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HERALD 2020

YEAR IN REVIEW

Citizen

DECEMBER 31, 2020 - JANuARY 6, 2021

What’s

Vol. 69 No. 1

An EMS vet keeping Wantagh safe

INSIDE

By J.D. Freda jfreda@liherald.com

Courtesy Church ofxx/Herald St. Jude

Alcoholism rose, while opioid use xx fell, early in the pandemic. Page 0

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J.D. Freda/Herald-Citizen xx/Herald

A xxBlack Lives Matter parade made its way through Wantagh in June. Page 0

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Timothy Denton/Herald xx/Herald -Citizen

Residents gathered to march and xx pay respects for those lost onPage 9/11. 0

any people made real, tangible differences in their communities this year — some in offices, some in schools and some in their homes. The HeraldCitizen’s Person of the Year, Stephen Lincke, made a difference from an ambulance, on the front lines of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. That may sound heroic, but saving people’s lives is almost routine for Lincke, 59, who has been an emergency medical technician for 40 years and a member of the Wantagh Fire Department for 41. He was named the 2020 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians’ Volunteer EMS Paramedic of the Year. “In February and March we put together a team of people within the department to oversee the operations and how everything would run moving forward,” said Lincke, the department’s EMS captain, referring to its response to the spreading pandemic. “We would meet weekly to put out the right information over our website on what you needed to do. If you were sick, we showed you where you needed to go.” As of press time, Wantagh had reported 1,504 cases of Covid-19 in a population of roughly 18,000. “At first we perceived this to be just like the flu, but it wasn’t,” Lincke said. “It wasn’t until people started realizing how bad this was and people were dying. . . . I think we’re going to look back at this time period in 20 years and say that we were ill-prepared for this.” He recalled the early days of the pandemic, where the Fire Department received more calls than now. He also reflected on the challenges that come with his position. “It is truly heartbreaking when you have to take a person to a hospital, when you know that they may [have lived] with

Page 8

NEWS

StePhen Lincke

‘

hat is something I never, ever wanted to see.’ their husband or wife of, say, 40 years, and you know they aren’t coming home to them,” he said. “That is something I never, ever wanted to see.” But it is something that Lincke has

Infections as of Dec. 31

For BrEAKING go to liherald.com

HERALD PERSON oF tHE YEAR

1,504

CoMMuNItY uPDAtE

Infections as of Dec. 24 1,395

been forced to grow accustomed to, which he has had to do since his first days in the Wantagh F.D. He was born in Forest Hills, Queens, where his family lived, before they moved to Cambria Heights and, when he was 10, to Wicks Avenue in Seaford. He played sports in the street with his friends, and took part in Little League baseball and youth hockey. He graduated from General Douglas MacArthur High School in Wantagh in 1979. After high school, Lincke attended NYC Technical College in Brooklyn, where he majored in graphic arts. After five semesters, however, he said, he felt the need to help people, and he wasn’t fulfilling that need. He wanted to be an EMS worker. Lincke’s parents didn’t work in the medical field, nor did anyone in his family. His inspiration? “I got interested in a TV show called ‘Emergency!’ about Los Angeles firefighter paramedics,” he said.“I think that’s what piqued my interest.” His younger sister Mary, 58, also went into the medical field, becoming a nurse. In 1980, at age 19, Lincke looked to join a local fire department. He was zoned for Wantagh’s. “Quickly, my interest became more and more piqued when I joined,” he said. For a year he learned the ins and outs of the firehouse, and about serving as a volunteer in the department. He also learned about a personality trait that was something of a necessity among firefighters, and especially among EMTs. “I quickly had to learn to disassociate myself,” he said. “People die. The biggest thing I had to overcome was seeing a dead body, having never seen one before, and realizing this happens in the world every Continued on page 4 Courtesy Wantagh Fire Department

Stephen Lincke, 59, is captain of the Wantagh Fire Department’s EMS unit.

December 31, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

DEC approved $585 million plume cleanup Regulators from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation gave the nod on Dec. 20, 2019 to a $585 million plan to remediate the Bethpage plume, a 9-squaremile-plus portion of the aquifer from which Seaford and Wantagh residents draw water for their daily needs. The plan, proposed in detail in June, constituted the first concrete steps in a cleanup effort that ultimately will take an estimated 110 years to complete at a cost variously estimated at between $30 billion and $70 billion in 2020 dollars. The plume has allegedly been the result of contamination from the development and production of prototype and experimental weapons systems by Northrop Grumman Corp.,

Alcoholism rose early in pandemic as opioid deaths fell

under contract with the U.S. Navy, from the 1930s to the 1990s. Northrop Grumman and the Navy had until the beginning of January to accept the DEC’s proposed plan and agree to fund the cleanup. Otherwise, the state was set to move forward on its own and seek reimbursement later through litigation. According to DEC estimates, the plume extends to a depth of 900 feet and runs south from Bethpage through Seaford and Wantagh, past Sunrise Highway.

It was a dark evening last winter, the sky lowering and the temperature dropping. Roughly two dozen people have gathered in a church classroom in Seaford with furniture better suited to kindergartners than adults. Attendees ranged in age from perhaps their early 20s to their late 70s, and from their dress and their stories, they were people who might’ve not otherwise know one another in the ebbs and flows of their lives. It was an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, and the attendees had in common an interest in the disease of alcoholism. The group consisted of couples and individuals. Some were attending their

YEAR IN REVIEW JANUARY

Courtesy Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced the department’s approval of a plan to begin work on a $585 million cleanup of the Bethpage Plume.

first meeting; others had been members for years. Eighteen percent of Nassau County residents — more than 6,100 people in Seaford and Wantagh, out of a combined population in the two hamlets of roughly 34,000 — drank excessively in 2019, according to a study of U.S. counties by the Robert H. Wood Foundation and the University of Wisconsin. This tracks with the New York state figure of 19 percent, but is nearly 40 percent higher than the national average. More than a quarter of Nassau’s adults covered admitted to binge drinking at least once a month. Courtesy Church of St. Jude

Many A.A. meetings have been held in churches like St. Jude, in Wantagh.

Bideawee saving pets from Puerto Rico Bideawee animal rescue in Wantagh, which serves communities across the South Shore, including Seaford, took in 14 dogs from hurricane- and earthquake-ravaged Puerto Rico, in early February, continuing its partnership with three animal shelters near P.R.’s “Dead Dog Beach,” a colloquial term for Sato Beach, in the municipality of Yabucoa. Bideawee has aided animal shelters in Puerto Rico since 2013, and last year alone, rescued 211 dogs from the Caribbean island commonwealth. “We became aware of ‘Dead Dog Beach’ quite some time ago, and since 2013, we have been working with rescue groups in Puerto Rico,” Bideawee President Leslie Granger said. “The need became dire … We’re

getting transports from Puerto Rico every week or biweekly.” Dead Dog Beach received its name because of the high number of stray and abandoned dogs in the area. On any given day, tens of thousands of dogs can be seen roaming the shoreline, as is the case in many parts of Puerto Rico. Granger said the number of strays throughout P.R. has increased significantly since Hurricane Maria ravaged the island in 2017, and several earthquakes struck between September and January.

YEAR IN REVIEW FEBRUARY

Courtesy Bideawee

Three-month-old Tulip is among the hundreds of dogs saved by Bideawee in the past few years.

Wantagh H.S. scored big in Science Olympiad Anyone who thinks science is a quiet activity reserved for the ivy-covered halls of academe has never attended a science Olympiad like the one held at Levittown’s Division Avenue High School in February. Students high-fived, shouted and jumped on one another like sports stars winning a championship. More than 630 students on 42 teams competed from high schools all

across southeastern Nassau County’s Division C, according to Levittown Schools Science Director Dr. Leigh Rust, including Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, East Meadow and Merrick. The schools were vying for the right to represent the region at a statewide competition in Syracuse in March. Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

Wantagh’s ping pong parachute team of Margaret Gates, left, and Abigail Colaeo.

With 62 years of experience in Wantagh public schools between them, High School Principal Carolyn Breivogel and Assistant Principal James Brown would be forgiven if they appeared grizzled and worn, the wizened veterans of countless encounters with adolescents. Instead, they have been energetic and upbeat in outlook and youthful and fit in appearance, ready for the next chapters in their lives as they prepare to retire. “That’s what happens when you spend your life working with kids,” Breivogel said.“They keep us young.” The two shared a vision, for the school and its students, Breivogel said. She described two triads the two have used to guide their partnership since

they took on leadership roles. First, they focused on people, programs and plant. “We wanted to clean up the plant — the campus — paint it and make it more inviting,” Breivogel said. As far as staff, “We only hired the best.” “When we interviewed candidates, one question we always asked was, ‘What do you teach?’” Brown said. “If they said ‘math’ or ‘English,’ we knew we didn’t want them. The right answer is ‘kids.’” The second triad focused on academics, arts and athletics.

YEAR IN REVIEW MARCH

Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

Wantagh High School Principal Carolyn Breivogel and Assistant Principal James Brown.

Local Orthodox churches fall silent during pandemic The call and response of the hymns reverberated through the church on the evening of March 25, icons peered down from the walls on the priest in his shining Lenten robes of purple and gold brocade, a scene that has been repeated for more than a thousand years. In place of the usual Wednesdayevening Communion liturgy, however, the Rev. Martin Kraus, of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in East Meadow, led an 1,100-year-old service called a Paraklesis with a new theme: supplicating the Virgin Mary for relief from the Covid-19 crisis. One other significant difference: The church was empty, except for Kraus’s wife, Matushka Dennise Kraus, who filled the dual role of canonarch,

The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce postponed its Second Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus which prompted N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo to limit crowd sizes in an attempt to curb the spread of the disease. The parade, originally scheduled for March 22, was put off for July 19 initially, with the grand marshal’s dinner rescheduled for July 15. This year’s grand marshal was to be Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. The chamber had planned originally to go ahead with the parade, which last year drew more than 50,000 spectators, according to Nassau

County Police Department estimates. But as the coronavirus spread, chamber officers began a more measured consideration. When Cuomo declared a state of emergency on March 12, banning all gatherings of 500 people or more, the chamber was left with the choice of canceling or postponing. “It was really out of our hands,” Powell said. “If it were up to us, I guess we’d still be marching, but we had to do the right thing” by postponing, she said. Last year’s parade was a success by any standard. “It exceeded our wildest expectations,” Powell said at the time. Christina Daly/Herald-Citizen

Wantagh Chamber of Commerce was forced to cancel its Seconf Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Prices reflect pandemic’s demand

or master of ceremonies, and the choir. Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, which serves all of southeast Nassau County, including residents from Seaford and Wantagh, fell silent as a community after its last public liturgy on March 22, as New York’s ban on gatherings of more than 50 was extended to religious organizations. and houses of worhsip. The Orthodox Church was the last major denomination to cease holding public services.

YEAR IN REVIEW APRIL

Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

Fewer than half of its regular congregants attended Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in East Meadow on March 22, the last day before closing.

“Do you have a voucher for that yogurt?” The clerk at the Wantagh supermarket asked the question facetiously in April. Yogurt wasn’t being strictly rationed then, although like many stores, this one had a two-item limit on all identical merchandise — even 3-ounce tins of cat food. Paper goods continued to be almost completely absent from the shelves, although napkins started to reappear here and there. One Levittown grocer had sold out of prepackaged meat products like hot dogs, bologna and other cooked, ready-to-eat products, and those same items were in short supply in other locations.

To deal with shortages, residents began sharing sources of their supplies in ways not seen since the 1940s. One Seaford resident was willing to divulge her secret savior — the retail grocer that still stocked everything she needed — only on the condition that its name not appear in print. Over-the-counter cold and flu products dwindled at pharmacies in Seaford and Wantagh as residents began stocking up on them as well. As a result of shortages, prices for some over-the-counter medicines tose in April, despite some special offers made by stores. Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

State Sen. Kevin Thomas, a Levittown Democrat, said the Legislature was considering a number of options to help local residents and businesses.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

Wantagh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade canceled amid coronavirus

Wantagh administrators announced retirement

Providing emergency care since 1981

December 31, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

Continued from front page

day, and I have to be emotionally capable of overcoming these things.” But that psychological armor had an upside, too. “I think that it also makes you more passionate in the process,” Lincke said, “because you quickly start to understand that your job outcomes make a difference in people’s lives.” In 1981, Lincke completed his EMT training. It was difficult at first, he said, because people expected him to be certain of everything despite the fact that he was new on the job.“We didn’t have phones to look up diseases and medications online right away, either,” he said.“It was all from the book.” After taking advanced EMT classes, Lincke was offered a job working for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation in 1983. He was stationed in Brooklyn for the next 10 years, and as a volunteer, he served as captain of Wantagh’s Engine 7 from 1988 to 1992. Not long after he became a captain, Lincke faced one of the most surreal moments of his life. Responding to a shooting in Manhattan, he and his fellow EMTs arrived on the scene, only to discover that police were in a standoff with the shooter. Hiding behind a squad car, Lincke noticed that the victim of the shooting was lying in the middle of the street, uncovered. He crawled out from behind the squad car and dragged the victim behind an ambulance, which transported him to a hospital. Lincke was honored by the city for his heroics. “The hardest part was explaining to my parents what it was for,” he recalled. A few years later, Lincke was stationed in Queens. He had just worked a long overnight shift starting on Sept. 10, 2001, and finishing in the wee hours of Sept. 11. He was called in to Lower Manhattan to help out at the scene of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Courtesy Wantagh Fire Department Stephen Lincke, far right, with Wantagh Fire Department Chief Ken Kelly, holding the poster, Second Assistant Chief Lenny Mathewson, left, and Third Assistant Chief Bill Stevens. Center. “It was surreal,” he recounted. “Whatever was shown on television didn’t Personal protective equipment, he said, name, but I can’t do that right now.” ola outbreak in late 2013, which do it justice.” Lincke offered both a warning and a wish mostly affected West Africa, and has been key in slowing the spread of the viWhen he went along South only one case was reported in rus, despite many early shortages, but what as the year ended. He said that while 2021 Street in Manhattan later that will ultimately prove most important is how may offer more of the same tribulations that New York City. night, he saw a few familiar ve“This is something that residents respond to social distancing guide- 2020 did, he hoped that in leading the next hicles. “There was the Wantagh is global — it is happening lines. generation of EMT workers, he can teach OF THE Fire Department, right there on “The biggest issue is people understand- them how to be successful and, in turn, to everywhere,” Lincke said. He South Street,” Lincke recalled. “I added that he and his unit at ing [whom] they’re coming into contact pass their knowledge on to the generation knocked on the door and they the Wantagh F.D. have stressed with,” he said before adding with a chuckle, that follows them. said, ‘Oh my God.’ I think they to residents how easily the virus “Listen, my chair at Paddy’s Loft is calling my thought I was dead.” spreads. Though he has had no shortage of unique “There have been so many Covid-19 paexperiences, Lincke said that nothing could tients that I’ve lost count,” he said. “But I had have prepared him for the pandemic this no second thoughts ever about doing the year. His closest comparison was with the Eb- job.”

