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Serving Manhasset, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Plandome and Flower Hill

Friday, April 10, 2020

Vol. 8, No. 15

ELIMINATE CAP ON TAX DEDUCTIONS: SUOZZI PAGE 10

PEDIATRIC DRIVE THRU FOR CORONAVIRUS

SMALL BIZ LOAN PROGRAM FRUSTRATION

PAGE 2

PAGE 6

Coronavirus to peak within week: Curran Hospitals remain in need of staffers, ventilators and protective supplies BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEE WEISSMAN / NORTHWELL HEALTH

Hundreds of first responders throughout the North Shore cheered on health-care workers at North Shore University Hospital on Tuesday night.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran expects the apex of the coronavirus to hit the county this week as health care resources are being stretched thin. “If you’ve ever been on a roller coaster you know when it goes up steeply, steeply, slowly, slowly, it’s that kind of feeling,” Curran said Saturday, referring to the apex. Two weeks ago, Gov. Andrew

Cuomo said he believed the apex of the virus would hit New York in two to three weeks. While Curran said her prediction was an “educated guess” and followed Cuomo’s timeline, she referred to the increase of confirmed cases, hospital admissions and deaths throughout the county increasing. Curran said 2,684 people were tested in the county last Friday, more than any day since the outbreak beContinued on Page 28

Schools brace for cuts in state aid BY E M M A J ON ES School districts across Nassau County will take a hit in the 2020–2021 year due to financial uncertainty at the state level

resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. How much schools will be aﬀected is yet to be determined. The Senate passed the New York state budget April 2, two

days after the deadline. The budget outlines $177 billion in spending, just $1 billion short of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s prepandemic proposal, despite the state’s projected $15 billion revenue loss this coming fiscal year. Lawmakers “passed something akin to a wish list and punted to the state budget director to figure out

what can and should happen later,” said Maria Doulis, vice president of strategy, operations and communications for the Citizens Budget Commission. The budget allows the state to receive up to $6.7 billion in emergency federal aid. Cuomo’s original plan included $2.5 billion in yearly Medicaid cuts, and therefore would have rendered New York ineligible for the aid,

which is contingent upon the state preserving its existing Medicaid program standards and eligibility guidelines. Robert Mujica, Cuomo’s budget director, clarified at Cuomo’s news conference on April 2 that the state has merely delayed the cuts until the coronavirus crisis has passed to allow the state to receive federal money. Continued on Page 37

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

Former Manhasset, Munsey resident dies Community leader Hawkins was 93 BY R O S E W E L D ON

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

PM Pediatrics in Manhasset is opening a drive-thru coronavirus testing facility for children.

Urgent care opens pediatric-only testing Northern Blvd. office to operate drive-thru BY R O S E W E L D ON A drive-thru coronavirus testing facility exclusively for children has opened in Manhasset. PM Pediatrics, an urgent care facility located on Norther Boulevard, opened its pediatriconly drive-thru Wednesday, the first such on Long Island. It has since been followed by a location in Selden, also operated by PM. The tests are only available to those who are pre-approved for coronavirus testing, according to the location’s website, and parents are advised to use

the chain’s PM Pediatrics Anywhere telemedicine mobile app or visit a PM Pediatrics oﬃce to determine if the child should be tested. Upon approval, patients will be welcome to visit between 10:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. for free testing, with the site located in the parking lot under a tent. Results will be then available in 4 to 6 business days, the company says. “While early anecdotal evidence points to children being less susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness, we still want to offer a test to children presenting the specific symptoms, including

fever, dry cough and shortness of breath,” Dr. Jeﬀrey Schor, coCEO of PM Pediatrics, said in a statement to the long Island Business News. PM Pediatrics, had previously opened similar sites in New Jersey, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The company has six additional locations on Long Island, including Commack, Selden, North Babylon, Syosset, Massapequa Park and Rockville Centre; as well as a location in Bayside, Queens. As of now, Selden is the only other oﬃce operating a pediatric-only drive-thru facility.

Janet Gay Hawkins, a longtime Manhasset area resident and active member of the surrounding community, has died. She was 93. Hawkins, who died on March 27, was living at the Peconic Landing Retirement Community at the time. She was born June 5, 1926 in Mineola, the youngest child of parents William and Helen (Remsen) Gay. Hawkins was raised in Munsey Park and graduated from Manhasset High School in 1944, where she was active in the school’s archery program. She then went on to Colby College, graduating in 1948. In 1952, she married Harman Hawkins at the Community Reformed Church in Manhasset. They lived in Plandome for 32 years, where they raised their two sons. While living in Plandome, Hawkins was an accomplished member of the Junior League of the North Shore, serving as treasurer and member of the Sustainer Committee. She was also a Manhasset Bay Yacht Club member. Upon their retirement, the Hawkins moved to Shelter Island, where she served on Mashomack Preserve Board of Trustees for six years and organized the preserve’s annual benefit gathering for many years. Hawkins was also a member of the Shelter Island Yacht Club and Shelter Island Historical So-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HAWKINS FAMILY

Janet Gay Hawkins, a former Manhasset area resident and community leader, has died at age 93. ciety. Hawkins is survived by her sons, Christopher of Randolph, N.H., Jonathan (Brenda) of Jamestown, R.I.; her grandchildren Jackson, Rebecca, Matthew, Jeremiah; and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband in 2002. Due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the family says there will be no celebration at this time. There will be a gathering of family and friends at a later date to celebrate a life well-lived.

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

D’Arrigo withdraws petition challenges Port-based candidate for Suozzi seat had previously taken issue with fellow challenger BY R OB E RT PELAEZ Melanie D’Arrigo, a democratic congressional candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), confirmed Friday that her campaign was behind the recent legal challenges that have been filed against herself and her opponent, Michael Weinstock. The challenges were submitted by Peter Johnson, the spouse of D’Arrigo’s campaign manager, Tracy Bacher, D’Arrigo said. The 3rd Congressional District includes Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck and Floral Park, among other areas. Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), the former mayor of Glen Cove and former Nassau County executive who was first elected to the seat in 2016, won re-election in 2018 and is seeking another term this year. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL WEINSTOCK The election petitions of Weinstock, who is also a Democrat, and D’Arrigo were challenged by John- Congressional candidate Melanie D’Arrio dropped her challenge of fellow Democrat Mison March 25. D’Arrigo said her chael Weinstock. Both are running in a primary against U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi. campaign will withdraw the challenges made by Johnson to the Josh Sauberman, a supporter of forward. comment were unavailing. New York State Board of Elections. D’Arrigo, filed against Weinstock, Eﬀorts to reach a representaD’Arrigo said there was a The legal challenges that however, will continue to move tive of the Board of Elections for “miscommunication” with the

campaign staﬀ and that her intention was to challenge the petitions of Weinstock and Suozzi. “My team was dealing with new deadlines, working hard, and taking care of children, and there was a miscommunication,” D’Arrigo said. “It was unfortunate, but like with any campaign, you learn from the mistakes and you move on.” Immediate eﬀorts to reach Bacher and Johnson for comment were not successful. D’Arrigo said the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus “became serious very quickly” and caused the “miscommunication.” New York State Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs said he has “never seen anything like this,” referring to Johnson’s challenges. “It is absolutely outrageous,” Jacobs said. “She thought she was trying to deceive the public and make it seem like [Suozzi] was attacking both of them. It makes her seem like a phony progressive.” Weinstock expressed his frustration with the challenge. He said he had to venture out of his home into crowded areas to file legal Continued on Page 29

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

Half of Nassau businesses trim payrolls

County economic survey on coronavirus effects says over half of firms experienced layoffs BY R OB E RT PELAEZ More than 50 percent of businesses that participated in the county’s COVID-19 economic impact study have already laid oﬀ employees, according to a survey conducted by the Nassau County Economic Advisory Council. The survey was the first step in assessing the countywide impact that the coronavirus is having on local businesses. More than 1,400 businesses took part within a week after the county and the council put the call out to businesses of all sizes and sectors. Some 68 percent of businesses that participated in the study began March 1 with five or fewer employees. “This data is crucial to developing projections that will help us advocate for more resources from our state and federal partners as this crisis unfolds,” Curran said. “I thank the members of our Economic Advisory Council, Hofstra University, Nassau’s IDA and Nassau’s Bar Association for stepping up to ensure

help and guidance going forward,” he said. “All hands are on deck when it comes to helping Nassau businesses get back on their feet.” According to the study, 56 percent of businesses have already laid off some of their employees, and more than 44 percent anticipate laying off employees by the end of 2020. In another grim statistic, 72 percent of businesses said they anticipate laying off five or fewer employees before the end of the year. Gary Bochner, the owner of East Hills Cleaners, said he has already made decisions to let go of six employees and is now one of three people who work on a weekly basis. “I used to have nine people working, but I had to make the PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE decision to let six people go because of precautionary reasons,” Bochner said. “It’s never easy to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran presented the results of the county’s COVID-19 do that, but it creates less of a economic impact study last Wednesday. health risk for the other employwe come back stronger than ever Richard Kessel welcomed the Curran to make sure that Nassau ees and our customers. Nobody when this ends.” study. County is in as strong a position could have seen this coming.” Paul Doyle, one of the ownNassau County Industrial “The Nassau IDA is working as possible to help the thousands Development Agency President closely with County Executive of businesses who will need our Continued on Page 29

The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

Pay Protection rollout slow: chambers Program aims to help small businesses stay afloat; Nassau employers struggle with apps BY R O S E W E L D ON

Rollout of the Payback Protection Program is going slowly under the $2 trillion stimulus relief package, according to some local chambers of commerce in Nassau. The program, nicknamed PPP, is one in a series passed to help alleviate eﬀects on small businesses from the coronavirus and provides federally guaranteed loans to qualifying small businesses that maintain their payroll during the pandemic. Mitchell Schwartz, president of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce, says the rollout has been slow. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of success yet,” Schwartz said. “Some banks have applications, others don’t. I know someone who got the app in, but they got an email saying it was declined. It’s all very confusing. I use Citibank and they don’t even have a link up on their website.” Dennis Grossman, president of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce and president of the Nassau Council of Chambers, said he is advising all businesses to apply. “The employers will be able to keep their employees, maintain their businesses, pay rent, pay overhead,” Grossman said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASSAU COUNCIL OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

Dennis Grossman, president of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce and the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce. Grossman added that the Long Island Association, the Small Business Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had sent out information on the program. “We’re mostly providing links and

not recommendations,” Schwartz said. “We’re pointing out that the disaster loan is separate from the paycheck program, and if you apply for that you can apply the QuickPay, which is forgivable.” Those who qualify for the program

include a small businesses with fewer than 500 employees; non-profit 501(c) (3) organizations with fewer than 500 employees; an individual who operates as a sole proprietor, independent contractor or is self-employed who carries on a trade or business, among other categories. Loans will require a “good faith certification” that “the uncertainty of current economic conditions makes the loan request necessary to support ongoing operations,” with the proviso that “the borrower will use the loan proceeds to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage, lease, and utility payments” or other specifics. The loans will not require collateral, a personal guarantee, or proof that the borrower sought a loan elsewhere, according to the program’s terms. Borrowers may also be forgiven if they maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward. Most businesses will continue to try to operate, Grossman said. “They’ll still have to readjust their businesses to function in the current environment, wearing masks and so on, and we’re trying to structure right now with the Nassau Council of Chambers to see how customers should face oﬀ with customers,” Grossman said.

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Please Join Me in Saying “Thank You!” Throughout our nation’s history, the resilience and spirit of Americans in times of hardship has been proven over and over again. During this health crisis, no one exemplifies this more than those “essential” workers who leave their families and the safety of their homes everyday to do the jobs that make the challenges we are all facing just a little more bearable. Thank you!

Thank you to those Americans in essential jobs who are going in to work every day through this crisis: Doctors

Researchers

Nurses

Elder Care

Cashiers

Home Health Care

Postal Carriers

Dentists

Firefighters

Sanitation

EMTs

Pharmacies

Delivery Drivers

US Postal Workers

Police Officers

Skilled Trades

Transit Workers

Healthcare workers

Food Service

Maintenance Workers

Food Distributors

And many more.

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Suozzi presses SALT cap repeal Says in op-ed in Wall Street Journal reversal needed in midst of coronavirus panedemic BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (DGlen Cove) advocated for the repeal of the cap on state and local tax deductions in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in an op-ed the congressman wrote in the Wall Street Journal. The repealing of the tax cap, Suozzi said, will provide local governments and residents in states such as New York, which have been aﬀected the most by the coronavirus, the necessary resources in the ongoing battle against the virus. “During the current pandemic, not only do our taxpayers need the relief but also because the state and local governments are losing tax revenues as people move away,” Suozzi said. “Nothing could be more damaging to our governors and local oﬃcials as they try to combat the coronavirus.” As of Monday, more than 130,000 New Yorkers had test-

PHOTO BY ROSE WELDON

U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) advocated for a repeal in the SALT cap in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. ed positive for the coronavirus, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Of that total, which includes people who have recovered from the virus, 4,758 have died. New York has three times

as many cases as New Jersey, the state with the second-most confirmed cases at more than 41,000. As the domestic epicenter of the virus, the need for New Yorkers to purchase resources to combat the pan-

demic is necessary, Suozzi said. “Now, in addition to dealing with an unfair tax increase, New York’s governor and mayors are being hobbled by an unfair tax policy that is limiting their resources to confront COVID-19,” Suozzi wrote. Repealing the cap, Suozzi said, would put money back into the hands of middle-class taxpayers despite claims from some it would benefit only the wealthy. Suozzi said the income of teachers, health-care workers and first responders in New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which he represents, classifies them as middle-class residents on Long Island. “Their incomes, which are higher than in other parts of America, place them squarely in the middle class in places like Long Island, where the cost of living is around 50 percent higher than the national average,” Suozzi wrote. President Trump capped the deduction at $10,000 in a 2017 federal law that reduced

taxes for corporations and most wealthy and middle-class families, but required Long Islanders and other Northeastern residents to pay more in income tax after they lost the full benefits of the deduction. In December, with the support of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and fellow U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), a bipartisan bill to increase the cap to $20,000 for the 2020 tax filing year passed the House of Representatives. According to Suozzi, the bill would also eliminate the current cap in 2020 and 2021 for all individuals who file their taxes with an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. “America is dealing with a grave public-health crisis that is worsening by the day,” Suozzi wrote. “Sound public policy, fairness and an allhands-on-deck eﬀort demand that the cap on the SALT deduction be repealed in the next legislative package that addresses this crisis.”

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

Cardiologist offers check-ups on wheels New Hyde Park firm uses 40-foot medical unit to assist patients without leaving home BY E M M A J ON ES As the coronavirus continues to spread throughout Nassau County, many residents, including those with serious heart problems, are afraid or unable to go to the doctor. Cardiologist and Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics founder Perry Frankel is using a 40-foot mobile medical unit to provide heart disease patients with the care they need without going to his oﬃce. Frankel said he has seen patients with stress-related heart problems during the coronavirus pandemic. “Many patients are stressed out from coronavirus and the economic stress [associated with it],” he said. “Many patients [are] stressed [about] family members who have coronavirus.” The New Hyde Park-based Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics team can perform blood pressure readings, lab work, electrocardiograms and other tests from the mobile unit. They travel to community centers and apartment complexes across Long Island and Queens. The team oﬀers house calls when necessary. Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives each year than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined, according to the American

Heart Association. While lifestyle and genetics play a major role in determining cardiovascular health, studies have linked stress to heart disease as well. Those with cardiovascular problems are at greater risk of contracting coronavirus and are likely to experience more severe symptoms. By bringing the mobile clinic to patients, the team hopes to keep those with heart disease out of hospitals, and therefore limit their exposure to the virus. Despite the relatively close quarters on the bus, Frankel said he and his team are hypervigilant about following social distancing guidelines in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The mobile unit is 40 feet long and can extend to be 12 feet wide, Frankel said. The medical team keeps patients 10 feet apart and sanitizes the space between patients and at the beginning and end of each day. “We usually can see five people at a time on the bus,” said Frankel, “but because of social distancing we can only see two patients at a time.” Like most medical care providers throughout the U.S., Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics is struggling to get access to the personal protective equipment that it needs to keep running.

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“We are running low on PPEs and reusing masks,” said Frankel. “We can’t get [them] from our medical suppliers. We received some from eBay.” Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Frankel and his team used the bus to offer care to police oﬃcers and other highstress workers who may be at increased risk for heart disease. Frankel said Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics is relying primarily on government agencies, civic organizations

and media to get the word out about the mobile unit. Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics accepts most insurance. Those seeking appointments should call (516) 488– 5050 or email telemed@cardiovasculartesting.com. Frankel’s practice also oﬀers telehealth appointments. Patients can call the number mentioned above, or download the app Healow and enter the code BEEGBA to schedule a session.

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Businesses change amid pandemic Find news ways to deliver services with an emphasis on customer safety, bottom line BY E M M A J ON ES

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

CVS on Glen Cove Road has implemented measures such as designating where customers should stand when in line for checkout in order to maintain social distancing.

The doors of the First National Bank of Long Island are locked, and the two lone employees motion from inside for you to get back in your car and go to the drive-through window. What appear to be shower curtains hang in front of the service counter in the deserted post oﬃce on Northern Boulevard. A table acts as a makeshift barrier between you and the CVS cashier. Welcome to Nassau County in the age of coronavirus. In keeping with the state mandate to shut down most shops and workplaces, only essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies remain fully open. Even among businesses that are still running, many have drastically cut back their hours. Grace’s Marketplace on Glen Cove Road in Greenvale is oﬀering to-go grocery orders for pickup or delivery to minimize the risk of spreading the virus. Although many customers are now ordering their food from home, a Grace’s Marketplace employee commented that “it’s been busy.” “Most people keep away from you,

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they don’t want to be too close to you,” he said. “But other people, they don’t care. They aren’t even wearing gloves.” The store has begun trying to limit the number of customers shopping at one time to 10, he said. “We wear gloves, every single employee has to wear them,” the employee added. “And we wear masks. And also we have hand sanitizer at each station.” At the Stop & Shop in Wheatley Plaza down the street, grocery store workers have covered every credit card reader with a clear plastic bag. Like many businesses, Stop & Shop has reserved special shopping hours for customers over the age of 60, in an attempt to protect those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus. “Although we will not be requesting ID for entry, we ask that you please respect the purpose of the early opening — and do the right thing for your neighbors,” Stop & Shop President Gordon Reid said in a statement. “Store associates do reserve the right to ask customers to leave if they are not members of this age group.” The People’s United Bank further down the row of shops has been closed since 2 p.m. Every other store has shut

down. The few cars occupying the plaza parking lot are painstakingly spread out. Despite sheets of plastic dividing workers from customers in the post office across the street, many USPS employees have reported that the postal service is not enacting adequate protective measures. Behind the masked employee stationed at the service desk, three workers stand within close proximity of one another sorting mail. A couple of miles away the perpetually crowded market and deli Kitchen Kabaret, a local favorite, is closed until further notice. The CVS next door has strips of neon orange tape at six-foot intervals on the ground in front of the registers to instruct customers where to stand. In addition to the counter, a table stands between customers and workers, and a stack of paper bags in front of the register implies that customers are expected to bag their own items. When asked if he feels safe coming to work, the Grace’s Marketplace employee hesitates for a moment. “I’m going to say yes,” he finally replies, “because we are prepared for it. As a teenager I feel safe, but older people I guess do not [feel] like that.”

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

Be Calm • Be Cautious Be Strong • Carry On “ It Takes A Village..." Wishing You All A Sweet And Healthy Passover And A Happy and Healthy Easter

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14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Editorial Cartoon

Honoring hero hospital workers

any doctors and other health-care professionals are accustomed to saving lives. What most of them are not accustomed to is risking their own lives in the process. But that is the reality for many of these health-care professionals at a time when they are being asked to treat a flood of coronavirus patients. This is especially true in Nassau County, which Gov. Cuomo said last week has joined New York City in the coronavirus epidemic. As of Tuesday, Nassau’s confirmed coronavirus cases had risen to 16,610 and deaths to 500. The total number of infected residents in Nassau and Suffolk could possibly top 100,000. But like New York City and other places across the country, health-care workers in Nassau County lack enough personal protective equipment — N95 surgical masks, face shields, Nitrile gloves and disposable medical gowns, among other things. Some have expressed fear for themselves and their family. Others merely think it. They are heroes in every sense of the word, risking their health and possibly their lives to save others. They are no different than a firefighter rushing into a burning building to save someone. The only difference is that police and firefighters understood the risks that come with their jobs when they joined their departments. The same can be said for other essential-service employees, including postal workers, grocery store clerks, gas station atten-

dants and MTA workers. Police and fire departments have taken to lining up outside of hospitals to salute the heroes from the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic — the medical staff. On Tuesday, more than 500 first responders from the North Shore stood outside North Shore University Hospital to honor employees as they ended a 12-hour shift helping more than 600 COVID-19 positive patients currently there. We join the police and firefighters in honoring the medical staff at North Shore and at hospitals across Long Island. And we salute the police and firefighters and EMS workers who also jeopardize their own lives by responding to those infected by the coronavirus. But the best way to honor the medical staff at hospitals would be to provide them with the personal protective equipment they need as well as the tools, such as ventilators, that they need to treat their sickest patients. Sadly, the president of the United States and his administration failed to recognize the threat of the pandemic and exert presidential leadership while misleading the American people about the threat and abdicating responsibility for, in the words of Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin, “the worst domestic disaster in more than 100 years.” The pandemic is not Trump’s fault, but his response is. It has made the pandemic far worse in this country both in terms of the infected and killed and the devastating impact on our community. Just look at countries such as Germany, South Korea and Singapore

BLANK SLATE MEDIA LLC

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where the virus has been held in check. The president has repeatedly said it is up to the states to get the equipment needed by both medical personnel and patients. Since when? The last time the responsibility for national disaster fell to the states was under the Articles of Confederation in the 1780s. It failed. The Founding Fathers then wrote the U.S. Constitution and ever since then the federal government has been responsible during times of national emergency. Jared Kushner, Trump’s sonin-law who has been brought in to help run the country’s response, recently stepped up to say at a press conference that the federal stockpile of equipment belonged to the United States, not the states. As if the states were part of another country. We find it hard to accept that either Kushner or Trump, who has said as president he can do whatever he wants, believe this preposterous concept of government. The more likely answer is

that Trump wants to shift blame to others so he can be re-elected. A review of federal purchasing contracts by the Associated Press shows federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders for N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by frontline health care workers In this void, governors around the country led by Cuomo have taken the lead in responding to this crisis. Cuomo has become a national figure in the fight against the coronavirus with press conferences based on facts mixed with humor and advice. He has led where others have made excuses by marshaling the resources needed for patients and caregivers from around the state. He has been particularly effective in pointing out the inefficiency and additional cost of 50 states and the federal government competing for needed equipment and supplies. Cuomo is certainly not alone in this eﬀort. Governors and may-

REPORTERS Rose Weldon, Robert Pelaez, Emma Jones

ors across the country — including many Republicans — have done the same. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is organizing states to purchase ventilators and personal protective equipment together. Oregon announced it was sending a shipment of ventilators to New York. And New York even secured a planeload of ventilators from China — yes, China — on Saturday. The state got 1,000 ventilators after the Chinese government facilitated a donation from billionaires Jack Ma and Joseph Tsai, the co-founders of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, Cuomo said. In New York, the shortages of equipment have inspired people and organizations to locate masks and other equipment needed by health-care workers. We hope it also motivates them — and everyone else — to follow the stayat-home protocols to help prevent the further spread of the virus. It’s the least we can do to honor the medical personnel on the front lines of this fight.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

ON THE RIGHT

De Blasio a study in incompentence

n the late 1960s, the Peter Principle, written by Dr. Laurence Peter and Raymond Hull, took the nation by storm and spent months on The New York Times bestseller list. In their work, the authors argued — persuasively in my judgment — that people often move up in the hierarchy of their chosen profession until they achieve a position in which they reach their level of incompetence.” And once a person reaches that level, “they always lack insight into their situation.” One elected oﬃcial who validates the Peter Principle: Mayor Bill de Blasio. Bill de Blasio is a typical city politician — a sanctimonious leftist ideologue who has never had a real job. After graduating from Columbia University, the selfdescribed Democratic socialist, worked as a community organizer in Maryland, spent time in Nicaragua supporting the Sandinistas, and later honeymooned in Castro’s Cuba. Returning to New York City, de Blasio joined the Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater

New York, served as a volunteer in David Dinkin’s successful mayoral campaign and was subsequently appointed a City Hall aide. De Blasio continued to climb the “Peter Principle” ladder, holding various political jobs, winning a City Council seat in 2002 and in 2009 the city’s public advocate post. Being a city councilman or the public advocate is great for people who do not like to work very hard. All one has to do is issue press releases, host fundraisers and get arrested at public protests. Thanks to the support of the powerful union, SEIU Local 1199, de Blasio managed to get elected the City’s 109th mayor in November 2013. He ran on a platform that promised to abolish the Police Department’s “Stop and Frisk” policy, to raise taxes and to destroy Charter schools. Being mayor is a 24/7 job. And most of the City’s recent chief executives — LaGuardia, Wagner, Koch, Giuliani, Bloomberg — loved working around the clock.

GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right However, Mayor de Blasio is cut from a diﬀerent mold. Some City Hall observers describe him as low energy, others as lazy — more interested in raising campaign and PAC money and rewarding finance supporters with sweetheart contracts than governing. Staﬀ members have complained to reporters that the Mayor never stops campaigning because that’s the only thing he knows how to do. Political columnist Michael Goodwin, has described de Blasio as a “human sloth, a late

sleeper who can’t be bothered to get out of his SUV or even show up at City Hall many days.” As a result of de Blasio’s insouciance, City housing is in shambles, streets are dirtier, education standards have been declining, the homeless problem is exploding, and crime is rising. In the first quarter of 2020, total crime increased by 12 percent compared to the first 3 months of 2019. While murder and rape were down the other five major felony categories were up: Robbery +25.2 percent, assault +2.6 percent, burglary +21.9 percent, grand larceny +5.2 percent, Car thefts +65.5 percent. Worse than his laziness is de Blasio’s ideological blinders. He cannot see past identity politics and political correctness. A recent revelation by Bob McManus of the Manhattan Institute proves how ideologically dense the mayor can be. Samaritan’s Purse, an emergency medical response charity that has provided help in the aftermath of disasters throughout the world, recently set up a field hospital in Central Park to help victims of

coronavirus. McManus was livid that the volunteers “armed with tons of the sophisticated medical equipment so sorely lacking in the city right now, plus the expertise to use it, are presumptively suspect. And are perhaps to be expelled.” Why? Because Samaritan’s Purse was founded by the noted evangelist preacher Franklin Graham. And because the mayor frowns upon Graham’s views on abortion, same-sex marriage and other moral issues, upon learning of the field hospital, de Blasio told the media: “I said immediately to my team that we had to find out exactly what was happening. Was there going to be an approach that was truly consistent with the values [of] New York City?” You can’t make this up. The mayor questions the motives of dedicated volunteer medical experts and contemplates evicting them because he abhors their religious beliefs? Mayor Bill de Blasio: the poster boy for the Peter Principle.

