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Seniors hope to have one more go in ’21 Standouts deal with recruiting while hoping for H.S. season cate that season. “We didn’t do as well as we wanted to last year,” Van Emily Van O’Linda, Vincenzo O’Linda said. “Sophomore year Buffalino and Jake Schneider, we had won [the state championsenior student athletes at Want- ship], and maybe we had a agh, Seaford and General Doug- weight on our shoulders when las MacArthur high schools, we went into the [county tournare sp ect ively, are ment], where we lost faced with the possiin the semifinals. We bility that they may felt like this season have competed in would be a proving their final high ground once again.” school events last Volleyball, along year. While some with most other fall sports are more likesports, is tentatively ly to have a conscheduled to start on densed 2021 season March 1 in Nassau than others in the EmIly VAn County, after being winter and spring, postponed because all three athletic o’lInDA of the coronavirus standouts still hold pandemic. As of out hope to play at the collegiate press time, Section VIII of the level next year. New York State Public High Van O’Linda has been a lead- School Athletic Association was er of the Warriors girls’ volley- standing by its plan to schedule a ball team since she was an regular season’s worth of games underclassman. In November in a more condensed time peri2018, as a sophomore, she played od. a key role in an astounding Class Van O’Linda said that what A state championship run by the she has missed most are daily Warriors. And the team’s focus practices with her friends and last year, she said, was to repliContinued on page 3

By J.D. FREDA

jfreda@liherald.com

Courtesy Long Island Health & Racquet

loCAl GymS AnD fitness clubs around the greater Wantagh-Seaford area prepare for an unprecedented winter season in which keeping members safe and healthy is the primary objective.

Fitness centers prepare for an atypical winter season

How locals can avoid a fitness freeze at home By DEREK FuttERmAn Local gyms have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but despite the steadily rising number of Covid-19 cases, fitness center owners and managers have done their best to remain optimistic, assuring the community that their facilities have not, and will not, become hot spots for

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spreading the virus. Richard Schutt, the general manager of Long Island Health and Racquet, in Wantagh, pledges to “take care of the members” for as long as he is employed. “I started coming here when I was 5 years old,” Schutt said. “The members’ health and safety comes first to me, and I’ll do whatever it

takes to keep them healthy and happy.” Covid-19 has proven to be highly contagious, but gym owners are following state and federal guidelines, making sure patrons wear masks and keep their distance from one another, and frequently disinfecting equipment and other surfaces. Continued on page 15

t’s definitely harder for the recruiting process.

December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

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continued from front page teammates. Speaking with the Herald last Friday, she said she had told herself not to look too far ahead, and that she was just hoping for the best. But college volleyball, she hopes, is a major part of her future. “Its definitely harder for the recruiting process,” she said of the pandemic’s effects, because college recruiters and coaches now must rely on game tapes — and Van O’Linda’s homemade highlight mixes. “They can’t see the way I react to things as well through tape,” she said. “When I huddle with my teammates and the way I take charge when I have to and take responsibility, that’s something you see more in a live game.” Like Van O’Linda, Seaford’s Vincenzo Buffalino is preparing both mentally and physically for his anticipated senior season of soccer. He has set both high individual and team goals for the shorter schedule. “Individually, I want to be the leading goal or point scorer for my team, as well as always being there for my teammates on and off the field,” Buffalino said. “We want to be better than last year, and make it farther in the playoffs. Seaford isn’t really known for its soccer team, but we want to prove our worth.” Buffalino has been infatuated with the game since he was 4, he said. He trains year-round, but he acknowledged that this year presented many more challenges than years past. With gyms closed in early summer and group training harder to come by, he had to focus on individual work. He said he hoped to be fully prepared for a season in which he may have fewer recovery days than ever before. “Usually we would play two games a week, and that would be tough,” he said. “Now, with the condensed schedule, we might have to play three and maybe even four a week.” Buffalino said he was more focused on getting back on the field than making a deep run in the playoffs, because even if the season starts without problems, he said, finishing it is no guarantee. In late November, he was feeling less stress after committing to play soccer at St. Joseph’s College, in Patchogue, at the Division III level. He commiserated with Van

Brian Ballweg/Herald

The WanTagh Warriors volleyball squad captured a state championship in 2018. O’Linda, saying that recruiting was surely more difficult during the pandemic. The final season of MacArthur senior Jake Schneider’s high school wrestling career, however, doesn’t look promising. Nassau County has postponed wrestling indefinitely, though Schneider’s focus on the sport hasn’t wavered. He practices every day on wrestling mats set up in his home with his older brother, Steven, who was also a standout wrestler at MacArthur, and went on to compete at SUNY Binghamton. Jake said that training with Steven has been his “most important asset” this year. Schneider finished fifth in the 132pound weight class at the state championships in Albany in February. Two weeks later, at a team dinner, he said, the team

found out collectively that school was closing indefinitely. “Looking back on being on the podium now, if I knew it would be the last time I would wrestle in high school, I would have taken it all in a lot more,” Schneider said. “It’s heartbreaking.” He usually trains at former Russian Olympian Vougar Oroudjov’s wrestling school in Syosset with other top-notch high school competitors, or with fourtime NCAA All-American and current UFC fighter Gregor Gillespie, in Bellmore. Now, Schneider said, he is working even harder than he typically would in preparation for a season. Even if this one is canceled, he said, his goal is to become

an All-American at the 31st Annual High School National Championships in Virginia Beach next summer, representing Oroudjov’s academy. But Schneider, like Van O’Linda, is still looking to sign a letter of intent with the right college. He said that the pandemic has influenced him to lean more toward a school close to home, preferably in the tristate area, he said. Van O’Linda said she, too, was looking mostly at schools in New York state. “Sports are a huge way of releasing stress for us,” Van O’Linda said, “and I’ve realized you can’t take any of it for granted, because you never know when you’ve played your last [match].” Courtesy Jake Schneider

MacarThur’s Jake schneider is fielding offers from numerous colleges while holding out some hope that his senior wrestling season isn’t canceled.

Courtesy Vincenzo Buffalino

seaford senior Vincenzo Buffalino, left, has set lofty goals for himself in 2021’s tentative condensed soccer season.

December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

Courtesy Jack Healy

WAntAgh AnD SEAFoRD residents reported odor complaints to the Cedar Creek Wastewater Facility in Cedar Creek Park on Thanksgiving weekend.

Despite complaints, wastewater plant finds no issues

THAT’S A WRAP!

By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com

Season 1 of Herald Inside LI

In August, Herald Community Newspapers launched a weekly webinar series called Herald Inside LI. Each episode of Herald Inside LI welcomed community leaders to discuss a range of topics and analyzed how industries and roles have changed during the pandemic. As we close out the year, we’d like to extend a THANK YOU to our sponsors, panelists and listeners.

HERE’S WHAT WE BROUGHT YOU THIS YEAR: AUGUST 12: K-12 Education: Back to School AUGUST 21: Higher Education: Back to School SEPTEMBER 3: LI Housing Market, Buy or Sell? SEPTEMBER 9: Lockwood College Prep Virtual Event SEPTEMBER 17: K-12 Education Update SEPTEMBER 23: A Fall Without Sports OCTOBER 8: Home Buying 101 OCTOBER 14: Health + Wealth Virtual Event OCTOBER 15: Pink Power: Breast Cancer Awareness OCTOBER 21: Next Steps in Nassau: An Update from Elected Officials OCTOBER 29: Economic Development NOVEMBER 10: Coping for Kids: Mental Health Awareness NOVEMBER 12: Not-for-Profit Summit NOVEMBER 19: Applying to College DECEMBER 3: Power of 5G Part I DECEMBER 10: Power of 5G Part II

On Thanksgiving night last month, residents along the southern coast of Wantagh and Seaford surrounding Cedar Creek Park may have smelled something other than turkey. Numerous residents took to Facebook and posted in various community groups about a possible foul odor lingering in the air. Some pointed the possible source to be nearby Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in Cedar Creek Park in Wantagh, which has received complaints for malodorous stenches emanating from the building as recent as late 2019. Lauren Sternberg, Communications Manager at Suez Water, which holds the contract to operate the facility through 2035, confir med that the company received numerous complaints in the days following Thanksgiving. “We did receive complaints for ‘nuisance odors’ that are not harmful and the complaints arrived mostly on Thanksgiving weekend,” Sternberg said. “We take these complaints very seriously.” Sternberg said that Suez supervisors at the plant scoured the building for any tanks that could possibly have been left uncovered for too long. She contends that,

Wantagh

Missed an episode or want to re-watch? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all past episodes at LIHerald.com/Recordings. The first episode of Season 2 airs Thursday, January 7* at 10am to discuss the spike in prospective college students opting to stay local, rather than leave the area for their higher education. To sign up, go to LIHerald.com/StayingLocal.

To sponsor a webinar or for more information RICHNER contact Amy Amato at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x 224

1113466

*subject to late-breaking news

HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/wantagh ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: wantagheditor@liherald.com

Do you have an idea for a webinar? Email us at insideli@liherald.com

after supervisors used devices to read the levels of gasses in the air, they could not determine definitively that the odors were caused by any errors made in the plant. “I drove to the addresses of [community members who complained] to see what the readings were there,” Sternberg said. “They showed different concentrations of gas, but they all came back very low.” She also claims that not one worker at the plant reported any excess levels of odors. Sternberg herself drove to the address of a Seaford resident that filed a complaint, and said by the time she had gotten there, she took a reading but “didn’t smell any odor.” “I very much understand foul odors are unpleasant,” she said. “But the general manager, officers have all walked the plant. We opened up the effluent channels and there was no buildup.” Last year, in response to many of the complaints posed by Wantagh and Seaford residents, the plant imposed the NOSE (No Odors for Suez Environments) system. Many of the plant’s doors were equipped with sensors that trigger an alarm if left open too long. Sternberg said that no alarms were triggered during Thanksgiving week that would relate to a breach of odors.

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Bringing local sports home every week

Herald sports Nassau H.S. football approves 6 games By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Nassau County high school football, slated to begin practice March 1 of 2021, announced it will play six regular-season games, down from the standard eight, and also eliminate scrimmages and one round of playoffs. In addition, no Long Island championships will be played against Suffolk County, which will conduct only five regularseason games. “We’re preparing for the season as if it’s going to happen and will have some things to address such as transportation and spectators as we get closer to March,” said Nassau football coordinator Matt McLees, who noted the decision to pass on the LICs was made with all 50 programs in mind. “We like the model we’re using,” he added. “It was most important to play six meaningful regular-season games above all else. With the power rankings we use, at least six games are necessary.” Playing six games, as opposed to five, also gives each team three home games and three road games, instead of an unbalanced schedule, McLees explained. “The football committee deserves a lot of credit for the effort they put in,” he said. “In the end, all the decisions will benefit hundreds and hundreds of kids.” The season is scheduled to kick off Saturday, March 13, though McLees said some games could be played on the 12th if teams wanted to give up a day of practice. Freeport (Conference I), Garden City (II), Plainedge (III) and Seaford (IV) are the defending county champions. Freeport, which has captured back-to-back Long Island Class I titles, is the only one of the four not seeded No. 1 after losing some key contributors who transferred out of state to play this fall. Oceanside is the top seed in Conference I and will open on the road against Farmingdale. “I think the six games is good,” Oceanside head coach Rob Blount said. “It appeals to the majority of schools, rather than catering to the top of each conference with more playoff games. I hope we can get the season in. A small percentage of kids will continue to play in college, but most will play their last games. It’s something they will cherish for the rest of their lives.” Garden City, which has won four straight county crowns, opens at Carey. MacArthur, the 2019 runners-up in Conference II, is seeded second and will take on South Side in the opener. Other local matchups in Week 1 include Calhoun at Mepham, Valley Stream Central at Long Beach, and Kennedy at Elmont. “It’s always fun lining up against one of the other teams in our district,” Mepham head coach Anthony Cracco said. “We didn’t have the opportunity to play either of the Bellmore-Merrick teams last year so our seniors are really looking forward to it.”

Anthony Hughes/Herald

MEphaM aNd CarEY will renew their Nassau Conference II football rivalry on April 10. Plainedge, which nipped Freeport in the 2019 Rutgers Cup voting, kicks off at Lynbrook. Seaford opens at North Shore. The regular season is scheduled to conclude Saturday, April 17. The number of playoff teams in each of Nassau’s four conferences has been cut in half, from eight to four. The semifinals are scheduled for April 24, followed by the county championship games May 1-2.

eight teams switched conferences Of the eight programs taking on new conference rivals for the upcoming season, half were part of Conference III a year ago. Runner-up South Side jumps to Conference II, while perennial powers Wantagh and Lawrence, along with North

Shore, bounced to Conference IV. New to Conference III are Manhasset and Valley Stream South. East Meadow and Herricks are back in familiar stomping grounds in Conference I after competing in Conference II in 2019.

Jv remains on saturday mornings The majority of Nassau’s junior varsity football games in 2018 kicked off Monday afternoons, but last year the action returned to traditional Saturday mornings at the opposite location of that day’s varsity game. It’ll remain that way in 2021. Should any freshmen, sophomores or juniors not step on the JV field on a particular Saturday morning, they would be eligible to play in the varsity game.

10 games to watch ■

March 13: Garden City at Carey

■

March 13: Plainedge at Lynbrook

■

March 13: MacArthur at South Side

■

March 20: Lawrence at Seaford

■

March 27: Freeport at Oceanside

■

March 27: Elmont at V.S. Central

■

March 27: West Hemp. at Clarke

■

April 10: Mepham at Carey

■

April 10: Freeport at Baldwin

■

April 17: Wantagh at Seaford

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December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

After the SweAring-in, Police Benevolent Association President James McDermott, right, at lectern, offered words of advice for the recruits.

Photos by Scott Brinton/Herald

NCPD swears in one of its largest cadet classes By Scott Brinton sbrinton@liherald.com

Nassau County officials swore in 185 cadets at the Police Academy in Massapequa Park last Friday morning — one of the largest classes to enter the county’s tough, seven-month officer training program ever. It was a socially distant affair, with 49 of the masked cadets seated on aluminum folding chairs in the auditorium of the former Hawthorn Elementary School, which Nassau leases from the Massapequa School District. The remaining recruits were separated in groups of 15 or 16 and spread out among surrounding classrooms to watch the ceremony via livestream. The county police force now stands at 2,259, without the new recruits. The cadets will study both in the classroom and through a series of intense simulations at various venues, which will imitate policing on the streets, including car chases, said one of the trainers, Chris Boccio, who grew up in Lynbrook. He stood by fellow trainer Joe Monez, of Mineola, in a hall as cadets sat in their classrooms nearby after the swearing-in. The two noted that the NCPD requires a significantly more rigorous training program than New York state mandates — Nassau puts cadets through 1,050 to 1,200 hours of training, compared to the minimum 639 hours that the state requires for basic police training. County Executive Laura Curran greeted the cadets during the ceremony. “Welcome to our Nassau County family,” she said. “We will have your back,” adding, “Your success is our success.” The age of the Hawthorn building was apparent in the auditorium where Curran spoke, with its dim lighting, worn linoleum floor and exposed heating duct above, wrapped in silver insulation. A $54 million, 89,000-square-foot academy is now under construction on the campus of Nassau Community College in Garden City and is expected to be complete in May. The current class will be the last to train at the Massapequa Park facility and the first to graduate at the new Garden City center, said Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, who grew up in Lynbrook

and now lives in Wantagh. He also noted it is the first to enter the academy amid a pandemic, and will be the first to graduate under new state policing reforms enacted after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, which stress the need for community policing that requires officers to understand and engage with people at the local level. At the same time, the reforms made the use of a chokehold a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison if an officer injures or kills a person, and opened police misconduct records to the public, among other measures. It’s also expected that the cadets will wear body cameras when they patrol the streets after graduation, Ryder said. The county and Police Benevolent Association recently came to terms on the requirement. Officers are to be paid a $3,000 annual cash stipend to wear the cameras. The union membership, county Legislature and county fiscal control board must still sign off on the agreement. Ryder, now in his 38th year in policing, said he “embraced the culture here” during his time at the academy in 1986, after having spent four years in the New York

cAdet MichAel ShAnnon was among the 185 recruits who were sworn in to the NCPD’s academy on Friday. Police recruit chelSeA Penn was joined at the swearing-in by her brother, Derrick Penn, an officer with the NCPD’s 8th Precinct.

Police Department. The NCPD’s culture, he said, is one “of community service.” Cadet Chelsea Penn, 26, who was not permitted by academy rules to give her hometown, said, “I’m a little nervous but super-excited” about starting police training. She had been at the academy since

early that morning and had gone for a run before the swearing-in. She stood beside her brother, Derrick Penn, 28, an officer in the 8th Precinct in Bethpage, who has been with the department four years. “She’s a perfect asset to this department,” Derrick said, smiling.

Hempstead Town’s IT’S FREE! Winter Movie Festival

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

Drive-in Theater COME T0

Fri

HEMPSTEAD TOWN’S WINTER MOVIE FESTIVAL

Sat

Sun

TOWN PARK POINT LOOKOUT

FREE WINTER DRIVE-IN MOVIES All movies will be shown at Town Park Point Lookout, 1300 Lido Blvd., Point Lookout

Almost Christmas Friday, December 18 5 p.m.

Donald X. Clavin, Jr. Supervisor

Frank Zangla Commissioner, Parks & Recreation

Saturday, December 19 5 p.m.

Frozen 2

Sunday, December 20 2 p.m. Council Members Dorothy L. Goosby Bruce A. Blakeman Anthony D’Esposito Dennis Dunne, Sr. Thomas E. Muscarella Christopher Carini

Kate Murray Town Clerk

Jeanine C. Driscoll Receiver of Taxes

1113399

The Town of Hempstead is teaming up with Toys for Tots this holiday season. We are asking residents who attend one of these drive-in movies to bring an unwrapped gift to donate to Toys for Tots to help underprivileged children.

The Grinch

December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

events and activities

community update Ongoing

sharp! Say farewell to 2020 and hello to 2021! All ages welcome! Registration for Seaford library/school district residents begins Thursday, Dec. 17 Nonresidents can register Friday, December 18th. We will contact you when to pick up the craft. Please register each child separately. Please make sure your email address is entered correctly when registering. All registered families will receive a Zoom link via email 24 hours before the start of the program. For more information or to ask question, contact childrens@seafordlibrary.org. Registration for the event begins on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m.

Jones Beach Magic of Lights Sunday to Thursday: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Location: Jones Beach State Park. Price: $25 (in advance). A festival of twinkling, magical holiday lights! A 200-foot light tunnel and over 40 scenes of holiday lights displays will be feature. Enjoy the unique and thrilling family-friendly drive-through holiday lights festival spread over a two-mile span. For tickets, visit https://magicoflights.com/events/jonesbeach/.

Seaford kindergarten registrationSeaford Harbor Elementary School will be holding kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year on Jan. 13 and 14. Seaford Manor Elementary School will be holding kindergarten registration on Jan. 14 and 15. Mailing information for all prospective students is needed prior to those deadlines. For parents of children who will be five by Dec. 1, 2021, call the office of the Harbor School at (516) 592-4180 or the Manor School at (516) 592-4080.

Friday, Dec. 18 Ready, Set, Storytime live on Zoom 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. On Zoom. Recommended for children up to 5, but all ages welcome. This interactive storytime session will introduce literacy practices through stories, songs, movement activities and rhymes. Children will participate live in the activities over Zoom. To register or for questions, contact Susan Finck at sfinck@wantaghlibrary.org or call (516) 221-1200.

Holiday Teacup Planter at Wantagh Public Library 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Location: Wantagh Public Library Community Room 3285 Park Ave, Wantagh. To register or for questions, contact Susan Finck at sfinck@wantaghlibrary.org or call (516) 221-1200. For more information, visit the Wantagh Library website.

l l l l l

Monday, Jan. 18 New York Blood Center blood drive

Courtesy Block Island Seafood Company

Whisk it to get the biscuit! Join this free cooking class via Zoom tonight! Easily register now online with your email address to receive the link. Join the Block Island Seafood Company for some winter treats to warm you up. Chef Craig will show you how to make biscuits with chorizo and shrimp gravy and a Long Island Cioppino (seafood soup). Register now at https://bit.ly/3gLsY3L for a reserved spot!

Saturday, Dec. 19 Ugly sweater brunch 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh. Price: $39.95. Best “ugly” sweater wins a TV! Playing your favorite Christmas music while you sample Mulcahy’s new holiday-themed cocktail menu. To reserve a table, call (516) 783-7500.

Monday, Dec. 21 STEM at home for grade schoolers Activity is geared towards grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Younger children may need some adult assistance. Pick up a STEM related activity for your child. No registration required. Act quick while supplies last. For ques-

tions, contact Erin Goldberg at (516) 221-1200 or email her at egoldberg@ wantaghlibrary.org.

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Strength, Flexibility and Balance

Winter Bingo

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Location: Wantagh Public Library Community Room 3285 Park Ave, Wantagh. A class fee of $20.00 is payable by check only. Registration is now available for all Wantagh Library cardholders and noncardholders. To register or to ask questions, contact Ian Smith at (516) 2211200 or email ismith@wantaghlibrary. org.

4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For first grade to fifth grade students. Enjoy a fun game of Bingo over Zoom! Students will be given links to online bingo cards. Registration is now open. For more information, email childrens@seafordlibrary.org.

Wantagh Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting

Noon Year’s Eve Party (Zoom LIVE)

6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Location: Wantagh Public Library Community Room 3285 Park Ave, Wantagh.

Thursday, Dec. 31 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Celebrate the new year with your little ones at Noon Year’s Eve! There will be music, dancing, a goody bag with a craft, a countdown, and a ball drop at noon

Multiple groups in your area are hosting holiday food drives! Find your perfect Christmas tree at a local nursery! Check local gyms and fitness centers for winter fitness plans and deals! Wear a mask and practice social distancing! Local small businesses still need your help. Shop local!

2:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church 1309 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh. Donate blood for the New York Blood Center. Donors must book appointments ahead of time due to social distancing guidelines. There will be four available registration spots during every 15-minute time slot. Reigster at https://bit.ly/3oRE0qP. Reserve your seat and preferred time period now, as reserved time slots will fill quickly.

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 jfreda@liherald.com

Covid-19 vaccine is on its way to Nassau Nassau County hospital officials and elected leaders are moving fast to prepare for distribution of the first doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine after federal emergency-use authorization for it was approved last Friday. New York is slated to receive 170,000 doses in the first batch. The first dose in New York state — and perhaps the nation — was given at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, on the Nassau-Queens border, on Monday morning. It went to a 52-year-old critical-care nurse, Sandra Lindsay, of Port Washington. The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have each developed vaccines that are more than 90 percent effective in preventing Covid-19 infections. Experts say that a vaccine or vaccines might be widely available to the public by April or May. In the meantime, the first doses will go to essential workers, in particular hospital employees, long-term care facility workers and emergency medical technicians, as per State Health Department protocols. Dr. Dave Neubert, the Town of Hempstead’s emergency medical director and an attending emergecy physician at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, said the town would be using Facebook Live town halls to promote the coronavirus vaccine to residents so they would be ready and willing to take it when it becomes available. Neubert said the sessions would help explain how the vaccine is administered and assure people that they will not become ill when they take it. None of the vaccines use the live virus, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccines, Neubert explained, give “your body the

Courtesy Northwell Health

nOrthwell health nurSe Sandra Lindsay, of Port Washington, became the first person in New York state to receive Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine on Monday. blueprint for making the antibodies without you having to be exposed to the infection itself.” Mercy Medical Center, in Rockville Centre, is expecting the vaccine to become available quickly for workers there. Dr. Jason Golbin, senior vice president and chief quality officer for Catholic Health Services, said, “Catholic Health employees will be selected to receive the vaccine based on risk of exposure to Covid-19. Top priority will be given to employees and physicians in our ICUs, emergency departments and dedicated Covid units, home care and hospice, as well as long-term care facility workers who regularly interact with residents.”

In a Truth in Medicine poll conducted by Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside in October, more than half of respondents said they would not take the vaccine or were unsure if they would, said Dr. Aaron Glatt, chairman of MSSN’s Department of Medicine and chief of infectious diseases. Recent national polls have indicated that the number willing to take it may be climbing, and is now closer to 60 percent. The vaccine, Glatt said, “is something that will be very important in stemming the terrible spread of this epidemic, and hopefully lead to the end of this epidemic.” David Nemiroff, president and CEO of Long Island Federally Qualified Health Centers, said there were already many people who were skeptical about vaccines before the pandemic, so it may be difficult to persuade everyone that this one is safe, but he believes public support will grow. Nemiroff said that his group of family health centers, with locations in Elmont, Freeport, Hempstead, Oceanside, Roosevelt and Westbury, has asked community leaders, including legislators and church pastors, to encourage people to get the vaccine. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said, “and people should feel pretty optimistic about that.” The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines must be stored at temperatures well below freezing, while the AstraZeneca vaccine must be chilled. Northwell Health has obtained medical-grade freezers to hold the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, according to Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease physician at the health care system. Meanwhile, a smaller organization, like LIFQHC, will potentially have to partner with a hosptial like Nassau University Medical Center, in East Meadow, for vaccine storage. Jill Nossa and Mike Smollins contributed to this story.

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sbrinton@liherald.com

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

By Caitlin O’Brien and SCOtt BrintOn

Northwell hosts 2nd Gun Violence Prevention Forum sbrinton@liherald.com

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords stood outside the Safeway supermarket northwest of Tuscon, Ariz., on Jan. 8, 2011, chatting with constituents about Medicare reimbursements, when a 22-year-old gunman opened fire, killing six and injuring 11, including Giffords, who was the target of the attack. A bullet sliced through the left side of Giffords’s head, and she was placed in a medically induced coma to ease swelling on her brain. When she awoke, she could not speak. She needed two months of speech therapy to mouth the words, “Twinkle, twinkle, little star,” according to USA Today. Nearly 10 years later, her speech is still labored. “Words once came easily, but today I struggle,” she told the audience at Northwell Health’s second Gun Violence Prevention Forum last Thursday, broadcast over the internet. Some 1,200 people from throughout the country registered for the event, which was intended, in part, to reframe the debate over gun control from a battle over the Second Amendment right to bear arms to one of public safety. The two-hour event featured a long line of speakers from the government, the medical community and private industry, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, long an outspoken proponent of gun control, and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democrat of Connecticut. Nearly 40,000 Americans die of gun

Former U.S. rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was nearly killed in a 2011 shooting, was among the featured speakers during Northwell Health’s two-hour virtual Gun Violence Prevention Forum last Thursday. Joining her was U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican of Pennsylvania. violence annually — more than a hundred a day — two-thirds by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health, said Americans must recognize that the country is — and has been for a long time — in the middle of a “pandemic of gun violence.” At Northwell’s first Gun Violence Prevention Forum, held last December in Manhattan, the health system pledged $1 million to fund gun violence research and prevention, and Dowling called on other major health systems across the country to join in the effort and provide funding as well.

Last December, Northwell established the Center for Gun Violence Prevention, headed by Dr. Chethan Sathya, a pediatric surgeon and associate trauma medical director at Cohen Children’s Medical Center on the Queens-Nassau border. “We have to get behind the root causes” of gun violence, Sathya said at the Dec. 10 forum. To that end, Northwell is undertaking a major research study at three of its hospitals, asking patients questions about the firearms they might have in their homes to help determine their risk of injury by gun. The study is funded by a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

“Progress has been made, but there is so much more to do,” Dowling said, emphasizing that the intent is not to deny anyone the Second Amendment right to a firearm, but rather to determine what concrete measures can be taken to reduce gun violence nationally, including which ones must be enacted through federal legislation. High on the priority list, according to a number of forum speakers, is enacting a federal law to require a universal background check for anyone who purchases a firearm, without loopholes. Among the speakers supporting a universal background check was U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Langhorne, Pa., who appeared with Giffords. On gun safety, Fitzpatrick, a former FBI special agent, said Democrats and Republicans “can come together on areas that we agree,” including background checks, estimating that 70 to 80 percent of Americans support them. Other speakers, however, spoke of political paralysis in Congress, where special interest groups like the National Rifle Association, which opposes universal background checks, hold sway. That is why, Giffords said, Americans must remain politically engaged and apply pressure to lawmakers to act. After she was shot, she said, “I found one word, and I found another.” People can make their voices heard, she said, at the ballot box. “We can let this continue,” Giffords said, “or we can act. We can vote. We can be on the right side of history. Vote, vote, vote.”

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By Scott Brinton

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Hofstra selects first female president bstieglitz@liherald.com

After a yearlong search with 270 candidates, the Hofstra University Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Susan Poser as its ninth president — making her the first woman to fill the role. Stuart Rabinowitz, who has been the university’s president for the past 20 years, announced his retirement at the end of last January. In search for his successor, the university formed a committee of 13 members, including representatives from the Board of Trustees, university faculty and Student Government Association. “In Dr. Poser, we have found a higher education leader of exceptional experience, a collaborative and visionary person, and a scholar of great depth and intellect,” said Board Chair Donald Schaeffer, who made the announcement on Dec. 9. Poser, who will begin her tenure on Aug. 1, recently spoke to the Herald about her experience in education, goals in her first year as president and plans for a postpandemic Hofstra. “I was really amazed by what’s going on at Hofstra,” Poser said. “It’s also incredibly well-managed financially and in a really great place coming out of the pandemic.” Poser lauded the advancements Hofstra made during Stuart Rabinowitz tenure, including the university’s partnership with Northwell Health to create the Zucker School of Medicine and Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Analogous in Poser’s leadership was UIC’s acquisition of the John Marshall Law School, which established the first and only public law school in Chicago. What also stands out to Poser about Hofstra is its commitment to liberal arts and the humanities. “Students need to be encouraged to pursue a liberal

Courtesy Hofstra University

SuSAN PoSER wILL be Hofstra University’s ninth — and first female — president. arts education and also need to know that they could get a job with it,” she said, adding that Hofstra provides this to students through internship opportunities, five-year

graduate programs and experiential learning. Before her role at UIC, Poser was the dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law from 2010 to 2016 and the associate to the university’s chancellor for three years before that. Poser grew up in Manhattan and majored in classics at Swarthmore College, graduating with honors. She earned her law degree and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. Before starting her academic career, Poser clerked for the Honorable Dolores Sloviter, the chief judge of the U.S. Court Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia. She also served as the Zicklin Fellow in Ethics at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. “I have had the privilege to work with the Hofstra University community . . . for many years and know that under her leadership, Hofstra University will flourish for years to come,” Rabinowitz said. Asked about her immediate goals as president, Poser said, “I know it’s cliché, but the first thing I want to do is meet a whole lot of people and listen to them and get a real feel for what everyone thinks of the university, how things are going there and how things should go moving forward,” she said. One of Poser’s main priorities as an educator is to embrace diversity and foster “a culture of inclusion,” she said. This is evident in the actions she has taken during her tenure at UIC, where no race or ethnicity makes up 50 percent of the student population. “I think we’ve learned that we’re very adaptable and resilient,” Poser said when asked what teachers and students could take away from the pandemic. Educators were forced to learn how to teach online and, Poser said, could benefit by incorporating these new teaching methods and virtual programs into their courses after the pandemic.

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WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

By BRIAN STIEGLITZ

County concentrates on keeping school open By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com

In late October, Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered new guidance to school districts, outlining the rate at which each would have to test their students depending on various factors, including their zone designation based on metrics gathered from the surrounding area. While Gov. Cuomo’s metrics are continuously updated, the latest regulations state that districts must test roughly 20% of their student body, faculty and staff every two weeks if they are in what the state designates a “ ye l l ow z o n e. ” I f d e s i g n a t e d a n “orange zone,” that 20% must continue for the remainder of the month. Red zones must bump that quota up to 30%. In Cuomo’s Oct. 30 press release, he announced that the state would provide rapid testing to “schools wishing to participate.” N e a r by M a s s a p e q u a P a rk w a s recently designated one of the only yellow zones in the county. According to Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads, who represents Wantagh and Seaford among other South Shore hamlets, each school in the Massapequa Park School District was paying “roughly” $3,000 a day for extra testing during its yellow zone designa-

stein. Instead, the department urges tion to keep up with state mandates. “That is a substantial daily cost per residents to visit free testing sites set school per day,” he told the Herald on up around the county and send results to the district Dec. 12. Curran also said she Affected districts, like intends on working with Massapequa Park, have school districts to get had to partner with prilicensed by the state so vate companies to prothat school nurses may vide testing. Rhoads said be able to test on school f u n d i n g fo r t h i s w a s premises. coming straight from the district’s budget. Rhoads and other members of The real goal the Nassau County Rhoads was not shy Republican majority met when sharing that he with local school dishopes to sustain in-class tricts to brainstorm furlear ning for as long as ther ways to help dispossible. He referenced Nassau County Executive statistics that he, and his tricts meet the stateLaura Curran said that mandated testing quota cohort, received in their one of her main priorities latest briefing claiming without severe financial is to keep schools open. that 70 to 75 percent of stress. “Schools don’t have statewide spreading the ability to test on their own. The occurs during small, indoor gatherguidance [from the state] was that they ings in private residents’ homes. He would work with the local health said he has been seen local schools do departments, who are licensed to do “extremely well” in slowing the spread this kind of testing,” Rhoads said. of Covid-19 among their student bodNassau’s Health Department is not ies. currently capable of providing testing Curran, in her briefing, said that on-site at affected schools, per Nassau one of her biggest priorities is to keep County Executive Laura Curran in her schools open. Covid-19 briefing on Dec. 9 with Health “There is a substantial agreement Department head Lawrence J. Eisen- amongst faculty, staff and parents that

as long as we can do [in-person learning], that we should and it is the most ef fective way to lear n,” he said. “Remote learning should be kept as a last resort.” T h i s c o m e s j u s t we e k s b e fo re school districts are scheduled for students to undergo their “winter break,” a short reprieve from classes. “It is not the government’s place to tell residents what they can and cannot do within their own homes,” Rhoads said before clarifying, “however you would ask that people exercise common sense.” He said he believes that spreading may be more prevalent in private homes because it is “easy to let your guard down” at home. Rhoads also serves as a youth pastor at St. Pius X Church in Plainview, where he speaks to high school students frequently about their hope for a “return to a semblance of normalcy” at school. “Two weeks from now things can be completely different, we know this changes day-to-day,” he said. “But rates in school have stayed low within school population and specifically the student body. If the decision to close schools is made, and it is anything more than a last resort, I think it is a tremendous disservice to our students.”

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Can gyms stay open in the winter of a pandemic?

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

merly known as Ladies Workout Express, “We take the mask-wearing extremely during the pandemic, and realized that seriously,” said Schutt. “You have to wear “mental health is just as important as physical health,” she said. Rebranding the the mask, or you are not here.” The protocols have proven to be effec- business was something Reilly had been tive, as Long Island Health and Racquet thinking about, and the coronavirus crihas not had a single case of Covid-19 sis gave her the perfect opportunity to incorporate both aspects of traced back to its facility. clients’ well-being into her Likewise, other gyms, such as classes. Onyx Fitness in Bellmore, “Even though you can be just blocks from the Wantagh physically healthy, if you’re border, have been successful home and depressed and in slowing the spread. Onyx you’re not coping mentally, services many masked Wantthen your overall wellness is agh and Seaford residents j u s t n o t t h e re, ” Re i l ly who are willing to adhere to explained. “We call most of social distancing guidelines our members on a regular when they work out. basis to make sure that “We’ve had over 25,000 they’re OK.” check-ins since we opened on Many fitness centers have Aug. 31,” said Onyx owner JordaN steiN not only adapted their spaces Jordan Stein. “We haven’t Owner, Onyx Fitness to physical distancing, but had one case traced back to have also made all their classthe club.” es and workshops available online. “We’ve Because of the stringent rules, many been holding a good percentage of our exercise enthusiasts have converted parts of their homes into workout areas. classes outside, but we’re ready to push forward to do virtual classes,” said According to Jessica Reilly, the owner of Ladies Wellness Experience, in Seaford, Schutt, acknowledging the changing “90 percent of our clients are still attend- weather. “We plan on doing classes more ing all their classes virtually” — because virtually if we have to shut down.” Since gyms are all about members — many of those clients are members of an and continuing to attract them — managolder, higher-risk population. ers and owners insist they are ready to Reilly re-evaluated her business, for-

continued from front page

ou have to adapt and get back into a routine as quickly as possible.

crime watch

Courtesy Onyx Fitness

Man linked in fatal overdose, NCPD says

at oNyx FitNess, near the Wantagh-Bellmore border, members are required to wear masks while working out.

Two individuals were arrested following a fatal overdose investigation on Dec. 5 at 7:25 p.m. that took place in Massapequa. The Major Case Bureau detectives from the Nassau County Police Department’s Vice Squad reported that they arrested Robert Brinkley, 45, of Amityville, as well as a 57-yearold Wyandanch woman who was given an appearance ticket for second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana. Brinkley was charged with three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was arraigned on Dec. 6. Brinkley’s attorney’s information was not available at press time.

adapt at a moment’s notice if conditions change again or new restrictions are put in place. “At the beginning of the pandemic,” Stein recalled, “I was driving to people’s houses and they were putting all of their electronics in the backyard so I could set them up and hook them up.” Local fitness centers also offer at-home workouts through regular email blasts in order for their clientele to stay fit while adhering to a more remote and sedentary lifestyle. Their goal is to have their clients establish and commit to a routine, even at home. “[When] people are lost and don’t have a routine, that’s when [they] start to eat

Courtesy NCPD

Nassau CouNty poliCe said that Robert Brinkley, 45, of Amityville, was involved in the selling of illegal drugs that resulted in a fatal overdose.

Pedestrian dies after being hit by car According to police, a 55-year-old man died after he was struck by a black 2020 Honda CRV on Dec. 10 at 5:48 p.m. when attempting to cross over Broadway near the intersection of Grand Avenue. The driver, reported as a 55-yearold female by police, remained at the scene. The vehicle was brake and safety checked upon police

arrival. A Nassau County Police Ambulance transported the man to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. Authorities did not release more information on the alleged driver or the man struck by the vehicle. Police reported that the investigation is ongoing.

more and forget about working out,” Stein said. “That’s the biggest disruptor here. You have to adapt and get back into a routine as quickly as possible.” Schutt suggested that people take daily walks and maintain a positive mindset — while encouraging them to join a fitness center. Gym staffers continue to stress that they are in this struggle right alongside the residents who frequent their squeakyclean workout spaces. “Even though we’re socially distant, we’re still a community with a common goal,” Stein said. “We will get through this together.”

Public Notices

LWAN1 1217

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of Levittown District for the period beginning on July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2020, have been examined by an independent public accountant, and that the management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent public accountant has been filed in my office where it is

available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. Pursuant to §35 of the General Municipal Law, the governing board of Levittown District may, in its discretion, prepare a written response to the management letter by independent public accountant and file any such response in my office as a public record for inspection by all interested persons not

later than January 31, 2021. 124121

Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that an order entered by the Supreme Court, Nassau County, on the 13th day of November, 2020, bearing Index Number 606-20, a copy of which may be examined

at the office of the clerk, located at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY grants me the right to assume the name of Mitchell Thomas Berotti. The city and state of my present address are Wantagh, NY; the month and year of my birth are October, 1999; the place of my birth is Stony Brook, NY; my present name is Mitchell Thomas Barr. 124139

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WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

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IN BRIEF Douglas Elliman of Rockville Centre is proud to announce that Alexandra Porter has joined their growing team

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OPEN HOUSES BY APPOINTMENT SUNdAY, 12/20/20 EAST ROCKAWAY

77 Maple avenue 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1,540sf, Terrace, Formal Dining Room, eat In Kitchen, Washer/Dryer pRICe: $679K

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

HEWLETT

1657 Warwick Rd, BA, NEW TO MARKET! Outstanding 4 BR, 3.5 Bth Col Built in 2012. Soaring Ceilings Throughout. Open Layout Perfect for Entertaining. Radiant Heated Flrs. Fin Bsmt with Hi Ceilings. SD#20 ................................................................................................. $1,250,000

WOOdMERE

946 Midwood Rd, BA, NEW! Renovated 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Colonial in Academy Area. Gran/Wood EIK, LR/Fpl, FDR & Den. Fin Bsmt. Gar .................... $899,000

402 MeRRICK ROaD

-O

WOOdSBURGH

185 Bay Dr, BA, NEW! 5/6 BR, 4.5 Bth Exp Ranch on Parklike 1/2 Acre Prop. Guest Quarters, Full Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#14 .................................... $1,450,000 891 Keene Lane, BA, Magnificently Renovated While Retaining Charm, Stone Cottage. 3 BR, 2.5 Bth with Tremendous Potential for Expansion. Brand New Mstr Bth. Over 1/2 Acre Property! Near All...................................................... REDUCED & MOTIVATED!! $999,000

HEWLETT HARBOR

3 Payne Circle, BA, 5 BR, 3.5 Bth Spacious Split on Beautiful Street in Cul de Sac. State of the Art EIK, 2 Dens, Bsmt, & 2 Car Gar. SD#20 ............$1,190,000 236 Richards Lane, BA, 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Home on an Acre Of Resortlike Prop with IG Pool. Open Floor Plan. Full Fin Bsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14 .................................................................................REDUCED! $1,499,000

Realtors are encouraged to send briefs and photographs to: Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.., Garden City, NY 11530.

1 Bedroom, 2nd Floor, updated Kitchen, Freshly painted, new Carpet pRICe: $259k

516-764-2601

1113513

1112423

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299

e s t. 1 9 1 1

REAL ESTATE

Open Houses

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

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.

Gus Allotti realtor ® 43 N. Park Ave

1099323

NYS Licensed Real Estate Salespersons

BestLiHomes.com • 516-418-3333

Call me for a free professional consultation.

Sherlock Sherlock Homes Homes

Melinda Beauchamp

Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

516-790-6633 516-764-2601

lirealtorgus@gmail.com www.Century21SherlockHomes.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

Mobile: 516.721.7805

mbeauchamp@coachrealtors.com mbeauchamp.coachrealtors.com 1113386

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

2119 Bedford Ave. John Lawlor, CBR, SFR Bellmore, NY 11710 Michele Librett-Lawlor, CBR, SFR

REAL ESTATE

Now is the time to buy or sell a home.

Where Dreams Come Home

HEWLETT BAY PARK

NEW TO MARKET!! 10,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Property on an Acre of Parklike Grounds. 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary. IG Pool ................................. $4,650,000 70 Heron Dr, BA, 6 BR, Contemporary with Open Layout on an Acre of Parklike Property. Move Right in! SD#14 .......................................... $1,699,000 159 Meadowview Ave, BA, Stately 5200 Sq Ft Colonial Featuring 6 BR, 6.55 Bths on Acre Of Resortlike Prop with IG Pool, Tennis Ct, & Outdoor Kit. Fin Bsmt, 2 Car Gar, Fabulous Location in SD#14............................................................................. REDUCED!! $2,699,000

REAL ESTATE

1113385

HOME OF THE WEEK

314 Sunrise Highway Rockville Centre NY 11570

Melinda & Thor

HERALD

Homes

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

75 SEAMAN AVENUE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE o: 516.766.7900 | signaturepremier.com

HERALD

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

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING? Contact one of our hardworking professionals today for all of your real estate needs!

516.431.0799

aboveallgutters.com

We look forward to providing home buyers and sellers with the highest level of personalized service and support.

1112911

Safe Roof and Exterior Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning, Repairs, Installations

947101

1106049 JUAN JARA Licensed RE Broker Associate Cell: 516-318-0142 Juan@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com CAMILLE GIARDINA Licensed RE Broker/Owner Cell: 516-318-1392 Camille@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

www.AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

1109112

We’re Keeping the American Dream Alive. 2949 Long Beach Road, Suite 8 • Oceanside, NY, 11572 Phone 516.766.8200

“Going Above & Beyond to find your Dream Home”

Rhonda Healy

Mention this ad and get

Apartments Wanted

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

Mature - Single

FREEPORT 3 BDS, 2 Bath, Bright DR, LR, Finished Basement, Enclosed Yard, Detached Garage.. Credit Check, First /Last Months Rent $3100 Utilities Included 646-515-5131

HIRING?

Place Your Ad in the Herald Help Wanted Classifieds. Call 516-569-4000, press 5 to speak to an Account Executive.

Non-Smoking Woman Seeking 1-2 Bedroom Apartment with Long-Term lease. I Have a Steady Job at the Same Company for the past 20 years. I am Recently Separated and I am Looking for IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY. I am Quiet, Responsible and Extremely Reliable. Please Contact me with any Opportunities at cassiesmom810@aol.com. I have Plenty of References that I would be happy to supply to you upon request.

Apartments For Rent CEDARHURST NO FEE Pr ivate Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For O n e B e d r o o m W h e n Ava i l a bl e. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

Commercial Prop./Rent EAST ROCKAWAY: 131 Main Street 2nd Floor Offices. 100-1500 sq.ft. 24/7 access. Utilities included. Starting $350/ month. Retail Space 1350 sq.ft. $3,000/ month. OWNER 516-637-2182

One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country.

Call the USA Classified Network today!

1-800-231-6152

on labor only

• Permits & Legalizations • Certified NYS Backflows • Licensed Master Plumber • Insured • FREE Estimates

OffiCe: 516-766-4583 Call/TeXT: 516-840-9432 A Fresh CoAt For A Fresh stArt!

1092109

House For Sale

Houses For Rent

10% Off

CAll JD PAINtING & reMoDelING CorP

Specializing in: • Interior/Exterior Painting • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Basements • Wall Paper Removal • Power Washing

516-297-1885

1110755

OneKey Multiple Listing Service

jairorzc58@gmail.com licensed and insured

FUTURE WINDOWS & SIDING 718-224-7079 917-945-7079 SPECIAL!

$189

Installed

FLAT ROOFS SHINGLE ROOFS

1109243

Verdeschi & Walsh Realty 1025 W. Beech St. | Long Beach, NY

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

Dave marlOWe Plumbing, inC. DBA BOB PHILLIPS PLUMBING

Real Estate Salesperson, abR, SRS E: Rhonda.Healy.VW@gmail.com

Q. We’ve had construction on our home going for what seems like forever. We got stopped by the pandemic in April (after starting right before, in March), and didn’t really get going again until July. A building inspector told us the insulation didn’t pass, and there was no “fire stopping.” The contractor said he followed the plans. We looked at the plans and the permit, and it doesn’t say anything about fire stopping. First, why didn’t the insulation pass, and second, what is fire stopping? We’re about to throw in the towel. Help! A. You don’t need a towel to throw in or even clean up the mess; you just need to know that not all insulation is the same. Either the insulation was the wrong type or thickness, or it may have been installed incorrectly. In the past decade, the federal Department of Energy has issued more stringent guidelines on what thermal ratings must be onte eeper installed for floors, walls and roofs. Your state, following the DOE, sets codes based on regional requirements to save energy. If you look at the plans, there should be information about what R value was designed and approved. R stands for resistance, and is printed on each bale of fiberglass. If the insulation installed was a lower number or was jammed into a narrower cavity, that may be a reason to fail. Another common failure is using open-cell foam insulation when closed-cell, which has a higher resistance, and cost, was specified in the drawings. Another common error is when air gaps allow cold air to creep right through. I often see where fiberglass insulation is forced into the gaps around windows, and when fiberglass batting is compressed, it loses insulation value because the thermal resistance is in the air pockets, not the material. Due to the formulas and calculations we professionals have to provide “online” for each job, this is taken seriously, so if the installer ignored the required insulation, the inspector could not pass noncompliant work. I respect your inspector for trying to protect your interests. Fire stopping is an important safety factor in protecting occupants. All pipe and duct penetrations, by law, have to be sealed completely to prevent flames from drawing into cavities, seeking oxygen and rapidly consuming the building and trapping people inside. Anyone who builds must build legally, whether there’s a note on the plans or not. Although building officials like to see more and more informational notes to cover everyone in case of liability, site enforcement by inspectors is important. Your builder has an equal responsibility to follow all the laws. As a professional witness, I remember hearing a judge once state, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” Trying to say that “it wasn’t in the plans,” doesn’t relieve a party to the construction of responsibility for building to the letter of the law. So check for gaps, insulation type and markings to verify you’ve got the right stuff. Stay warm!

Over 100 Years Of familY Plumbing Oil to Gas • Toilets • Faucets • Repairs & Replacements Waste Piping • Water Piping

M: (516) 236-7269

We failed on insulation and fire stopping

Ask The Architect

*If your property is currently listed with another brokerage, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the listings of other brokerages.

1110798

December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

$999 VINYL SIDING Up to 1000 sq ft

© 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

Switch To Electrolyzed Restructured Water It's Healthier For You, Your Family, And Your Pets!

UNWAN

conSuMer reportS:

1107248

It may not always be as pure as you think, and your tap water may be cleaner than you realize. What you need to know.

CARS, TRUCKS AND UNWANTED UNWANTED CARS UNWANTED CARS VANS. CRASHED OR CAR

the Best for Less!

QUICK CASH CASH QUICK CASH QUICK CASH FOR ALL YOUR JUNK

FREE ESTIMATES

ALFREDO’S CONSTRUCTION

Se Habla Espanol

Call For Fall Specials

senior Citizen Discounts

516-424-3598 516-807-3852

Free estimates

516-889-3200

631-255-8335

Expert Watch Repair

(516) 766-1666 FREE • Chimneys Repaired, Rebuilt & Tuckpointing ESTIMATES • Stainless Steel Liners Installed

SEAmLESS GuTTERS & LEADERS

HEATING OIL

WeNK

• Installed • Repaired • Cleaned • Vinyl Siding • Roofing • Trim • Over 30 Years Exp. • Lics./Ins.

HOME • COMMERCIAL

RELIABLE • 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE FAMILY OWNED FOR OVER 65 YEARS

PIPING & HEATING CORP.

516-234-4388 / 516-623-8447

Any Service Call For New Customer

1105410

(516) 379-2727

Carpentry & Painting Specialist

Residential and Commercial - All Phases

“Anthony & J Home Improvement, Inc.” Also specializes in ★ Kitchens ★ Bathrooms ★ Finished Basements ★ Flooring ★ Repairs ★ Woodwork/mouldings ★ Siding ★ Gutters

CALL FOR MORE INFO No service in Long Beach

1081114

CALL NOW FOR LOWEST PRICE

OFF

ALL CLEAR DRAIN & SEWER SERVICE

(516)409-9696 • (631)422-9696 Sinks • Tubs • Toilets • Sewer Lines

516-678-6641– Licensed & Insured 1066253

CLUTTER

1078401

Chimney King, Ent. Inc.

(516) 766-1666 FREE • Chimneys Repaired, Rebuilt & Tuckpointing ESTIMATES • Stainless Steel Liners Installed

Chimney Cleaning & Masonry Services Done By Firefighters That Care chimneykinginc.com

Fully licensed and insured Nassau • Suffolk • NYC

WWW.LIHERALD.COM

CRAZY? driving you

Sell your merchandise in no time! Email your Ad to the Herald and PrimeTime Classiﬁed Department at

sales@liherald.com to run a FREE "Finds Under $100"

1113433

wenkpipingandheating.com

1112267

Fully licensed and insured Nassau • Suffolk • NYC

FREE ESTIMATES • 4 HR EMERGENCY SERVICE

BRIAN CONNELLY

1112267

• Oil to Gas Conversions • Hot Water Heaters • Boilers All Plumbing & Heating Work For House Lifts • Licensed and Insured!

1108705

Chimney Cleaning & Masonry Services Done By Firefighters That Care chimneykinginc.com

Father & Son Owned

Free estImates...call anthony romeo

631-255-8335 CALL

Chimney King, Ent. Inc.

Call The WeNKS!

Exp. 12/31/20

BLACKTOP

BeSt priceS in town

• ConCrete • BriCk Patios • stooPs • stuCCo • Belgium BloCks • sidewalks • drainage ProBlems • Cellar entranCe • waterProofing • driveway sealing demolition • dumPster serviCe • Powerwashing • handyman rePairs

Licensed & insured

If Your Plumbing STINKS

the

1109793

Specializing

1103000

RYAN 516-695-4527 917-697-3647

1110703

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Painting Roofing • Sheetrocking • Plumbing Electrical • Concrete • Powerwashing Carpentry • Basements • Baby-Proofing Ikea Furn. Assembly • Computer Repairs

RUNNING CARS •NO TITLE • NO KEYS • NO PROBLEM PROMPT PROMPT SERVICE, CALL SERVICE, CALL PROMPT SERVICE 631-255-8335 FOR ALL YOUR FOR ALL YOUR JUNK FOR ALL YOUR JUNK CARS, TRUCKS AND CARS, TRUCKS AND JUNK CARS, VANS. CRASHED CARS, TRUCKS ANDOR VANS. CRASHED ORCARS TRUCKS, AND VANS. RUNNING VANS. CRASHED OR •NO TITLEOR • NO KEYS RUNNING CARS CRASHED RUNNING CARS • NO PROBLEM •NO TITLE • NO KEYS RUNNING CARS PROMPT SERVICE, CALL •NO TITLE • NO KEYS •• NO PROBLEM • NO KEYS • NO NO TITLE PROBLEM 631-255-8335 PROMPT SERVICE, CALL • NO PROBLEM

1111085

Over 15 Years Experience Licensed • Insured

$25

516-668-3607

QUICK CASH Cell:

www.lucyluulivingwater.com FOR ALL YOUR JUNK

COMPLETE RENOVATIONS

HANDYMAN SERVICE

lucy MenSAh

Email: gaby1234@optonline.net to own the Enagic Ionizer Machine. 1109488

Sunday, August 02,Too 2020Small!" 11:06:29 AM "No Job Get

1.99 Per Gallon

1112012

AlkAline WAter Sold

Is Bottled Water Safer?

OWA_Purge_BW_Bold

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

HERALD

December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

HERALD

Stuff

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

Finds Under $100

Adoption

CAMERA BUNDLE: KODAK Easyshare V550 Digital w/Memory Cards, Batteries, C h a r g e r s , C a r d R e a d e r, m o r e . $80 516-794-4712

Single woman looking to build her family by adoption. Any ethnicity welcome, expenses paid. Please call (347) 470-5228 or my attorney: (800) 582-3678 for information

CROCK POT HAMILTON Beach 6qt. Both brand new. $15. 516-297-2420

MERCHANDISE MART

CRYSTAL WINE DECANTER with 6 glasses brand new,must see Paid $50.00 asking $25.00 (516) 579-9089

Antiques/Collectibles

DESK- SOLID WOOD (not veneers) 6 large draws. Excellent condition. 46"wide 27"ht $50 516 314-6535

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 40 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid.. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

Wanted To Buy I BUY OLD AMERICAN MOTORCYCLES UP TO 1999. Please Call Dan 516-639-1027

FINDS UNDER $100

DISHES, IKEA BRAND New in box. Service of 6, Blue $35. 516-225-9191 DOLL HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, handmade, wood, 8 rooms plus bathroom, two story, all furnishings! $99 516-314-6536 DOLL HOUSE MINIATURES & ACCESSORIES. Accessories $2-$10. Furniture $10-$50. Call Joy Evenings, 917-743-7695 Leave Message GIRLS CLOTHES: SIZE 5, New with Tags. Jeans, hoodies, long-sleeve Tshirts Call/text 917-420-5814. $8

Finds Under $100

JEWELRY: BRACELETS, EARRINGS. Silver And Costume. $10-$30. Great For Gifts!! Call Joy Evenings, 917-743-7695 Leave Message

2 MIRRORS: 24X36 - color 1) gray 1) silve r, p e r fe c t c o n d i t i o n , $ 1 5 . e a c h 516-297-2420

LAPTOP CQ60- 215DX: Win-10 64X, 4gb Mem, 250gb HD w/case; $90 516-794-4712

B E N C H , B E AU T I F U L LY U P H O L STERED Solid wood. $85 516-225-9191

ORIGINAL TIFFANY ASHTRAY with certificate 4 1/2 " triangle shape, paid $100.00 asking $25.00 516-579-9089

BOYS CLOTHES: SIZES 3T-4, New with Tags. Gap, Old Navy, Macy's Call/text 917-420-5814. $7

PEA COATS: GAP Kids, Wool Boys, Medium, Navy Blue. Girls, Large, Red.. Each $25 516-825-0069

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 Finds Under $100

Home Improvement

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos Wanted

SHARK ROTATOR PROFESSIONAL corded liftaway Vacuum with accessories (3). $95 516-427-9021

BRIAN CONNELLY SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Autos For Sale

DRIVE OUT BREAST Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

TV LG 32": Model 32LJ500B, Like New, Seldom Used. $60.00 516-221-5374 WIRELESS 5-IN-1 FAST charging station, multiple phone dock stand, charging pad, 4USB ports. $25 516-825-0069

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/ Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641

SERVICES Electricians E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman MIKE THE HANDYMAN: Light JobsPlumbing, Electrical, Specializing Vinyl Tiles, Gardening, Powerwashing, Painting. Interior And Exterior. Experienced. Reliable And Honest. Call Cell 516-225-8107; 516-837-3436

Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own.

Your Hometown Newspaper

To Place an Ad Call: 516-569-4000

HErald

HANDY DANDY NO JOB TOO SMALL! *Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

*MICHAEL LO BAIDO CONSTRUCTION*

Cement Specialist, Brickwork, Interlock Bricks, Belgium Blocks, Stoops, Patios, Basement Entrances, Pavers, Waterproofing. Quality Work, Lic./ Ins. Owner Always Onsite Free Estimates 516-354-5578

Miscellaneous

Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!

Call us today!

Cleaned, Repaired & Replaced Also Specializing in Roofing & Siding No job too big or small Lic. #H2709920000. Ins. Free Est. 516-234-4388 or 516-623-8447

•

Press 5

Crossword Puzzle

DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice R e m o t e . S o m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y. 1-888-609-9405 GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

Plumbing PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers. 24 Hour Emergency Response. 516-599-1011 PLUMBING & HEATING ALL TYPES Boilers, Bathrooms. Small/Large Jobs. Licensed. Call Chris 516-697-8001 or Tony 347-843-9243.

Tree Services T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates." Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Careers/Training TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Education COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! (844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

Health & Fitness HEARING AIDS!! BUY one/get one FREE! High-quality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Nearly invisible! 45-day money back guarantee! 833-448-0751. VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-855-579-8907 WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED HHA, LPN, Nurse's Aide, Childcare, Housekeeping & Day Workers. No Fees to Employers. Call Evons Services 516-505-5510

BUICK ROADMASTER 1994: Leather Interior, Excellent Working Condition, Must See To Appreciate. $3750. 516-428-3915 MERCEDES BENZ E350, 2006: 4-Matic, 70K Miles, Excellent Condition. Must See! $12,000. 516-603-8697

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highe$t Ca$h Paid$ All Years/Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277 CARS, TRUCKS, SUVS & VANS WANTED. I Buying All Years, Running or Not! NO TITLE, NO KEYS NO PROBLEM! Same Day Service!! CALL CASH CARS GUYS 631-417-5040 Call us last,We will Match or Beat any Legit Quote!

Junk Cars Wanted

HIGHEST CA$H PAID All Cars Bought 24/7 FREE Pickup

Serving Nassau County 41 Years No Title, No Keys=No Problem ID Required. CALL US LAST!

Call us at 516-766-0000

To Place Your Ad in the Herald Classifieds. Call 516-569-4000, press 5 to speak to an Account Executive.

JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, It’s in the REAL ESTATE & MORE... Herald Classifieds ... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, To Advertise 516-569-4000 REALCall ESTATE & MORE... press 5 JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE &’sMORE... Answers to todAy puzzle JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE...

opiNioNs

ew York state is facing a $9 billion budget deficit due to the coronavirus pandemic, with severe cutbacks and tax hikes likely on the way. Although there should be some relief coming at the federal level once President-elect Joe Biden takes office, New York definitely needs to develop some new revenue streams, and fast. Nearly two years ago, I argued in a Herald op-ed that the state should legalize the recreational use of marijuana, and that Nassau County leaders Nick and residents BuglioNe shouldn’t be so quick to shoot the notion down, as they so frequently do. I also wrote that it was about time the state legalized sports gambling, an activity that so many people take part in illegally already. Not surprisingly, two years have passed and little has changed. The recreational use of marijuana is still illegal. And while the New York State

Gaming Commission made sports gambling legal about six months after my first op-ed ran — you’re welcome — bets can only be placed at a handful of upstate casinos. Nobody is getting off their couch on a football Sunday to drive to the Catskills so they can bet that the Jets are going to lose again. Now, more than ever, we need to legalize marijuana and online sports gambling. Obviously, we desperately need the tax revenue. But more important, both are now legal in nearby New Jersey. Two years ago I pointed out that a friend of mine who lives in Jersey City was taking my bets all football season long. He still does. I send him cash through Venmo and text him my bets. He keeps a ledger, and at the end of the season we settle up. But two years ago, recreational marijuana use was illegal in New Jersey. Not anymore. In an Election Day referendum, New Jersey residents voted overwhelmingly to legalize pot. Now, before I propose this scenario,

I would like to make clear that I don’t smoke marijuana. But if I wanted to, what would stop me from calling my friend and asking him to pick up some weed for me at his local dispensary? Maybe we could meet at Penn Station, have a bite to eat, catch up on our lives and make a quick transaction. And couldn’t any enterprising person who has a friend in New Jersey place an even larger marijuana order, pick it up and sell it on the streets of Nassau County at a markup? To be clear again, I’m not suggesting that anybody do this. I’m merely pointing out the obvious: Now that marijuana is legal in New Jersey, it is tantamount to being legal here. The stuff is going to pour in over the border anyway, so why don’t we join the party, so to speak? The same thing goes for online sports gambling. If people want to do it, they’re going to do it, regardless of what the law says. So let’s legalize it and cash in. I’m not alone in my thinking. I was heartened to hear Gov. Andrew Cuomo

he stuff is going to pour in over the border anyway, so why don’t we join the party, so to speak?

recently say he thought marijuana would be legalized soon. Meanwhile, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, a Queens Democrat, likes his odds of getting State Senate Bill 17d passed, which would legalize online sports betting. Although neither measure would pull New York state completely out of its fiscal crisis, it’s safe to say that both would generate billions of dollars in revenue. Oh, but I can almost see the Nassau County curmudgeons seething as they read this. I sure felt their wrath two years ago, when I first weighed in. One Herald reader wrote in and all but called me a drug addict. I even got an email from Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, who wrote that, while she enjoyed reading my columns (I’m kind of a big deal), she respectfully disagreed with my opinion. Look, write your letters. Call me names. Say whatever you want to say. It isn’t going to change the fact that the recreational use of marijuana and online sports gambling are here to stay. So let’s legalize them. New York sure could use the cash. Nick Buglione is a teacher, freelance journalist and former editor of the East Meadow Herald.

Lost and found in the pandemic

think somewhere around the end of October, my husband and I ran out of things to say. Sitting across the dinner table from each other over plates of Costco soup and a homemade Greek salad with wimpy lettuce, our eyes met and … that was it. Our eyes met. At breakfast we had already covered news about the grandkids and news from the news. We have a rule about no TV during meals, so we ate in companRaNdi ionable silence, kReiss which felt both OK and a little sad. When you’re out and about, seeing friends, going to an office, getting your hair cut or your car serviced or planning a weekend away or going to weddings and funerals, there is an ongoing narrative to your days. Normal life is grist for the conversation mill. But these days we’re not cutting our hair or mingling or going shopping. We walk our dog, but don’t stop to chat with the neighborhood dog friends out for a stroll. Conversation requires material, and our material is growing

thin: “Did you speak to the kids?” “Do you want pepperoni or mushrooms?” “Did you sign the health care proxy?” We have lost more, too. Underpinning our lives is the sense that things will work out OK. We have believed in ourselves, that we can work through problems and survive life’s challenges and even tragedies. But the pandemic has eroded some of that confidence in ourselves and in the future. We wobble a bit from time to time. After 52 years of marriage, after decades of living in one community and creating friendships that form the fabric of our lives, that fabric is fraying, as friends are lost. At our age, we expect that people will get sick and some will die, but during a pandemic there is no satisfying way to grieve as a community of friends. Three dearest friends died since we began isolating ourselves, and we didn’t get to see them within weeks or months of their passing. We said what we could in messages and emails and photos, but one hug would have obviated the need for words. My grandkids, ages 10 to 17, are spinning in their own galaxies of online school and virtual reality and friend

bubbles and much too much downtime and isolation. No one can give them back this year, and while they have learned patience and resilience, I wouldn’t suggest global pandemics to teach character building. I miss them. I find I work hard to catch their attention with nottoo-annoying texts and offers with homework and pitches for group activities and games. They’re a tough sell, and nothing virtual compares to seeing them face to face. It is important, I think, to be honest with ourselves and authentic with our kids and grandkids, not just cheerleaders for pandemic silver linings. I will say, however, that much has been found during this time. Reference the same patience and resilience, which all of us have had to summon. “New York tough” resonates these days. I am more disciplined about getting out and exercising, between clouds and raindrops, whenever I find a patch of blue. Just about every day, I move, somehow and somewhere, just to change the scenery and push away unwelcome thoughts. I keep close with friends nearby and far away, giving more time to more

e’ve lost time with family and dear friends, but found the time to try new things.

expansive emails and the sharing of photos and memories. It helps. All these threads weave the fabric tighter. I have started crafting books. What an incredibly satisfying thing it is to begin by folding papers and adding photographs and snippets of poetry and passages from old letters and collaging together something meaningful in an original book. It absorbs my free time, of which I have a lot. I appreciate the luxury of time to do art. What I also place in the “found” column is the challenge of baking complex desserts, like the cranberry lemon bars I made from a New York Times recipe. Every part, from the fresh cranberry puree to the lemon curd to the crust, had to be prepared separately and then composed. Now I have 24 bars in the freezer. Since I eat them only occasionally, they should last me until we get the vaccine. If you’re reading this, and since I am writing it, we are still here, and still riding this crazy wave. As a new year approaches, even as we grieve for what has been lost, it feels exhilarating to watch the first people getting vaccinated, offering us all the promise of a healthy 2021. Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

N.J. just legalized pot. N.Y. needs money. Well, then, why not?

vWantagh

HERALD HERALD

Herald editorial

J.D. FREDA Reporter

It’s time for America to come to its senses over guns

Wantagh

December 17, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

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istening to Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords speak, you’re quickly overcome by the urge to cry. The former congresswoman was once known for her incisive rhetoric, delivered with a magnetic smile. Then, at age 40, she was shot one sunny January day in 2011 outside Tucson, Ariz., while chatting with constituents in front of a Safeway supermarket. The 22-year-old gunman, angered by Giffords’s political views, had targeted her. Six died in the attack, and 10 others besides Giffords were injured. Giffords may have survived, but her speech did not. Her words once flowed easily, but now she measures each one, rehearsing phrases to string them together in coherent sentences before speaking in public. It is a miracle that she is able to utter a word. The bullet that struck her pierced the left side of her brain, leaving her unable to talk for two months. Through speech therapy, she regained the ability to speak, but only in short, labored bursts. That challenge was obvious during Northwell Health’s second Gun Violence Prevention Forum, a two-hour meeting of gun safety experts, medical practitioners, policy makers and elected leaders from around the country on Dec. 10. Giffords spoke alongside U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican who supports a federal universal background check for firearm purchases, and whom Giffords, a Democrat, has endorsed for Congress. We applaud Northwell Health — in particular Michael Dowling, its presi-

dent and CEO — for taking a leading role in fostering dialogue about gun safety, while also funding gun violence research: Northwell put up $1 million last December to study America’s “pandemic of gun violence,” as Dowling calls it. We also applaud Giffords, who, despite the physical pain and mental anguish she endures, has been an outspoken proponent of common-sense gun laws that are intended not to take away anyone’s right to bear arms, but rather to enact safeguards — like background checks — to ensure that guns do not end up in the hands of criminals or those suffering from mental illness. No doubt, we need to understand the root causes of our nation’s crisis of gun violence, which kills an average of 110 people a day — two-thirds by suicide. With a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Northwell is conducting a major research study at three of its hospitals, asking emergency room patients about the presence of guns in their homes to assess their risk of injury or death by a firearm. Our nation desperately needs studies like this one. From 1996 to 2019, Congress, tied up in knots by the powerful gun lobby, refused to fund firearms research. Only recently, thanks to the monumental efforts of gun safety activists like Giffords, is Congress starting to parcel out research funds. In its 2020 budget, it earmarked $25 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health to study gun violence. Over the past two and a half decades,

letters How did we almost re-elect Donald Trump? To the Editor: Thanks to Randi Kreiss for being brave enough to write about the man currently in the White House (“We’re on Trump time for seven more weeks,” Dec. 3-9). I doubt he will ever go to prison, although I agree that he should, with almost 300,000 people dead. What a shame that he was almost voted back into office had we not pulled out all the stops to educate and organize. Happy to hear that not everyone on this island is a Trump supporter! CAROLANN PEREz Freeport

LIRR should rethink its plans To the Editor: In our new Covid-19 world, Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Rail Road and New Jersey Transit must re-evaluate anticipated future ridership growth projections. The

roughly a million people have died by gun in this country, with about 170 mass shootings. After the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012 — in which 26 died, including 20 6- and 7-year-olds — Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, who was recently elected in Arizona to the U.S. Senate, founded a nonprofit, simply called Giffords, to raise funds for gun violence research, lobby government to enact sensible gun legislation and educate the public about firearms safety. Writing recently on Giffords.org’s blog, Kelly Drane noted that gun sales have surged during the coronavirus pandemic. We see this at any time of potential unrest in our nation — fear drives firearms sales to ever higher levels. In November, some 2 million gun sales were recorded — a 48 percent increase over the same month last year. More guns, Drane rightly noted, do not make us safer. Quite the opposite. We know that economic calamities such as the Great Recession of 2007 to 2010 increase the likelihood of suicide, according to the medical journal The Lancet. We also know that people who die by suicide are significantly more likely to use a gun than any other means. At the same time, according to Harvard University School of Public Health, more guns bring more homicides. Therefore, stemming our nation’s all-too-easy access to firearms should — and likely would — reduce gun violence. The best way to effect change, Giffords noted last Thursday, is to “vote, vote, vote.”

opiNioNs

ews about an FDA approval for the coronavirus vaccine is monumental, but we must not allow it to lull us into a false sense of complacency. This war isn’t over — in fact, there are still a few battles ahead. We are not immune to the nationwide Covid19 surge, and in the past month we have seen positivity and hospitalization numbers that are the highest they’ve been since we reopened in May. Our data is beginning to show a more even distribution of disease activity among all age groups across the county. This Laura virus doesn’t disCurraN criminate, and its reach is once again widespread across all our communities. I know that this has been a long and tiring battle, but now is not the time to let our guards down. We can’t allow Covid fatigue to get the better of us when we’re so close to the finish line. We have reached a clear point of community

spread that calls for increased vigilance from all of us. I continue to ask all residents to stick with the common-sense measures we know will keep us, and our loved ones, safe: Wear a mask, stay six feet apart and avoid unsafe gatherings. These simple measures can prevent us from going backward. Furthermore, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, has said that Covid-19 will continue to disrupt lives until an “overwhelming majority” of people get the vaccine. Polls show, however, that as many as half of Americans have reservations about the shots. In response, Nassau County is launching the “We Can Do It, Nassau” campaign, a public-awareness campaign promoting confidence in the U.S. vaccine effort, emphasizing unity and patriotism and the importance of the vaccines to ensure that schools return to normal and we continue on the path toward a strong economic recovery in the county. The campaign is a tribute to Rosie the Riveter, the cultural icon representing women

who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. During the war, defense workers on Long Island turned out hundreds of military planes a month for Grumman, in Bethpage, and Republic Aviation, in Farmingdale. The county’s campaign seeks to remind the public of the extraordinary challenges that Americans — including Long Islanders — have overcome in the past and inspire residents to likewise step up for their country today. As county executive, I’ve made keeping schools and businesses open one of my highest priorities. As we manage the increase in cases because of the holidays and cold weather, the county will do everything in its power to keep education and commerce operating, but we need your help. Robust testing is key, and I am committed to continuing to assist schools in meeting testing requirements so we can keep our kids in school safely and keep our business community open through the winter. At the moment, hospital capacity isn’t a pressing threat in Nassau County, but

’ve made keeping schools and businesses open one of my highest priorities.

Letters same applies to any new proposed system capacity-expansion projects. Clearly, more people are going to telecommute from home on a permanent basis. Add the increasing crime and the declining quality of life in New York City, making working in Manhattan less desirable. Many Manhattan-based corporations, including some in the Wall Street area, are considering relocating some employees to satellite offices in the surrounding suburbs. The ridership growth for LIRR when the $11.8 billion East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal opens in December 2022 will be thousands less than anticipated. That start date assumes there are no more delays in the most recent project-recovery schedule. Our new commuting world calls into question the value of investing $8 billion or more in Governor Cuomo’s proposed Penn Station South project, comprising four new platforms and eight new tracks. LARRY PENNER Great Neck Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office.

Stay strong, New York To the Editor: The federal Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine last Friday, and New York received its initial allocation of 170,000 doses over the weekend. As part of the distribution, the state is setting up 90 cold-storage sites as regional distribution centers that are capable of storage at the required temperature. This vaccine distribution will be a massive

the trend is in the wrong direction. To save lives and prevent further restrictions on restaurants and other businesses, we must do everything we can to hold the line. At the peak of the pandemic, we had almost 2,600 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, and 505 of them were on ventilators. As of Monday, we had 419 people hospitalized, with 36 on ventilators. We expect those numbers to go up, and the county is ready to increase capacity for hospital and ICU units as needed. I’ve been in constant conversation with hospital executives to ensure preparedness for a potential surge cases as well as the upcoming pivot to vaccine storage and distribution. I know that the holiday season brings unique challenges, but if we follow the guidance of our trusted public health professionals, we can save lives and keep our businesses and schools open while we eagerly await the distribution of the vaccine, our light at the end of the tunnel. We have worked so hard to contain this virus — let’s not lose our progress now. Lauran Curran is the Nassau County executive.

Framework by Christina Daly

undertaking. At the same time, we will need to manage our hospital capacity and continue to stop the spread of the virus. The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war. We will get it produced, we will get it distributed and we will be successful. But it will take months for the entire vaccination process to be completed. Meanwhile, New Yorkers should continue to wear masks, social distance, and avoid small and large gatherings. On Dec. 10, I announced new metrics by which micro-cluster focus zones will be determined to help control Covid-19 spread and ensure hospital capacity. Red zone: A red zone will be implemented when a region, after the cancellation of elective procedures and a 50 percent increase in hospital capacity, is 21 days away from reaching 90 percent hospital capacity on the current seven-day growth rate. Orange zone: A geographic area will be designated an orange zone if it has a 4 percent positivity rate (seven-day average) over the previous 10 days, and it is located in a region that has reached 85 percent hospital capacity. Alternatively, a geographic area may also become an orange zone if the state Department of Health determines that the region’s rate of hospital admissions is unacceptably high and a zone designation is appropriate to control the rate of growth. Yellow zone: A geographic area will be designated a yellow zone if it has a 3 percent positivity rate (seven-day average) over the previous 10 days, is in the top 10 percent in the state in hospital admissions per capita over the previous week and is experiencing week-over-week growth in daily admissions. GOv. ANDREW CUOMO

Celebrating the holidays patriotically — Freeport

N. WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 17, 2020

Let’s keep up the great work in Nassau County

Christopher Kaufman

Alex Viola

Laura Dupkin Memisha

Sarah Trudel

Jennifer Ackermann

Nick Santillo

Shady Aly

Anthony Russo

Rina Mancino Ambrosio

Jill Abby Proct

Tony Ashmawi

AnneMarie Murale Felix Murale

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Christopher Benneche

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Angel Gray

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Don Haines

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Karen Messina

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December 17, 2020 â€” WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN