EHS receives $150K Mother Cabrini grant
Episcopal Health Services has received a $150,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to continue providing free, individualized and culturally responsive support to pregnant women of color in the Rockaways.
The money will support a maternal health initiative aimed at reducing disparities in pregnancy outcomes in historically marginalized communities by addressing social, economic and environmental factors that influence maternal and infant health. Through the program, EHS plans to provide comprehensive support services to 120 participants, regardless of gestational age.
Participants receive individualized care plans tailored to their medical, social and emotional needs, with a focus on continuity of care, culturally competent engagement and community-based support. Health officials say those components are key to improving maternal health outcomes and strengthening family stability.
“This grant allows us to advance our commitment to mothers who face disproportionate risks during pregnancy,” Dr. Jacqueline M. Marecheau, chairwoman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at EHS said in a news release. “By addressing not only clinical needs but also the social conditions that influence health, we are creating a more equitable system of care for families on the Rockaway Peninsula and surrounding communities.”
This marks the fourth grant Episcopal Health Services has received from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. Previous funding helped establish and expand maternal health programming, including St. John’s Episcopal Hospital’s doula program, which provides additional support to expectant mothers before, during and after childbirth.
“Our grantee partners are navigating an incredibly challenging landscape, and yet their commitment to serving their communities continues to deepen,” Gregory Mustaciuolo, CEO of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation wrote in the release. “These grants demonstrate our resolve to stand with them by addressing urgent needs today, while strengthening the systems and workforce that will support New Yorkers’ health for years to come.”
Courtesy Episcopal Health Services
Jacqueline M. Marecheau, chairwoman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Episcopal Health Services.
Hospital officials said the Maternal Social Determinants of Health Program is part of a broader effort by Episcopal Health Services to expand women’s health services in the Rockaways and strengthen its role as a regional hub for comprehensive care.
EHS Certified for Excellence
What distinguishes Planetree Certification among other health care quality awards is its distinctive focus on personcentered care, defined as a model of
care delivery in which health care professionals partner with patients and families to identify and satisfy the full range of patient needs and preferences.
Performance improvement on traditional quality indicators, review of policy documents and, most importantly, how patients and staff assess the organization's person-centered culture are the judged criteria.
Silver Certification was awarded
to EHS after a series of focus groups with patients and their loved ones, as well as staff from a multitude of disciplines and divisions within the organization. Considered collectively, these discussions with patients and staff attested to a genuine culture of personcentered care.
"The experience of EHS shows what can be accomplished when a team of deeply committed, supremely innovative and highly-driven caregivers take the courageous leap to re-define priorities and re-organize systems to put patients first," Michael Giuliano, president of Planetree International, said in a news release.
"Planetree Silver redesignation confirms that person-centered care has remained a foundational operating principle at EHS," Dr. Donald Morrish, CEO of Episcopal Health Services said in the release. "Through periods of transformation, investment and growth, our physicians, nurses and team members have sustained care that is clinically strong, operationally sound, and defined by dignity, respect and partnership with every patient."
The criteria that EHS satisfied to achieve Planetree Silver Certification reflect what patients, residents, family members and healthcare professionals in hundreds of focus groups say matters most to them during a healthcare experience.
"This redesignation demonstrates that the patient and family voices continue to be systematically integrated into how care is delivered at EHS," said Edison Bond Jr., EHS’s chief patient experience officer said in the release. "From how feedback is collected and analyzed to how teams communicate and make care decisions, we have built processes that keep the experience aligned with what matters most to patients and families."
–Melissa Berman
World War II Navy veteran turns 102
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Gerald Savarese, a Navy veteran who served in World War II, marked his 102nd birthday on Feb. 4, surrounded by family members, fellow residents and caregivers at a patriotic celebration at Five Towns Premier Rehab and Nursing Center in Woodmere.
Born on Feb. 4, 1924, in the Bronx, Savarese enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served through the end of the war, in 1945, on the Xanthus-class repair ship, the USS Dionysus.
The staff of Five Towns Premier transformed the center’s third floor into a red, white and blue tribute with patriotic displays, and guests waved small American flags in honor of Savarese’s service.
“Today is a special day,” Cathy Byrne, a gerontologist at the center, said. “Gerald Savarese just turned 102 years
young. To know Mr. Savarese is to love him.”
Balloons marking the occasion floated above the celebration as residents and staff gathered with Savarese; his wife of 76 years, Bernadette; and
other family members.
“There are so many memories to add to our special book of moments,” Bernadette said. “We thank God for giving us this wonderful life.”
After serving in the war, Gerald worked as an insurance executive for Empire Mutual and American Transit Insurance Company, and retired at age 90. The Savareses raised a daughter and three sons, and have 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
for being a part of the Five Towns Premier community and family.”
“Not only is he a gentleman, but he’s got a sense of humor,” Matese said.
Residents and staff members offered their congratulations and thanked Savarese for his service while sharing cake, and the facility’s choir sang patriotic songs and the national anthem as well as “happy birthday.” “We are so honored to have you in our facility,” Byrne said. “Any veteran is a gift — you sacrificed so much for our country, and we wanted to give a gift of love to you. Singing is a gift of love and life.”
Savarese’s daughter, Susan Meriam, spoke for him, because he is hard of hearing and has dementia.
“Mr. Savarese enjoys spending his leisure time with his family at Jones Beach and playing golf,” Byrne said. “He loves Italian food, and his secret to longevity is eating salads.”