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The department has been busy this year, in a community that has had more than 1,500 cases of Covid-19.

It may have been cold and drizzly, with leaden skies, and Nassau County may have been in the midst of the worst crisis it has faced in a century, but spirits were as high as if the sun were shining brightly on a carefree world as Seaford and Wantagh celebrated the season with two parades in May. On that morning, dozens of Seafordites joined teachers from Seaford High School to honor the class of 2020. And late that afternoon, at least 100 cars, trucks and service vehicles assembled at Gen. Douglas MacArthur High School for a raucous tribute to first responders and frontline workers. Cars and trucks gathered in the Seaford High parking lot shortly after

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

Wantagh High School names new principal

Wantagh and Seaford hosted pair of parades 8 a.m. for a cruise through the district that took them past seniors’ homes, as well as the district’s other schools, before they circled back to end where they started. “We’re going to try to drive by as many seniors’ houses as possible,” Seaford High Principal Scott Bersin said a few days before the event. At MacArthur, County Legislator John Ferretti joined the Levittown Moms Facebook group to sponsor a car parade that featured more than 100 cars.

Wantagh Schools Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Paul Guzzone as the new principal of Wantagh High School. He was sworn in on July 1. He succeeded Carolyn Breivogel, who retired after 30 years of service to the district. Guzzone served as associate principal and director of school counseling at Oceanside High School before being hired. He previously served as coordinator of special education at Oceanside’s Castleton High School, where he supervised the special education program and the district’s alternative high school. In addition, Guzzone served on the district’s Mental Health and Wellness task force, where he implemented a

YEAR IN REVIEW MAY

Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

A car parade with over 100 cars, local representatives and film characters took to the streets in early May.

new course, “Redefining Mental Health and Wellness,” whose focuses included advocacy, mindfulness practices and stigmas. Guzzone received his doctorate in interdisciplinary studies, with a concentration in educational leadership from LIU Post, and has an advanced certificate in educational leadership from the same institution. He holds master’s degrees in curriculum development, instructional technology and adolescent secondary education from the SUNY Albany, where he also received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics education and business administration. Courtesy Wantagh Schools

Dr. Paul Guzzone was named to succeed Carolyn Breivogel as principal of Wantagh High School.

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Advocacy groups held protest outside Nassau Legislature People streamed into the demonstration in front of the Nassau County Legislature and Executive Building in Mineola nearly an hour before the scheduled 5:30 p.m. start time in June. They had come to protest the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Shouting “I can’t breathe” and brandishing handmade signs, they arrived from all across the county and beyond. This followed the death of Floyd, 46, a Black man who died after officer Derek Chauvin, 44, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes before he stopped speaking or moving. According to authorities, police responded to a report of a man attempting to pass a counterfeit $20

at a shop. “What happened to George Floyd is very sad,” said Carlo Stanisci, owner of the Little Kitchen, in Wantagh. “He was already cuffed and on the ground. There is no reason to put your knee on his neck and not take it off while he can’t breathe.” Barbara Powell, an executive board member of the Hempstead NAACP, described Floyd’s death as a “modern-day lynching,” noting, “People are fed up and disgusted with how things are and how they keep repeating.”

YEAR IN REVIEW JUNE

Andrew Garcia/Herald-Citizen

Advocacy groups held a demonstration outside of the Nassau Legislature in remembrance of George

Phase I was greeted with caution and confusion

Select businesses in Seaford and Wantagh reopened on May 27, more than two months after they initially locked their doors, as the region encompassing Nassau and Suffolk counties cleared the final hurdles that had kept them shuttered. With hospital mortality rates low enough and the number of contact tracers high enough under the sevenpoint criteria set by New York and its

neighboring states, businesses ranging from florists to sporting goods to landscaping were allowed to reopen under certain conditions. D’Angelo’s Sporting Goods, in Wantagh, remained closed, however, due to confusion about what was allowed and what wasn’t. Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

Mike D’Angelo, of D’Angelo Sporting Goods in Wantagh, opted for caution earlier this year.

Miss Wantagh crowned despite limitations Wantagh’s annual July Fourth parade was canceled, along with a host of other seasonal events that might have risked the health of the hamlet’s residents in the face of concerns about Covid-19 infections. But Ella Stevens, the organizer of the 64th Miss Wantagh pageant, along with last year’s Miss Wantagh court and this year’s contestants, were all determined that the nearly six-decade tradition of crowning the winner on Independence Day would remain unbroken. They pieced together virtual segments and the June 30 pageant was streamed by the contestants themselves via Facebook, Stevens said. They also posted cameo summaries of their proposed initiatives.

The final ceremony used the same streaming technology, as Grace Massari, last year’s first runner-up, was crowed Miss Wantagh 2020 by Juliet Watstein, the outgoing title-holder. Erin Cunane was first runner-up, Angelina Maciak, second runner-up, and Sara Jacobs, third runner-up. Rounding out the 2020 court, Valerie Pastore and Nicole Tobia were named ambassadors. Massari, now a senior at Wantagh High School, emphasized the many benefits she received in her year as first runner-up.

YEAR IN REVIEW JULY

Courtesy Miss Wantagh Organization

Grace Massari, center, resplendent in blue, was crowned Miss Wantagh 2020 on July 4.

Kelleher earned inaugural Flatley award Hugh Kelleher, affectionately known as Hughie to his coaches and colleagues, was named one of Long Island’s top 100 football players at the beginning of the 2019 fall athletic season, and football isn’t even his best sport. The 6-foot-2-inch MacArthur High School signed to play lacrosse for Cornell University in 2021. And he was a member of the Generals’ basketball team as well.

In June, Kelleher, 18, was named one of the first two recipients of the new Tom Flatley Award, given to a male student athlete in Nassau County who competes at a high level in both football and lacrosse while demonstrating athletic and peer leadership as well as academic success. J.Heck/Herald

Kelleher capped a standout football career by rushing for over1,800 yards in his senior year.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

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December 31, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

Unemployment high on South Shore

Bay Park Conveyance delayed by coronavirus The Nassau County Department of Public Works and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation partnered in an effort to strengthen Long Island’s Western Bays through the Bay Park Conveyance Project. The estimated $408 million project had been slated to break ground in early 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic added uncertainty to the timetable for the project that is expected to take at least three years to complete. Nevertheless, the project’s goal is clear: divert treated wastewater — effluent — from the Bay Park Water Reclamation Facility to the Cedar Creek Outfall in Wantagh in an effort to rid the bays of nitrogen. Cedar Creek’s Outfall pipe stretches almost 3

miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Bay Park’s extends into the bay. The years of nitrogen buildup from effluent dumping, according to Adrienne Esposito, director of Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment, has severely damaged the area’s marshes, which provide some of Long Island’s most effective natural defenses to flooding on the south shore, as well as affected marine life. “That effluent is pumped into the bay, which doesn’t flush it out,” said Phil Franco, co-chairman of the Cedar Creek Oversight Committee.

With the expiration of the weekly federal pandemic unemployment benefit in the summer, and legislation to renew the program stalled in Congress, unemployment continue to grow this year. And despite New York state’s Phase 4 provisions for reopening in effect in both Seaford and Wantagh, businesses did not bounce back to the extent hoped for. Many, like restaurants and entertainment venues, had limitations due to social distancing guidelines that constrained their ability to return to pre-Covid prosperity, and some, like bowling alleys, were prevented from reopening at all. Like much of the county, Seaford

YEAR IN REVIEW AUGUST

Photo courtesy NYSEC

The Bay Park Conveyance Project will see effluent pumped from Bay Park to the Cedar Creek Outfall.

Wantagh and Seaford remember 9/11 attacks More than 200 people gathered in September to march from Seaford to Wantagh in an impromptu memorial to those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks 19 years ago. For many of those who took part, the attacks were highly personal, as the communities mourned the loss of family members killed that day as well as those who have died of illnesses contracted in its aftermath. Members of the Seaford and Wantagh fire departments were joined by contingents from East Meadow and Levittown, as well as a sizable representation from the Fire Department of the City of New York. The Nassau County Police Department’s Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Band, under the direction

and Wantagh have been heavily dependent on service jobs in areas like health care, hospitality and retail — three sectors that have accounted for nearly 200,000 lost jobs in Nassau and Suffolk counties since the lockdown began in mid-March, according to a report issued in July by County Executives Laura Curran and Steve Bellone. Some employers complained of difficulties in restaffing, calling the $600-per-week pandemic bonus over-generous. In a webinar hosted by Seaford Democratic State Sen. John Brooks in July, one attendee asked if Brooks was aware of any move to end the benefit entirely. Herald File Photo

Senator John Brooks

Service dogs help companions weather Covid

of Pipe Sgt. Robert Farrell, lent additional solemnity to the occasion. “The high schools canceled their memorials,” event organizer Rosanna Morey said, “So I decided to put together something small we could do instead.” Morey was one of the organizers of the “Light the Nights” parades in the two hamlets last month, in which residents showed their support for first responders by illuminating the outside of their homes with blue lights in the evenings.

Luke Tordy said in September that his service dog, Dragon, reconnected him with his life. Brigid Vogt says that her dog, Lennon IV, brought about a similar transformation. Such matter-of-fact statements are commonplace among recipients of the life-altering animals provided by the Santa Rosa, Calif.based Canine Companions for Independence. The charity has been training “companions” since 1976, and giving them to people with a wide range of physical and emotional impairments, from spina bifida to post-traumatic stress disorder. Neither Tordy, 16, of Wantagh, nor Vogt, 52, of Seaford could praise the organization enough for the positive changes their dogs

YEAR IN REVIEW SEPTEMBER

Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

The Rev. Anthony Giordano, of Calvary Lutheran Church, in East Meadow, led prayers outside Wantagh Fire Station No. 3 in September.

have brought to their lives. CCI accepts no payment from companions’ families for the animals, which cost roughly $50,000 to train and keep in good health, according to the organization’s media spokesman, John Bentzinger. Although CCI retains nominal ownership of the animals, the gifts are for life. Since receiving Dragon in 2017 to help him with emotional and social adjustments, Tordy has sought ways to give back. Last year he broke fundraising records, giving CCI $5,000 before its annual DogFest Walk ’n Roll celebration. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has prevented CCI from holding live gatherings. Courtesy Luke Tordy

Luke Tordy and his service dog, Dragon.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

Wantagh church held candlelight peace vigil Seventy-five years ago, on Sept. 2, 1945, morning-coated and uniformed officials from the Empire of Japan huddled together aboard the battleship USS Missouri, anchored in Sagami Bay. They had come to meet representatives of the Allied powers and to sign the instruments of surrender, formally ending the Second World War — a war that by some estimates had cost as many as 100 million lives. It was a war of firsts, including the first deployment of atomic weapons. To date, the bombs dropped by U.S. forces on Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain the only two such weapons ever used in war. For the Rev. Ron Garner, pastor of Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, the issue of nuclear weapons

has remained highly personal. “Forty years ago, I was a young second lieutenant stationed in Germany as part of the divisional security detail at a Pershing III missile site,” Garner recounted, on International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The church draws members from across the South Shore area, “As I gained seniority, I was given higher security clearances,” Garner continued,“and I had access to more documentation showing just how destructive these weapons are.”

YEAR IN REVIEW OCTOBER

Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

The Rev. Ron Garner, of Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church is a former army lieutenant.

It’s hard to imagine Mary Monahan standing still for more than a few moments at a time. So when she was laid off from her marketing job in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, she decided to use the break as a path of service, rather than an enforced vacation. “I’d been working in marketing for about 15 years,” said the Wantagh native and mother of two boys. “Even

fewer than 500,000 registered voters, more than 60 percent of whom live in Suffolk County. The Nassau portion of the district skewed heavily Republican, with 52,962 votes for Garbarino at press time, against Gordon’s 25,366. In Suffolk, where Gordon depended on a strong showing from her Democratic base, Garbarino outpolled her by more than 15,000 votes, with a total tally of 98,234 for the Republican assemblyman

It runs in the family. Public service, that is. For Bill Gilmor, 66, of Wantagh, his entire life has been devoted to serving the public in some capacity. A four-year active duty Navy career, 44 years and still an active volunteer firefighter and a 36-year career as a Wantagh Fire Department dispatcher that came to an end on Oct. 5. But Gilmor’s service, both as a member of the U.S. military and the fire department, was not an accident, nor was it unique in his family. Growing up in Wantagh, Gilmor was one of six children — five brothers. As he grew up attending Wantagh schools, including the now-shuttered Sunrise Park Elementary School and Wantagh

YEAR IN REVIEW NOVEMBER

Courtesy Andrew Garbarino

Suffolk County Republican and State Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino took a strong lead, earning more than 52.20 percent of the votes Wednesday morning.

though my job wasn’t seen as essential, I knew I wanted to stay busy.” Monahan’s “door-side” pickup happened almost by accident. A friend had an extra case of vitamins, Monahan said. “She didn’t know what to do with them. So I took them.” Timothy Denton/Herald-Citizen

Jack, left, and Michael Monahan collected bags of food on a recent Saturday as part of their mother, Mary’s, door-side pickup service

Gilmor hung up the phone after 36 years

Garbarino gained large lead over Gordon on Election Night In an election night that not many will soon forget, Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino, a Suffolk County Republican, took a commanding 54.32 percent lead in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Peter King in New York’s Second Congressional District, against Democrat Jackie Gordon, a former Babylon town counselor and retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel. In a district that crosses county lines along Long Island’s South Shore, Gordon collected 38.30 percent of the vote by early Wednesday morning. With 82 percent of precincts reporting in the two counties, Garbarino secured 156,042 votes, against Gordon’s 110,024, while Green Party candidate Harry R. Burger has totaled 2,536. The district had slightly

Marketer channeled energy into helping others

Middle School, he closely watched his father, William Sr., serve as the Captain of the Wantagh Fire Department Hook and Ladder 1. William Sr. was also a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy. “We really grew up with and in the fire department,” Bill Gilmor said. “My mom was even involved. She served as a Ladies’ Auxiliary member, too.” In fact, all of the Gilmor sons took note. The Gilmor’s eldest son, Larry, was a member of the U.S. Army. The next oldest, Jimmy, was a U.S. Marine. Bill and his younger brothers Tom and George were sailors for the U.S. Navy. Courtesy Wantagh Fire Department

Bill Gilmor, 66, of Wantagh, served 36 years as a Wantagh Fire Department dispatcher.

I have a confession.

December 31, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

Students learned about birth of writing While many Americans have had to alter travel and vacation plans drastically since the onslaught of the coronavirus, sixth-grade students at Wisdom Lane Middle School in Levittown embarked on a leisurely journey from the Paleolithic Age through the Neolithic to ancient Egypt. Along the way, they made a stop in Mesopotamia, ca. 3000 BCE, where they explored the origins of written language under the guidance of teachers John Lipani and Edward Moore, as part of the school’s World Civilization class. Students studied the writing system, called cuneiform, so called from its wedge-shape characters, which

In my 40 years of practicing and living in the Merrick/Bellmore area, I could’ve tried harder to help people remember that the body is self healing. My mission is to find the interference or impediment to your expression of perfect health. You are already perfect, but perhaps you could be better. When the interference in your nervous system is removed, your body will have its optimal potential for health and well being, like un-kinking a garden hose, the information can now flow and… your body knows what to do to heal you. In the current Covid times, it’s important for you to know that we all have an immune system, it works over the nervous system and chiropractic allows that system to work at its optimum potential, with health as the inevitable result. Everyone knows chiropractic is good for neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, hip pain, leg pain, arm pain, but most aren’t aware that TMJ, headaches, sleep issues, really any function that the body has may improve with chiropractic care. We see newborns - not because they have headaches or low back pain, they just sleep better, have less digestive problems, and are sick less often. We see patients from birth to seniors for any condition and will give you a natural answer, or will refer you to the proper professional.

became common throughout Mesopotamia, Lipani explained. It was used by such societies as Sumerians, Akadians, Babylonians and Hittites, and its use persisted into the common era. “We wanted to emphasize how critically important writing was in the development of our civilizations,” Lipani said. “The original cuneiform characters were made with a special stylus,” Moore explained.“We did the best we could to duplicate that by bending a paper clip and having them use the thicker part to make the characters.” Courtesy Levittown Schools

Student scribes preparing cuneiform tablets in the scriptorium at Wisdom Lane School in November.

YEAR IN REVIEW NOVEMBER

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The Wantagh Kiwanis and Wantagh High School Key Club joined forces in November on the boardwalk to do a bit of cleaning. Sponsored and organized by the Kiwanis, 39 members of the Key Club, which focuses on community service, roamed the walkway and the beach in front of the West Bathhouse and Gatsby on the Ocean restaurant, collecting litter. Inspired by a similar Key Club project six years ago, students hauled away a total of 235 pounds of trash. “Jones Beach is a place that people in our community visit year-round, and we wanted to help make it as clean as possible,” said Wantagh High School senior Julia Froese (pro-

nounced fro-shee), a co-president of the club, to the Herald on Sunday. “While there are so many other places that need our help, Jones Beach was one that we wanted to clean up, since there’s always a large amount of foot traffic there. In addition, leaving trash on the beach area puts sea life in danger.” Froese and her fellow students were greeted by Kiwanis President Margaret Silberger and Vice President Kevin Gorman, who were armed with boxes of trash bags, disposable gloves and a large bottle of hand sanitizer, compliments of park workers. Courtesy Wantagh Kiwanis

The Wantagh Kiwanis and Wantagh Key Club picked up 235 pounds of trash at Jones Beach.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN â€” December 31, 2020

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December 31, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

Seaford’s Lynch earns county crown Tom Lynch’s five-year quest to become a county champion was completed in come-from-behind fashion. The Seaford senior captured the 138-pound final in the Nassau County Division II championships on Feb. 15 in his last attempt to reach the top of the podium. Lynch’s 16-9 win against Clarke’s Aiden Yurdiga at Cold Spring Harbor High School after trailing 5-2 culminated a journey of placing in the top four of the counties since eighth grade including a runnerup finish last season. “I’ve been trying to become a county champion for awhile,” Lynch said.“I’ve been working very hard for this.” Lynch, who reached the championship match with two pins, faced early adversity trailing Yurdiga by three

MacArthur rallies for wrestling crown

points in the first period before seizing control with two takedowns and never relinquishing the lead. “To win counties as a senior after placing the last four years was a special moment for him,” said seventh-year Seaford head coach Dave Takseraas. “He has worked incredibly hard this season.” Peter Frutkoff/Herald

The MacArthur wrestling team seized the moment with its back against the wall to bring home the program’s first county dual meet title in over a decade. The Generals dropped the first three matches of the Nassau County Division I finals at Clarke High School to Massapequa before rallying for a 46-24 win Jan. 25 against the defending champions. The Massapequa comeback was preceded by a 28-27 semifinal win against Manhasset where MacArthur won eight of 10 bouts down the stretch after falling behind 18-9. “We have a gritty team that believes in themselves,” said 11th-year MacArthur head coach Rob Paletta. “The kids showed some perseverance.” MacArthur’s first county crown since 2009 earned the team a shot to compete in the state championships at SRC Arena in Syracuse. The Generals split two matches on the stage and fell just short of reaching the semifinals. Junior Matt Huggard and soph-

omore Killian F o y turned around MacArthur’s fortunes in the finals with back-to-back pins at 106 and 113 pounds, respectively. After Massapequa won the next two bouts, MacArthur dominated the remainder of the match winning six of eight down the stretch. The dominating close including pins by Thomas Szilagyi (152) and John Hegner along with wins by Jake Schneider (132), Vincenzo Montefusco (138), (145) Joseph Apuzzo (145), Dylan Young (170) and Benjamin Velasquez (195).

Donovan Berthoud/Herald

YEAR IN REVIEW SPORTS

H.S. sports delayed until 2021 H.S. spring sports cancelled It was game over for public high school spring sports on Long Island for 2020. Any hopes for even a modified season were dashed April 21 when health and safety concerns led athletic administrators and school superintendents in Nassau and Suffolk counties to announced the cancelation of the spring sports season. Section VIII athletics conference governs Nassau County, and Section XI, Suffolk County. “For the safety for our student athletes, Section VIII has made the difficult decision to cancel spring sports for our high schools and middle schools.” Nassau County Executive Director Pat Pizzarelli said. “Long Island is one of the

areas most affected by this terrible pandemic, so both section VIII and Section XI have made this very difficult decision.” Nassau County’s Athletic Council, which includes superintendents, principals and officials, met Monday night April 20 and was unanimous in its decision. Athletic directors met the following morning and agreed. “It’s very sad for the seniors, but we are dealing with life and death,” Pizzarelli said. “We have to safeguard our students and communities. We waited as long as we possibly could to make this heartbreaking decision.” Photo by J. Heck/Herald

Nassau County High School student-athletes will have to wait until 2021 to compete in sports. At an emergency meeting held Aug. 26, Nassau school superintendents voted to postpone high school sports until Jan. 4, becoming the first of the state’s 11 sections to move its fall season. The following day, superintendents released a letter stating they may reassess the decision prior to Sept. 20. “I believe other sections will follow and pull the plug, but I can’t speak for anyone else,” Section VIII (Nassau) Executive Director of Athletics Pat Pizzarelli said Aug. 26. “We felt strong enough to make this decision now,” he added.“We took the cautious route, but we believe it’s in everyone’s best interests. There are too many unknowns. “It’s just not time to allow kids to play sports,” he continued.“And my first and foremost concern is the safety of our student-athletes.”

The decision came two days after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued guidance permitting lower-risk high school fall sports (soccer, tennis, swimming, field hockey and cross-country) to begin practice and play on Sept. 21, while noting football and volleyball could begin practice but not play. However, Nassau’s superintendents did not consider the current conditions safe enough to conduct any fall sports. Photo by J. Heck/Herald

Nassau County postponed fall high school sports from September to January.

Local started sharing table If you have driven, biked or walked down Narragansett Avenue in Seaford during the month of December, chances are you’ve come across the Sharing Table — a small, tidy operation where people can either give, or take, whatever they need. Mary Kate Tischler, of Seaford, was the creator of the goodwill exchange table, and served as resident host. After seeing a similar idea in a magazine, Tischler bought the initial lot of canned goods, other non-perishable food items and toiletries. She put them on a standard six-foot by three-and-a-half-foot folding table outside her house on Narragansett on Nov. 22. Her goal wasn’t overly specific, she said. She just wanted to take advantage of the community’s proclivity to give by creating a place to do so without any pressure.The table remains outside, day and night, for community members to add to — or to

Local gyms had 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 spreading the virus. Richard Schutt, the general manager of Long Island Health and Racquet, in Wantagh, pledged 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. “We take the mask-wearing extremely seriously,” said Schutt. “You

take advantage of when needed. “It seemed like a very effective and easy way to help people locally,”Tischler, 46, said on Monday. “That Sunday, I just woke up and my daughter and I had no plans. I said, ‘Let’s do this today.’ I didn’t know if it would actually work.” The initial supply that Tischler purchased was swapped out quickly. Within days, residents began visiting the Sharing Table regularly. Tischler has not bought a single item to restock it since she set it up. “I had a feeling that there would be a lot of donations, but wasn’t expecting as many people that would come to take things from the table,” she said. “But the table regenerates itself. I leave it on its own.” Courtesy Mary Kate Tischle

Mary Kate Tischler and her daughter, Ruby, created Seaford’s Sharing Table, where locals can come and either take or give as much as they would like.

Local fitness centers prepared for atypical winter

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 “yellow zone.” If designated an “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.” Nearby Massapequa Park was 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 designation to keep up with state mandates and testing regualtions. “That is a substantial daily cost per school per day,” he told the Herald on Dec. 12. Affected districts, like Massapequa Park, have had to partner with private companies to provide testing for their student body and faculty. Rhoads said funding for this was coming straight from the district’s budget. Rhoads and other members of the Nassau County Republican majority met with local school districts to brainstorm further ways to help districts meet the statemandated testing number without severe financial stress. Courtesy Legislator Steve Rhoads

Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads met with county majority members and school district representatives to help keep schools open to in-person learning.

YEAR IN REVIEW DECEMBER Seniors hope

have to wear the mask, or you are not here.” The protocols have proven to be effective, as Long Island Health and Racquet has not had a single case of Covid-19 traced back to its facility. Likewise, other gyms, such as Onyx Fitness in Bellmore, just blocks from the Wantagh border, have been successful in slowing the spread. Onyx services many masked Wantagh and Seaford residents who are willing to adhere to social distancing guidelines when they work out. “We’ve had over 25,000 check-ins since we opened on Aug. 31,” said Onyx owner Jordan Stein. “We haven’t had one case traced back to the club.” Because of the stringent rules, many exercise enthusiasts have converted parts of their homes into workout areas to stay physically fit. Courtesy Onyx Fitness

At Onyx Fitness, near the Wantagh-Bellmore border, members are required to wear masks while working out.

to have one more go in ‘21

Emily Van O’Linda, Vincenzo Buffalino and Jake Schneider, senior student athletes at Wantagh, Seaford and General Douglas MacArthur high schools, respectively, have been faced with the possibility that they may have competed in their last high school events last year. While some sports are more likely to have a condensed 2021 season than others in the winter and spring, all three athletic standouts still hold out hope to play at the collegiate level next year. Van O’Linda has been a leader of the Warriors girls’ volleyball team since she was an underclassman. In November 2018, as a sophomore, she played a key role in an astounding Class A state championship run by the Warriors. And the team’s focus last year, she said, was to replicate that season. “We didn’t do as well as we wanted to last year,” Van O’Linda said. “Sophomore year we had won [the state championship], and maybe we had a weight on our shoulders when we went into the [county tournament], where we lost in the semifinals. We felt like this season would be a proving ground once again.”

Volleyball, along with most other fall sports, is tentatively scheduled to start on March 1 in Nassau County, after being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. As of press time, Section VIII of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association was standing by its plan to schedule a regular season’s worth of games in a more condensed time period. Van O’Linda said that what she has missed most are daily practices. Speaking with the Herald last Friday, she said she had told herself not to look too far ahead,. 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. 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.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

County concentrates on keeping schools open

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Q. I wonder why I can’t seem to get a fire to burn properly in my chimney. All I get is smoke in the room. I’ve had the flue checked and know that the damper is working correctly, even if it is a little rusty. The worst part is that the house smells like smoke, even when we haven’t had a fire for months. Nobody can find anything wrong with it. What can I do?

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A. Set up an electric fireplace in front of the real one, or play the Yule log rerun on your TV. A client once complained of the same problem, and after much searching, I asked them to build a fire so I could observe their method. They started the fire too far forward, so the smoke climbed the walls onte eeper and smoked out the room, setting off the smoke detector. Rule No. 1: Make sure the fire is directly under the flue opening and centered in the fireplace. There are many reasons why a fireplace doesn’t function. Some are obvious; some aren’t. Here are some possible reasons why yours doesn’t work. 1) The chimney is too narrow compared with its height. 2) The opening is too wide and not high enough. 3) The opening is too high and not wide enough. 4) There’s no fresh-air intake near the fire to draw air upward. 5) The flue has cracks that haven’t been detected. 6) The chimney isn’t two feet taller than the closest part of the roof within a 10-foot area, so breezes aren’t carrying smoke away, but instead a vacuum builds and forces air down the chimney. Winds rolling over your chimney from the upside roof slope also blow smoke downward in your chimney. 7) The flue has an angle bend in it that’s too sharp. 8) The wood selected isn’t properly seasoned. 9) Your fire starter is too wet or too dense. 10) The chimney has an animal living in it and must be cleaned out and capped. 11) The chimney is wet on the inside, either from openings in the exterior surface or the mortared crown or because it has no cap. This isn’t a likely reason for the smoke problem, but there’s a remote possibility. Since a fire needs fuel, oxygen and heat to burn, these reasons are basic to why you haven’t had success. The formula for a great fire is the right type of starter (an easy-burning tinder) at the bottom, air space between everything of one-half to threequarters of an inch, and a dry, soft wood like pine above the tinder. Add oak or other hardwoods after the fire is going to create more brightness. Updraft is also essential. I’m certain that one of these reasons is causing your problem. Don’t use any treated or dressed lumber that can give off poisonous gases and creosote. Be safe and attentive. Good luck!

© 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.

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

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Stuff

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Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

HERALD

For Advertising, call Rhonda Glickman,

vice president of sales, at (516) 569-4000, ext. 250.

The box at the far left side of the page is called the masthead. It contains the newspaper’s flag, or nameplate. The masthead offers important information about the paper, including the names of the staff members who are responsible for producing it each week. Publisher Stuart Richner guides the business and news operations of the 18 newspapers in the Herald Community Newspapers group, including the Nassau Herald, which serves the Five Towns, and Heralds for Baldwin, Bellmore, East Meadow, Franklin Square-Elmont, Freeport, Glen Cove, Long Beach, Lynbrook-East Rockaway, Malverne-West Hempstead, Merrick, Oceanside-Island Park, Oyster Bay, Rockville Centre, Sea Cliff-Glen Head, Valley Stream, Wantagh and Seaford. Each paper’s editor is responsible for the assignment, selection and placement of stories, most of which the editors and reporters write. The executive editor oversees news operations for all 18 papers in the group. The production department is responsible for the papers’ design. The advertising and art departments produce the large, often illustrated display advertisements that appear throughout the papers. The classified department produces the smaller advertisements at the back of the papers. The masthead also lists each paper’s age, the names of its founders, its address, email, and telephone and fax numbers, and it provides notice that all contents of the paper are copyrighted.

For Subscriptions, call Dianne Ramdass, circulation manager, at ext. 231.

20 HERALD

Editorials offer the opinions of the Herald. Editors write them. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the individuals who write them; rather, they are the institutional voice of the news organization. That is why they are unsigned. Herald editorial department staff members meet weekly to plan the editorials. Independent reporting by our staff often helps inform our editorials. We might also speak with experts and advocates to gain their perspective before sitting down to write an editorial. We are proud to say that we have won many press association awards for our editorial writing over the years. Among our most important duties is publication of our annual endorsements in local elections. We take this responsibility seriously. Editorial staff members sit down with candidates to question them about their views on major issues before offering the paper’s opinions about which candidates would best represent our readers.

Herald editorialS

Office Baldwin 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530

HERALD

Phone: (516) 569-4000 Established 1994 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Incorporating Web: www.liherald.com The South Shore Reporter E-mail: baldwineditor@liherald.com The Baldwin Citizen

HERALD office

COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Robert Richner Edith Richner Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax:1964-1987 (516) 569-4942 Publishers, Web: www.liherald.com ■ E-mail: baldwineditor@liherald.com STUARTCopyright RicHNeR © 2020 Publisher Richner Communications, Inc.

micHAel bOlOgNA Vice President - Operations

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ■

Robert Richner ScOTT bRiNTON Edith Richner Executive Edtitor Publishers, 1964-1987 Jim HARmON ■

Copy Editor clifford richner cHRiSTiNA DAlY stuArt richner Publishers Photo Editor MichAel BolognA TONY belliSSimO Vice President Sports Editor - Operations ■ KAReN blOOm scott Brinton Calendar Editor Executive Edtitor ■ JiM hArMon

Editorial comment

For your information . . . Editorial page

November 26, 2020 — BALDWIN HERALD

December 31, 2020 — WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN

The masthead

RHONDA glicKmAN Copy Editor Vice President - Sales christinA dAlY Photo Editor elleN ReYNOlDS tonY BellissiMo Classified Manager Sports Editor lORi beRgeR KAren BlooM Digital Sales Manager Calendar Editor ■ ■ JeffReY NegRiN rhondA glicKMAn Creative ViceDirector President - Sales reYnolds cRAig ellen cARDONe Classified Manager Art Director lori Berger YOlANDA RiOS Digital Sales Manager JAcKie cOmiTiNO ■ PRiNcY JeffreY PANDiYAN negrin Production Artists Creative Director

■crAig white Production Coordinator DiANNe RAmDASS crAig cArdone Circulation Art Director Director ■

■

diAnneNeWSPAPeRS rAMdAss HeRAlD cOmmUNiTY Circulation Baldwin Herald Director Bellmore Herald Life ■ East Meadow Herald

herAld coMMunitY newsPAPers

Franklin Square/Elmont Herald

Baldwin Herald

Freeport Herald Leader Bellmore Herald Life

Glen Cove Herald GazetteHerald East Meadow Long BeachSquare/Elmont Herald Franklin Herald

Freeport Leader Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald

Long BeachHerald Herald Malverne/West Hempstead

Giving thanks in 2020

n a year when so much has gone awry — so many lives lost, businesses battered, jobs vanished — it strains the imagination to think what we might be thankful for, particularly as the nation enters its second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The coming months will likely be, as President-elect Joseph Biden has said, a “dark winter.” Thanksgiving is, however, all about the audacious nature of hope. The holiday, first celebrated in the fall of 1621, commemorates the struggle that the original Pilgrims faced and, against all odds, overcame in the New World — and the kinship they felt with the Native Americans who rescued them, helping to provide sustenance to a relatively small band of people who otherwise might have starved. The roughly 50 colonists at the original harvest celebration in Plymouth, Mass., were outnumbered by Native Americans two to one, according to History.com. The 100 Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower had seen much death between 1620 and 1621: Some 78 percent of the women died during the first winter. Yet they persevered, and survived. So shall the American people today — thanks in no small measure to our heroes

— the doctors, nurses, EMTS, firefighters, police officers, teachers, teachers’ aides, sanitation workers, railroad workers, subway and bus drivers, custodians, cooks, waiters and waitresses, supermarket employees and so many others — who have kept us safe, our education system up and running, and our economy moving. When many others were able to work from home, they put their lives on the line to do their jobs. As a society, we should take a moment and reflect on their sacrifices over the past nine months. We can also be thankful for our family and friends. We may not be able to shower them with hugs and kisses as we might want, but we can keep them in our thoughts and close to our hearts. And we can be thankful for the miracles of modern science. Only 100 years ago, the 1918 pandemic ran wild for two years, killing 50 million worldwide, including 675,000 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thanks to technology that allows many of us to work remotely and socially distance, to date we have seen a tenth of the 500 million cases that the world did in

1918-19, and because of modern medical technology, the death toll thus far is onefiftieth what it was then. So, while the number of infections and deaths today is unacceptably high, it is not close to the level of suffering experienced a hundred years ago — and let us hope and pray that it remains that way. Likely, it will. On Saturday, the innovative New York company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals received emergency-use authorization for its experimental antibody treatment for the coronavirus. President Trump received the treatment, and by all accounts it was highly effective. The drug is designed to prevent patients from becoming severely ill by imitating the body’s natural defense system. We can only say, wow! If all goes well, the Regeneron treatment should prevent many deaths, enabling health officials to safely roll out at least one of the vaccines now in the pipeline without undue political pressure. By April, we could indeed round the corner on this terrible pandemic, says Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Yes, there has been much despair this year, but there is much hope as well.

County does right by small businesses

e are pleased that Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is once again promoting small businesses ahead of the holiday season — which is vital this pandemic year. Last Friday, Curran and county Industrial Development Agency Chairman Richard Kessel came to Rockville Centre to promote an innovative contest, aptly titled the Shop Safe, Shop Local Scavenger Hunt, and we are encouraging readers to take part in it. The contest, which will be held for one week starting Saturday, will work like this: Complete four of eight tasks in your community, like buying breakfast at a local eat-

Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald Malverne/West Hempstead Herald NassauMerrick HeraldHerald Life Oceanside/Island Park Herald Nassau Herald Oceanside/Island Rockaway Journal Park Herald

ery or making a purchase at a local shop, and take a photo of yourself — masked — at each location, along with the product you purchased and your receipt. Then email it to scavengerhunt@nassaucountyny.gov or share it on Facebook. The first person who finishes all four tasks and registers them on each day of the contest will receive a $100 gift card. All purchases must be made at small businesses in a single community on the day of the contest. Online and delivery orders are eligible. The complete set of

instructions can be found at www.nassaucountygov/shoplocal. As we noted in last week’s editorial, “Remember to shop locally this holiday season”: “Despite the crisis, we encourage you to consider patronizing our mom-and-pop shops, many of which now offer their goods online. Abandoning our local businesses would be devastating on so many levels.”

Merrick Herald Life

Rockville Centre Oyster BayHerald Herald Guardian Sea Cliff / Glen Head HeraldJournal Gazette Rockaway

Editorial cartoon

Rockville Centre Herald South Shore Record

SouthHerald Shore Record Valley Stream

Each editorial cartoon provides a thoughtful and, we hope, humorous perspective on the major news of the week. Prize-winning cartoonists from across the country produce the cartoons, which do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Herald or its staff.

Baldwin

Bellmore

Valley Stream Herald Wantagh Herald Citizen

Wantagh Herald Citizen

Seaford Herald SeafordCitizen Herald Citizen

membeR: MeMBer: Local Media Association Local Media Association New York Press Association New York Press Association Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Baldwin Chamber of Commerce

Published by Published by richner communications, inc. Richner2 Endo communications, inc. Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 2 Endo Blvd. Garden NY 11530 (516)City, 569-4000 (516) 569-4000

East Meadow

letters More praise for doctor’s column To the Editor: As Bob Praver did in last week’s letters, I also applaud Dr. Eric Last’s column, “Surely we shouldn’t be fighting over wearing masks” (Nov. 12-18), on the urgency of wearing masks in fighting the coronavirus

Editor: Bridget downes

Long Beach

Franklin Square/ Elmont

HERALD HERALD HERALD HERALD Editor: Editor: Brian stieglitz Editor: Peter Belfiore alyssa seidman Life

pandemic. But while Last’s exhortation that we must “treat others as you’d want to be treated yourself ” was well-intentioned, I believe it would fall on deaf ears when directed not only at those who, at this late date, scoff at the wearing of masks and social distancing, but also those who deliberately promote and take part in large, illegal social gatherings with no consideration of taking measures to counter the spread

Editor: ronny reyes

Senior Editor: laura lane

HERALD Editor: Jim Bernstein

Lynbrook/ East Rockaway

HERALD

Senior Editor: miKe smollins

Malverne/ West Hempstead

HERALD Editor: naKeem grant

Editor:

What are the editorial pages all about? Who writes editorials? How do letters and guest columns get published? This week’s pages offer some answers to our readers. We thank The Riverdale Press for the idea.

Opinion columns We publish three columns every week. Columns represent the views of the writers themselves, not of the Herald. Each writer works independently and chooses his or her own subjects. Among our regular contributors are the Heralds’ executive editor, Scott Brinton, and the Nassau Herald’s former executive editor, Randi Kreiss, both of whom have won numerous awards for their opinion writing. We also feature columns by prominent political figures, including former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato and former State Assemblyman Jerry Kremer, both of whom are now consultants. And we regularly invite guest columnists to offer their views.

Opinion pages 21

opinions

WANTAGH HERALD CITIZEN — December 31, 2020

opi

he coronavirus pandemic has created a variety of hardships that have left families and children in distress. Social isolation. A mounting death toll. An estimated 8 million Americans falling into poverty. We have entered uncharted territory, and uncertainty continues as cases continue to rise across the U.S. Grief is a normal reaction — grieving not just the loss of life, but also the loss of normalcy and freedom when a disaster occurs. So what happens when we add even more stress to families sharon and their children, skariah particularly when schools close? The trickledown effect of all this misfortune can dramatically weigh on kids, especially if they don’t have access to mental health resources at home. Typically, mental health symptoms are identified at school, by their teachers and peers, social workers and guidance counselors. Children need a routine and consistency. Remote learning and social isolation will continue to uproot them. Children

with autism also face challenges with irritability, anxiety and behavioral disturbances. And the erratic nature of schools’ opening and closing (albeit temporarily) can have a lasting effect. A recent study in JAMA Pediatrics showed that more than 22 percent of students in the Hubei province of China reported symptoms of depression, and more than 18 percent had anxiety symptoms, when schools closed for over a month. A second study, in the Journal of Pediatrics, determined that younger children (ages 3 to 6) were more inclined to show fear or clinginess, where older kids (6 to 18) were more likely to show inattention and persistent inquiry. Clinging, inattention and irritability were the severe psychological conditions demonstrated by children in all age groups. School closures — short or long — are unfortunately bound to happen until a safe and effective vaccine is available. Prepare to take care of your child now. First, children need outlets. In early childhood, play is important for development in the physical, verbal and emotional domains. Build that imaginary fort,

he trickledown effect of all this misfortune can dramatically weigh on kids.

LeTTers of the virus. The time for these selfish and greedy individuals to be reasoned with has long passed. These people should be penalized for their actions, which continue to put the rest of us at even greater risk of acquiring the disease, and severe penalties should also be meted out to participants in these gatherings, not just their greed-bound organizers. If anything, these miscreants should consider the 17th-century English poet John Donne’s poem, telling us not to ask “for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” They might also be reminded that, indeed, “no man is an island,” as Donne wrote. It appears, though, that they do not realize or accept this concept, even though we are all in this fight — together. ROBERT RUBALSkY East Rockaway

We must protect communities of color

Nassau

HERALD HERALD Life

Fourth — and most important — pay attention. Younger children can’t always express their distress, anxiety or fear. Their behavior may regress. Look for the signs, which include an increase in crying or neediness, more temper tantrums or somatic symptoms (headaches, stomach aches) than normal. Older children may also show increased anger and irritability. If you think your children or adolescents may need a mental health professional, don’t hesitate. They are acting that way because they need help. So watch out for them to verbalize any suicidal thoughts, ongoing sleep disturbances, a decline in overall functioning (hygiene, grooming), aggression or worsening substance use. If you see these signs, seek treatment. Following these steps may help keep children mentally fit during one of our harshest times. Nothing can replace life as we knew it pre-Covid, but you can manage this new normal and keep your kids safe, too.

Special features The op-ed, or opposite the editorial, page features a weekly Framework photo, which is chosen by our photo editor. The Framework offers a creative, at times humorous outlet for our photography staff. In this spot, we also publish photos sent to us by readers, featuring them on vacation, reading the Herald at various international landmarks. We call it Herald Around the World. At times, a correction box might appear on the op-ed page. We strive each week for the highest standards of accuracy and accountability. When we make mistakes in our reporting, we believe we must own up to them and correct the record.

Sharon Skariah, M.D., is the director of child and adolescent psychiatry for Zucker Hillside Hospital. She is also an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell.

Framework Courtesy Roni M. Chastain

the United States, and amid big treatment strides, the disease continues to ravage African-American and other minority communities with a particular vengeance. Black, Asian, Native American and Hispanic patients still die far more frequently than white patients, even as death rates have plummeted for all races and age groups.” As Covid-19 continues to spread aggressively nationwide, it is crucial that government officials at all levels — federal, state and local — address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people of color. Immediate attention should be paid to issues such as the availability of testing facilities in communities of color, access to health care, inequitable treatment once access is provided and priorities for providing vaccines once they are available. The evidence is clear: Government owes it to all Americans to ensure fair and equal access to health care, regardless of race, in this pandemic — and always.

To the Editor: The Washington Post last Friday published a new analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on people of color. It reported, “Nearly nine months after the virus exploded in

Merrick

encourage storytelling, toast s’mores in your backyard. For adolescents, it’s important that they develop their own sense of identity but also explore peer relationships. Encourage this — in a socially distanced, safe way. Second, seek normalcy. The goal is to foster continued development, even if your children can’t attend school in person. They want to feel safe — an important tool for parents to use during the crisis. Make sure you provide protection and consistency in an otherwise uncertain time. Talk to them about their feelings. Ensure their safety by creating an atmosphere of stability. Third, adapt to the environment. Summer may be gone, but you can still enjoy the outdoors safely during the fall, and even on some nice winter days. When the extreme cold sets in, continue building on the elements of safety and fun you have already introduced. Have family game nights. Schedule a movie night. Cook and bake together as a family. Designate a reading hour. Although it may be colder, it’s important to get exercise, so go for a walk or a hike or a brisk bike ride. There are also online exercises for kids, like yoga and others.

BALDWIN HERALD — November 26, 2020

We need to pay attention to children’s mental health Give thanks the election is

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ELAINE GROSS President, ERASE Racism

The season’s last splashes of color — Glen Cove

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