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Other problems for other times

, like most of you — I hope! — have spent a lot of time marooned inside my own home, lately. I’m squinting at the level of liquid soap in all the dispensers in the house; rationing toilet paper, and going more or less insane. Out of the house? No! Out of my mind? Absolutely. It is getting harder every day to look on the lighter side. Still, sometimes a little good news breaks through. For example, Tom and Rita Hanks have now been released from the Australian hospital where they recovered from coronavirus, and are now back home in Los Angeles. Self-isolating. It reminded me that there are worse places for self-isolating than my own home. For example, I could be on a desert island, like the one where Tom Hanks’ character Chuck Noland found himself stranded in the movie “Castaway,” with nothing but some boxes and a volleyball for company. The original idea for the film was Hanks’, but I read that the

volleyball idea came to the film’s writer, William Broyles, Jr., while he chose to strand himself for a week on an isolated beach in Mexico. He wanted some idea of what the character might be facing. During that time, a volleyball apparently washed up on his beach. By contrast, I’m in the lap of luxury, with both a functioning couch and color TV! I even have a yard! Sure, it’s small, and when you stay six feet away from every boundary, it’s even smaller. Just big enough to admire the awesome crop of weeds I am apparently growing, this year. Or I could be in the International Space Station, with no place to go, at all. You can’t even go out for a walk without a big production. So you stay in and watch the news. “Hey, Judy, wouldja mind changing the channel away from the news? I’ve had enough of that to last me a lifetime, and there’s a Fast and Furious marathon I’d like to watch.” “Judy? Igor? Remember it’s my turn next?” says Harold. “And

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side I promised my kids I’d watch the Harry Potter marathon with them, as much as possible, so switch over!” “Jeez! Can’t you wait a few minutes?” I complain. “I’d be happy to just watch Earth out the window but we’re still on the night side, now, and there’s nothing to see. It’s not as if we’ve got 500 channels of cable TV up here…” “Or a DISH satellite.” “Are you kidding?” says Igor. “Of course we’ve got satellite —

we ARE a satellite!” “Yeah, it doesn’t mean what you think it does,” corrects Harold. “Yes, we orbit the Earth, but it doesn’t mean we can get other satellite TV channels. So don’t be a remote control hog — either of you!” “Don’t call me names,” I say, “or you’ll be sorry!” “Yeah, yeah, what are you gonna do about it, Judy? Go stomping out of the capsule? You can’t even get your space pants on by yourself. Plus there’s nowhere to go!” “Watch me. Open the pod bay door, Hal.” “I’m sorry Judy, I can’t do that.” “Okay, I’ll do it myself.” “You know that’s a bad idea….” At least on Earth, when someone takes the batteries out of her stubborn roommate’s remote control, the batteries don’t go floating around the cabin! Going back even farther in time — what must it have been like for Mr. and Mrs. Noah? Cooped up almost literally, with

chickens and ducks and every animal on Earth plus their own extended family? “Noah, when you agreed to do this for God — did He give you any suggestions for what to do with all the poop?” “He was a little vague about the details.” “And you decided to do this anyway.” “Well, of course! When God tells you to do something, you don’t exactly turn Him down. Besides, what was the alternative? He said there’d be a flood, and you can’t swim.” “I know, but really — elephants?” “That’s why there’s a poop deck.” “Argh! So God decided to wash away all the evil in the world — leaving me with you, and your puns and your poop jokes? I can’t take it anymore!” And she dove oﬀ the side of the Ark, never to be heard from again. I’m hoping, for her sake, that she washed up on Tom Hanks’ island.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

VIEW POINT

Expand mail-in balloting amidst a pandemic

ur notion of a free and fair election – the cornerstone of a democracy — is under siege from enemies foreign and domestic. We already have the occupant in the Oval Office helped thereby Russian interference which has not abated. He has already demonstrated willingness to extort foreign help (Ukraine) to win re-election (what if China and Iran now back the opponent? Wouldn’t that be interesting) and willing to use whatever levers he now can wield due to holding that office. Now a pandemic is making it physically difficult, even dangerous, for people to cast their vote in person – basically giving people a choice of endangering their lives and that of family and community, even turning voting into an act of civil disobedience against shelter-in-place orders, not to mention that a fraction of polling places are open because of the lack of poll workers. But wherever Republicans are in control, they exploit the situation to suppress voting. Wisconsin’s state Legislature blocked the expansion of

mail-in voting; Senate Majority Leader “Grim Reaper” “Moscow Mitch” McConnell is blocking the Election Protection Act and four similar bipartisan bills, and the right-wing Supreme Court, which already has undermined elections with decisions including Bush v Gore, Citizens United, Shelby, and its refusal to hear challenges to partisan gerrymandering, just this week blocked the Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ attempt to expand mail-in ballots or delay the primary election. But Republicans calculated a low turnout would advantage the election of another Republican state supreme court judge. “With this outrageous ruling the Supreme Court’s farright majority put not just its thumb, but its entire fist, on the scale in favor of making it harder for people to vote,” writes Ben Betz, Digital Director of People for the American Way. “This ruling will disenfranchise tens of thousands of Wisconsin voters in the midst of a terrible public health crisis, forcing them to choose between casting their ballot or risking their health and the health of others. If there were any lingering doubt that Republican aims of

KAREN RUBIN View Point

voter suppression were being aided and abetted by the courts and via far-right appointments to the bench, it was removed tonight.” Of course, there is a solution to Wisconsin’s vote, just as there was for Ohio: poll workers in protective gear standing outside could have handed a paper ballot or even the absentee ballot (if they are one of the states that have no paper trail), as the voter is in the car or walking by, who would then hand it back to another the end of the driveway or let the voter deposit the ballot later in the day in a secure box. Then the ballots would be checked

against the registration book and run through scanners as they would absentee ballot. Most critically, there should be mandatory audits of the electronic tally against the paper ballots for this and every other election. But unlike Wisconsin which arguably was pressured into making accommodations too close to the election, now there is ample time to organize procedures for November. But clearly Trump and the Republicans see an advantage in suppressing voting, as they have for the past 20 years. In an interview on “Fox & Friends,” Trump derided proposals from Democrats in the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill that would have provided $2 billion for absentee and vote-by-mail options (they got $400 million). “The things they had in there were crazy,” Trump told Fox. “They had things — levels of voting that, if you ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.” Looking ahead, Brennan Center for Justice oﬀers its own cogent plan for “How to Protect the 2020 Vote from the Coro-

navirus” that require making polling places accommodating, safe and sanitized, taking into consideration the need to avoid lines and crowds and using sites that don’t pose an added risk (like senior centers), making sure to notify voters of the location, hours, etc.; making ballot-marking procedures to minimize viral transmission, adding machines and staﬀ; expand early in-person voting; expand mail-in voting options, postage free; send inactive and recently purged voters provisional ballots if they request a mail ballot; provide expanded means for requesting ballots, online, in person, by mail and phone, with secure methods to sending and returning ballots, and expanded deadlines for returning the ballots; and secure methods to evaluating the validity of the ballot (not rejecting ballots for arbitrary technical reasons); bolster methods for registering voters including online; take steps to prevent disinformation and confusion to suppress voting and manipulate an election. (See https:// www.brennancenter.org/ourwork/policy-solutions/howprotect-2020-vote-coronavirus) Continued on Page 30

ALL THINGS POLITICAL

Desperate need to protect health-care workers

he stunning depth and breadth of how swiftly the coronavirus has invaded every aspect of Long Islander’s lives would have been hard to imagine just a few short weeks ago. But in the next few weeks, we all face a grim reality. The total number of infected residents in Nassau and Suﬀolk will possibly top 100,000. So, what can we do to fight back? For starters, we must do everything we can to protect those who are protecting us. Quite simply, we need to get personal protective equipment to frontline healthcare workers as quickly as possible. Governor Cuomo recently announced the virus crisis on Long Island “is spreading like a wildfire.” Nassau has the dubious distinction of having the most Coronavirus cases in the country, outside of New York City, and Suﬀolk County isn’t far behind. During times of trouble and disarray, lead-

ers emerge. We can unanimously agree Gov. Cuomo has stepped up and set a national example of what leadership looks like. On a more local level, there are heroes whose names you will never know, outside of frontline healthcare workers, who immediately responded to protect those who are working to protect us. One hero, in particular, I’d like to highlight is the Superintendent of Plainedge Public Schools, Dr. Ed Salina. Dr. Salina’s school district is home to many police oﬃcers, firefighters and nurses, and he recognized that we all need this workforce to remain healthy. Immediately upon learning of the PPE shortage, Dr. Salina went to every school in his district and found PPE supplies in nurse’s offices, science labs, and janitorial departments. He then donated half a van full of PPE to St. Joseph’s hospital in Bethpage. The donated items in-

ADAM HABER All Things Political cluded Nitrile Gloves, face masks, and sanitizer. Long Island needs more leaders like Dr. Ed Salina. There are 124 public school districts, 20 colleges and universities, and over 200 private schools on Long Island. I’ve reached out to several of them, and only a select few have donated their PPE. Their reasons for not donating include: attorneys advising

it’s against state law to donate taxpayer-funded items; the need for PPE when schools reopen, and a general concern over not having enough. I’ve been in contact with many area hospitals, health clinics, EMT workers, dialysis centers, and retirement homes. Many are close to being out of PPE, and several have been forced to reuse equipment, and to improvise protective gear. In addition, staﬀ members are falling ill at an increasing rate, while healthy staﬀ members are working around the clock. This shouldn’t be happening! To become a local hero like Dr. Salina, please get involved with sourcing PPE. Ask your local public or private schools to donate. Then call animal hospitals, dentists, auto repair and paint shops, construction companies and welders, restoration companies, duct and vent cleaning services, art supply stores, nail salons, plumbing sup-

ply warehouses, hardware stores, and other residents who may have them. Ask them to donate to a local PPE supply drive or hospital. Here is Nassau County’s list of items needed immediately: N95 Surgical masks in unopened containers and boxes; goggles and face shields; Nitrile gloves in unopened boxes; disposable medical gowns; shoe covers and booties; no-touch thermometers; thermometer probe covers; HEPA filters for ventilators; anesthesia machines; antibacterial and disinfecting wipes (either alcohol, bleach, Clorox or Lysol); and hand sanitizer. Those who are reluctant to give up their PPE supply fail to realize this new reality: when frontline healthcare workers inevitably fall prey to COVID-19, there will be nobody left to care for them. Donating excess PPE to places that urgently need it is the best way to protect your family from this insidious virus.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Using tech safely while staying home

OVID 19 is changing our lives in many ways. We are spending most of our time inside our homes, forgoing dinners out and social gatherings, sports practices, yoga classes and weekends away. Parents are homeschooling their children with on-line lessons and conducting business via the internet to the outside world. Mental health professionals are encouraging people to stay connected with family and friends through our phones or computers to ease isolation. And to pass time and keep our children from boredom or fighting, we are streaming lots of movies from Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. While all this time spent on our devices absolutely helps to keep us functioning with some sense of normalcy in this unprecedented time, it is also exposing us to many more hours in front of computer screens. And for most families, this means that we are also exposing ourselves to many more hours of radiofrequency (RF) radiation. Last week, environmental health organizations from around the world reached out to parents regarding children’s digital educational environments, urging them to use wired connections to the internet and adopt best practices to avoid high exposures to RF radiation during this pandemic. A press release from the

National Institute for Science, Law and Public Policy warned the public about the increased time spent on wireless devices and cited the growing body of independent science that documents the potential health eﬀects from long-term exposure to the radiation emitted from wireless devices. Among the institutions, it quoted was The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has published guidelines suggesting ways to limit the amount of RF radiation exposure to children. The guidelines can be found in a simple fact sheet on the AAP website. The AAP is, in fact, strongly opposed to the current exposure guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission, primarily because the guidelines are almost 25 years old, making them irrelevant for today’s level of exposure, and do not take into consideration the large and growing body of science showing biological harm from RF radiation, especially for children. Since children are uniquely vulnerable to all environmental exposures because of their stilldeveloping physiology and typical behavior patterns, here are some precautions you can take and make your home tech-safe for your kids: • Distance is your friend – Keep cell phones out of pockets (oﬀ your body) and do not hold

PATTI WOOD Earth Matters

them directly against your head. This warning can be found in the legal section of phone manuals provided by the manufacturers themselves. Instead, use an air-tube headset or the speaker setting on your phone to keep a safer distance from the radiation-producing antennas embedded in your phone. When not in use, always place your phone on “airplane” mode. • Wired connections to the internet are best — We are so used to wireless, that some of us have forgotten how reliable (not to mention, safer and more secure) an Ethernet connection to the internet is. There are many easy ways to connect with wires and adapters are available for devices that no longer have Ethernet connections. • Turn oﬀ wireless devices at night – Turn oﬀ your router when

you go to bed and don’t keep your phone, tablet or computer on a bedside table. This is very important for teens who often keep their phones close by at all times, even under their pillows while they are sleeping. Routers should be placed in rooms that are the least utilized and never in a bedroom. Choose baby monitors that plugin, as wireless models produce high levels of RF radiation. • Using phones at home — Landline corded phones are completely safe and should be used for conversations when you are home. Cordless phones or DECT phones produce essentially the same amount of radiation as cell phones and the charging base emits radiation as well. And you can always forward your cell phone calls to your landline number. • Online learning, videos, games – Streaming videos and playing games online result in near-constant RF radiation exposure. When possible, download and then engage with your device in “airplane” mode. Download your e-mail and then disconnect, allowing you to read and respond without being exposed. Students should use their computers, not phones, for reading and researching on-line. • Position of wireless devices – Make sure that your child does not put a laptop computer on their lap! Computers and tab-

lets should always be placed on a hard surface with the user in a chair that provides appropriate height and distance from the device. • Lighting — If using the computer at night, another light should be located on the side of the screen (not behind the screen and not coming from behind the user). The brightness of the source should approximately correspond to the brightness of the screen. All screens are illuminated with LEDs – this source of light produces a whiter and “colder” blue light which can harm the retina of the eye and inhibit melatonin production, which is essential to many body functions. Newer devices have a built-in color control to address this problem, but If you have an older device, you can download a free app that will turn the screen a warmer color. Go to justgetflux.com. • Avoid Bluetooth and Earbuds – although these devices are attractive for ease of use, they put RF radiation very close to the ears in close proximity to the body and brain. Their emissions are lower, but users tend to use them for long periods of time, increasing the risk of health impacts. Technology is great and it’s keeping us connected to the world. Let’s just be sure it’s not harming our health at the same time.