Savarese was presented with citations recognizing both his military service and his birthday by Ralph Esposito, director of Nassau County’s Veterans Service Agency, on behalf of County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Office for the Aging, U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen and Five Towns Premier Recreation Director Anthony Matese, who announced that Savarese had been named February’s Resident of the Month.
CAthy
“He is thrilled at the moment, then he forgets he’s 102, because he was never somebody who acted old to begin with,” Meriam said. “He’s young at heart, and he’s sweet and easy-going all the time.”
Now that he is more than eight decades removed from his wartime service, Savarese’s birthday celebration offered a reminder of both personal longevity and the enduring legacy of those who served during one of the most consequential periods in American history.
“We’re lucky to have him — he’s a national treasure,” his daughter said. “He always had a good sense of humor, smart, and sat and did homework with me and my friends. He helped coach baseball and basketball teams. He was always there for us.”
“You’ve reached a milestone of 102 years old,” Matese told the guest of honor. “We are making you Resident of the Month for February for celebrating a life milestone and
“Words can’t describe how wonderful is it to be here and celebrate with him,” she added. “I’m very blessed, because I don’t know many people that have their dads still at my age. We’re happy that he’s still here.”
Reminding people on the dangers of scamming
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
Utilities across New York State are reporting an increase in scams among customers and residents—especially those involving the impersonation of utility personnel.
In a statement to customers, PSEG Long Island urged residents to understand scammers’ tactics. Many scammers—digitally, over the phone, or in person—try to convince people that there is an urgent problem in the hopes that they’ll panic and send money.
The statement comes at a time when scamming is on the rise, as seen in a Federal Trade Commission analysis from 2024. Consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud, a reported 25 percent increase from the previous year. They also noted that 38 percent of people reported losing money—an 11 percent increase from 2023.
“If someone threatens to immediately shut off your power, check your account online or call the number that’s printed on your bill to verify before giving them any money,” Lou DeBrino, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of customer operations, wrote in a statement.
The Five Towns is familiar with scam attempts. This time last year, a 90-year-old woman was the victim of an “elder scam,” in which she received a call from a man claiming to be from the FTC. She gave him
$10,000 before realizing she was being scammed and notified the Nassau County Police Department.
State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick will be hosting a scam prevention seminar on Feb. 27 in collaboration with the Nassau County Police Department. In a written statement to the Nassau Herald, she encouraged residents to stay informed and avoid the risk of falling victim to scams.
“Scam calls and emails pose a real threat to residents across our community,” she wrote. “It’s critical that we take the time to learn how these scams work and what steps we can take to protect ourselves.”
Last week, the NCPD released a graphic on Facebook to educate people on scam prevention. They noted that legitimate companies will never come to your home to receive payment. Businesses and government agencies will never threaten arrest and demand immediate payment. They also highlighted that authorized businesses never need your username and password to access your account.
PSEG Long Island is a member of Utilities United Against Scams, an association of 150 utility companies focused on raising awareness of common utility-related scams. Their work has helped shut down more than 14,000 toll-free numbers used by scammers.
If you believe you are a target of a scam of any kind, contact the county’s D.A. office at (516) 571-3505. For PSEG customers, call 1 (800) 490-0025.
Courtesy PSEG
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Gutter Care 101
Q. I just took a $2,500 contract to have gutter screens added to my rain gutters. Would you recommend this instead of the biannual flush cleaning I do, which costs $450 per service?
A. It is great that you monitor routine maintenance around your house, including rain gutters. The cost, if you pay $450 twice a year for your biannual gutter cleaning, is $900 per year. An expense of $2,500 for the rain gutter covers would pay for itself in a timeframe determined by dividing 2500 by 900, which would be 2.7 years. So in two years and nine months, your outlay of $2,500 would be paid off — but only if the gutter screens do not also need maintenance.
I went through a learning phase with my own rain gutters, except that I would flush the gutters by myself. At first I had gutters that were open and, with all the trees surrounding my home, the gutters filled every fall with leaves and the debris that had to be removed. I then bought gutter screens that snap in, although there were places where they couldn’t snap in because of the long nail shafts used to attach the gutters to the face board, referred to as fascia. In those places, the metal screens had to be trimmed with a hacksaw and tin snips. It was tedious but rewarding, because the leaves did not clog the gutters. Unfortunately, twigs and smaller debris managed to find their way through the screens, and the metal rusted.
Those screens lasted six years, before another product, called Leafguard Gutters, was brought to my attention. It is a gutter with a top that wraps around and is bent in a curve so water flows over the top of the rain gutter and then, by a phenomenon called adhesion, the water clings to the gutter top and flows into a thin opening that runs the length of the gutter. It works very well, and hardly anything gets into the thin horizontal continuous opening except the rain.
I did not touch the gutters for 15 years. Then one day a contractor noticed that my roof edge trim boards had discolored in places, and said he would gladly take care of it for me. I awoke one morning to loud banging, and when I looked out the window, several very energetic men had ripped all the trim from my home along with those rain gutters. It lay in a heap in the back of a pickup truck, and within two hours my fascia boards were covered in spanking new white aluminum and I had brand new, open-top gutters.
So, back at square one, I began cleaning gutters again, every fall, until one day, when I saw Leafguard stainless mesh gutter covers with a lifetime guarantee. They completely eliminated the debris, but require occasional brushing to keep clean, at a much higher price. It still pays to put on the screens. Good luck!
© 2026 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.
Ask The Architect Monte Leeper
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