the turkey, an afterthought, a gesture to the new world, fully dressed but largely ignored because we were all so stuffed from the Italian feast. I confess, I didn’t know Aunt Sylvia as

a woman. I have no idea what her dreams or joys or disappointments were. I do know she raised her kid sister, Madelaine, when their mother died very young. Madelaine joined Murray and Sylvia’s family, big sister to their own two kids. I wish I had gotten to know Aunt Syl better, but in those days, people kept to their roles: She was the elder aunt and I was the young niece. Uncle Murray was difficult, but she would never talk about anything as personal as her marriage. She had a twin sister, Anna, and I suspect that that was her most emotionally intimate relationship. They had a brother, too, Johnny, who went to the Naval Academy and was the pride of the family. Every Christmas of my childhood, we went to Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray’s for an event that was part celebration and part child abuse. As dinner drew to a close, we would hear someone stomping up the basement steps and the loud jingling of bells. Eight little kids immediately dived under the dinner table and began screaming, which sent the adults into fits of laughter. Not normal, right?

ndelible memories of holidays and birthdays with Aunt Syl and Uncle Murray.

The stomping came closer, our screaming got louder, and suddenly Santa burst through the basement door. We kids were traumatized. He was a terror in his wild white wig and garish Santa mask. None of us noticed that Uncle Murray had disappeared from the dinner table some time earlier. This intruder was the Santa from hell, and we were scared out of our socks. The elders, however, were greatly entertained, and so this became a cherished tradition, and we did it every year. I think I was finishing my junior year in college when I realized that Uncle Murray was Santa Claus. All of our childhood birthdays were occasions for big parties. Aunt Syl and the other aunts and uncles would raise a glass or three, and before long the women were dancing on the table and the men were telling stories about the war and the old Brooklyn neighborhood. It was a rich experience for a little kid who was all eyes and ears. I don’t know if Aunt Syl was a religious woman, but wherever she went, she wasn’t alone for long. The day after she passed, Uncle Murray died. He was 98. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

For American higher education, it’s time to lead

Herald editorial

Wantagh Wantagh

HERALD HERALD April 23, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Citizen

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ cliFFoRD RichneR STUART RichneR Publishers michAel boloGnA Vice President - Operations ■ ScoTT bRinTon Executive Edtitor Jim hARmon

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Small businesses need more federal help

et’s not mince words: The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, which was supposed to hurry loans to small businesses so they can make payroll and stay afloat, has been troubled from the start. With $349 billion in its coffers, the program, administered by the Small Business Administration, ran out of money last Thursday, leaving tens of millions of employers in the lurch, wondering whether they will be able to meet payroll at a time when so many small businesses are limping along because of the coronavirus pandemic. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Main Street America, employing 48 percent of our national workforce. In total, there are 28 million small businesses across the U.S., according to Forbes. They desperately need — and deserve — better, particularly in the hardest-hit regions like the Northeast. According to a CBS News analysis of SBA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, New York, which has by far the greatest number of cases of Covid-19 of any state, was fourth on the list of states to receive PPP loans. Meanwhile, businesses in Texas received more such loans than any other state, even though the Lone Star State has the 10th-largest Covid-19 caseload

in the U.S. Apparently, Texas processed loans faster than New York, as the money went from the federal government to banks on a firstcome, first-served basis, creating a race for funding. But that was unfair, because in places where need was greatest, like New York, businesses were struggling most to run their daily operations, and so were hamstrung in their ability to file for loans. The federal government should have set a date by which all loan applications were due, and then divided the money thereafter based on need. At the same time, some very big businesses received loans under the program. The owner of the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain nabbed a $20 million loan, despite having more than 5,000 employees and $468 million in revenue last year. The PPP was supposed to have been limited to businesses with fewer than 500 employees, but Congress included an exception for hotels and restaurants. Most big-name chains did not apply for PPP loans, but others, including Potbelly, Kura Sushi and Shake Shack, did. (Shake Shack announced Sunday night that it would return its $10 million loan, citing confusion over the program’s regulations and