KIDS F IRST

The Weather Channel and tracking COVID-19 One of my favorite phone apps is the Weather Channel. I check it every day, sometimes several times a day, to track the temperature, wind and precipitation in my zip code. If I want to, I can search any zip code anywhere. It helps me to prepare for when I plan to walk or go bike riding. It is also helpful to see how the weather conditions might aﬀect my commute to and from my oﬃce at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center or when I plan to travel anywhere in New York or beyond. On the bottom of the opening page of the app there are icons that lead you to a quick view of hourly and daily weather conditions, as well as radar. I usually stick with hourly and daily views. I have looked at the radar page, but I haven’t figured

it out yet. The hourly and daily icons are presented in a gray outline and the radar icon in blue. I’m writing this on a cloudy and foggy morning, with light rain all day. I just checked the hourly icon to see if the rain is going to stop so I can take a walk. Sometimes I like to walk in the rain. But not today. Tomorrow’s forecast is nice. I think I’ll wait until tomorrow morning to walk: no rain, temperature 50 degrees and wind ESE only 4 MPH. Perfect! As I clicked back to the homepage, my eyes caught an icon I hadn’t noticed before. The new icon is all red and it reads “COVID-19” with a solid red image that represents the virus. I clicked it and came to a page associated with my zip code. When I opened to the CO-

ANDREW MALEKOFF Kids First

VID-19 page it displayed confirmed cases and deaths associated with the coronavirus in Nassau County and the percentage increase of deaths since last week. Like the weather, it indicates the date and time of day for the report. And then just below the

Nassau County information, it provides the confirmed cases and deaths in all of New York State. It took my breath away to see this little red icon on the Weather Channel. After all, checking the weather has always provided me with a momentary respite, a chance to look forward to a nice day or to prepare for a crummy one. But the little red icon put a lump in my throat. We are encouraged on social media every day with uplifting memes and inspirational quotations to count our blessings. We are advised to use telecommunications to interact with family, friends and colleagues. Depending on the circumstance, technology enables us to reach out to students, clients, doctors, patients and customers.

At the same time, anxiety and fear is a constant companion. For some, more so than others. Particularly if you have loved ones with pre-existing health-compromising conditions or if you don’t know how you are going to pay the bills if this lasts much longer. We can distract ourselves only so long. And, then we check the weather. Andrew Malekoﬀ is the executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, the leading children’s mental health agency on Long Island. The Guidance Center is seeing new and existing clients via telephone and video during the COVID-19 crisis. To make an appointment, call (516) 626-1971. Visit www.northshorechildguidance.org for more information.

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

OUR TOWN

Our fear of death amidst a global pandemic

ear of death is a central concern for humans. This fact becomes clearer each day as we get inundated by this new biological war with the death count mounting by the hour. The world and its usual manner of function have come to a screeching halt and as we hunker down and shelter in we have ample time to cogitate on the meaning of life and death. So let us begin. Perhaps the greatest nonfiction book on the subject of death is the Pulitzer Prizewinner by Ernest Becker entitled “The Denial of Death” back in 1973. He reviews the writings of Freud, Otto Rank, Norman O. Brown and Kierkegaard and concludes that death is mankind’s greatest fear and that from an early age we go about denying the idea of death with compulsive heroic type acts which teach us that though death may be nearby we can

conquer it. The only person I have ever spoken to seriously about the subject of death was Bob Lipsyte of the New York Times. He was doing a series on NASCAR drivers and their death wish and he wanted to know my views on the matter. I basically said that athletes are the culture’s heroes because they regularly and willingly face death every day. This goes for race drivers, jockeys, boxers, gymnasts, football players, and more. The culture adores and elevates them to the status of high priests because they face down death every day and come back to talk about it. This reinforces our ability to deny the grim truth that the Grim Reaper exists and will be happily knocking on our door someday. Of course, the idea is to postpone that visit for as long as humanly possible. Of course, Becker is not the only one who has been

An ancient burial site in Ireland

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

concerned with the problem of death. Religions have dealt with this sticky issue as well. Buddhists and Hindus deal with it by suggesting we will all be coming back in another form and try to exercise goodwill and kindness or you may be returning as a dog or worse yet a mouse. Many religions have Spring Equinox rites which usher in the transcendence of light and life over the darkness and death of winter. Catholicism gives us Easter which is said to symbolizing the way Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. Rites of spring often involve a sacrifice which was supposed to provide an ‘immunity from death’ bath to those who participate. Easter eggs also symbolize the emergence of life out of darkness. Architectural masterpieces like the 5,000-year-old-Stonehenge with its ring of 13-foot stones symbolize the circle of life and death. Great literature has often focused on the problem of

death as well. The wonderful Greek epic poem “The Odyssey” was written by Homer in 820 B.C. and began with the famous phrase “Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns driven time and again oﬀ course, once he has plundered the hallowed heights of Troy.” The story was all about the hero Odysseus who looked death in the face for twenty years until he finally made it home to his loyal wife Penelope. He battled the gods Zeus, Poseidon, Calypso, the lotus-eaters, the Cyclops, the House of Death, Scylla, Charybis and finally all those wouldbe suitors who wanted to bed his wife. He managed to avoid death each time thanks to his lucky charm, the goddess Athena, who admired his courage. The book is still loved by many largely because Odysseus is a man who faced death and conquered it. Then there is Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” which is about how you can conquer death if you’re a clever enough scientist. Good luck with that. We see how grim that monster looked. Or how about Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” who oﬀers his victims life immortal if you give him a little bit of blood. Once again this is a piece of great literature that symbolizes a wish for immortal life. But seriously can you imagine a life whereupon you lived forever. Don’t you think you might get bored after

about 1,000 years? After all there’s only a limited number of great cities to visit on one’s bucket list before the whole thing gets tiresome. Indeed, we are not alone in our fear of death and of dying. Poets, writers, architects, saints and sinners alike all have grappled with this most primary of fears. And as we shelter in we now have time to reorient ourselves to our precious life. Life does not last forever no matter how much we may want it to. We have all hit the pause button and this pause will not last all that long. As we pause it’s time to look around and see what we have been given. In “The Box” by Edward Albee the main character keeps repeating the phrase “When art begins to hurt, it’s time to look around.” A good quote to remember but it now needs a paraphrase that goes “When life starts to hurt, look around you .” This is exactly what Buddha meant when he said ‘be here now.” Or what Jesus Christ meant when he remarked: “The kingdom of heaven is here and it is now.” This is an enforced pause in the action and so it’s time to look around. If you take a walk you will no longer hear jets flying above and you will not hear much traﬃc. But you will hear birds and you will hear the breeze rustling through the leaves as they start to bud. Nice time of year is spring.

READERS WRITE

Where was the We all need to follow editor on cartoon? social distancing policy

our editorial cartoon of April 3, 2020 reflects the lowest standard of journalism and exposes the true intolerance and hypoc-

risy of the Marxist/Progressive left. Walter J. Jaworski New Hyde Park

www.facebook.com/TheIslandNow

aking exercise walks around town it has been heartening to see that most of our residents are heeding the wise advice of our national government and staying indoors; and when they venture out, they are keeping a safe social distance between themselves and others. We are doing the right and smart thing. We should all stay with this program. The recent recommendation

to continue to remain indoors until the end of April and avoiding contact with others as much as possible seems to be both prudent and necessary. Worldwide reporting of the spread of this as yet incurable virus is at a minimum growing and at worst possibly under-reported by several countries. During this stressful time, our committee decided to add as much helpful information, suggested guidelines and tips as possible to our website,

(www,Revivegreatneckplaza. com). Please keep yourselves informed and stay safe. Once we’re well past the crest of medical necessity, we’ll have time to address other matters of concern. Our sincerest prayers go out to all as we look forward to better times ahead. Leonard Katz Revive Great Neck Plaza Letters Continued on Page 24

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

20 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

SUNY Old Westbury field Saluting North hospital set for April 19 Shore Hospital BY R O S E W E L D ON The field hospital for Covid-19 patients at SUNY Old Westbury should be completed in less than two weeks, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The corps is building the field hospital to accommodate those aﬀected by the coronavirus as the

pandemic creates severe overcrowding in hospitals. “We expect to complete the project by April 19,” Michael Embrich, a member of the corps’ press oﬃce, said. The facility is designed to hold 1,024 beds, he said, and part of the school’s gymnasium will be used for the capacity.

“Some beds will be inside the gymnasium, but most will be in the temporarily constructed alternate care facilities around the campus,” Embrich said. The state of New York, which operates the school, said early last month that the staﬀ would be made up of volunteering nurses and doctors from around the area.

employees

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

Hundreds of Nassau County first responders lined up Tuesday night to salute heroes from the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic at North Shore University Hospital. After working a 12-hour day helping the more than 600 COVID-19 positive patients currently being treated at the facility, medical staff were greeted by firefighters and police officers, who offered love and respect with a clap-out for the Northwell Health employees. Fire trucks hoisted the American flag to form an arch under which the medical staff walked as they left and/or enPHOTO COURTESY OF SUNY OLD WESTBURY tered the hospital. Among those in attendance SUNY Old Westbury will become a temporary hospital for those affected by the coronavirus, were representatives from Albertson Fire Co., Great Neck Vigwith construction expected to be complete on April 19.

ilant Fire Co., Great Neck Alert Fire Co., Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department, Nassau County Police Department, Port Washington Fire Department, Roslyn Rescue, and Williston Park Fire Department. “We know all the hospital staﬀ has been putting up a good fight unprecedented in the number of calls and people coming through,” Great Neck Alert Fire Chief James Neubert said. “To be there to support them was only a small thing for us to do to support them and our eﬀorts.” “It’s really important for the community to recognize all the healthcare professionals who have gone above and beyond,” Port Washington Fire Department Capt. Joseph LoRe said. “It was important for our entire department to recognize everyone. It is important all those folks feel supported.”

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

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22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

1st county reassessment in decade Curran touts ‘significant’ decrease in grievance reductions for property owners over 2019-20 BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

Nassau County Assessor David Moog has finalized and published the 2020-2021 assessment roll, the final step in completing the first countywide property assessment in almost a decade, according to county officials. “While the health and safety of Nassau’s 1.4 million residents and our employees is always my top priority — now more than ever — I remain committed to fulfilling my promise of fixing the broken system that had half of property owners overpaying in taxes,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said. Included are the final determinations, provided by the Assessment Review Commission, on grievances filed after the reassessment on the county’s tentative assessment roll, officials said. Of the 227,475 residential grievances filed on the 2020-21 tentative assessment roll, the commission made 60,760 reductions of class one properties, according to officials. Last year, officials said, 175,067 residential reductions were made. “With the significant decrease in grievance reductions after the reassessment, we now have even more data that shows we are on the right path,” Curran said. “I thank the dedicated employees of the Department of Assessment and Assessment

PHOTO BY NOAH MANSKAR

Nassau County officials announced on Friday, the first property reassessment in a decade was completed. Review Commission for their tremendous eﬀort, taking on the challenging reassessment from start to finish.” “I am proud of the remarkable progress we’ve made to overhaul the broken assessment system, despite the many obstacles we faced,” Moog said. “I thank the County Executive for prioritizing our department and providing us with the resources needed to accomplish the reassessment and ultimately produce one of the most accurate

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assessment rolls in the state.” According to figures provided by county oﬃcials, during the eight-year frozen assessment roll period, the county reduced approximately one million residential cases while one-half of property owners were “unfairly subsidizing the other half.” “Over the past year, my staﬀ worked tirelessly to ensure a meaningful review of grievance filings on the first unfrozen assessment roll in almost a decade,” As-

sessment Review Commission Chairperson Robin Laveman said. “We found that a majority of property assessments were accurate and did not warrant a reduction, reflecting a great improvement on property values from the frozen period.” According to a release sent out by the county, Curran provided homeowners who may still disagree with their tentative assessment with an additional 30-day grace period to file grievances in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Curran said the 2021-22 grievance filing period will be extended throughout the month, oﬃcially ending on April 30, 2020. According to county oﬃcials, homeowners have the right to settle with the Small Claims Assessment Review, if they do not settle with the Assessment Review Commission. The deadline, usually on the last business day in April, was also extended by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The new deadline for filing with the Small Claims Assessment Review is May 19, 2020, subject to change depending on what the state determines is the best course of action throughout the pandemic. While the Assessment Review Commission’s customer service window is closed to comply with the state’s coronavirus guidelines, the team is available to answer questions by phone or email at 516-571-3214 or ARC@nassaucountyny.gov.

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PLEASE DONATE A GIFT TODAY Give what you can to help us through this emergency. We must continue our mission to rescue; provide shelter, medical care, and nourishment; and adopt out homeless pets during the COVID-19 crisis. YOU CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF INNOCENT ANIMALS NOW. VISIT animalleague.org or CALL 516-883-7575

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

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24 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

READERS WRITE

Low prescription prices come with questions

he coronavirus has exposed the United States’ dangerous dependence on China for pharmaceutical and medical supplies. The coronavirus we are currently seeing came to our shores and aside from becoming one more source of friction between politicians of both sides, has pointed out the potential for drug shortages since so many of our drugs are imported from foreign countries. Jen Christensen, writing for CNN, on Feb. 28, “As of 2018, China ranked second among countries that exported drugs and biologics to the U.S. and ranked first for medical devices according to the FDA.” Those numbers do not match up with those I have obtained from the FDA which when I called showed finished drug products from China imported to the U.S. and APIs or active pharmaceutical ingredients at lower levels, although still higher than most would like. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug

Evaluation and Research, testified before Congress “that the United States has become a world leader in drug discovery and development, but is no longer in the forefront of drug manufacturing.” Marsha Blackburn, writing for STAT, on Feb. 14, 2020, “Woodcock identified as a key health and security concern the cessation of U.S. manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, APIs, the basic building blocks of medication. She testified that 72 percent of API manufacturing takes place outside of the U.S. and that the number of facilities making APIs in China has more than doubled since 2010.” Gary Cohen, a former chief economist to President Trump, argued against a trade war with China by invoking a Department of Commerce study that found that 97 percent of all antibiotics in the United States came from China. China is the only maker of key ingredients in a class of decades-old antibiotics known as cephalosporins, which treat a range of bacterial infections, including pneumonia. Who re-

members “Keflex”?. The year was 2018. Fast forward, the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 28 reported “factory shutdowns across China because of the new Coronavirfus and have exposed an uncomfortable health care reality.” Many medicines sold here rely on raw materials that are made in that country. The FDA just told us that one drug has already gone into shortage because of diﬃculties obtaining a raw ingredient from a site affected by the virus. It did not disclose which drug or manufacturer. Politico reported that China accounted for 95% of U.S. imports of Ibuprofen, 91% of U.S. imports of hydrocortisone, 70 percent oﬀ U.S. imports of generic Tylenol, acetaminophen, and 40 percent of imports of heparin. These numbers come from the Commerce Department data. Another example of an API is the starting material needed to make doxycycline, the recommended treatment for anthrax exposure. Another example of raw materials coming from China and India

is azithromycin, known as a Z-Pak, A single factory in China made the active ingredient for a common blood pressure medicine, Valsartan, that was found to contain a cancer-causing chemical that has been used to make liquid rocket fuel. Cohen was quoted as saying,” if you’re the Chinese and you want to really just destroy us, just stop sending us antibiotics,” Doug Palmer and Finbarr BerminfghAm, writing in Politico, say there are not enough FDA personnel conducting on-site-inspections in China, adding to the worries of many in Congress. ut a shortage of some critical medicine has prompted the FDA to allow the sale of some Chinese made drugs that could pose a safety risk, rather than be caught without any supply. While the Department of Defense only purchases a small quantity of finished pharmaceuticals from China, about 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients are said to come from China and other

countries like India. “Our biggest vulnerability is our over-dependence and single source of supply” said Mike Wessel, a long time member of the U.S.China Commission. China, directly or indirectly, is the major or potentially sole supplier of these products to the U.S. The question I must ask as I write this article is, “Would you be willing to pay what would probably be a higher price for many if not all of the prescription drugs you are now using if you knew they were manufactured here, in the U.S. This question that I ask has usually drawn a definite no from those I have asked. They do want quality products that they can depend on but are not really willing or able to pay a higher price for. The additional emergency funding under new legislation hopefully being passed by both parties this week will help solve that question. Bert Drachtman Great Neck

Senseless gouging charge against business

n these difficult economic times, it is important to patronize our local businesses. “Raindew accused of price gouging” (Rose Weldon — April 3). My wife and I residein Great Neck, but weperiodicallyshop at many of thelocal stores on Plandome Road including Raindew Family Center. It is a disgrace for the Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs to fine Raindew $5,000 dollars. As a result of the coronavirus, we now have to shelter in place at home. Who knows how many more weeks this will go on. As a result, many small businesses are now on the verge of permanently closing, due to the loss of income. Nassau County should be encouraging local entrepreneurs, not punishing them. They operate on small profit margins. If you want to see price gouging, go on the internet. Is Consumer Affairs aware that there is a shortage of face

masks? It makes more sense to sell them individually, rather than larger quantities. This aﬀords more people access to hard to get surgical face masks. Consumer Aﬀairs issuing a fine for selling surgical face masks on an individual basis at $3.49 rather than $129 for a box of 50 makes no sense. This was the total supply Raindew had on hand. People staying at home are only looking for one or two, used going out for food or medicine. Due to the law of supply and demand, everyone has been charging more, due to shortages created by the coronavirus. The actual cost increases comparing prices pre coronavirus have not gone up that much for many basic commodities. Small independent businesses such as Raindew are at the mercy of suppliers, especially third party brokers, who control the price they have to pay for merchandise. There are additional costs of sanitizing the store and providing protection to employees, who

deal with the public during this health emergency. We don’t mind occasionally paying a little more to help Raindew and our other local stores survive. The employees at Raindewgo out of their way to help us find what we need. Customer service istheir motto. As an independent mom and pop store, they don’t have bulk buying purchasing power that large national chains have. The owners of Raindew can’t negotiate lower prices from suppliers for hardware or pharmacy products like national pharmacy chains such as CVS, RiteAid,WalgreensorWalmart. Ditto for national home improvement chains such as Lowes or Home Depot. This is why they sometimes charge a little more. It is worth the priceto avoid the crowds and long lines at larger stores in exchange for the convenience and friendly service Raindew oﬀers. People who work at Raindew are our neighbors. The owners, Gloria and Kevin work

long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment. Many employees are younger people working at their first job. Customers also patronize other commercial establishments on Plandome Road. Foot traffic is essential for the survival of any village commercial district. If we don’t patronize our local community stores and restaurants to shop and eat, they don’t eat either. This helps keep our neighbors employed and the local economy growing. Shame on Nassau County Executive Laura Curran for allowing her own Consumer Affairs to impose such draconian fines on the owners of hard-working independent mom and pop stores such as Raindew. These stores are the backbone of our village commercial districts. The Consumer Affairs Commissioner was appointed by, reports to and serves at the pleasure of our County Executive. She should instruct her

Consumer Aﬀairs Commissioner to cancel this onerous fine on Raindew. Our County Executive should be encouraging local entrepreneurs. Stop trying to put them out of business by excessive, rules, regulations and fines. Nassau County Executive Curran and the Consumer Affairs commissioner both owe the owners of Raindew a formal apology for this outrage. They need to come to Raindew at 465 Plandome Road in Manhasset. Hold a sidewalk press conference to announce they are canceling this fine. Follow up by going into Raindew. Thank the hard-working owners and employees who continue to work during these hard times. Both should show their support by making a purchase. The name of the store “Raindew Family Center” says it all. They are a family to their employees, neighbors, customers and community. Larry & Wendy Penner Great Neck

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

READERS WRITE

Trump’s tweets a descent into lunacy

ne day, I was listening to MSNBC, and Nicole Wallace referred to the latest tweet of Donald Trump as a “descent into lunacy.” I thought that her phrase, in addition to being true, had a nice ring to it. We live in the age of the coronavirus. And one of the most frequently heard complaints is that Trump did not act quickly enough which led to unnecessary deaths. In fact, the entire month of February was wasted when the federal government could have taken action. I began to think about who might provide better leadership. The first name that came to mind was that of General Leslie Groves who headed the Manhattan Project during World

War II. He was in command of a group of scientists and military personnel charged with building the first atomic bomb. With headquarters in Los Alamos, N.M., Groves presided over this odd assemblage. He ruled with a forceful hand and in today’s parlance, he would be considered a “czar.” Another name that came to mind as someone who could demonstrate leadership was Robert Moses also known as the “master builder.” Some of his methods were criticized, but he got the job done. Both of these men acted in what we call a “presidential fashion” although neither held elective oﬃce. A further reason for describing Trump’s failure to lead as a “descent into lunacy” is his pro-

pensity for avoiding the truth. For the past three-plus years, we have had a president who, according to the Washington Post as of March 2020, has lied or made misleading statements over 16,000 times. This is in addition to his being a racist, a xenophobe, a misogynist, a narcissist, a bully and a name caller. Add to this his penchant for self adulation. For example, he has called himself a “very stable genius” as well as firing those who cross him. For all these reasons, I believe we have descended into lunacy. I could go on with these criticisms such as his lacking all intellectual curiosity and his criticism of the press which, as Jeﬀerson pointed out, is essential to a democracy. There is only

one person who has emerged in this crisis as the kind of leader who acts “presidential.” His name if Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic governor of New York. He has held daily news conferences every day and he consistently demonstrates wisdom, objectivity, a reliance upon science, and a grasp of the situation which is admirable. He does not sugar coat the facts nor does he give false hope. At times, he may wax poetic and he would never state that the church pews should be filled on Easter Sunday since that contravenes the rule about “sheltering in place.” On occasion, he may wax poetic as when he warns us that we are not running a sprint, but a marathon, but his best idea is

that we must have “rolling” resources. So if New York City needs ventilators, they should come from other states and counties. and when these entities have a greater need than N.Y.C. the caps, gowns and ventilators will go to them. Cuomo has other great ideas such as establishing a nationwide buying consortium instead of the competitive bidding among the states and the federal government. Cuomo represents rationality and Trump a “descent into lunacy.” To reiterate a point this is a matter of life and death. The orange Nero was fiddling while N.Y.C. burned. Dr. Hal Sobel Great Neck

Don’t fine store; The people behind the apologize to it coronavirus statistics “The law is an ass,” was Mr. Bumble’s pronouncement in “Oliver Twist.” 150 years later, this still holds true as Nassau County’s Department of Consumer Affairs stigmatizes the Raindew store in Manhasset. “Price gouging,” they claim. Price gouging? To charge $3.99 for hand sanitizer for which they paid $2.50? $5.99 for Lysol wipes, when they paid $4.13? This isn’t gouging; this is called a reasonable markup. Don’t forget the high rents, taxes, energy bills and payroll paid by the owners. What professor taught economics to these bureaucrats who determined that these transactions constituted gouging? Certainly, no one who has ever tried to run a business! Even before coronavirus shuttered the doors of many retail establishments, Main Street USA was on life support. The internet was partly responsible (just try getting hand sanitizer or Lysol wipes at any price online) as well as the big box stores like Costco. These retailers sell at prices far below what a small business like Rainbow’s would first have to pay since they can buy

in bulk. And when was the last time Amazon filled your party balloons with helium? Which of their “fulfillment centers” in Nebraska would hire your 18-year-old after school to earn money for college? Which internet vender can explain how to assemble a barbecue? Which one will buy raffles for charities, pay for ads in bulletins or donate merchandise for Gala door prizes? Only our local vendors. When I moved here years ago, we had three variety stores: one in the Miracle Mile, another on Plandome Road, a third in Port Washington. Now there is just one, and who knows how it will fare post-corona. Instead of helping the store to stay afloat, our local government officials are trying to run it out of town. I have never met the Bordemans, but I wish them luck. I’d also like to thank them for stocking orange juice machines when Macy’s had none. This store is deserving of our patronage as well as an apology from Nassau County’s Department of Consumer Affairs. Judith Sloan Sands Point

e hear and see from the media, governor and mayor the numbers of those who have died from COVID-19. But in my opinion, these numbers have faces and names of those who have died, plus what they meant to friends, neighbors, relatives and coworkers.

A case in point I had gotten an email from a fellow member of the Knights of Columbus named Francis Boccabella Jr. who lost his son Francis Boccabella III from COVID-19. Which I had found most sad. You see those who have passed away many of us might have known and that is what

has brought it home. All those people have died, again are just not numbers and we must remember that. As such I oﬀer my heartfelt prayers to the many who have lost love ones and some of which left us too soon. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Mineola

F. Hill residents ignore pandemic protocols

pparently rules don’t apply to the aﬄuent people of Flower Hill. Contrary to all of theother local park closures, Flower Hill park remains open, with the exception of the playground areas and sports courts. The closure is only indicated by signs and there are no physical barriers for those choosing to disregard those signs. Despite those signs, families were out and about Saturday, using the courts and the playgrounds. No masks. No

apparent regard for the fact that these areas were closed — even to the privileged who call Flower Hill home. In non-pandemic conditions, Flower Hill park is full of unleashed dogs, whose owners seem to believe these rules don’t apply to them. Now in pandemic conditions, walking a leashed dog is like running a gauntlet of those who will don’t believe in rules, social distancing or common courtesy. And heaven forbid you challenge someone to leash a dog or to keep their

distance. Ignorance and arrogance in Flower Hill have no bounds. Why won’t the leaders of Flower Hill, in concert with the Nassau County Police Department which uses the Village Hall parking lot as its own, do something to protect the innocent and compliant citizens? If people won’t do the right thing on their own, there needs to be consequences, not an abdication of authority. Chris Ward Flower Hill

26 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

Business&RealEstate

A time for realtors to reach out Gov. Cuomo has now acknowledged the other week that the real estate industry is a necessity, but can only provide showings by having 3D virtual tours and not by physical viewings. However, I would like to know who out there is purchasing a home or selling a home based on a 3D virtual tour? This being the largest investment that the average family or person may make in their lifetime, is anyone buying without physically going into the home? I seriously doubt it! Will an inspection and appraisal be done if the seller doesn’t want anyone in their home, out of a fear that a person might be asymptomatic, carrying the Covaid-19 coronavirus, while not showing any signs of sickness, but potentially passing it on to one of the inhabitants in the home and eventually making them sick or worse die? Would this be a prudent path to allow those professionals to enter homes, absolutely not! The risks are far too great and it’s not worth the financial rewards as well as any future lawsuits; whereby our errors and omissions insurance that realtors should carry for all their agents, will not cover that specific type of situation. Also, it is an extremely diﬃcult situation when all of a sudden

everyone’s income stops dead in its path, especially realtor’s “commission only” income being shut oﬀ like a faucet! But better to err on the side of everyone’s health over the loss of income. However, finding a balance in this “never happened event” in one’s life was impossible to anticipate or predict. However, there should have been much greater preparation for an event of such magnitude that many doctors and professionals in the medical field had warned Congress and in books over the last 20 years. Most crucial, as a side note to this challenging and tumultuous event, and to assist realtors, there is money from the 2.2 trillion dollar stimulus package besides the checks that everyone will receive; $1,200 up to $75,000 of income or $2400 up to $150,000 on your income tax return either from 2018, if you haven’t filed your 2019 returns. Information about collecting unemployment insurance for wage, salary as well as independent contractors, as real estate brokers and agents and most salespeople are categorized, can be found on the following link: https:// www.thebalancecareers.com/cani-collect-unemployment-if-i-m-selfemployed-2064148#cares-actunemployment-benefits

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

I have been calling all my past and current clients and I recommend all brokers, associate brokers, agents and all types of salespeople in all industries to reach out to all their past and current clients to see how they are and if there is anything that they can do for them, whether it be picking up prescriptions, shopping for groceries, (banking can be done online and photographing checks via cell phones can also be done from within your home) especially those who are older and may no longer drive or are able to get out due to health reasons (although one can pay for peapod.com or grubhub or any other services to deliver and pick up food). You can also call your local supermarket and ascertain if they

provide any type of delivery service and always ask if they provide any discount if your order is large enough; but in our current challenging environment, don’t forget to tip the driver! However, most importantly, unless you have an N95 mask, surgical gloves and disinfectant wipes, I would implore you that you do not go out and volunteer, but best to stay in place and make calls to your clients and stay in touch with them. There are enough people getting infected in Long Island and as of today 4/7/20, there were reported 30,000-plus cases in Nassau and Suﬀolk, with a total of 138,836 in New York State and 5,489 deaths! (data derived from state and local agencies, hospitals and C.D.C. data). I am quite sure that everyone has been conversing with family and friends, which, I believe just maybe getting us closer to those that we love and care about and that maybe we don’t talk enough with and now have re-establish that most important connection. Although we will look back and know how fatal this coronavirus was and the toll it had taken; but that what had come out of it was a rekindling of relationships with family, friends, business associates and clients. Most important, pollution

around the globe has been drastically reduced, due to most every industry being shut down, as has been shown on satellite maps from the oceans to the land. This will have been a wakeup call for the human race that things will never be the same as it was in the past and the new normal, should and hopefully be to not abuse what we have, and most critical to become much healthier, physically and mentally, being much more careful of our surroundings and value the environment, forests and oceans and its’ creatures much more than we have and turn the page on our ruthless and inconsiderate selfcentered habits. If we don’t change right now then our survival will be in jeopardy and might just depend moving to another planet or two, maybe Mars. The transportation to arrive there will potentially depend on three entrepreneurs, Jeﬀ Bezos from Amazon, who started Blue Origin in 2000, Alon Musk, of Tesla who started SpaceX in 2002 and Richard Branson of the Virgin Companies who started Virgin Galactic in 2004 who are our futuristic visionaries. I believe they started their companies realizing back then that the earth with its inhabitants, causing greater climate change, tremendous pollution and abuse of its’ environment, that the end was in sight unless we were to change, but that hasn’t happened at a fast enough pace up until the current coronavirus, where some of us are coming to grips in how fragile we and our earth are and that the necessary changes that will be needed to protect and preserve our human race and our planet should be tops on our list and not money and power! However, creating a balance is our greatest challenge for the future, to be able to live and let live, with health, peace, and happiness! Philip A. Raices is the owner/ broker of Turn Key Real Estate at 3 Grace Ave Suite 180 in Great Neck. He has earned designations as a Graduate of the Realtor Institute and also as a Certified International Property Specialist. Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas on future columns with your name, email and cell number and he call or email you back. For a consultation, he can be reached by cell: (516) 647-4289 or by email: Phil@TurnKeyRealEstate.Com to answer any of your questions, concerns or column suggestions and ideas.

The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

HarborFest canceled due to coronavirus fear BY R O S E W E L D ON The executive board of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce has decided to cancel the 2020 HarborFest celebration due to safety concerns from the coronavirus. According to an email from Executive Director Bobbie Polay, the chamber made the decision unanimously, albeit “with very heavy hearts.” “Some key elements of HarborFest could not happen if we postponed it, and there is too much uncertainty about how the virus will act in the coming weeks and months,” Polay wrote. “We know that businesses will need time to recover from this crisis, and we plan to come back bigger and stronger in 2021.” Originally scheduled for June 7, this year’s festival would have been the 30th. The annual celebration traditionally spans from lower Main Street to the Town Dock, showcasing Port Washington merchants, cuisine and organizations. Polay wrote that the decision was not one “any of us had hoped for but it is the safest one.” “When things settle down, we will talk about other things we might do to help our local businesses and celebrate

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The Port Washington Chamber of Commerce has canceled its annual HarborFest due to concerns over the coronavirus. our wonderful community,” Polay wrote. “In the meantime, stay safe.”

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28 The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

Virus to peak within week: Curran Continued from Page 1 gan in Nassau March 5. Since Saturday, Curran said, the number of Nassau residents who tested positive for the virus increased from 13,346 to 16,610, the highest three-day jump in the county since the pandemic began. As of Saturday, the number of deaths in the county was at 149 based on county figures, Curran said. On Tuesday, Curran confirmed that 500 residents had died from the coronavirus, according to state figures. Curran said Nassau hospitals remain in need of ventilators, protective personal equipment, and staﬃng. “It is dire, it is urgent, and we need to get ventilators here as quickly as possible,” she said. According to Newsday, John Chiara, deputy Nassau County executive for compliance, said Nassau placed a $930,000 order for 100 ventilators with Acute Care Gases II LLC, of Wolcott, Conn., about two weeks ago. Chiara told Newsday that the price of acquiring ventilators has been “skyrocketing” as the county seeks to purchase more. “The federal government is really going to all the suppliers, so you’re sort of left with the second and third levels of distribution, which just becomes much more expensive,” Chiara said. “It’s been a real challenge; everyone in the world is buying the same stuﬀ.” It is unclear how many ventilators the county has right now, but Curran said the need for those and other resources is becoming more imperative. Meanwhile, Cuomo said a new high of 779 people across the state died Tuesday from the coronavirus. The number of deaths will continue to rise as people remain on ventilators for a long period of

time, he cautioned. Curran said 2,281 people were hospitalized in county facilities from coronavirus-related illness. Among those 473 were on ventilators, she said. A total of 151 people have been discharged from hospitals after being admitted for coronavirus-related symptoms. For the second day in a row, Curran said, the number of discharges has been greater than the number of coronavirusrelated hospital admissions. “If that trend continues, then it does mean this is a plateau, which does give us a ray of hope,” she said. Some 111 members in the county, city, and village police departments have tested positive, Curran said, and 187 members are quarantined, she said. Curran provided some good news, citing 97 police department members who were under cautionary quarantine and cleared to return to work as of Tuesday. Curran urged that the temporary hospital at SUNY Old Westbury, which could be opened within the next week, be used strictly for people who require hospitalization from the coronavirus. Similarly, Cuomo announced last Friday that the Javits Center would be used strictly for coronavirus-related hospitalizations, veering off the initial plan of being an overflow site for hospital patients without the virus. While the staff at Javits is being provided by the federal government, the same cannot be said for the SUNY Old Westbury hospital. Curran said a plan to find adequate staffing has not been devised yet. Curran has touted the county hospitals’ use of ingenuity and innovative resources, such as using BiPAP machines for sleep apnea, splitting ventilators, and

using 3-D printers to develop components to transform the machines into ventilators. Curran said there has also been an increase in 15-minute coronavirus tests throughout the county, while first responders and health care workers are still being prioritized for testing. HOLIDAY TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS Passover and Easter celebrations begin this week, but government oﬃcials on the local and state levels have advised people to remain home throughout the holiday weekend. Cuomo, who extended the pause on schools and non-essential businesses through April 30 two days ago, discouraged people from traveling and gathering with extended family and friends. “You worship the way you can, but the gatherings are just not a good idea,” Cuomo said. “It’s hard. But on the flip side, I say look what happened in New Rochelle. Those were religious gatherings.” Curran agreed with Cuomo’s point and advised Nassau residents to do the same. “In order to preserve life and health, you can suspend some of the laws of festivals and of the sabbath,” Curran said. Religious figures throughout the North Shore also said this holiday season should and will be diﬀerent to protect everyone’s health. “I am no Moses, but I can assure you keeping social distancing, even if at the expense of having limited people at the Seder table, is now one of the Ten Commandments,” Rabbi Anchelle Perl of the Chabad of Mineola said. “We’ve been asking all Catholics to watch Mass on television or through the internet and then to receive what we call a spiritual communion, to ask the Lord to

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEE WEISSMAN / NORTHWELL HEALTH

Hundreds of first responders throughout the North Shore cheered on healthcare workers at North Shore University Hospital on Tuesday night.

come into their heart,” said Father John McCarthy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. “We must reiterate that residents should refrain from large gatherings — this includes getting together with friends and family who do not reside in your home,” Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “While it may not be ideal to celebrate these special holidays away from your loved ones, it is the only safe way to celebrate this year.” Bosworth said that many religious groups are hosting online services throughout the holidays. Village of Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral said he will not be conducting his usual lifting of parking restrictions throughout the village to discourage people from traveling and visiting friends or family. Bral said the health and safety of Great Neck residents remains paramount. “As much as I would love for people to spend the holidays with their extended families, we simply cannot aﬀord to take these risks,” Bral said. STATE AND NATIONAL New York remains a hot spot, with more confirmed cases - 141,000- than any other state. Cuomo said he appreciated President Trump’s help in turning the Javits Center into a facility strictly for people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in need of hospitalization. “I thanked the president for doing it,” Cuomo said. “He did it despite the fact that the federal agencies were not eager to do it, and he did it quickly. I thank him for that. It is a big deal for us.” Cuomo said the facility will add an additional 2,500 hospital beds to help New York combat the virus. More than 1,100 ventilators are being shipped into the state of New York, Cuomo announced. According to Cuomo, the Chinese government helped facilitate the delivery of 1,000 ventilators that arrived at JFK airport. Additionally, Cuomo said, the state of Oregon is sending over 140 ventilators. “I thank the Chinese government, Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, the Jack Ma Foundation, the Tsai Foundation, and Consul General Huang,” Cuomo tweeted out. Cuomo also thanked Oregan Gov. Kate Brown for her part in providing more than 100 ventilators for New York. Cuomo announced that 1,000 medical personnel throughout the nation such asdoctors, nurses, respiratory technicians, will be deployed within New York hospitals. In terms of staﬃng, Cuomo said, 85,000 New York residents and 22,000 out-of-state residents have volunteered to help in the medical field. “I’m also signing an executive order to allow medical students who are slated to graduate to begin practicing,” Cuomo said. “We need doctors, we need nurses, so we’re going to expedite that.” As of Tuesday night, a total of 374,329 people throughout the nation had tested positive for the coronavirus. Of that total, 12,064 had died. Cuomo said a new high of 779 people died on Tuesday from the coronavirus. The number of deaths will continue to rise as people remain on ventilators for a long period of time, Cuomo said on Wednesday.

The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

D’Arrigo withdraws petition challenge Continued from Page 3 documents. “Melanie should be ashamed of herself for pulling a stunt like this during a serious health crisis,” Weinstock said in a statement. “I’m doing everything humanly possible to flatten the curve and stop the spread of this virus. I haven’t left my house in 10 days, except for delivering groceries to senior citizens. And this afternoon I was forced to leave my house and stand around in a crowded post oﬃce so I could collect legal documents and deal with this madness.” Weinstock informed Jacobs March 13 that he had halted the collecting of petition signatures to protect the health of his campaign volunteers. New York State law requires congressional campaigns to submit the signatures of 375 voters. According to Weinstock, his campaign submitted nearly twice that amount. D’Arrigo filed a legal challenge against Weinstock in the State Supreme Court in Albany. A hearing has been scheduled for

April 20. A hearing will be scheduled in Albany if the Board of Elections determines that there is probable cause. Weinstock claims that D’Arrigo filed challenges against him in two diﬀerent forums simultaneously “because she wants to give me agita and force me to leave my house as frequently as possible.” D’Arrigo classifies herself as a progressive Democrat who hails from Port Washington. She is a community activist and served as the campaign manager for state Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso (D-Port Washington) in 2018. Weinstock is a former sex crimes prosecutor and a rescue worker in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. A Great Neck native, Weinstock would also be the first openly gay person to represent New York City or Long Island in Congress. D’Arrigo filed both legal challenges in concert with Sauberman, a former congressional condidate. Both he and D’Arrigo are represented by Arthur Schwartz, an election

lawyer who once represented Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders. Sauberman ran as an independent against Suozzi in 2018. He says that he dropped out of the race due to health concerns. The Syosset resident said he challenged Weinstock’s petitions due to “a couple of diﬀerent errors.” “First, I noticed that [Weinstock] wasn’t really having a presence within the third district,” Sauberman said. “In the end, I just thought his signatures were complete and total garbage.” Sauberman said he noticed some of the signatures on Weinstock’s petitions were not located within the district or not from people enrolled within the Democratic party. After announcing in October 2019, that he would not be running in the 2020 election cycle, Sauberman pledged his support to D’Arrigo via Facebook. “I have decided to suspend my congressional run, giving way for my friend, fellow congressional candidate Melanie D’Arrigo

to soar in her bid to unseat centrist Tom Suozzi,” Sauberman wrote. Sauberman says that he filed the challenges of Weinstock’s petitions on his own behalf and was not instructed by anyone from the D’Arrigo campaign to do so. “My challenge was made on my own behalf, and for the benefit of my fellow neighbors who want to send a stronger, better Democrat to Congress,” Sauberman said in a statement. Weinstock said he remains dubious of Sauberman’s independence. “Josh Sauberman has played an integral role in Melanie’s campaign,” Weinstock said. “He not only endorsed her, he also promoted her fund-raisers and helped organize her volunteers. And they are both represented by Schwartz. It’s plainly obvious that Sauberman is filing legal challenges against me on Melanie’s behalf. If I contract COVID-19 because I’m required to make frequent trips to the post oﬃce or the courthouse, Melanie D’arrigo is personally responsible.”

Half of Nassau businesses trim payrolls Continued from Page 4 ers of Roast Sandwich House in Mineola, said he has been doing everything possible and utilize employees at the business’ two other locations in Hicksville and Melville. “We’ve been trying to move around as many people as possible and keep people on as many hours as possible,” Doyle said. “I encourage people to come in for all local businesses because every sandwich or product you purchase is putting food on someone’s table.” More than half of the businesses that responded said they would not make a profit this year and 81 percent of business owners said they would need a loan to fund the operations of their business this year. The study also found 37 percent of those that responded have been in business for 20 years or more and 21 percent have been in business for 11 to 20 years. Paul Oleksiw, an owner of Bill’s Auto Repair in Port Washington, said one of the benefits for established businesses throughout this pandemic has been the customer outreach.

“Our customers and people in the community who have known us since 1977 will call and actually check up on us,” Oleksiw said. “While business has certainly taken a hit, it’s nice to know that you have a group of people that still check in on how a business is doing.” Oleksiw said the repair store has relied more on word-of-mouth business and tried to find other ways to have more of a virtual presence. One of those ways was to utilize a business directory implemented by Blank Slate Media. “I signed up for Blank Slate’s directory by just plugging in my information and uploaded a picture of the storefront,” Oleksiw said. “It’s nice to see all of the businesses in one place.” Steven Blank, president and publisher of Blank Slate Media and its six newspapers throughout the North Shore, said the idea came from some of the chambers of commerce throughout the area. “I started to notice other chambers in the area compiling lists of local businesses,” said Blank, who is also the president of the Roslyn Chamber of Commerce. “I thought our website, The Island Now,

would be a great vehicle for that since we have seen a spike in web traﬃc since this all began.” The directory, located at the top of the website, includes services ranging from restaurants and liquor stores to fitness and exercise. Blank said he believes the nation’s current economic state could fall into the paralysis that existed during the Great Depression and that businesses need to adapt their means of client outreach now more than ever. “We have more unemployment right now than we did in 2008, and I think we’re heading into Great Depression territory in terms of our economy,” Blank said. “It takes a lot of time for businesses to create their brand. This pandemic presents a new challenge to them. That’s why we wanted to create this directory.” According to the study, 96 percent of businesses anticipate a decrease in revenue for the 2020 fiscal year. The study showed that 38 percent of businesses are anticipating decreases of 50 percent or more, and 39 percent of businesses said they anticipate between 21-50 percent

decrease in revenue. Bochner said utilizing the directory was only part of the new client outreach he has conducted within the past month. “I’ve been updating my email list, just like I did after Hurricane Sandy,” Bochner said. “I’ve been calling our usual clients and trying to reach out to others as well. But it’s tough. Business has definitely taken a hit.” Despite seeing less than half of the business he normally does, Bochner said he will be dry cleaning clothes for first responders for the months of April and May. “I think we have to help each other out,” Bochner said. “The work these people are doing on a daily basis to keep us safe should be rewarded.” Doyle shared Bochner’s sentiments and said donations his store receives go toward feeding nearby hospital workers. “We’re right next to [NYU Winthrop Hospital], and we always try to find a way to donate some meals or food for those employees,” Doyle said. “We want to make sure our employees are taken care of, but they are the true heroes in all this.”

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30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

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Mail-in voting extension Continued from Page 16 Wisconsin is interesting because Republicans that have controlled the state purged over 200,000 voters before the 2016 election, made it harder to access to the polls, and Trump managed to squeak out a win by a measly 23,000 votes, one of the three states with a combined 77,000 votes that gave Trump the Electoral College despite Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote by 3 million. Wisconsin is ground zero for what is wrong with US elections (For an excellent description of the incredible vulnerabilities of America’s election system, especially in red states which are using easilyhackable electronic voting with no paper ballot, let alone mandatory audit, watch HBO documentary, Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America’s Elections) Compared with 2016, “the election system in 2020 is more vulnerable to remote attack,” says Harri Hursti, a Finnish computer programmer who has been tracking vulnerabilities in U.S. election systems for more than a decade. You only need to flip votes –perhaps three per district which would be undetectable – in three of the five battleground states. Indeed, Trump could conceivably lose California and New York by 60 points (80-20), lose the popular vote by five or six million, but eke out the five states by 50.1% — or win the same 42 percent of votes to 58 percent for the Democrat, and take the Electoral College . again. Now, the biggest problem in November is that whoever loses will claim the election was illegitimate, rigged. That’s why they have to institute mandatory audits.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

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DRIVEWAYS & PARKING LOTS RETAINING WALLS FOUNDATIONS DRYWELL WATER DRAINAGE WATER PROOFING

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CUSTOM FRAMING

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32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

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WWW.SKYCLEARWINDOW.COM Call Mr. Fagan • 32 Years Experience Lic. # H080600000 Nassau

• Slate Roof Repairs • Copper Flashing Replacements • Snow Guards • Asphalt Shingle Roof Repairs • Gutter Clean Outs

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TREE SERVICE

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nassau

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

▼ EMPLOYMENT To Place Your Ad Call Phone:

516.307.1045 x 218

Fax:

516.307.1046

e-mail:

DFlynn@theislandnow.com

In Person:

25 Red Ground Rd. Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

We’re Open:

Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

Deadlines

Tuesday 11:00am: Classified Advertising Tuesday 1:00pm: Legal Notices/ Name Changes Friday 5:00pm Buyers’s Guide Error Responsibility All ads placed by telephone are read back for verification of copy context. In the event of an error of Blank Slate Media LLC we are not responsible for the first incorrect insertion. We assume no responsiblity for an error in and beyond the cost of the ad. Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor. There are no refunds on cancelled advertising. An advertising credit only will be issued.

• Great Neck News • Williston Times • New Hyde Park Herald Courier • Manhasset Times • Roslyn Times • Port Washington Times • Garden City News • Bethpage Newsgram • Jericho Syosset News Journal • Mid Island Times • Syosset Advance

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOVENAS/PRAYERS NOVENA TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, loved, glorified and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus Pray for us. St. Jude Helper of the Hopeless Pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day and your request will be granted by the 18th day. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you St. Jude. (DMF)

SHARE YOUR NOVENAS CALL:516.307.1045

NOVENAS/PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (Never known to fail.) Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful Vine of Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin assist me in this necessity. Oh Star of the Sea help me and show herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth I beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succor me this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh show me herein you are my Mother. Oh Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee (three times). Oh Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for three days and after three days your request will be granted. The prayer must be published. Grateful thanks (A.S.)

MARKETPLACE LIMITED “VIRTUAL” SHOPPING APRIL 130 A.T. STEWART EXCHANGE CONSIGNMENT SHOP 516-746-8900 AntiquesFurniture-Jewelry-Silver-MirrorsLamps-Artwork Visit our website: www.Tgchs.org to view merchandise under The Exchange Toolbar Call or email: store@atstewartexchange.org Order & Pay by phone Pick up in parking lot All proceeds benefit The Garden City Historical Society 109 Eleventh Street, Garden City Like us on Facebook & Instagram

MARKETPLACE

PETS

INVITED ESTATE SALES BY TRACY JORDAN Looking to sell items from your home? Consider doing an Online Auction! Online Auctions reach more interested buyers than tag sales and can often sell for more than what you would make at an estate or tag sale. Invited Estate Sales by Tracy Jordan can do both! You can sell your items online reaching potential buyers locally or globally as well as hosting a private sale from your home! Let us guide you on what items to put in auction including furniture, housewares, decorative items, jewelry, collectibles, coins, artwork and anything else you may no longer want or need. Our services can help you to maximize your selling experience whether you are selling 1 item or 500 items. We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Estate and Tag Sales Online Auctions Cleanout and Moving Services Home Staging Services Appraisals Contact for more info:info@invitedsales.com or Call: 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. www.invitedsales.com

PET SERVICES

WANTED TO BUY TOP CASH PAID: ESTATE CONTENTSALL OBJECTS OF ART JEWELRY, ETC.Please call 718-598-3045 or 516-270-2128 www.antiqueassets.com

WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS. TO ADVERTISE HERE, CALL NOW! 516.307.1045 www.theIslandnow.com

A GARDEN CITY ANIMAL LOVER doesn’t want to leave your precious pooch or fantastic feline alone all day. I’m reliable, dependable and will walk and feed your pet while you work or travel. Please call Cheryl at 516-971-3242

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED AUTO BUYERS! We visit you. Highest cash paid. Or donate, tax deduct + cash. DMV#1303199. Please call Luke 516-VAN-CARS OR 516-297-2277

JUNK CARS BOUGHT Auto Wrecking Frank & Sons

516-997-5736 REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

VACATION RENTAL HAMPTON BAYS WATERFRONT 5 BR, 3 Baths, Huge Living Area, 2 balconies, own private dock Available immediately for Spring and Summer time rental. Call: 347-386-2051

LIST YOUR CARS FOR SALE HERE. CALL 516.307.1045

SERVICE DIRECTORY

SERVICES JACK’S CUSTOM FRAMING We can frame anything! Quality Care & Workmanship Thousands of frames to choose from!! Over 30 years in business! 92 Covert Ave, Stewart Manor 516-775-9495

ATTORNEY STEPHANIE A. D’ANGELO, ESQ. Elder Law, Wills & Trusts Asset Preservation, Estate Planning, Probate & Estate Administration/Litigation 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530 516-222-1122 www.dangelolawassociates.com

COMPUTERS WEBPAGE / BLOGS: MATCH BACKGROUND, HEADINGS and TEXT COLORS Using this simple tool at www.colormatcher.org Create your own matching colors. Make this your “like it” tool.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS AMBIANCE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES *Handyman & Remodeling *Kitchen Installations *Furniture Assembly *Finish Carpentry *Minor Electrical & Plumbing 25 year GC Resident Lic & Ins H18E2170000 Call BOB 516-741-2154 AQUATEC LAWN SPRINKLERS SPRING TURN ONS Backflow Device Tests Free Estimates Installation Service/Repairs Joe Barbato 516-775-1199

For further information and inquiries about positions Please contact Ciara 516-897-1000 ext. 2112 or cstevens@

cassenacare.com

34 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

▼ ANNOUNCEMENT, NOVENAS, MARKETPLACE, PETS, AUTOS PAINTING & PAPERHANGING

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

CLEANFELLAS PRESSURE WASHING Residential & Commercial Servicing: Nassau, Suffolk & Queens Homes, Concrete, Decks, Fences, Patio Furniture Replace Paver Sand & Reseal Gutter Cleaning Call/Text for free estimate: 516-316-1190 cleanfellas@hotmail.com cleanfellasinc.com licensed/ insured.

MADE IN THE SHADE CUSTOM WINDOW TREATMENTS Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Draperies Top Brands at Discount Prices! Family owned & operated www.madeintheshadensli.com 516-426-2890

MICHELANGELO PAINTING & WALLPAPER Interior, Exterior, Plaster/Spackle, Light Carpentry, Decorative Moldings & Power Washing. Call: 516-328-7499

MASONRY All types of stonework Pavers, Retaining Walls, Belgium Block Patios, Foundations, Seal coating, Concrete and Asphalt driveways, Sidewalks, Steps. Free Estimates Fully Licensed & Insured #H2219010000 Boceski Masonry Louie 516-850-4886

PRIVATE TUTORING FOR GRADES K-6 Give your child a helping hand! Licensed NYC/ NYS Dept of Education teacher available to tutor students grades K-6. Contact Audrey Sullivan, M.S.Ed 347-628-8872 (voice/text) seguenow@aol.com

SHOWCASE YOUR SERVICES CALL HERE 516.307.1045

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Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator

CLEANING

SERVICES

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PROFESSIONAL HOME & OFFICE CLEANING You’re just one call away !! from a clean home or office.Thorough and Professional Cleaning at affordable rates! Call today for Free Estimate Anna: 516-360-8340

A & J MOVING & STORAGE:Established 1971. Long Island and New York State specialists. Residential, Commercial, Piano & Organ experts. Boxes available. Free estimates. www. ajmoving .com 516-741-2657 114 Jericho Tpk, Mineola NYDOT# 10405

FAMILY CARE CONNECTIONS, LLC Dr. Ann Marie D’Angelo PMHCNS-BC Doctor of Nursing Practice Advanced Practice Nurse Care Manager Assistance with Aging at Home/Care Coordintion Nursing Home & Assisted Living Placement PRI / Screens / Mini Mental Status Exams Medicaid Eligibility and Apllications 516-248-9323 www.drannmariedangelo.com 901 Stewart Ave, Ste 230 Garden City, NY 11530

IF YOUR BUSINESS IS OPEN AND SERVING THE PUBLIC DURING THIS LOCK DOWN? PLEASE ADD IT HERE: WWW.THEISLANDNOW.COM/COVID-19-ANNOUNCEMENTS/

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Town extends building permits The North Hempstead Town Board unanimously approved various building permit extensions, policy modifications, and the waiver of late fees, in an eﬀort to assist residents during the current state of emergency. The resolution was passed at a special Town Board meeting on Monday, March 30. “It is important that the Town of North Hempstead is taking the necessary steps to ensure a sense of stability in the lives of our residents during this pandemic,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “I am grateful to the Town Board and the Building Department for temporarily modifying Building Department policies, which will provide muchneeded relief to our residents.” Below is a detailed list of the Building Department permit extensions and policy modifications passed at the March 30 meeting: All building and plumbing permits issued between December 13, 2019 and March 13, 2020, which authorized the commencement of work to begin within three months, have been granted a 45-day extension from the end of the Town’s emergency declaration to commence work if the work has not yet been started. All building and plumbing permits issued between March 13, 2018 and March 13, 2020, which required a building project to be completed within two years from the date the permit was issued have been granted a 90-day extension from the end of the Town’s emergency declaration to complete the project. Applicants who were issued an omission letter between November 13, 2019 and March 13, 2020, which required a re-submission to the Building Department, have been granted a 90 day extension to respond to the

letter. The Commissioner of the Building Department will waive the fee and reissue any Notice of Disapproval issued on or after January 13, 2020 through the conclusion of the Town’s emergency declaration. This policy will continue to be in eﬀect until 30 days after the conclusion of the emergency declaration. Late fees will not be charged for the renewal of a Public Assembly License that expired or will expire from March 13, 2020 through 30 days after the conclusion of the Town’s emergency declaration. Inspections will continue where necessary and will be required prior to the opening of business. Rental registration permits that have expired or will expire from March 13, 2020 through the conclusion of the Town’s emergency declaration have been granted a 30-day extension following the conclusion of the emergency declaration. The Building Commissioner will waive any late fee for any building permit, plumbing permit, sign permit or any other permit related to the Building Department that has expired or will expire from March 13, 2020 through 30 days following the conclusion of the Town’s emergency declaration. The time limitations for variances issued by the Board of Zoning and Appeals that have not obtained site plan approval, a special-use permit, or a building permit, to develop the property that is the subject of the application for a variance, shall be tolled from March 13, 2020 through 90 days following the conclusion of the Town’s emergency declaration. If you have additional questions, please call 516-869-6311 or 311.

78$$&/"+$9&"$:" -;9)<)9)/&="" >-5/":*)/6?&8)@&" 98-9"+-&9"-"+):/9)A/= !"#$%"#&$'()"#%*+'"(,$ -"$+"$".#$/&0$1*-&2$$ ///34*%1%*#'5+3"#-

Sport Psychology Dr. Tom Ferraro

has specialized in sport psychology for 20 years and works in the fields of golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, football, wrestling, lacrosse, figure skating, gymnastics, softball, fencing and more. He has helped professional teams, Olympians and elite young athletes learn how to manage the intense pressure of competitive sports. He appears on both TV and radio and has sport psychology columns in 5 different newspapers and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall street Journal and the London Times. Golf Digest includes him in their list of top mental game gurus in America. For a consultation see below: Williston Park Professional Center 2 Hillside Ave, Suite E. Williston Park NY 11596 (building parallel to E. Williston railroad station)

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(516) 248-7189

36 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS

NICE Bus begins Town warns of COVID scams service reduction Nassau Inter-County Express/NICE Bus began a schedule change for an interim period on Sunday, April 5. The change will remain in place until further notice. • Weekday service will operate on a Saturday schedule or amended Saturday schedule. • Weekday-only routes will operate on their regular weekday schedule or amended weekday schedule. • Saturday and Sunday schedules will remain unchanged. • Able-Ride paratransit services will remain unchanged. The temporary schedule reflects decreased ridership levels while ensuring vital transportation continues for essential workers in healthcare, retail and other services. The interim schedule is available on the NICE Bus website at www.NICEBus.com. The schedule and real-time arrival information will appear April 5 on the “NICE GoMobile” app available for free download on iOS and Android phones.

NICE Bus said the service is committed to the health, safety, and wellbeing of riders and employees. NICE Bus remains in constant contact with Nassau County and New York State to follow their guidelines in response to health alerts. Ongoing cleaning procedures include disinfecting all high-touch surfaces every 12 hours. These surfaces include poles, handrails, seats, benches, grab bars, and the driver’s cockpit area. At the Rosa Parks-Hempstead Transit Center, touchless hand sanitizers are available and surfaces are cleaned multiple times a day. Last week, NICE Bus implemented new procedures to provide social distancing on all fixed-route buses. Passengers use the rear doors to board and exit buses, the front section of the buses are blocked by safety tape, and passengers are encouraged to allow several feet between each other. Fare collection remains suspended until further notice.

The Town of North Hempstead is reminding residents to be mindful of the proliferation of scams relating to coronavirus. “Our goal is to make sure our residents are informed and have the most update to date information,” said North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth “It is truly unfortunate that unscrupulous people would use the coronavirus to take advantage of others.” The Federal Trade Commission has compiled a list of recent scams to help keep people protected:

There currently are no vaccines, pills, or other prescription or over-the-counter products available to treat or cure coronavirus — online or in stores. Ignore online, phone, or in-person offers for vaccinations. At this time, there are no FDA-authorized home test kits for the coronavirus. Ignore online, offers for vaccinations and home test kits. Do not respond to texts, emails, phone calls, or in-person offers about checks from the government. Details are still being worked out. Those guaranteeing

money now are a scammer. Be careful and watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying they have information about the virus. Be sure to fact check information before you pass along any information. Do not click on any links from unknown sources. They can lead to viruses downloaded on your computer. For the latest updates visit: ftc.gov/coronavirus or for North Hempstead updates, visit: northhempsteadny.gov/coronavirus.

Roslyn Girl Scout donates cookies to medical staff

Town recycling guidelines The Town of North Hempstead is reminding residents about proper recycling procedures. Paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal items need to be properly cleaned and sorted. This helps collection and recycling workers, and it ensures that items are disposed of in the correct manner. Soiled and contaminated recyclables can make an entire recycling load unusable. “With the increase in people staying home and practicing social distancing there has also been an increase in garbage and recycling,” said North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “We urge our residents to make sure that all plastic, metal, and glass items are cleaned before they are

placed in their recycling receptacles. This not only helps keep our collection and recycling workers safe, but clean recyclables can also help prevent the spread of coronavirus.” The following items may be placed out for recycling in the town: Clean #1 or #2 plastic items, such as bottles and jugs Clean glass bottles and jars Clean metal items, such as cans and tins Clean cardboard (bundled together) Clean paper items, such as newspapers, paper bags, and other paper (bundled together) Please visit: northhempsteadny.gov/coronavirus for more information.

Girl Scout Zara Quraishi, 9, and her family fill up truck with 120 boxes of cookies – a special treat for the medical staff at North Shore University Hospital. Girl Scout Zara Quraishi, 9, along with her family, donated 120 boxes of cookies to the medical staﬀ at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. The donation was delivered on March 30. “I wanted to thank all of the heroes at the hospital for

leaving their homes and families to treat very sick patients,” said Zara, who is a member of Girl Scout Troop 1725 from the Herricks School District in New Hyde Park. “The hospital workers needed something sweet to eat so my family wanted to donate cookies to them.”

Zara’s parents are both physicians — Dr. Shaheda Quraishi, is a physiatrist at Northwell Health’s Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Dr. Waqaas Quraishi, is also a physiatrist and a voluntary physician at Huntington Hospital.

For the latest news, visit us at w w w.theislandnow.com

The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

!"!LEGALS

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Schools brace for state aid cuts Continued from Page 1 Cuts to Medicaid funding “are part of the budget and will be enacted,” Mujica said. “We have the ability to delay them in the budget, so the eﬀective dates can be changed.” For the time being, school aid will remain nearly flat at $27.9 billion. Cuomo originally proposed a 3 percent school budget increase, prior to the coronavirus outbreak in the state. The budget contains language dictating three reassessments of New York’s finances throughout the year and allowing the state to withhold payouts to school districts and local governments if the numbers do not match those the state used to pass the budget. “The potential loss of any portion of our $10 million aid package (about 6 percent of our budget) will cause very diﬃcult educational decisions to be made during the 2020-21 school year,” said Nora Johnson, a member of the Port Washington school board. The district will likely have to cut its spending, and the board is working hard to identify the areas that will have the smallest impact on the schools’ programs over the course of the next month, Johnson said. State aid to Herricks schools is slated to be reduced by $363,475 (2.7 percent). The district will receive $115,941 in Federal CARES Restoration funding, Herricks spokesperson Michael Ganci told Blank Slate Media.

Budget cuts are likely to take the form of eliminating one-time expenditures such as facility improvements that are not immediately necessary for health and safety reasons, said Ganci . “We are preparing our budget using the state aid projection provided in the legislative budget and anticipating the possibility of assigning additional funds to make up for the potential loss of state aid that may come mid-year by appropriating fund balance to cover the deficit,” he elaborated. The Sewanhaka school district is still in the process of reviewing the adopted state budget and determining its impact on the 2020–2021 school budget, said Superintendent James Grossane. “The board and I are in daily contact and will present any revisions in our draft budget to the community as soon as it is available,” he said. The Manhasset school district also has not yet determined the eﬀect of Cuomo’s announcement on the schools’ budget, according to Rosemary Johnson, deputy superintendent for business and operations. Already, 3,600 school bus drivers across Long Island have been laid oﬀ. School districts including Roslyn and New Hyde Park announced on Tuesday that they will no longer be paying their transportation contracts. Employees who work in these districts will receive their final paycheck today and will no longer receive

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health benefits. The $177 billion spending plan is predicated on receiving billions of dollars in federal aid from a fourth coronavirus stimulus package. Without the expected national aid, the state will have to cut spending to $95.8 billion, according to the budget agreement. “We understand the depth and breadth of the economic impact of this unprecedented crisis, nationally, statewide and locally,” Johnson said. “The governor’s proposal to adjust state aid throughout the year would put a very diﬃcult strain on our budget process. We would need to ensure that we have enough in our fund balance to cover those shortfalls which would mean drafting a budget without using much money from reserves.” The unusual budget plan was necessary in the current situation, some legislators said. “This is a crisis budget that needed to be passed in the middle of a fast-evolving emergency,” said Liz Krueger, Senate Finance Committee chairwoman (D-Manhattan). “We can only speculate on where we will be in three months or six months, but we must still pass a responsible budget that grapples with the reality of our anticipated revenues—and the reality is that we need flexibility.” Others disagreed, arguing that the provision allowing for potential school funding cuts could have been avoided.

“Rather than make diﬃcult choices and do the job New Yorkers elected them to do, Assembly Democrats handed the governor unprecedented power to rip resources from hospitals, schools and local governments throughout the year,” said state Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) in a statement released last Friday. “And in a budget that made painful cuts to healthcare programs, local libraries, and local governments, the Democrats found hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate giveaways for Hollywood Film Studios, $100 million for a taxpayer-funded incumbency protection program and billions for pork barrel spending controlled by the governor and the speaker.” “This budget falls far short of the united, bipartisan eﬀort New Yorkers were counting on the face of a crisis,” he added. Between now and school budget votes — originally scheduled for mid-May, but postponed until at least June 1 by executive order — districts will re-examine their budgets for the coming year. “We are committed to doing our best to balance the enormous financial strain this pandemic has caused in our community with our duty to provide a sound education to every student,” said Johnson. “As always, the [Herricks] District remains committed to realigning resources to preserve core academic programs and ensure our students learn in a safe environment,” Ganci echoed.

38 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, April 10, 2020

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The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

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40 The Manhasset Times, Friday, April 10, 2020

Wishing our Friends & Neighbors a Safe and Peaceful Easter, Passover and Ramadan.

We are in this !"#$%&$'

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