_________________ WANTAGH ________________
CoMMuNItY uPDAtE Infections as of April 26
2,373
Infections as of April 19 2,345
$1.00
HERALD
Environmental bond reinstated
Woman struck by truck in Wantagh
MacArthur has a successful season
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Vol. 69 No. 18
APRIl 29 - MAY 5, 2021
Making friends through food Seaford man’s Facebook group got cooking thanks to pandemic ‘Why don’t we start a Facebook page, because we can’t be the only ones doing this.’ And that’s A Facebook page titled “Quar- how we started it.” antine Cook Off ” not only sets What began as a Facebook stomachs rumbling, but also group with about 500 members builds friendships. has grown to about From Wantagh 8,500. Some say the and Seaford to as far group has kept them afield as Jupiter, sane at a time when F la., and Kansas many people are City, strangers are seeking personal sharing what they’re connection as well making for breakas a fun and a profast, lunch and dinductive way to pass ner. It’s a communithe time. ty of food lovers that “Honestly, I am so has led to contests, grateful to be a part friendships and of this group,” Seapotential potlucks ford resident Jackie (once it’s safer to Jo said. “It certainly hold them). played a huge part in The cooking keeping my cooking craze was started by MElIssA ANN mojo going during Seaford father and AlEssI the most difficult son Vincent and Vintimes.” cenzo Casha at the Wantagh resident Melissa Ann beginning of the Alessi, a member p a n d e m i c, wh e n from Wantagh, said that “Quarthere were many uncertainties antine Cook Off ” is her “all-time about the future. Vincent was favorite Facebook g roup.” laid off from his construction “There is zero drama,” she said. job, and there was a Covid-19 “I have met tons of new people, case in the house. and some I can call my friends. “We were cooking nonstop I’ve tried so many new dishes and I was bored, because I’m that I’ve always wanted to try as used to being on the run,” Vincent said. “I said [to my son], Continued on page 3
By JENNIfER CoRR jcorr@liherald.com
I
Brian Stieglitz/Herald
thE WANtAgh WEllNEss Project hosted its first 5K last Saturday at Wantagh Elementary School. Above, Joe DiVico, left, and Marc Turner, both of Merrick and members of the North Merrick Runners.
New start for a worthy project Wantagh couple promote healthy lifestyles By BRIAN stIEglItZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
About three dozen people met at Wantagh Elementary School early last Saturday morning for the first 5K run of the Wantagh Wellness Project, a community group dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices among neighbors. The war m spring sun shone down on the runners as they made their way through Wantagh’s side streets before
circling back to the elementary school parking lot. Wantagh Wellness Project founder Kyle Lennon, 40 finished in 22 minutes, neck and neck with Chris Jacobi, 40, his close friend from Merrick and a member of the North Merrick Runners. “That was faster than I planned on running,” Jacobi said with a laugh as they reached the school, to which Lennon replied, “My bad.” Lennon and his wife, Ilene, launched the Wantagh Well-
ness Project in January 2020, planning to host a variety of community events, but didn’t have much of an opportunity before the coronavirus pandemic swept across the country. Over the past year, however, they have managed the project as a Facebook group whose members share healthy recipes, exercise routines and other tips. “We try to show what a healthy lifestyle looks like,” Continued on page 3
’ve tried so many new dishes that I’ve always wanted to try as well as new ones I didn’t know existed.