saying that other businesses needed the money more than it did.) There were other problems with the program. Big banks, for example, lent money to their own customers first, and then to others. Many required borrowers to already have an established line of credit with the bank to receive a PPP loan. The thing is, this was a federal government program, and no loan applicant should have received preferential treatment. At press time, Congress was negotiating a $300 billion extension of the program, which would bring the total expenditure to $649 billion. One Forbes analysis, however, estimated the PPP really needs as much as $850 billion to fully fund all of the small businesses now in dire need. We commend Congress for making money available to small businesses quickly. Sadly, however, the program has become another of many political footballs amid the coronavirus crisis. What’s lacking is national leadership. President Trump and Congress should be united in their desire to aid small businesses — now, not later. If the federal government doesn’t act fast, with one voice, our downtowns could soon become ghost towns, and that would be terrible for us all.

Thanks for all you’ve done, Governor Cuomo

e have offered high praise to our first responders and medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, and no doubt, they deserve every bit of it. Check out our story this week on Elyse Isopo, a North Shore University Hospital Intensive Care Unit nurse practitioner. Her determination to save lives is evident in her every word, and her fear of spreading Covid-19 to her family at her home is palpable. Good people like her are truly heroes.

We must also acknowledge a hero of a different sort: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who, despite finding himself in the epicenter of this unfolding international disaster, has provided levelheaded, science-based leadership that has served as a model for governors across the U.S. Cuomo quickly realized the magnitude of the pandemic and acted decisively, without political rancor. He has been careful not to mix up it with President Trump, even when the president appeared to be spoiling for a political fight with him last week.

letters The hypocrisy of stimulus checks To the Editor: All conservatives and Republicans across the country should return their federal relief checks so they do not become “unproductive, lazy welfare recipients” who are accepting “government handouts” and “something for nothing” — “parasites” who are being “subsidized” by the federal government.

It would be hypocritical for conservatives and Republicans to accept help from the federal government when they constantly oppose such assistance for the middle and lower classes who truly need it, and whom they look down their noses at. Now, many of them are in the shoes of those in need. Our allies in Western Europe and Canada have federal governments that do more to help their people than ours does. To quote Al Pacino in “And Justice for All”: “I have now concluded

Cuomo has not used this crisis to further his own brand. Rather, he has acted in the best interests of all New Yorkers, and this week we are seeing the results of his actions. The Covid-19 death toll is, as predicted, beginning to drop, as are the new hospitalization rate, the ICU admissions rate and the number of new ventilator intubations. Governor, thank you. We will surely need your steady guiding hand in the weeks, months and years ahead as New York recovers from this unexpected catastrophe.

oPinions

rime Minister Winston Churchill offered those words as he led Great Britain during World War II, when citizens became accustomed to nightly bombings by the Nazis. We are in the midst of a different kind of war, against an invisible enemy known as Covid-19. And when people ask me when this grim period is going to end, unfortunately, the answer is that we don’t know. But as we in the Town of Hempstead continue to follow federal and state mitigation measures, such as social distancing, Don we appear to be CLaVin “flattening the curve.” By staying at home, you are doing your part to fight the spread of this virus. Those who have “essential” jobs, however, do not have that option. Indeed, those people are integral to winning the war on the coronavirus. Please be mindful of the rules and stay safe. At Town Hall, we have implemented a social media campaign urging residents

to practice social distancing and proper handwashing, and to wear masks and gloves. We are also providing information on sanitizing techniques. We proactively closed facilities to the public, including town offices and certain parks and public gathering spots. I’ve been working daily with my Town Board colleagues and our Coronavirus Task Force, led by Town Medical Director Dr. Dave Neubert, to make decisions that best promote public health. We’re also in constant contact with village officials, coordinating best practices and monitoring updates from state and local health officials. Rest assured, our dedicated CSEA Local 880 team of coworkers are working hard every day to serve residents and provide essential services safely. The town Building Department is still accepting paperwork via a drop box at Town Hall, sanitation workers are continuing to pick up garbage throughout our township, and many other departments are conducting day-to-day business on behalf of our residents. We encourage neighbors to contact the town via our

hurchill’s words ring true for Town of Hempstead residents in a difficult time.

Letters my opening statement.” STEWART B. EPSTEIN Rochester, N.Y. Epstein is a retired college professor who lived in North Bellmore from 1960 to 1972. He graduated from Mepham High School in 1968 and Hofstra University in 1972.

It’s a good time for bird watching To the Editor: Why not bequeath a lifelong appreciation for bird watching to the next generation? We teach our children wood shop, pottery and contemptible games like dodgeball, but bird watching can give them a greater appreciation for our threatened environment. I’ve done the math, and it would only cost each taxpayer $10 to send every sixth-grader to the Cor nell School of Ornithology for two weeks. There, eminent cultural historians and acclaimed or nitholo gists would instruct them on bird-centric environmental discrimination and inculcate a profound respect and admiration for the avian world. When you consider the frivolities our town spends money on, this would be money well spent. Now well into my retirement, I still derive tremendous satisfaction from spotting the odd hummingbird on my afternoon walk. There is a comforting

public hotline, (516) 812-3600, to set up phone appointments with some of our departments. Other departments can be accessed via email. Please visit hempsteadtownny.gov for updates and how you can connect to town services. You can also call our Helpline, (516) 489-6000, from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance. We are doing everything in our power to make life a little easier for residents of America’s largest township during this difficult time. We waived all late fees and penalties for town water customers, and we’ve called on New York state to extend the second-half school tax payment deadline by 30 days, to June 11. And in preparation for getting people back to work in the near future, the town adopted a $40 million economic stimulus plan to undertake road improvements across our communities. I encourage you to join us for our series of Facebook Live sessions. Along with Dr. Neubert, a certified Emergency Department physician, and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, a former fire chief

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 23, 2020

‘Nourish your hopes, but do not overlook realities’

and NYPD detective, we answer many of your questions and concerns about Covid-19. Our next session is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. Please check our Facebook page, @HempsteadTown, for ished i realitie future Facebook Live sessions and for be star town updates. I thank all of our first responders as univer Whi well the front-line workers in the fields of health care, law enforcement, government, media, public transportation, grocery, pharmacy, postal, delivery, food service and so many more. I also commend Dr. Dave Neubert and the town’s emergency management team for their continued work and dedication to the town work force, as well as to our residents. And I offer my condolences to all of the families who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. Let’s keep them all in our thoughts as we continue to do our part to stop the spread. Working together, we will continue to loosen the grip of Covid-19, from both a health and economic perspective. Please es not o semest be safe and healthy, and know that the Town of Hempstead is here for you dur- with ex financi ing this challenging time. rest of How Don Clavin is the Town of Hempstead events, supervisor. should and pr of debt tuition hovers

Framework by Christina Daly

sense of accomplishment in knowing that you can see what others cannot. Why deprive the next generation of this feeling of intellectual triumph? The beauty of birds is all around us, and once you learn more about them, your experiences with nature become so much richer. During this lockdown, I have noticed our ecosystem responding positively to reduced human inference, and more exotic birds flying out and about. What joy.

and liv her hu stein. H The las ago, wh

ALWYN STANHOPE Bellmore

MTA ‘lock box’ isn’t really locked To the Editor: Governor Cuomo recently included in the approved state budget a provision that amends the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $15 billion Congestion Toll Mitigation Revenue “lock box.” This provision was originally included to ensure that all proceeds would be used to help fund the MTA’s $51 billion 2020-24 Five-Year Capital Plan. Now these funds can instead be used against any future deficits in the MTA’s annual $17 billion operating expense budget. Language buried in the state budget also allows $10 billion in real estate mansion and internet sales tax revenue to be used for operations rather

At Sagamore Hill, one captivating reason to get out of the house — Oyster Bay

than capital expenses. Combined, these total $25 billion of the $51 billion Capital Plan funding. Cuomo has become the great train robber of capital transit funding. He has taken billions of this funding. His picture should be hung on a wanted poster at commuter and subway stations. Commuters can collect their reward by not electing him to

another term in 2022.

died al becom LARRY PENNER Before Great Neck visitor Penner is a transportation historian, writer daught ed them and advocate who worked for the Federal But Transit Administration Region 2 New York Mur Office for 31 years. after th

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April 23, 2020 â€” HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS