Issuu

Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown

Friday, March 27, 2020

Vol. 69, No. 13

CORONAVIRUS ROSLYN STUDENTS CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE & YOUR HEALTH TEST POSITIVE TESTS POSITIVE PAGES 19-30

PAGE 8

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Army Corps to build hospitals on Long Island SUNY Old Westbury will house one BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINA LEVIN

ProHealth Urgent Care in Little Neck is one of two local urgent care centers offering coronavirus testing.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the establishment of four temporary U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hospitals throughout New York, including one at SUNY Old Westbury, in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus. Cuomo said he expects the coronavirus apex to strike within two to three weeks, as statewide infection rates have doubled every three days, according to statistics provided by The New York Times. The number of confirmed cases

in New York has reached more than 30,000, with 3,285 in Nassau County, according to oﬃcials. TEMPORARY HOSPITALS Cuomo announced Tuesday the establishment of the temporary U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hospitals, two of which are on Long Island. Their locations are SUNY Old Westbury in Nassau, Stony Brook University in Suﬀolk, the Javits Center in Manhattan and the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Continued on Page 35

Navigating testing for coronavirus BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

residents of New Rochelle. Since then, five additional sites have opened throughout the state inFriday marks one week since cluding a facility at Jones Beach drive-thru testing for the corona- for Nassau County residents. The criteria for testing, virus was made available to the

county health oﬃcials said, is changing by the day. On Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the opening of the Jones Beach facility and said he hoped upwards of 6,000 of the county’s 1.4 million residents would be tested per day. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said that despite the newly avail-

able testing methods a priority would still be deferred to first responders, people with underlying health issues, those who show symptoms, and those who have been in direct contact with a confirmed case. County oﬃcials urged residents to follow the testing procedures if they believe their health is at risk and to schedule an appointment for testing. Ap-

pointments must be made for residents to get tested. The procedure begins by calling the New York State Novel Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888364-3065. Wait times may vary due to the number of calls the hotline receives throughout the day. Wait times can vary from anywhere between 15-45 minutes. Continued on Page 36

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The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

E. Williston proposes Schools move to $63.5M school budget online education District will focus on STEM, emotional learning

Distance learning began last week BY E M M A J ON ES

The East Williston schools will continue to focus on STEM and social and emotional learning in the upcoming year. BY E M M A J ON ES The East Williston School District Board of Education proposed a total budget of $63.49 million for the 2020–2021 year, a $1.80 million increase from the 2019–2020 budget. The recommended budget prioritizes the year-three focus areas of the board’s five-year plan, which includes STEM, social and emotional learning, real world learning, facilities and security and implements next steps in the New York State Next Generation Standards roadmap, while operating under the tax levy cap. The board met for final budget deliberations Monday, after holding budget workshops on Feb. 26, March 4, March 11 and March 18. The proposed budget is made up of a $7.39 million administrative component, $7.61 million capital component and $48.48 million programs component. The suggested capital funds would go toward district-wide security initiatives and upgrades, classroom and building renovations and bathroom renovations, as well as vestibule renovations,

IMC reconfiguration and field bathroom renovations at the Wheatley School. Total K–12 student enrollment is projected to decline from 1,746 to 1,736 in the upcoming academic year. North Side School Principal James Bloomgarden said in his presentation at the March 11 budget workshop that the biggest increase in student enrollment used to occur between kindergarten and first grade. Now, he said, as families move into the district with older children, we may start to see this shift happening later. The proposed budget for North Side is $260,962, down 8.6 percent from last year’s $285,547. In the upcoming academic year, North Side will continue to focus on incorporating technology and engineering into classroom learning. This includes building a new innovation lab and continuing to work with the Project Lead the Way engineering curriculum. In 2019–2020, North Side integrated 3D printing into the curriculum. “My goal as an educator is to teach my young students that

they can be the innovators of tomorrow,” said Rochelle Sroka, educational technology specialist at North Side. “Learning how to create, design and problem-solve using 3D technology is a key skill for their future.” Willets Road School’s proposed budget for 2020–2021 is $321,273, an 8.98 percent increase from last year’s budget. This year Willets Road will continue to prioritize social and emotional learning by hiring a full-time director of student life and continuing professional development in the responsive classroom approach, which is a set of research- and evidence-based practices designed to create safe, welcoming classroom communities. “This year we really dug into that responsive classroom approach,” said Willets Road Principal Christine Dragone at the March 11 BOE workshop. In order to improve social and emotional learning, Willets Road also added a social worker to thestaﬀ in 2019–2020 and oﬀered a number of assemblies, school spirit challenges and classroom activities, she said. Continued on Page 36

School districts on the North Shore shifted to distance learning last week in response to state-mandated school shutdowns due to the coronavirus outbreak, and began offering grab-and-go meals to students. All public and private kindergarten through 12th grade schools in New York State will be closed until April 1 in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday, March 16. “The single most effective way to slow the spread of this virus is to reduce close contacts, and that includes in our schools,” Cuomo said. “Every district will be required to submit a plan to ensure children of healthcare workers and first responders have access to child care so these closures do not strain our hospitals and that children who depend on school meal programs continue getting the support they need.”

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran had previously announced the shut-down of schools in Nassau County beginning on Monday, March 16, and lasting at least through Friday, March 27, in a press conference on Saturday. “I understand the gravity of this action and what it means for every community in our county, as well as for the families and caretakers of our students, especially health care workers with kids in school,” Curran said. However, she added, closing schools “is the right thing to do to protect our students, teachers, school workers and family members, parents and grandparents.” School buildings will be closed to students, but teachers and staﬀ are permitted to utilize buildings for distance learning and meal distribution. Cuomo temporarily waived the 180-day instructional requirement for public schools. Continued on Page 47

PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that all schools will be closed until April 1.

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The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Virus spreads, MTA revenue plummets At least 23 transit workers have tested positive for coronavirus; ridership continues to fall BY E M M A J ON ES MTA-run trains, subways and buses are rapidly emptying out as COVID-19 continues to spread and the state shuts down all nonessential operations. The MTA reported last week that ridership was down 67 percent on the Long Island Rail Road, 90 percent on MetroNorth, 60 percent on the subway and 49 percent on buses. As of last Thursday, 23 MTA workers, including four LIRR workers, have tested positive for coronavirus. MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye said in a statement, “These individuals are in quarantine or receiving appropriate care ... The MTA is working closely with the state Department of Health to identify any colleagues who came in contact with employees who are confirmed, send them home to self-quarantine, provide access to necessary testing and immediately and aggressively disinfect the workplace.” The MTA now disinfects subway stations twice a day, and its

full fleet of trains, cars and buses once every 72 hours. The agency no longer accepts cash fare payments at ticket counters or on trains, in an eﬀort to avoid unnecessary contact. LIRR and union oﬃcials, including LIRR president Phil Eng, explained and demonstrated heightened cleaning procedures to the public at the Hicksville LIRR Station last Thursday. Utility pole relocation, part of the LIRR expansion project from Floral Park to Hicksville, will continue, the 3TC Community Ambassador Team announced last Thursday. MTA workers are demanding better protection from the MTA during the ongoing crisis. Two New York transit unions, ATU Local 726 and TWU Local 100, have called on MTA to implement additional health and safety measures. ATU Local 726 sent a letter to the MTA last Tuesday asking the

FILE PHOTO

23 MTA workers, including four LIRR workers, have tested positive for COVID-19. agency to limit bus capacity to 50 percent, require riders to enter through the rear doors of buses and suspend fare collection on buses due to the proximity of fare boxes to drivers. “This is an extraordinary crisis, and the Union does not make these requests lightly,” wrote Danny Cassella, president

of ATU Local 726. “Given that it appears people can become infected and remain asymptomatic but still spread the virus to others, the membership of the Union believes the above recommendations are not only important for their health, but for the riding public, as well.” The MTA said that it will re-

view the union’s requests. Due to drastically decreased ridership, the MTA has found itself in a financial crisis. Last Tuesday, Foye sent a letter to the New York congressional delegation requesting more than $4 billion in federal aid. U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (DNew York) said in an interview with NY1 that he hopes the MTA can get federal aid by this week. He added that MTA should ask for more than $4 billion. “They’re going on the assumption, for which there’s no evidence, that this plague will be gone very shortly and they’re being very, very optimistic,” Nadler said. “They should be asking for a lot more money.” Foye announced last Wednesday that the MTA is drawing down $1 billion on its existing line of credit to oﬀset continuing revenue loss and increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is not, however, a comprehensive or long-term solution, Foye said. Continued on Page 36

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The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Village halls shutter as virus spreads Government operations continue with reduced staffing; steps taken for social distancing BY E M M A J ON ES

Mineola, East Williston and Williston Park village halls are closed until further notice to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Village government operations will continue with reduced staffing. Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss and the board of trustees said in a televised announcement on Wednesday, March 18 at the village had already prepared supply inventories and coordinated efforts with outside emergency response organizations in order to mitigate the spread of the virus. They have since taken further measures, including canceling all events and gatherings, to protect the community. Strauss and the board said Mineola and five neighboring villages made mutual preparations to ensure collaboration in the face of potential staffing or supply shortages. Parking regulations have been suspended in Mineola in order to accommodate residents working from home, families whose children have been sent home from college and health aides visiting senior citizens. “One of the greatest challenges we face as a community is not the virus itself, but the impact it’s having on families because they’re staying at home more,” Strauss said. “To make it easier for our families to cope, we are also taking steps to ease some of the burden

the same time maintain integrity in our election system.” North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth issued a statement Sunday saying that all playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts and the town dog run are closed. Parks are open for passive use only. “I cannot be emphatic enough: The only way to maintain public health right now is by staying apart. This includes social distancing — even for children,” said Bosworth. “While this may serve as a temporary inconvenience, PHOTO BY NOAH MANSKAR understand that the decisions we are making can literally save lives.” The town declared a state of emergency Village halls are closed, but villages will continue to provide essential serMarch 13. vices to the community. North Hempstead town facilities will remain closed until Monday, March 30. EssenAll village elections have been post- tial services, including the clerk’s office, sanion households.” Williston Park residents looking to pay poned until April 28, in accordance with a tation and the 311 call center, will continue bills may deposit them in the box on the front state executive order. operating. All meetings, programs and events “Public health officials have been clear have been canceled or postponed. door of the village hall. Late fees for water bills, which were originally due March 16, that reducing density is one of the most effecThe town’s Project Independence grotive ways to stop the spread,” Gov. Andrew cery shopping transportation program for will be waived for 15 days. The tax lien sale in Williston Park origi- Cuomo said, “and delaying village elections seniors will run on an expanded schedule, nally scheduled for March 19 has been re- will help ensure poll workers and voters are operating 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week. not potentially exposed to the virus and at scheduled for Thursday, May 14 at 11 a.m. Continued on Page 36

The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

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Chambers urge local business support Merchants in Nassau County are offering online ordering, delivery, curb-side pick-up BY R O S E W E L D ON Numerous chambers of commerce throughout the North Shore are encouraging members and patrons to rely on one another during the coronavirus crisis as Nassau County seeks to track the economic ramifications of the pandemic. After Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential businesses to shut down and advised residents to stay at home, small businesses are expecting to take an economic hit. New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce President Reena Gulati said in an email to chamber members that it was imperative to support one another. “During these unusual times that have altered our daily routine, we need to support each other and our local community,” Gulati said. “It is important that we all continue to do our business safely!” Residents Forward of Port Washington sent out an email with a full list of businesses

oﬀering delivery or pick-up options as well as online ordering. The Port Washington Chamber of Commerce has compiled a similar list, viewable on its website. Manhasset Chamber of Commerce President Elizabeth Johnson said in a video posted to YouTube Sunday that it was urgent to support local businesses. “These businesses are the ones that sponsor school fundraisers and little leagues, and now they need our help,” Johnson said. “Take the opportunity to get your provisions at your local dry goods store, market or restaurants.” Johnson added that all merchants were oﬀering curbside pickup. On Wednesday, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced a strategy that includes conducting a survey to track and calculate lost rev-

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

Businesses on Plandome Road in Manhasset are among those that will be affected by the coronavirus “stay indoors” order. enues across every industry so that county business losses can be recouped. The strategy includes a partnership with Hofstra University to maintain an accurate running tally of lost revenues and expenses and the multi-

plier eﬀect of these economic losses. A data collection system for all segments of the county’s businesses, including industries such as hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment, among others, will be put in place.

“I sympathize with the thousands of Nassau County businesses and employees and the nearly 1.4 million residents of Nassau County who are adversely impacted economically and I vow to advocate on their behalf,” Curran said. “Our goal is to advocate for the relief that our families and local economy will need. I thank Hofstra University and all of the members of the Economic Advisory Council for their hard work and commitment to this longterm endeavor.” The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency recommends that businesses take the survey, alert the county if applying for assistance, contact banks for business loans at 3.75 percent or a comparable rate, and apply for disaster assistance loans. The IDA has also compiled a list of resources for businesses, viewable at their website. The survey is available at hofstra.edu/nassau-survey/index.html. Emma Jones contributed reporting.

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The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR OVER 38 YEARS

WILLISTON

Roslyn High individuals test positive for virus

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Individuals who were present at Roslyn High School prior to the school’s closing have tested positive for COVID-19, Roslyn District Superintendent Allison Brown said in an email to parents. The unnamed and unknown number of people, who were not identified as faculty, staﬀ, students or

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visitors, had reported their health statuses to the district, Brown said. “While we have not been notified by any oﬃcial agency, I am sharing this information just so that you are aware,” Brown said. The superintendent said the individuals had been present at the high school before it closed March 13. Brown further advised those experiencing any

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symptoms “such as cough, diﬃculty breathing and fever are advised by health authorities” to contact a physician. “Our medical director has informed us that many more cases will emerge which can be mildly symptomatic,” Brown said. “It seems clear that COVID-19 is widely dispersed in the region at this stage, as the school district is not the only local entity that is hearing from individuals who have tested positive. It is imperative that anyone experiencing symptoms stay at home and call their health care provider.” County statistics list four confirmed cases of the virus in the Village of Roslyn, with an additional 14 in neighboring East Hills, as of 4 p.m. Tuesday. Eﬀorts to contact the district, which is closed through April 1, were unavailing.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

Restaurants scramble to survive Roslyn restaurateur accepts new business reality of take-out and home delivery services BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Glenn Falcone knows well the hardships faced by the restaurant industry since Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that eateries and bars throughout the state could only oﬀer take-out or delivery service in response to the coronavirus. As the owner of Gatsby’s Landing, an upscale restaurant in the Village of Roslyn that touts its “New American” cuisine, he like others in the business is navigating unchartered waters, Falcone said. To survive, he said, he has had to change his approach. “We are a hospitable and resilient spirited restaurant company, navigating through this crisis at hand together with our surrounding communities,” Falcone said. “Honestly, we are in survival mode and will continue to survive throughout this pandemic.” Falcone said his restaurant will be utilizing delivery service apps like GrubHub and DoorDash to retain as much business as possible. “Our goal is to oﬀer our local communities takeout with curbside pickup and delivery through DoorDash and Grubhub between the hours of 4 p.m.- 8 p.m., made with love and care for our wonderful guests that we dearly miss,” he said.

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Gatsby’s Landing Owner Glen Falcone implored residents to fund local restaurants throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Falcone said the restaurant has undergone a restructuring of budgets and daily operations to provide customers with the same customer service as they normally do. Even with the precautions required by the coronavirus, Falcone said, operating a dining establishment is still a hospi-

tality business. “We have revised budgets and operations to adapt to the nature of business moving forward,” Falcone said. “We have a passion for what we do and what we provide here at Gatsby’s Landing. Our food, service, and atmosphere are a creation made from this love for the hospital-

ity business. We make it our utmost priority to express this sentiment to all of our staﬀ and guests.” Falcone said it is important for the public to take time and help their respective small businesses. “All small businesses will need the support of their surrounding communities to survive,” he said. “If you can, please order takeout from your favorite restaurants and allow us to serve and provide for you as we have in years past. A small amount of support can go a long way as we all attempt to navigate this hardship together.” Great Neck Chamber of Commerce President Dennis Grossman said restaurants and other local businesses should practice as much frugality as possible during these diﬃcult times. “There will be a rebound once this all passes,” he said. “Businesses will get an abundance of cash flow when we all get the OK to go back to our usual routines. Until then, just be conscious of what cash reserves you have.”

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Feinstein begins 3 virus drug trials BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z With the number of people with confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States growing each day, Northwell Health’s research branch has rolled out three clinical trials in the ongoing eﬀorts to combat the disease. Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, president and CEO of Feinstein, said clinical trials evaluating the safety and eﬃciency of drugs and molecular medicine began earlier this week. The research is being conducted

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research has rolled out three clinical trials for its hospitalized patients.

jointly by Feinstein in conjunction with three biopharmaceutical companies: Gilead Sciences, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi. “We’ve joined with three outstanding companies to immediately begin clinical trials for patients now suffering from COVID-19 and are determined to do all we can to stop the virus in its tracks,” Northwell President and CEO Michael Dowling said. The goal of these trials is to improve recovery and speed discharge of patients from hospitals, Tracey said. “We truly just started rolling these trials out,” he said. “These studies are driven by the needs of the patients with the hopes of [the molecular medicine]being beneficial for their health in the long run.” The joint efforts of Feinstein and Gilead will result in two trials that analyze the effects of remdesivir, an investigational antiviral drug designed to reduce the intensity and duration of the coronavirus in infected patients, according to Tracey. Health officials said the first trial can accommodate up to 400 severe coronavirus cases globally. Continued on Page 32

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

From fashion Northwell cancels elective designer to surgeries, delays payments mask-maker BY R O S E W E L D ON

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ One month ago, Port Washington fashion designer Nancy Sinoway said, her tailoring and alterations studio was having one of the most

successful years in recent memory. That was before Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a stay-at-home order to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Continued on Page 33

PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY SINOWAY

Port Washington fashion designer Nancy Sinoway is selling homemade masks such as this one for $10.

Northwell Health announced last week that the system would be canceling elective surgeries and procedures performed in its hospitals and that it will delay payments for patients financially impacted by the coronavirus. The new guidelines for surgeries will not apply to emergencies, according to a statement from the system. “Elective surgeries, endoscopies and other invasive procedures in the health system’s outpatient settings will continue to be performed when deemed clinically necessary,” the statement reads. “If a surgery is considered non-essential, the elective case will be postponed or canceled to minimize COVID-19 exposure to patients and staﬀ.” Dr. David Battinelli, Northwell’s chief medical oﬃcer, stressed that “necessary” planned cases would continue without interruption. “With appropriate screening of patients and when deemed clinically necessary, some planned cases will continue to be performed,” Battinelli said. “Patient care that may appear routine could, if canceled, result in significant negative impact on our patients’ health.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health is cancelling elective surgeries and procedures performed in its hospitals through April 15. Planned imaging procedures, including ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, mammograms and non-invasive cardiology testing, are not among those being canceled. To further reduce the volume of patients coming into its facilities, Northwell is also directing its practitioners to reschedule non-essential visits unless clinically necessary within the

next four weeks, the system said. The approach will apply to surgeries and procedures scheduled through April 15. The system said in a statement that payments will be delayed with zero percent interest for a minimum of 60 days for “those patients who receive medical services and have been financially impacted with the loss of a job, lost wages or other financial distress resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Executive Vice President and Chief Business Strategy Oﬃcer Richard Miller. “We will delay payments for a minimum of 60 days for those impacted financially by this crisis and, as always, work with them afterwards,” Miller said. “The important thing to remember is that nobody should delay needed medical services because of their ability to pay. If you’re experiencing any kind of financial hardship whether it’s related to COVID-19 or other factors, the important thing is to contact us. We will always work with you.”

12 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

SUNY Old Westbury to host field hospital BY R O S E W E L D ON SUNY Old Westbury has postponed its 2020 commencement exercises. Plans were announced Tuesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to turn the school into a temporary field hospital to combat the virus. Old Westbury will be joined by Stony Brook University in the effort. The hospitals will be set up in field houses and outdoors, and staff will live in campus dorms. Staff will not be provided and will have to be recruited from the surrounding areas. Michael Kinane, the school’s vice president of communications, said the school would comply. “SUNY Old Westbury will do all it can to fully support the governor’s effort to stem the tide of COVID-19 and to help those who are impacted by this disease,” Kinane said. “As it has been for the past several weeks, the goal for each of us must be to ensure the safety of ourselves, our friends and loved ones, and the community at large.” In accordance with Cuo-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUNY OLD WESTBURY

SUNY Old Westbury will become a temporary hospital for those affected by the coronavirus, and has postponed its 2020 commencement exercises. mo’s ban on mass gatherings of more than 500 people, the school’s 2020 commencement, which was scheduled to take place Sunday, May 17, at the NYCB Live at the Nassau Veterans Coliseum, has been post-

poned, according to a letter sent to faculty and students and by President Calvin O. Butts III. “Your health and wellbeing remains our highest priority during these unprec-

edented circumstances,” Butts wrote. “As such, it is extremely important to comply with the guidelines outlined by the CDC, the State of New York, and the SUNY system in regards to mass gatherings as we

have done with the announced changes to our campus this semester. As a result, we have made the incredibly diﬃcult decision, as have many other SUNY campuses, to postpone the 2020 commencement ceremony to another date later this calendar year.” No rescheduled date has yet been announced. “To the class of 2020, commencement will be the culmination of your inspiring educational journey,” Butts wrote. “We know you have worked incredibly hard, overcome significant obstacles, and sacrificed much to be able to reach the point of graduation at SUNY Old Westbury. You deserve to wear that cap and gown. You deserve to hear the cheers. You deserve the moment. As soon as we are able to announce when that will be, we will make sure to share the date with the Class of 2020 and our campus community. We look forward to celebrating as you cross that stage.”

Winthrop braces Suozzi challenger tests for coronavirus positive for coronavirus BY E M M A J ON ES On Thursday March 5, NYU Winthrop Hospital took in Nassau County’s first coronavirus patient, a 42-year-old Uniondale resident and Mercy Medical Center worker.

BY R O S E W E L D ON

In the two weeks since the man was hospitalized, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nassau County has risen to 372, as of Friday. A number of coronavirus patients treated at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola over the past two weeks have recovered enough to be sent home, a hospital spokesperson told Blank Slate Media on Thursday. Continued on Page 33

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE SANTOS FOR CONGRESS

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

NYU Winthrop Hospital, located in Mineola, has created approximately 100 isolation rooms for coronavirus patients.

Republican George Santos of Queens, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) for his 3rd District seat, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Republican candidate George Santos, who is running for Congress, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to his campaign. “Mr. Santos has received treatment and is currently in quarantine in a state of recovery from the worst symptoms of the virus,” the camipaign said. Santos, a Queens resident and financial professional, is the Republican nominee for the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck, Douglaston and Floral Park, among other areas. It is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), the former mayor of Glen Cove and former Nassau County executive who was first elected to the seat in 2016. He won re-election in 2018 and is seeking another term this year. “The first thing I want to say is that this is not a Republican or Democrat problem, this is an American problem. We have to take care of each other by heeding the warning to avoid further exposures,” Santos said in the statement. “Aside from my campaign team Continued on Page 33

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

‘Hunters’ gives '()*"()$+% shoutout to ,-.% !"#$%& Long Island !"

While the Amazon Prime series “Hunters” takes place in New York City, the show was also quick to bring up Long Island, both behind the scenes and on camera. The very first scene of the series was filmed in Sands Point. Additionally, one of the main characters briefly talks about Port Washington early in the second episode. The Port Washington-Sands Point area is no stranger to film and television. A scene from the 1947 classic Christmas movie, “Miracle on 34th Street,” was filmed in Port Washington. Additionally, scenes from films like the 1970’s “Husbands,” 1991’s “New Jack City,” the 1992 films “Malcolm X” and “Scent of a Woman,” “1998’s “Great Expectations” and the 2000 movie “Meet the Parents” were filmed in Port Washington. Scenes from the “Gossip Girl” episode “Summer Kind of Wonderful” and the pilot

DELIVERY

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for “Masters of Sex” were also filmed in Port Washington. In addition to “The Godfather” having the iconic scene of the assassination of Sonny filmed at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, the infamous horse head scene was filmed inside Sands Point’s Falaise Mansion. Hunters is about a group of Nazi hunters in 1977 New York City who track down and kill former members hiding out in the United States. They soon discover the fascist group have already infiltrated the United States government and are planning to create a “Fourth Reich” in the country. Academy Award winner Al Pacino and Logan Lerman star as the leader of the Hunter group and the newest member respectively. The cast is rounded out by Josh Radnor, Kate Mulvany, Jerrika Hinton, Lena Olin, Greg Austin, Saul Rubinek, Carol Kane, Tiffany Boone, Louis Ozawa and Dylan Baker.

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14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

Opinion Editorial Cartoon

OUR VIEWS

U.S. botched virus response

resident Trump might have been right Monday to consider loosening restrictions on social distancing after 15 days if the United States had responded aggressively to the coronavirus at the outset like South Korea and Singapore did. South Korea, which reported its first case the same day as the United States, immediately began testing its citizens at a rate of 10,000 a day, using drive-thru testing centers and text messages sent out to people when new cases were reported in their districts. Singapore focused early on diagnosis, isolation and contact tracing. Both countries have now seen their rates of new cases drop. The United States is a different story. For six weeks — on at least 17 occasions — Trump minimized the threat, saying at various times it would disappear with the onset of spring, it was nothing more serious than the flu and we had it totally under control. The federal government rejected an offer from the World Health Organization for testing kits and instead asked the Centers for Disease Control and Protection to develop a test of its own. A first effort failed, further delaying its use. In the meantime, the virus spread with first Washington state and then New York City, Long Island and Westchester at its epicenter. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced on Tuesday the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nassau County has reached 2,869 with 10 deaths. New York has paid the highest price for Trump’s refusal to respond quickly. As of Tuesday morning, New York state had 25,665 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with at least

157 deaths. More than 46,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the United States, although experts say the true number is much higher since the coronavirus has a 2-14 day incubation period. Which means the reported numbers are two weeks old. And even in New York where testing has increased dramatically in recent days, the tests are limited to people over 65, with pre-existing conditions and first responders. That means many people with the virus are walking around without knowing — possibly without even showing symptoms. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday the infection rate in New York is accelerating and the state could be as close as two weeks away from a crisis that puts 40,000 people in intensive care. Such a surge, he said, would overwhelm hospitals, which now have just 3,000 intensive care unit beds statewide. Areas outside the metropolitan area should take little comfort. As Cuomo said Tuesday, New York is merely ahead of the curve. All areas that haven’t adopted a stay-at-home policy should do so now. Trump, who has declared himself a war president, has refused to take charge of the country’s response, saying it is up to states’ governors and, in some cases, city mayors to respond. This is as if a foreign power fired missiles at New York and the federal government responded by sending New York weapons. The governors of the most affected states have filled the country’s leadership void with a presidential-type leadership missing in the White House. This has included doing what health oﬃcials said is the best way to defeat the virus — by ordering

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non-essential businesses to close and residents to confine themselves at home. Cuomo and other governors have also been left to fend mostly by themselves in the face of shortages of beds and ventilators and equipment to protect health care providers, such as masks, face shields and surgical gowns. Trump promised Sunday that 2,000 badly needed hospital beds were en route to New York. He also said the federal government has provided more than 186,000 masks, 84,000 face shields and 68,000 surgical gowns. But that is a fraction of the millions of masks New York needs. Governors have been justifiably angry with Trump’s refusal to invoke the Defense Production Act, which would allow the government to order companies to ramp up the production of ventilators and protective masks among other products. “I do not understand the reluctance to use the federal Production Act to manufacture ventilators,” Cuomo said in a tweet Tuesday. “If not now, when?” The unavoidable consequence of the stay-at-home orders been an economy in free fall that has seen employees lose their jobs, businesses close — perhaps for a time, perhaps forever — and the stock market crater. These businesses need our support as well as aid from the state and federal governments.

In the face of this economic fallout — and amid the calls of Wall Street executives for relief — Trump suggested Monday he would press for those restrictions to be relaxed by Easter, which falls on April 12. “If it were up to the doctors, they’d say let’s keep it shut down, let’s shut down the entire world . . . and let’s keep it shut for a couple of years. We can’t do that.” Trump said. There are two problems with this. The restrictions were imposed by governors and mayors. Trump doesn’t have the legal authority to remove the restrictions, although he might encourage people to ignore those in place and other governors not to impose them. The second problem is that health oﬃcials say that relaxing those restrictions could significantly increase the death toll from the virus. Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, has suggested that he and “lots of grandparents” would be willing to risk death from coronavirus to prevent the U.S. economy from tanking under the weight of social distancing measures that he fears will aﬀect his grandchildren and lead to the “loss” of America. Trump has seemed to embrace this approach, pointing out how 30,000 people a year die in auto accidents — far more than those who have died so far in the United States from the coronavirus. But scientists — people who ac-

REPORTERS Rose Weldon, Robert Pelaez, Emma Jones

tually know something about dealing with viruses — offer a frightening picture if the stay-at-home restrictions are relaxed now. Tom Inglesby, the director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, echoed a respected group of British epidemiologists following Trump’s promise to relax restrictions. “Anyone advising the end of social distancing now needs to fully understand what the country will look like if we do that. COVID would spread widely, rapidly, terribly, could kill potentially millions in the year ahead with huge social and economic impact across the country,” Inglesby tweeted. Does anyone really think that people will rush to stores and restaurants while hospitals are overwhelmed and the death toll rises? Efforts are underway by the state officials, Congress and the Federal Reserve to rescue the economy from collapse. But they must understand that this is a health problem first and an economic one second. Halfway measures in which the restrictions are lifted will only lengthen the pandemic’s grip and cause additional pain to businesses. The federal and state governments must continue efforts underway to protect people and companies from the economic cost of this disruption until the health problem subsides.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

ON THE RIGHT

N.Y.’s economic and fiscal meltdown

’ve worked in the financial services industry for over 43 years, and the fast-moving economic downturn is the worst I have witnessed during my career. Most economists say a recession is inevitable. I believe it has already arrived. The impact the coronavirus crisis will have on New York’s economy, its citizens, and its state and local governments will be devastating. And every person and every business will feel the pain due to the spiraling eﬀect of the economic slowdown and the decline in consumer spending. Every small New York business — the backbone of our economy — is taking a major hit. Before long, owners will be unable to pay the rent on their facilities or to make interest and principal payments on their debt. Many may never reopen, compounding the rapidly growing unemployment crisis and the storefront commercial property vacancy problem. The economic shutdown will also devastate state and local budgets. On March 17, 2020, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli responded to a request from Gov. Cuomo to analyze the economic outlook for the current state fiscal

year that ends on March 31 and for the next fiscal year that begins on April 1. In that report, the comptroller declared, “Based on information as of March 13, 2020, the most optimistic revenue scenario is that All Funds tax revenues in state fiscal 2020-21 will be at least $4 billion below projections of $87.9 billion in the executive budget. However, given deteriorating conditions and the potential likelihood of a deep recession in the coming fiscal year, one alternative scenario suggests tax revenues in SFY 2020-21 could be more than $7 billion below the executive budget forecast.” Considering Cuomo was trying to fill a $6 billion deficit hole with higher taxes and fees, fiscal gimmicks and more debt — God only knows how he will handle a deficit that could easily expand to $13 billion. The state’s Rainy Day Fund currently has about $2 billion and the state’s Division of Budget has identified about $890 “as being informally reserved for economic uncertainties.” Even if these reserves are expended there will still be a huge shortfall. Then there will be the fiscal impact on local municipalities de-

GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right pendent on sales tax revenues. Take, for example, New York’s tourist industry. Last year, more than 60 million tourists visited New York City. Spending by these visitors generated approximately $1.8 billion in state tax revenues and $4.2 billion for New York City’s coﬀers. In Nassau, nearly 40 percent ($900 million) of the funding for the county budget comes from sales tax revenues. Even a modest 10 percent decline will cause fiscal angst for the county which has been under the control of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority for close to a decade. How is the state handling the

new economic reality? At monthend, Gov. Cuomo conceded last week that his budget “as we prepared it is possibly overly optimistic.” And his budget director said they will need “flexibility … to be able to make changes as you go.” “Missing from those statements,” E.J. McMahon, of the Empire Center for Public Policy, observed, “was even the slightest hint of any specific steps the governor will take, or recommend taking, to cope with a massive revenue shortfall that is inevitable and unavoidable, given the stock market crash and broad shutdown of economic activity brought only ‘social distancing’ orders.” How will the governor ultimately address the skyrocketing deficit? My guess is he will persuade the Legislature to expand the borrowing capacity of the Local Government Assistance Corporation created by Gov. Mario Cuomo. LGAC, a non-self-supporting corporate government agency, dependent on annual appropriations of state sales-tax revenue, was authorized in 1990 to bond out $4.7 billion of the state’s accumulated deficit. Like New York’s 52nd governor, the 56th governor will prob-

ably burden future generations with paying oﬀ present-day expenditures. Since we are experiencing a government-induced recession, the feds must provide liquidity to New York’s neediest and to its small businesses. Billions of federal dollars should be sent to enhance the state unemployment insurance and Medicaid funds. Small business loans — that could be turned into grants — should be readily available to help companies keep their workforces on the payroll. The feds should also order banks to permit people to defer mortgage, student loan and credit card payments for several months. Such measures, economists Betsy Steven and Justin Wolfers pointed out, “could prevent countless bankruptcies, forced home sales and defaults, potentially averting the vicious cycle of financial disruption, reduced incomes, and lower spending that made the 2008 recession so brutal.” No doubt there will be diﬃcult days ahead, particularly for those who live paycheck to paycheck. But we will endure. Why? Because we are New Yorkers!

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Advice for the self-sequestered T

hanks to the coronavirus, millions of Americans are now sheltering at home. If you are telecommuting or overrun with family, bless you. But a lot of folks are doing…well, nothing. As someone with years of experience at doing nothing — I mean, at being a gifted freelance writer — I’d like to oﬀer a few tips. First, make a list of all the things you must get done — this morning; this week; this month; this year. It is very important that you make this list as long as you can because you will be glad to see it again when your supply of toilet paper has run out! I’m just kidding; I know most of you made that list on your phone. But seriously, you are not going to get any of it done. And it won’t even be your fault! In fact, if you’re very lucky, you will have your deadlines moved for you — the way President Trump has done for me with that pesky income tax filing date.

Now that you have made your list: Ignore It. Oh, sure, you want to clear out all your closets; do all the laundry; leave every room sparkling clean…preferably by the end of the week. But you’ve got to realize that that kind of thinking doesn’t merely torpedo your spirits; it’s actually unpatriotic! Because we are supposed to stay in, oﬀ the streets, and your list needs to last. Yes, I know that is hard for all you busy people, you folks who are used to getting it done but trust me — it’s better to wake up with a task still to do, than with empty meaningless weeks stretching out before you. Of course, I don’t expect you to be able to ignore all of your lists, right away; that’s for the advanced class. For now, I suggest you settle for ignoring most of it. Just pick one small item on your list to accomplish. Next — and this is very important — be sure to stop when you accomplish that original task! Do not say to yourself, “Well, one clos-

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side et cleared out wasn’t so bad; why not finish the rest of them today?” Resist! Why? Suppose, for the sake of argument that, somewhere between your third and fourth cup of coﬀee, you notice that there are an awful lot of dust kitties by the kitchen baseboard under the sink. And let’s say that you take an old paper towel and you swipe them up. That’s fine. I’m just saying,

stop there and take a victory lap. (Around the couch, maybe, or your desk chair). Whatever you do, do not succumb to the deadly scourge of “mission creep” — or else, like a friend of mine in better times, you’ll find yourself knocking out a pantry wall and redecorating, when all you wanted was to scrub a dried bit of ketchup oﬀ the wallpaper. So know your limitations. Think small. And whenever the urge seizes you to go out and do something — shop; exercise; anything — try to take Mark Twain’s advice and lie down until the feeling passes. Finally, I must warn you about another huge hazard to being at home. RRRING! Yes, the telephone. Right now, everyone in America knows that you’re “in!” At Casa Judy, we kept our landline, for the way it kept working during power outages. But it gets a ridiculous amount of ridiculous calls. And since I can’t work the caller ID very well, I never know what I’m in for.

Ring! “Yes?” “Hello. This is your IT department, from Microsoft, to tell you that your computer is infected.” “That’s odd because I don’t have a Microsoft computer.” They must have relayed that information to Apple because my next caller was: “Hello. This is Siri…” click. Siri does not have hands, so I sincerely doubt she is making this call. Ring! “This is a call from your utility company to apologize…” click! They do have a lot to apologize for, but not with this scam. Besides, if they really want to apologize, they can put their apology in writing, with a dollar sign in front and a signature at the bottom. RINGGG! I was losing patience, so I answered with my most ferocious voice: “What?!” Of course, it was my mother in law. Next pandemic, first thing on my to-do list is getting a new Caller ID.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

VIEW POINT

N.Y. needs to be fully counted in 2020 census

ere’s a great activity that will fill about 10 minutes of your time while you are confined at home: fill out your census form and submit online (my2020census.gov), by mail or phone. It is vitally important for our community because the census will set for the next 10 years the number of representatives we have in Congress as well as the number of electoral votes each state receives and will be used to draw state and local district lines. It determines our share of federal and state funding for everything from public education to roads to senior centers, housing, Head Start, health care, police and community development block grants. It will guide our local government – county and town – on their policies on everything from downtown revitalization to building new schools to aﬀordable hous-

ing and is used by businesses to decide where to locate or relocate. And here’s the thing: the Trump administration wants our community not to be counted. They want New York State to lose representation and funding. So the Trump administration is doing nothing to promote the census (just compare to the extensive outreach campaign of the Obama administration in 2010) and may do little or nothing to send out the door knockers to homes where people have not sent in their census on their own. Already, they are using the coronavirus to shut down activities, putting the operation behind schedule, despite the fact the deadline to conduct a census of all inhabitants (citizens or not) is set in the Constitution. The first bit of gamesmanship, to put in a citizenship question in order to discourage non-citizens and particularly undocumented

KAREN RUBIN View Point

individuals from being counted, was thrown out by Supreme Court. But the damage has been done. The terror of ICE raids and swift deportations of people who have been in the country for decades and have American-citizen children, and the willingness of the Trump Administration to ig-

nore laws, has many skeptical of the law protecting the privacy of the census. Just as Trump has sabotaged Obamacare, he is doing everything possible to suppress the census. Trump has left the Director position vacant and failed to fully fund census operations forcing the bureau to cut costs. The number of Census Bureau field oﬃces in New York dropped from 35 in 2010 to 21 in 2020. In the absence of any federal support, the state and county has taken up the task. “As we prepare to undertake our nation’s 24th Census, New York is standing up to the federal government’s intimidation tactics and attempts to discourage immigrants and other communities from filling out the Census questionnaire,” Gov. Cuomo said at the opening of his Census Conference. “This Census comes at a divisive and ugly time when the social fab-

ric of our nation is being stressed and tested in ways I’ve never seen before. New York is the capital of diversity, and during these difficult times, our State’s voice is vital. And this census counts and calibrates the voice of New York, so we need to make sure it is heard loud and clear. This conference is a big part of our efforts to inform all New Yorkers about the Census and engage hard-to-reach communities, helping to ensure every single New Yorker is counted and the Empire State is accurately represented at the federal level.” The state is spending up to $70 million to support the census and enlisting dozens of state agencies and authorities to do outreach, including the departments of Labor, Motor Vehicles, and Veterans Affairs, plus CUNY and SUNY. State employees will provide translation services for more than 200 languages. Continued on Page 46

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Coronavirus no surprise to climate scientists

oronaviruses are zoonotic diseases, meaning they jump from animals to humans. Mishandling of wildlife is a prime suspect in how a mutated form of coronavirus (COVID-19) infected humans at a wet market in Wuhan, China. In tightly packed markets, meat, poultry, and seafood are sold under insanitary conditions for human consumption, in a transaction that’s best described as animal cruelty. At these markets suﬀer the endearing and endangered pangolins. This prehistoric “scaly anteater” that’s been around for 80 million years is now one of the world’s most traﬃcked mammals, accounting for as much as 20 percent of the illegal wildlife trade with their scales coveted for Chinese medicine. You will rarely find pangolins in captivity as they refuse to eat or drink once removed from their habitats and poachers have exhausted them to be now on the verge of extinction. The COVID-19 crisis comes as no surprise to climate scientists and epidemiologists who’ve predicted this magnitude of a pandemic. As a consequence of increased air travel, the spread of pathogens is greatly facilitated. The rest of the world is only a flight away, we’re all connected and we must meet the future with

a sense of shared responsibility. Only a month away from Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, with 337,553 cases and 14,654 deaths in 192 countries as of March 22nd (https://www.worldometers.info/ coronavirus/), COVID-19 is currently on the rise and spreading throughout the Western world in a process that highlights how vulnerably interconnected our economic systems and social structures are. What happens in China doesn’t stay in China. You cannot build a wall to keep germs out. A little piece of nucleic acid has disrupted “business as usual.” Since the middle of the last century, we’ve seen a threefold increase in the human population with significant economic output and industrial progress. This is collectively referred to as the great acceleration. The peak oil pollution party is over for now. The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to decelerate, to shelter-in-place, with the immediate measurable clearing of the skies and waterways. Humans have inhabited almost every corner of the world and, with urbanization, disrupted healthy ecosystems. Furthermore, global warming is now forcing animals to migrate away from their natural habitats and this has resulted in increased human contact to stressed-out wildlife that shed viruses and bacteria that cross-spe-

HILDUR PALSDOTTIR Earth Matters

cies boundaries. The exploitation and mishandling of animals, and close proximity with captive and distressed wildlife that’s been displaced, increases the chances of viruses jumping across species. If you’ve ever had a cold sore you know that stress is a trigger for virus outbreaks and this isn’t a new phenomenon. Turns out, herpes jumped from chimpanzees to ancestors of modern humans about 1.6 million years ago. An area cut down to grow palm oil trees in West Africa was the source of the deadly Ebola epidemic. There is a common thread in the roots of recent outbreaks (Swine flu, avian flu, SARS, MERS). How we treat the natural world is always best reflected in its

response. The loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation and disruption of healthy ecosystems threatens our own health and economic systems. Animals need fresh air and livable spaces, healthy, natural diets — most preferably in their natural habitats. We must respect, protect and conserve wildlife habitats or be prepared to risk the evolution of novel pathogens. The wet markets in China are a perfect petri dish for the emergence of novel infectious diseases. Social distancing is changing the way we think about travel and our relationships to one another. I hope we will also use this inward bound time to re-think the way we relate to the rest of the natural world. Everything is connected, conservation and preservation are now a public health issue. We must do what we can to preserve habitats and restore balance in the natural world. We must protect Intact Forest Landscapes (http://www.intactforests.org). Preserving forests helps mitigate climate change and protects biodiversity, which helps maintain stable, healthy ecosystems and prevents the spread of pathogens. We must stop invading and upsetting wildlife habitats. We must declare wildlife sanctuaries and protect the rainforest.

When we are ready to reset our economy post-COVID19, we can insist on climate-resilient decisions through investments in low-carbon technologies. We must stop concentrated animal feeding operations, and clean up our supply chains to ensure that we are not disrupting habitats and destroying ecosystems. We must reduce non-essential air travel, with less flights we reduce carbon emissions and prevent the spread of pathogens. In this crisis we’ve learned to replace inperson meetings with video-conferences while working from home. When the COVID19 threat passes, let’s not return to “business as usual.” Let’s insist on a more sustainable, resilient and reliable social and economic structure for our children. It’ll take time and yes, sacrifices must be made, but we must re-think our ways if we are to survive the future. April 22nd marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which will be observed with a Digital Earth Day, a global digital mobilization to address the most urgent threats to people and the planet. The global conversation will be unified and tracked by the shared hashtags #EarthDay2020 and #EARTHRISE @earthdaynetwork. Dr. Hildur Palsdottir is communications and social media director on the Board of ReWild Long Island

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

FROM THE DESK OF TOM SUOZZI

Be prepared not scared of virus

hen confronting coronavirus, we need a comprehensive approach that addresses the healthcare issues and the economic issues. Working together we can beat this and come out the other side stronger than ever. When looking at the healthcare issues we must focus on 1) prevention, 2) testing, 3) treatment and 4) a long-term vaccine solution. When looking at the economic issues we must focus on 1) individuals, 2) small businesses, 3) critical industry and 4) the overall economy. This is a complex, all-encompassing challenge that requires a comprehensive game plan that includes healthcare, government, not-for-profits, and the private sector working together with you and every American citizen. First and foremost, we must prevent the spread of coronavirus. We must all practice social distancing by limiting physical contact with others and avoiding large gatherings. For everyone that thinks they know better or

are invincible, stop now! Much of America will be infected, but we must slow the rate so that hospitals and the healthcare system are not overwhelmed. I do not want my friends or family unable to access a ventilator because just too many people are infected at once. Practice safe social distancing to help flatten the curve. Second, we need to continue to ramp up testing across the nation. Gov. Cuomo has done exceptionally well to increase the availability of testing across the state. New York State is testing more than 16,000 people a day, which is more tests per capita than any other state and most other countries. The increasing number of confirmed cases in our state was inevitable as testing ramped up. As more people get tested, the numbers will continue to mount. In Washington, I have discussed the need for increased testing at the highest levels of government, including with Dr. Anthony Fauci and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, so that we can most eﬀec-

From the Desk of

TOM SUOZZI tively locate hot spots of contagion, develop a comprehensive containment plan, and deploy resources accordingly. While the governor is doing the job we need him to do, the president needs to implement and enforce the Defense Production Act now by ordering companies to produce testing kits, masks, gowns, ventilators, and more. The medical supply chain is under tremendous stress and the DPA will help boost production of the necessary supplies to be distributed to the states that need it —

like New York. States are currently competing against one another to bid for these critical supplies. We need to do everything we can do to help doctors, nurses, EMTs, social workers, food bank volunteers, police, firefighters, and so many others who are on the front lines. Third and Fourth, we need treatments that can save coronavirus victims’ lives and a vaccine to prevent coronavirus in the future. If we slow the spread and develop treatments, then this will be much like dealing with the flu. If people get sick and we have a treatment, crisis averted. In Congress’ “phase three” negotiations, we must also give hospitals and healthcare institutions increased funding so they can provide quality care for all those who are sick and ensure first-responders and healthcare workers have access to personal protective equipment. We also need a long-term plan for a vaccine. That is why one of the first things Congress did weeks ago was to allocate $3 billion to help discover a vaccine. It will take 18 months, but the process has started, and the money is there.

As we try to manage the healthcare issues, we must also address the economic eﬀects of this crisis. Democrats and Republicans must come together, put aside ideological purity, and deliver immediate solutions for our country, for individuals, and for businesses. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the deal will have been made by the Congress and signed by the President. During the “phase three” negotiations, I have made it clear that we must protect everyday working individuals, families, small businesses, critical industries, and the economy across our nation. While the first two legislative phases, which have now been signed into law, were positive first steps, there is much more that needs to be done. For individuals, we must give families assistance through direct payments so they can pay their bills, expand existing tax breaks everyday Americans rely on to make ends meet, bolster unemployment insurance for those who lose their Continued on Page 46

OUR TOWN

Coronavirus and the age of paranoia

n Friday I was ordering take out at Hildebrandt’s and who should walk in the store but a local dentist who I know casually for many years. We said hi to each other and began to chat and I noticed that he kept backing away from me until he was right up against the front door. It then dawned on me that he was afraid I was one of “the infected ones” and that he may catch the dreaded coronavirus if I coughed. Welcome to the age of paranoia. It is like all those zombies movies are coming true. One bite or even one cough and we are among “the infected.” Back in 1966 the Buﬀalo Springfield song a song with the line “Paranoia strikes deep. Into your life it will creep. It starts when you’re always afraid. You step out of line, the man comes and takes you away.” Looks like Stephen Stills was way ahead of his time. Virtually everyone I have spoken to about the coronavirus virus says the same thing. They all first use the word ‘crazy’ and then we go on to talk about how our reaction to this latest pandemic all seems rather extreme and over the

top what with hoarding of toilet paper and hand cleansers. And next we will be faced with an economic collapse of seismic proportions. I can see that a new cultural syndrome has emerged that could easily remove our preoccupation with the term narcissistic personality and replace it with the term paranoid personality. But first, let us define our terms. Paranoia is a thought process influenced by fear and characterized by a sense of irrationality. There is a sense that one is being attacked by external forces that one is powerless to deal with. This state is often precipitated by chronic stress, disappointment, humiliation and hopelessness. Some researchers feel that paranoia is produced in a culture where one is uncertain about one’s social standing. It is easy to understand how the culture has become more paranoid in its thinking. Over the last 40 years and especially after 9/11 we have all been aware of terrorism, an unknown, vague but hostile force that has generated fear in us all. This fear is reinforced every time we must pass through secu-

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

rity screening at the airport. Fear is further exacerbated each time we hear of another suicide bombing in London or New York or Nice. Our fears only get worse with news of the latest school shooting at Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, Florida or Virginia Tech, etc. And how about the mass shootings in Las Vegas, the Orlando night club or the Aurora movie theater? Bear in mind that all these traumas are covered in vivid detail by every media outlet on earth. Is this not a culture that engenders paranoia on a massive scale? Of course, it is. And in this volatile anxious setting, we introduce a virus that is even more mysteri-

ous than terrorism. We live in strange days indeed. Fears abound and we learn of new warnings such as “shelter in place,” “social distancing,” “Boomer remover,” and “avoid touching your face.” Narcissism implied a sense of entitlement and self-absorbed grandiose activities. This term has been used to describe Americans since the mid 1970s, nearly a 50year run. It’s a term we have all gotten used to. Well, it’s time to say a fond farewell to the age of narcissism and say hello to the age of paranoia. We are now fully embroiled in an age where sinister and dangerous forces lurk behind every

corner and are secretly hidden in every handshake and every cough. The Doors once sang “Strange days have found us. Strange days have tracked us down. They’re going to destroy, our causal joys.” My older brother Peter would always say to me “Good days are coming, Tommy, good days are coming.” I can’t wait until they get here. Until then, let’s all ‘shelter in place,’ turn on the tube and watch the up to the minute scientific discussion about the latest death toll. No sports, no church, no synagogue, no work, no shopping, no nothing. My goodness, Jim Morrison was right, strange days really have found us.

Hillside Avenue in Williston Park, welcome to a ghost town

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

READERS WRITE

China leads the way in drug manufacturing

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, it 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. 28th said: “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 Evalua-

tion 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 US., 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, in-

cluding pneumonia. Who remembers “Keflex”?. The year was 2018. Fast forward, the Wall Street Journal on Feb. 28, reported: “factory shutdowns across China because of the new Coronavirus 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 percent of U.S. imports of Ibuprofen, 91 percent 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 Bermingham, writing in Politico, say there are not enough FDA personnel conducting on-site-inspections in China, adding to the worries of many in Congress. But 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 percent 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. Bertram Drachtman Great Neck

Vigilant needs public’s help during crisis

ear Community Members: We at Vigilant are now operating under special COVID-19 directives designed to protect our volunteers, employees and you, our neighbors. Our members are no strangers to risk; we are committed to serving Great Neck with Fire and EMS protection even in these perilous times. For us to continue to do our job as the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and require us to respond to more and more calls, we need your help. As part of our COVID-19 Emergency Operations Plan, we

will be operating with less people on calls. We will be doing this to minimize the risk of exposure to our crews and you, the community. If we suspect that any of our members have contracted COVID-19 or they have been diagnosed with the virus, that member will be out of service for weeks as would any volunteer and/or employee who was working directly with that person. The more members that we are forced to sideline, the less we will have to respond to calls. We need to avoid this happening, so we will be taking extra

precautions when we arrive at your home. For example, you will notice many of Vigilant’s crews will now be using special equipment, such as masks, gloves and even gowns, especially on EMS calls, to protect both you and them. Now more than ever, if you call for help, please make sure that it is a true emergency that requires an ambulance. If it is a true emergency, when you call please make sure to provide a clear description of the symptoms that you are experiencing to the dispatcher who takes your call.

If you have been diagnosed as being infected with the COVID-19 virus, please state that clearly to the dispatcher when you call. We will always respond to any call, but we can serve you better and protect you, our members and employees if we are prepared. Conversely, if your medical situation is not an emergency, and you can get to the hospital safely on your own, or with the help of a friend or other third party, please do that rather than call for an ambulance. If you call us for a non-urgent call, you could potentially be committing our emergency ve-

hicles and personnel and increasing their risk of exposure when another member of the community has an emergency and needs our services more immediately. For this reason, we ask that you only call us for true emergencies to ensure that our services are available for those of our neighbors who need it most. Thank you, Great Neck, for working in partnership with us. We will get through this together. Phil Katz President, Vigilant Engine & Hook & Ladder Co. Inc.

Giving blood can be gift of life for others

have just seen a news conference where the U.S. Surgeon General stated we are having a serve blood shortage and donations are needed now.

I think those who can please donate blood, and by doing so would be an act of kindness. Those who donate blood will be helping many people. There is no substitute

for human blood. One in three people will need blood sometime in their lives. One pint of blood saves three lives. Blood lasts only 42 days. Your blood

LETTERS POLICY Letters should be typed or neatly handwritten, and those longer than 750 words may be edited for brevity and clarity. All letters must include the writer’s name and phone number for verification. Anonymously sent letters will not be printed. Letters must be received by Monday noon to appear in the next week’s paper. All letters become the property of Blank Slate Media LLC and may be republished in any format. Letters can be e-mailed to news@theislandnow.com or mailed to Blank Slate Media,

25 Red Ground Road, East Hills, NY 11577.

donation is critically important now and greater than ever before. Around 75 percent of the incoming blood supply was interrupted due to the coronavirus, when schools, businesses, and religious institutions closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. In response, the New York Blood Center has increased capacity at donor centers by extending hours and opening for extra days a week. These modifications help control a safe environments for healthy donors.

For more information, you can call 1-800-933-2566 or by visiting nybc.org/coronavirus. Let me also point out I help run two blood drives a year as grand knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus at St. Anastasia Parish in Douglaston. So please display acts of kindness by giving the gift of life. Thank you! Frederick R.Bedell Jr. Mineola Letters Continued on Page 31

Guide to and

A BLANK SLATE MEDIA SPECIAL SECTION â€¢ MARCH 27, 2020

20 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

How to protect yourself from virus Do’s and don’ts of avoiding being infected at time of growing spread in Nassau How to Protect Yourself Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditionslike heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself. The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America: 15 Days to Slow the Spread Know How it Spreads There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Take steps to protect yourself Clean your hands often

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact Avoid close contact with people who are sick Put distance between yourself and other peopleif COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick. Take steps to protect others Stay home if you’re sick Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick. Cover coughs and sneezes Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If

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soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Wear a facemask if you are sick If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. Learn what to do if you are sick. If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers. Clean and disinfect Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. To disinfect:

Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface. Options include: Diluting your household bleach. To make a bleach solution, mix: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water OR 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be eﬀective against coronaviruses when properly diluted. Alcohol solutions. Ensure solution has at least 70 percent alcohol. Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be eﬀective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.). From the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020 ADVERTORIAL

An Honor To Give Back To Betty Betty was born in 1925, she was raised during the great depression and world war II. Betty graduated from college, married and raised four children. She was a public school teacher for nearly 25 years, and volunteered for charitable and local community affairs for decades. When we research the greatest generation, we should see a picture of Betty because she embodied the spirit of giving more than she received to her family and community. Over the last five years, Betty survived her husband and lost her independence as she could no longer take care of herself. Betty’s adult children became increasingly concerned with her safety as her physical and cognitive skills diminished. Betty’s family collectively recognized that they needed help taking care

of their mother and they believed their mother would do best receiving this care while still living at home. It was time to give back to Betty. When 7 Day Home Care received a call from Betty’s family, we took the time to ask many questions in an effort to learn as much as possible about Betty and to schedule our registered nurse for a visit to perform an assessment and a plan of care. 7 Day Home Care’s goal was to coordinate the best match of caregivers designated to work with Betty. Getting the caregiver match right is critical in minimizing turnover, while maximizing the patients experience and meeting all their needs. The schedule required two live in caregivers working with Betty, 4 days and 3 days each week respectively.

When starting with a new patient, the first couple of weeks are about building mutual confidence and trust. Bonds are being developed. In Betty’s case, the family was elated to find that over time, not only were Betty’s activities of daily living needs (Bathing, dressing, medication reminders, etc.) met at a very high standard, but when they visited Betty, they had no caregiving responsibilities. This allowed them to spend quality time with their mom. Our relationship lasted for more than 5 years, with only 3 caregivers working with Betty in all that time. The caregivers communicated frequently with Betty’s family, stayed with Betty when she was hospitalized and in rehab. The caregivers accompanied Betty to family holidays and birthday events. The chemistry

between Betty and the caregivers was terrific and greatly helped improve Betty’s mental disposition. Importantly, the high level of care allowed Betty to age in the comfort of her own home for years, providing a level of peace for Betty and her family that was likely unattainable in another environment. Sadly, Betty passed away at home in recent months. Caregiving work is extremely demanding both physically and emotionally. Betty and her family like so many others were always incredibly appreciative of 7 Day home Care’s efforts. It is the recognition of mutual respect that fuels our passion to provide the same level of care for each patients as we would provide for our own family. Giving back to Betty was a special honor.

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22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

What to do if you are feeling sick Steps to take if you believe you may have been infected by COVID-19 Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick Follow the steps below: If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have it, follow the steps below to help protect other people in your home and community. Stay home except to get medical care Stay home: People who are mildly ill with COVID-19 are able to recover at home. Do not leave, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas. Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency. Avoid public transportation: Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis. Separate yourself from other people in your home, this is known as home isolation Stay away from others: As much as possible, you should stay in a specific “sick room” and away from other people in your home. Use a separate bathroom, if available. Limit contact with pets & animals: You should restrict contact with pets and other animals, just like you would around other people. Although there have not been reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19, it is still recommended that people with the virus limit contact with animals until more information is known. When possible, have another member of your household care for your animals while you are sick with COVID-19. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wash your hands before and after you interact with them. See COVID-19 and Animals for more information. If someone in your home is sick

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Call ahead before visiting your doctor Call ahead: If you have a medical appointment, call your doctor’s office or emergency department, and tell them you have or may have COVID-19. This will help the office protect themselves and other patients. Wear a facemask if you are sick If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are caring for others: If the person who is sick is not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then people who live in the home should stay in a different room. When caregivers enter the room of the sick person, they should wear a facemask. Visitors, other than caregivers, are not recommended. Cover your coughs and sneezes Cover: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose: Throw used tissues in a lined trash can. Wash hands: Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Clean your hands often Wash hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Soap and water: Soap and water are the best option, especially if hands are visibly dirty. Avoid touching: Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

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OPEN 7 DAYS: Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm, Sat.-Sun. 9am-5pm • All Holidays 10am-3pm

Handwashing tips Avoid sharing personal household items Do not share: Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home. Wash thoroughly after use: After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water or put in the dishwasher. Clean all “high-touch” surfaces every day Clean high-touch surfaces in your isolation area (“sick room” and bathroom) every day; let a caregiver clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in other areas of the home. Clean and disinfect: Routinely clean high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but not your bedroom and bathroom. If a caregiver or other person needs to clean and disinfect a sick person’s bedroom or bathroom, they should do so on an as-needed basis. The caregiver/other person should wear a mask and wait as long as possible after the sick person has used the bathroom. High-touch surfaces include phones, remote controls, counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Clean and disinfect areas that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Household cleaners and disinfectants: Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend keeping the surface wet for several minutes to ensure germs are killed. Many also recommend precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product. Most EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. Monitor your symptoms Seek medical attention, but call first: Seek medical care right away if your illness is worsening (for example, if you have difficulty breathing). Call your doctor before going in: Before going to the doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them your symptoms. They will tell you what to do. Wear a facemask: If possible, put on a facemask before you enter the building. If you can’t put on a facemask, try to keep a safe distance from other people (at least 6 feet away). This will help protect the people in the office or waiting room. Follow care instructions from

your healthcare provider and local health department: Your local health authorities will give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information. If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*: Diﬃculty breathing or shortness of breath Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion or inability to arouse Bluish lips or face *This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning. Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the operator that you have or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before medical help arrives. How to discontinue home isolation People with COVID-19 who have stayed home (home isolated) can stop home isolation under the following conditions: If you will not have a test to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened: You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers) AND other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared If you will be tested to determine if you are still contagious, you can leave home after these three things have happened: You no longer have a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers) AND other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved) AND you received two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart. Your doctor will follow CDC guidelines. In all cases, follow the guidance of your healthcare provider and local health department. The decision to stop home isolation should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider and state and local health departments. Local decisions depend on local circumstances. From the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

What are the symptoms of COVID-19? Call your doctor: If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or diﬃculty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice. Watch for symptoms Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.* Fever Cough Shortness of breath *This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses. If you develop emergency warning signsfor COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*: Diﬃculty breathing or shortness of breath Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion or inability to arouse Bluish lips or face *This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

Roslyn Heights Funeral Home

ADVERTORIAL

Ask the Funeral Director… By Joseph Velotti, Funeral Director Roslyn Heights Funeral Home

Preplanning a funeral is undoubtedly one of the biggest and most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. Whether it is for you or a loved one, the first step is obtaining all the necessary information to make an informed decision. More and more people are choosing to preplan/prepay their funeral and burial expenses. In doing so, they recognize that it is smart financial planning and provides great emotional relief for themselves and their loved ones. Prepaying your funeral will allow you to make your own funeral plans, but, more importantly, preplanning will spare surviving relatives and loved ones from the emotional burden of having to make decisions at a time of great stress and grief. The most common questions people ask when they are considering preplanning their funeral arrangements are:

We are proud to announce a major renovation to our facility. Our promise is to provide the upmost attention to detail to your family. Your family will receive concierge like service in an elegant home like surrounding. We offer a complete range of affordable, quality services from Traditional Funerals to Simple Cremation.

#1. Why Pre Plan at all? • Allows individuals the opportunity to make personal and specific selections for the funeral service that most closely meets their needs. • Spares loved ones from having to second-guess the wishes of the deceased at the time of need. • Allows for time to research funeral homes, burial options, and financial considerations; • Provides an option to set aside funds for final expenses, relieving family members of an unexpected financial burden. #2. Why Pre Pay for my arrangements? • Placing the cost of the funeral (at today's prices) in an investment vehicle, so that the interest earned will keep pace with inflation to cover the cost of the funeral (at future prices) when the death occurs. • Prevents life insurance policies from being depleted at the time of a loved one's death. • Allows individuals to consider options while they are better prepared to make sound, fiscally responsible decisions. • Spares loved ones the unexpected cost of a funeral during a stressful time. Roslyn Heights Funeral Home offers price guaranteed pre-arrangement thru PREPLAN a funeral trust pre-funding program backed by the NYS Funeral Directors Association, Inc. call 516-621-4545 for more information.

75 Mineola Avenue Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 516-621-4545 Visit Us At: www.RoslynHeightsFH.com Conveniently Located 5 Blocks North of LIE Exit 37 Willis Ave.

75 Mineola Avenue, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577 • 516-621-4545

24 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

The ways that COVID-19 spreads COVID-19 is a new disease andwe are still learning how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States. How COVID-19 Spreads Person-to-person spread The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through respiratory droplets pro-

duced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Can someone spread the virus without being sick? People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have

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been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. How easily the virus spreads How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, spreading continually without stopping. The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affectedgeographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected. Situation in U.S. Different parts of the country are seeing different levels of COVID-19 activity. The United States nationally is currently in the initiation phases, but states where community spread is occurring are in the acceleration phase.

The duration and severity of each phase can vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response. CDC and state and local public health laboratories are testing for the virus that causes COVID-19. View CDC’s Public Health Laboratory Testing map. More and more states are reporting cases of COVID-19 to CDC. U.S. COVID-19 cases include: Imported cases in travelers Cases among close contacts of a known case Community-acquired cases where the source of the infection is unknown. Three U.S. states are experiencing sustained community spread. View latest case counts, deaths, and a map of states with reported cases. Latest Updates on this Outbreak International Areas with Sustained (Ongoing) Transmission Last updated March 17, 2020 China (Level 3 Travel Health Notice) Iran (Level 3 Travel Health Notice) Most of Europe (Level 3 Travel Health Notice) South Korea (Level 3 Travel Health Notice) United Kingdom and Ireland (Level 3 Travel Health Notice) Global Outbreak Notice (Level 2 Travel Health Notice)

ADVERTORIAL

We are here to serve you better Immunity: Adult immunizations (Influenza and Pneumococcal) Immunization, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an external agent. Comprehensive Lab Tests: By doing routine blood tests. Continuous Glucose Monitoring: To successfully manage diabetes, a continuous monitoring system is needed to monitor our glucose levels. Diabetes Education: Day-to-day knowledge of nutrition, exercise, monitoring, and medication helps you to lead a normal life even with diabetes. Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of our heart. With its help doctors can analyze whether the walls of the heart chambers are too thick and the health of the heart when other diseases or conditions are present.

Insulin Pump Training: Insulin pumps are the devices that helps to manage our blood sugar. Minor Trauma Care: Minor trauma care is a set of initial medical procedures that must be done, which helps one to come out of trauma or to rule out the possible occurrence of major trauma. Pulmonary Function Test: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are non-invasive tests that show how well the lungs are working. Preventive Care: Disease and disability are normally triggered by environmental factors, genetic predisposition, disease agents and lifestyle choices. Vascular Studies: Vascular studies are tests conducted to analyze the blood flow in our arteries and veins.

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95 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park NY 11040 • 718-3427600

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

Disinfecting your home for safety As part of your everyday prevention actions clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects. For example: tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles. Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect. Clean Clean surfaces using soap and water. Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces. High touch surfaces include: Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc. Disinfect Use diluted household bleach solutions if appropriate for the surface. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. To make a bleach solution, mix: 5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water OR

4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol. Household cleaners and disinfectants: Clean the area or item with soap and water or another detergent if it is dirty. Then, use a household disinfectant. Follow the instructions on the label to ensure safe and effective use of the product. Many products recommend: Keeping the surface wet for several minutes to ensure germs are killed. Precautions such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the product. EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective. Soft surfaces For soft surfaces such as carpeted floor, rugs, and drapes Clean the surface using soap and water or with cleaners appropriate for use on these surfaces. Launder items (if possible) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely. OR

Disinfect with an EPA-registered household disinfectant. Laundry For clothing, towels, linens and other items Wear disposable gloves. Wash hands with soap and water as soon as you remove the gloves. Do not shake dirty laundry. Launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely. Dirty laundry from an ill personcan be washed with other people’s items. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers according to guidance above for surfaces. Clean hands often Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Always wash immediately after removing gloves and after contact with an ill person. Hand sanitizer: If soap and water are not readily available and hands are not visibly dirty, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. However, if hands are visibly dirty, always wash hands with soap and water.

Additional key times to clean hands include: After blowing one’s nose, coughing, or sneezing After using the restroom Before eating or preparing food After contact with animals or pets Before and after providing routine care for another person who needs assistance (e.g. a child) Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Food Stay separated: The ill person should eat (or be fed) in their room if possible. Wash dishes and utensils using gloves and hot water: Handle any non-disposable used food service items with gloves and wash with hot water or in a dishwasher. Clean hands after handling used food service items. Trash Dedicated, lined trash can: If possible, dedicate a lined trash can for the ill person. Use gloves when removing garbage bags, and handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands afterwards. From the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention

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

Respect. Tradition. Compassion. For four generations, New York’s Jewish Community has turned to Sinai Chapels for guidance and comfort in their time of need. We honor and respect all Jewish traditions and customs, attending to every funeral detail according to each family’s personal and religious preferences.

To learn more, contact us today:

718.445.0300 | 800.446.0406

26 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

UPDATE ON COVID-19 “CORONAVIRUS” WE ARE STRICTLY FOLLOWING ALL CDC GUIDELINES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS AND VISITORS. PLEASE BE COMMUNITY MINDED. IF YOU HAVE A COUGH OR FEVER, PLEASE CALL US TO RESCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT.

TELEMEDICINE IS AVAILABLE SO YOU CAN BE AT HOME AND STAY ON SCHEDULE WITH FOLLOW UP VISITS FOR HEEL PAIN, INFECTED NAILS, ANKLE SPRAINS AND WARTS. CALL TODAY FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO SET UP YOUR TELEMEDICINE APPOINTMENT.

WE ARE OPEN AND READY TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR PODIATRY NEEDS

Heel & Arch Pain • Fungal Nails • Corns, Calluses & Warts • Ingrown Nails • Pediatric Footcare Diabetic Care • Bunions & Hammertoes • Ankle Sprains & Tendonitis • Routine Foot Care For Seniors We Accept Medicare & O ffer A VIP Program For NYSHIP Members Call us today for details! SERVING Most Major Insurance Accepted! WILLISTON PARK House calls available!

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Dr. Mary Carlson, DPM 516.248.8188

637 Willis Ave., Suite E • Williston Park, NY www.DrMaryCarlsonDPM.com

GET FOOT CARE FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME INTRODUCING TELEMEDICINE FROM DOCTOR MARY CARLSON DPM We know that at this time, you are doing what you can to reduce your risk and exposure to the COVID-19 virus, and so are we! Be assured, we closely monitor the CDC’s recommendations, which change daily. Our practice shares your concerns and we are here for you every step of the way. We all need to carefully balance our desire to avoid unnecessary contact while maintaining !"#$%&'("$)*+)%(",&*)$&-%-*$./%%01*)23%41!%4.%*$.%+"4%"5.$&+6%0.7.'.,&-&+.%8$"'%!"#$%-"'(#).$% or smart phone. Telemedicine is our way of remaining in contact with our patients on a video conference. Dr. Carlson can visually see you as well as speak to you. This “virtual appointment” will allow us to provide seamless podiatric care without a long gap between visits. Many of our appointments can continue in this manner unless the need arises to physically examine or treat your foot or heel. 9+%)1&3%-*3.:%4.%4&77%3-1.,#7.%!"#$%*(("&+)'.+)%*+,%6.)%!"#%&+%*+,%"#)%"8%)1.%";-.%34&8)7!%*+,% .;-&.+)7!/%9+%)1.%.<.+)%!"#%+..,%)"%<&3&)%"#$%";-.%!"#%-*+%$.3)%*33#$.,%)1*)%4.%*$.%($*-)&-&+6% social distancing, sanitizing, and following all CDC guidelines. It’s important to adhere to every recommendation of our Government and the CDC, but it’s also very important to maintain the health of your feet. We look forward to serving you with this new state-of-the-art appointment. Remember, we are in this together and we will get through this!

RADIO SHOCK THERAPY

=.%+"4%"5.$%)1.%+.4.3)%+"+>3#$6&-*7%)$.*)'.+)%)"%.+,%!"#$%1..7%(*&+/%%98%+"$'*7%*-)&<&)&.3%*$.% causing you sharp heel pain, you may be at the beginning stages of plantar fasciitis, particularly if your pain is worse in the morning. Schedule an appointment to see if Radio Shock Therapy is an option for you. Radio Shock Therapy has an advantage of no down time and immediate return )"% 4"$?% *3% 4.77% *3% *-)&<&)&.3% &+-7#,&+6% $#++&+6/% %=.% *$.% -#$$.+)7!% "5.$&+6% @% 3.33&"+3% 8"$% AB@C% D-"(*!3E";-.%<&3&)3%*$.%.F)$*G/ =1.)1.$%!"#%*$.%*%7"+6>)&'.%(*)&.+)%"$%3&'(7!%4*+)%)"%3-1.,#7.%!"#$%H$3)%*(("&+)'.+):%)1.%";-.% of Dr. Mary Carlson will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable. By combining compassionate care with state-of-the-art technology, know that you will be receiving the absolute highest quality of service. Every patient is a top priority and treatment plans will be created and administered based on your examination. Dr. Mary Carlson has years of experience and understands the sensitive nature of certain foot ailments. You can rest assured knowing that you will be cared for with the utmost respect by an ";-.%3)*5%)1*)%&3%,.,&-*).,%)"%1.*7&+6/%I"+)*-)%J$/%K*$!%I*$73"+%*)%D@LMG%NBO>OLOO%*+,%3-1.,#7.% your video appointment today.

Six wellness tips for virus lockdown As coronavirus spreads throughout the world, people are staying home from work, school, and social events. We are all exercising caution in our new reality, but life as we know it does not need to stop completely. Below are six tips to help you feel calmer, healthier and more connected during the days of coronavirus. Please keep in mind, these suggestions are not all or nothing. Life at home may feel topsy-turvy so do what you can, when you can. Something is better than nothing! 1. Exercise in place of your commute to work — If you are working from home, you can use your travel time for exercise. Stick to the same wake-up time and substitute exercise for your commute. Take a walk, jog or find a class online. There are many options besides the gym.Make exercise a priority not only for your physical health but for the calming eﬀect it has on your mind and mood. 2. You can still “do lunch” — If you are accustomed to eating lunch with friends or colleagues, you can stay home AND keep your lunch plans. Try using FaceTime or Skype to connect over a sandwich or smoothie. Social distancing does not require social isolation. 3. Cook during the time you would commute home from work — Less activity often leads to more snacking. Use the time typically spent traveling home from work to prepare healthy meals and snacks. Healthy eating is a protective factor that helps us stay physically and emotionally well. 4. Get more sleep — For many people, the hectic pace of daily life does not

include suﬃcient sleep. With many activities canceled, use this time to go to sleep earlier. Choose a bedtime at the beginning of the day and adjust your schedule to stay on track. Sleep is an essential component for a healthy body and mind. 5. Pamper your hands — With so much hand washing and cleaning, your hands may be dry and chapped. If this describes your hands, perhaps treat your hands to a hand bath of soothing lotion with a relaxing scent like lavender. Don’t have any lotion?Apply a small amount of Vaseline or olive oil. 6. Be compassionate to others — Take time to show compassion and care for others. Even the briefest phone call, text or email can have a significantly positive impact on someone — and you will benefit from being compassionate too. Being compassionate has been shown to improve physical and emotional health. For some, fear is sowing competition — competition for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, food and toilet paper. This competitive mindset, while understandable during these times, also has the tendency to turn us inward. This inward focus reduces connection and psychological well being, exactly what we don’t need now. While we adjust to the presence of coronavirus in our lives, there is much we can do to make our days healthy and meaningful. Recognize the silver lining and use this opportunity to care for yourself and those around you. Beth Lorell, LCSW, MPH, Info@bethlorell.com

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

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)

drtomferraro.com drtferraro@aol.com

(516) 248-7189

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28 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

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Unique ways to exercise at home When unforeseen consequences compromise your ability to stick to your normal workout routine, working out at home might be your only option. The following are a handful of ways to exercise at home when leaving the house is out of the question. · Hit the stairs. Many gyms have StairMaster® products that can be used for high-intensity interval training, calorie-burning workouts and/or improving flexibility. While you might not be able to duplicate the effects of such equipment at home, you can take to the stairs in your home, walking up and down the staircases in your home to squeeze in some aerobic exercise. If you want to increase the intensity level, fill a backpack with some weights. · Dust off the jump rope. Jumping rope is an inexpensive, effective way to burn calories and improve muscle tone. When confined to your home, jump rope in the garage or, weather permitting, in the driveway or backyard. Jumping rope is great cardiovascular exercise and can strengthen the upper and lower body. Men and women who have histories of joint paint, including problems with their knees, ankles and/or hips, should consult with their physicians before adding jumping rope to their exercise routines. · Embrace crunch time. Crunches

are another eﬀective way to exercise at home. Crunches don't require a lot of space, making them great exercises for apartment dwellers or homeowners whose homes are less than conducive to exercise. Crunches strengthen the core and can help establish muscle tone. Crunches also burn calories. Be sure to adhere to proper form when performing crunches, as the wrong form can increase your risk of injury. · Become a squatter. You can become a squatter without breaking any laws. Unlike squatters who set up residence in a home without the permission of the homeowners, men and women who squat in their own homes are performing exercises that benefit various parts of their bodies. Squats can be performed with or without weights, and either option can help tone your legs and buttocks, strengthen your core and improve your flexibility. Be sure to use proper form when performing squats. If you have never done squats in the past, first get the form down without using weights, only moving on to squatting with weights after you have mastered the form and if you feel like you want to. The confines of a home may not always be conducive to exercise. But even if you are unable to get out of the house, you can still get a workout in.

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READERS WRITE

Not time for MTA to ask for coronavirus help

here are other financial solutions to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority looking for a $4 billion bailout and $1.9 billion Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from Washington due to unanticipated costs incurred by the coronavirus. Washington has already accumulated $23 trillion in long term debt. With a $4 trillion-plus annual budget, this debt was anticipated to grow by $1 trillion annually for years to come prior to the coronavirus. The federal government will fund a stimulus package of $850 million. It will be paid for with more borrowed funds increasing our national debt once again. This legislation will deal with the growing virus. Every village, town, county, city and state, along with many private sector businesses will look toward Washington for additional financial assistance. Who is going to bail out Uncle Sam to pay for this? All levels of government and the private sector must make diﬃcult financial

decisions on how to use existing resources. Americans prioritize their own family budgets. They make the diﬃcult choices in how existing household financial resources will be spent. If it can wait until later, it should be postponed. Now the MTA is looking for $4 billion in additional aid from Washington. This is on top of the annual $1.4 billion in assistance provided by the Federal Transit Administration. The MTA has budgeted $4 billion of local funding within the previous $32 billion 2015-2019 and $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plans to be used toward paying for the $6.9 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase Two. This project benefits a handful of the 5 million daily transit riders. The MTA must make the diﬃcult financial choices everyone else is doing.Given the current financial crises faced by all levels of government, the MTA should postpone funding Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 until the next 2025 — 2029 Five Year Capital Plan.

There is no indication after five years under the New Starts program that the FTA will approve a Full Funding Grant Agreement. This is necessary to obtain a legal commitment from Washington for between $2 to $3 billion necessary for fully funding this project. Use these local funds currently available under the $32 billion 20152019 and $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plans toward dealing with additional $4 billion costs incurred by the Corona Virus. The MTA also has $1.5 billion available for the Bronx East Metro North Penn Station Access project. This would provide new service along the New Haven Metro North branch for residentsCo-Op City, Morris Park,Parkchester and Hunts Point via Hellgate Bridge, Harold Intertockings and East River tunnels to Penn Station. A better use ofthese funds currently available under the $32 billion 2015 — 2019 and 2020 — 2024 Five Year Capital Plans would betoward dealing with additional $4 billion costs incurred by the Corona Virus. This project

can also be postponed until the next 2025 — 2029 Five Year Capital Plan. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has budgeted $2.05 billion in funding within its own $37 billion 2017 — 2026 ten yearCapital Program to build the LaGuardia Air Train. The MTA has budgeted funding within the $51 billion 2020 — 2024 to pay for capital improvements to both the LIRR and NYC Transit Willets Point stations in support of the LaGuardia Air Train. All of these funds would be better spent dealing with the Corona Virus today. Air travelers can aﬀord postponing this project until the next Port Authority 20272036 Ten Year Capital Plan. The MTA, Port Authority, NYC Departments of Transportation and Economic Development Corporation are currently spending millions of dollars on planning feasibility or environmental reviews for a number of future new transportation expansion projects. These include the $2 billion Triboro X subway, which would run from the Bronx Co-Op City thru

Queens on to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn; $2.7 billion Brooklyn Queens Street Car Connector; $2 billion light rail for the Queens Lower Montauk LIRR branch (this line ran from Jamaica to Long Island City with intermediate stops at Richmond Hill, Glendale, Fresh Pond, Haberman and Penny Bridge until service was abandoned in 1998); $8 billion for the restoration of service on the old Rockaway Beach LIRR branch (service was abandoned in 1962); Staten Island $600 million North Shore and $1.5 billion West Shore Bus Rapid Transit projects. Advancement for all of these projects can aﬀord to be put on hold. Again, these dollars would be better spent on dealing with the $4 billion needed for the coronavirus. Larry Penner Great Neck (Larry Penner is a transportation historian, writer and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Oﬃce.

Go ahead and say it: ‘I am scared’

can smell the fear. It’s palpable. Call it survival instinct, parental instinct or a daily diet chock full of too much CNN and the New York Times — fear is ruling our world. Not the good kind of fear like Coney Island Cyclone fear – the kind some folks find energizing and exhilarating and not the healthy kind of fear either -“I really should put sunscreen on because I don’t want skin cancer” — fear. This new Fear for the Ages that’s gripping mail carriers, bank tellers and bank presidents, service workers and CEOs is traumatizing, paralyzing and downright uncomfortable fear. This kind of fear can prompt an otherwise disciplined individual to scarf down far too many jelly donuts or Boston crèmes. With all due respect to anyone who suﬀers OCD, this new fear prompts us to participate in repetitive handwashing throughout the day (please count to a

minimum of 20) and assorted types of ritualistic behavior, all in an attempt to distance ourselves from the disease. The dog needs walking or you simply choose to take an outside walk? The CDC now requires us to visually scan the streets so we don’t cross paths with neighbors or at least maintain a six-foot distance. Who could have anticipated that power walking among neighbors would make the growing list of hazardous activities? Point is: in the suburbs, in the cities and around the globe, untold anxiety is creeping into our daily lives – our every movement – much like an unwanted pox. Pandemic you say? How many young people under the age of twenty-five were even familiar with that term until a few short weeks ago? According to the World Health Organization, the last pandemic occurred in 2009 with H1N1. As for fear, isn’t that emotion best reserved for those weaker or

lesser than you? Someone earning less salary or enjoying less social status than you? Fear is the great equal-opportunity emotion. Fear of unemployment doesn’t discriminate based on tax bracket or zip code. Isn’t fear of hunger the reason why Costco, King Kullen and Whole Foods Market were wiped clean of fresh, frozen and canned good items over the last two weeks? Isn’t fear of not being able to feed one’s family the reason why there was a fight at Best Market over a single package of ground beef? As for the Best Market cashier who got punched by a customer, anxious and fidgety to get oﬀ the line, wasn’t fear of catching the coronavirus the catalyst in this scenario? “Sorry seems to be the hardest word” Sir Elton John wanted you to believe in his 1976 hit. But fast forward to March 2020, declaring “I am scared” or “I am frightened” is the latest challenge for those among us who grew up

keeping their feelings in check. How many of us are comfortable being that honest with ourselves or with our loved ones? And while we’re being honest, how many readers are completely comfortable in a world where there is no longer a sense of control? Seniors, in particular, are facing social isolation with neither the Senior Center or the Library as a means of connection. Meanwhile, political analysts predict a public doomsday if government is unable to locate a source with timely delivery for disposable gloves, face masks and respirators. Who could have imagined that an inexpensive, disposable item like a plastic glove would become the most important fashion accessory in our global economy? And since the wisest, most spiritual-minded folks remind us to keep unforeseen challenges in perspective, I’ll close by sharing Robert Fulghum’s classic read, “All I Really Needed to Know I

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Learned in Kindergarten.” Written more than 30 years ago, these credos on life continue to make good sense – more so now — in the midst of a pandemic. I’m not certain you’ll feel less afraid, but you may pop a smile. Share everything. Play fair (Don’t hoard anything) Don’t hit people (Even the slow-poke supermarket cashier) Clean up after your own mess (Don’t toss used disposable gloves in the street) Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Thanks for reading and please remember to be kind and respectful to those you meet. During these diﬃcult times, unexpected kindness goes a long way. Judy Shore Rosenthal Great Neck Letters Continued on Page 43

32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

Feinstein begins 3 coronavirus clinical trials Continued from Page 10 The trial with Regeneron and Sanofi analyzes the human antibody with a molecule called sarilumab. The molecule will analyze a cytokine called IL-6, which is thought to be important in the development of complications like pneumonia in some patients with the coronavirus, according to Tracey. “As history has shown from past pandemics, medical research will lead in our nation’s ability to reverse the fatal spread of viruses,” Tracey said. “We’re trying to analyze as much as we can with the resources we have to make the best decision for our patients.” The trials, which are not currently available to the gen-

eral public, are oﬀered to patients currently admitted to Northwell hospitals, according to Northwell oﬃcials. Tracey did not provide the number of hospitalized patients who have participated in the trials. According to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, 39 county residents were hospitalized as of Saturday. Tracey said a new department was established to have the institute work with representatives from Gilead, Regeneron, and Sanofi focusing solely on the clinical trials. The new department has more than 100 employees, all of whom worked around the clock this past weekend to ensure its establishment was conducted

carefully. Despite more than 100 employees sacrificing sleep and downtime over the past two weeks, Tracey said, morale throughout Northwell’s staﬀ has been “terrific.” “When you work with people in a battle or crisis scenario, there’s something about working on the front lines that makes it worth doing,” Tracey said. “We’re keeping plenty of back-up preparations in place since the impact of this virus is changing every day.” When asked about North-

well’s status in terms of medical equipment, hospital beds, and other resources, Tracey said as of now, the hospitals have a suﬃcient supply. He stressed the importance of funding proper scientific research going forward if another pandemic happens again. “Right now, it’s like we’re fixing a house in the middle of a hurricane,” Tracey said. “Funding for the National Institutes of Health has not kept up with inflation for 17 years. That has certainly not helped in this situation.” Despite the lack of federal funding for scientific research, Tracey remained optimistic and encouraged residents to do the same.

“There are plenty of reasons to be hopeful, the main one being that we will all get through this,” he said. “There are dedicated people in this office and others throughout the world who are collaborating to try and stop the spread of this virus.” Northwell Health began manual testing for the virus March 5 and received permission to begin semiautomatic testing two days prior. With the authorization of semi-automatic testing, which greatly increases Northwell’s capabilities, the criteria will most likely be loosened, Northwell Health Senior Vice President and chief spokesman Terrence Lynam said.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

WILLIAM J ALLSBROOK Jr.

“William “William, liam you were always my hero. hero I wanted to be just like you, but I didn't play football or basketball like 'The Will', just didn't have your touch. I enjoyed watching you and was always proud to be your brother. Never does a day go by that I do not think of you. What would it be like to be able to call you. I have told my daughters about you letting me drive Mom and Dad’s new car around Tarboro although I was only 14 years old. October 2, 1970, Daddy’s birthday and the day that changed my life. You were my hero before Nam and you are still and one day I hope to walk with you again. I Love you. Mike”

Help us find a photo for every name on The Wall Each name on The Wall represents a family who was forever changed by their loss. Help us find photos for the Wall of Faces to ensure that those who sacrificed all in Vietnam are never forgotten. Vist www.VVMF.org/Faces to learn more

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

From Port fashion designer to mask-maker Continued from Page 11 Since then, Sinoway said, she and her team have gone from designing custom dresses to creating protective masks. “This all just goes to show you how unpredictable life really is sometimes,” she said. Sinoway has been a part of the fashion industry for the past 45 years, with the last 14 years being a prominent figure in Port Washington’s business community. Her studio has been the recipient of the last four Best of the North Shore and Best of Long Island awards in the category of “Best Tailor.” Sinoway said she owes a great deal of her success to the Long Island community and is always looking for an opportunity to aid others if they were ever in need.

So as the confirmed number of coronavirus cases in the county steadily increased each day, Sinoway said, she realized her own company needed immediate help. “We’re definitely hurting right now, but our store is one of many,” Sinoway said. “When I tell you this year was going from 180 miles per hour to 0, it is absolutely crazy.” Sinoway said it was stressful once she realized the gravity of the situation that her business and others were in when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the closing of non-essential businesses last week. But rather than sitting at home and taking no action, Sinoway said, her thought was to try and find a way to stay occupied while helping out those in need of a facemask to protect them from

spreading or contracting the virus. “I wasn’t about to just stay home and feel sorry for myself,” Sinoway said. “I decided to get the team together and find a creative way for us to be a part of the solution for this whole epidemic.” Sinoway said several weeks ago, she and the team advertised creative masks and got an influx of responses from clientele asking for their own. Pair those inquiries with two “massive rolls” of white and dark denim, Sinoway said, and they had their product. “We knew the [N-95] face masks have been in high demand throughout Long Island and the entire world, so we figured if we could alleviate just a little of that demand it would be helpful to someone,” Sinoway said. Sinoway, who touted the work

of healthcare oﬃcials and hospital employees, said she is selling the masks for $10 while practicing social distancing in running her business. “We know those employees need it so much more, so we are trying to help everyone stay safe,” she said. “When our team is making the masks, we’re doing it safely, and we are distributing the finished product safely by wrapping it up several times and wearing gloves.” Sinoway said she is also imploring her customers to practice social distancing by limiting to 10 per hour the number of people permitted to come and collect their masks. Additionally, she said, customers are encouraged to donate a few extra dollars to help some of

the senior citizens in the area obtain masks and other resources to remain safe and healthy. Sinoway said she encourages residents to aid in the recovery of everyone’s “main streets” throughout Long Island and the nation when shelter-in-place restrictions are reduced and the virus is better maintained. “I think this is going to aﬀect local businesses in the long-term more than people may realize right now,” she said. “Amazon is great, but especially now, these businesses need their customers to help them through these trying times.” For those who are interested in obtaining a mask, Sinoway said, the business is taking requests strictly through email at nancysinoway@gmail.com.

NYU Winthrop braces for coronavirus patients Continued from Page 12 The hospital has approximately 100 isolation rooms designated for patients who test positive for COVID-19. They have the ability to create “many dozens more,” the hospital spokesperson said. Emergency department and infectious disease experts are preparing additional locations on the hospital’s campus for potential patients as well, in case the number of patients exceeds the space available in the existing isolation rooms.

NYU Winthrop is taking extensive measures to protect hospital workers and patients with symptoms of the virus awaiting test results. “NYU Winthrop Hospital didn’t just spring into action today,” said Bruce Polsky, the chairman of the NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Department of Medicine and an infectious disease specialist. “We’ve been engaged in preparedness since the first case was reported in China. There’s no greater cause today for alarm among Long

Islanders than there was yesterday or last week.” All staﬀ and potential COVID-19 patients are required to wear personal protection equipment, which includes gowns, gloves, surgical masks and protective eye shields, a spokesperson for NYU Winthrop said. The hospital has also implemented “flow plans” designed to minimize others’ exposure to coronavirus patients while transporting patients from the emergency room to isolation rooms.

Some hospitals have begun calling doctors and nurses out of retirement as they brace for an influx of coronavirus patients. While NYU Winthrop has not taken this measure, the hospital is asking staﬀ to volunteer in understaﬀed areas, according to a Winthrop spokesperson. Individuals with possible symptoms are encouraged to use NYU Langone’s virtual urgent care service to avoid exposure to others. “Patients who do not have se-

vere symptoms should likely pursue care elsewhere as we need to maintain capacity for severely ill patients,” said Dr. Ian Wittman, chief of service in the emergency department of NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn. “NYU Langone has greatly increased our capacity in Virtual Urgent Care and this is a fantastic option for patients with urgent needs that are not potentially life-threatening.”Patients can schedule a video visit by going to https://nyulangone.org/locations/virtual-urgent-care.

Suozzi challenger tests positive for coronavirus Continued from Page 12 working with county party leadership in making final preparations to comply with Gov. Cuomo’s Executive Order and new deadline for filing of petition signatures, now is not the time for politics.” The candidate touted President Trump, plus state and local oﬃcials, for their response eﬀorts. “What we are witnessing is

what is best about America,” Santos said. “From the leadership of the administration, coordination with state and local governments, to the public/private partnerships, we are bringing to bear the full weight of the American government and harnessing American ingenuity to flatten the curve and limit further spread of COVID-19.” Santos also urged the 3rd

District “to take seriously the recommendations from the administration, CDC, and our state and local elected oﬃcials when they call for social distancing, paying hyper attention to good hygiene practices and using common sense.” He

also singled out “teachers and school administrators” who are “working tirelessly” “through remote teaching,” and urged constituents to support “local community businesses” through take-out and delivery. “My primary focus right now is continuing to recover from this virus and to do what I can to reinforce that this pandemic is going to be the difference in life and death for

many of our most vulnerable citizens, but also that there is hope in surviving this virus. I’m living proof of that,” Santos said. “For my recovery and treatment, I credit the excellent healthcare I was provided. The hope for America to win this war against COVID-19 and save lives is because of our healthcare professionals, among which we have the best in all the world.”

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34 The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Recent Real Estate

Sales in the Williston Area Williston Park Real Estate Market Conditions MEDIAN SALES PRICE $675,000 Demographics near Williston Park, NY City 10,647 7,995 44.6 2.8 96,336 50,814

Population Population Density Median Age People per Household Median Household Income Average Income per Capita

County 1,352,825 4,752 42.5 2.9 85,195 45,421

9 Ridge Road, Searingtown Sold Price: $860,000 Date: 09/12/2019 3 beds, 2 Full/1 Half baths Style: Colonial # of Families: 1 Lot Size: 207x100 Schools: Herricks Total Taxes: $16,000 MLS# 3113325

91 E Williston Avenue, E. Williston Sold Price: $695,000 Date: 01/29/2020 3 beds, 1 Full/1 Half baths Style: Colonial # of Families: 1 Lot Size: 100x109 Schools: East Williston Total Taxes: $16,369 MLS# 3176436

80 Crescent Drive, Searingtown Sold Price: $1,660,000 Date: 11/08/2019 5 beds, 4 Full baths Style: Colonial # of Families: 1 Lot Size: Â˝ acre Schools: Herricks Total Taxes: $19,750 MLS# 3101287

545 Marcellus Road, Williston Park Sold Price: $675,000 Date: 01/23/2020 4 beds, 3 Full baths Style: Colonial # of Families: 1 Lot Size: 40x100 Schools: Mineola Total Taxes: $10,654 MLS# 3168977

Editorâ€™s note: Homes shown here were recently sold in the Willistons, Mineola and surrounding areas by a variety of real estate agencies. The information about the homes and the photos were obtained through the Multiple Listing Services of Long Island. The homes are presented based solely on the fact that they were recently sold in the Willistons, Mineola and surrounding areas and are believed by Blank Slate Media to be of interest to our readers.

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Wheatley Plaza Office 342 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale, NY wheatleyplaza@danielgale.com danielgale.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Army Corps to build field hospitals Continued from Page 1 Cuomo mandated all hospitals throughout the state to increase their bed capacity by at least 50 percent. The temporary hospitals, Cuomo said, will each have 1,000 hospital beds. “We now have 53,000 beds,” Cuomo said of hospital capacity statewide. “We need 110,000 beds.” Cuomo said New York also will need 40,000 intensive care unit beds. According to Cuomo, the Long Island hospitals will be set up outdoors and in field houses, with staff living in campus dorms. Cuomo said he is also speaking to hotel owners about taking over their hotels for patients and using the dormitories in city universities throughout New York City. Staffing, Cuomo said, is something that will need to be provided on a volunteer basis. “We’re calling and contacting all retirees in the healthcare field,” Cuomo said Tuesday. “We’re calling all professionals in the healthcare field whether or not they work in a hospital. They could work at an insurance company, in a clinic, or whatever. But we want to enlist as many staff as we can and as many back-up staff because healthcare workers will get sick.” As of Wednesday, New York had procured about 11,000 ventilators, according to Cuomo. Vice President Mike Pence said on Fox News Tuesday that 2,000 ventilators from the national stockpile were shipped to New York earlier Tuesday, and on Wednesday “there will be another 2,000 ventilators shipped from the national stockpile.” Cuomo said New York is in need of 30,000 ventilators to combat the growing pandemic, and called upon President Trump and the federal government to aid the state in finding vendors. He also urged the president to use the Defense Production Act, which would allow the federal government to order private companies to produce medical supplies, including protective equipment to hospitals. “Every state is trying to get them, other countries are trying to get them,” Cuomo said. “The capacity is limited. They’re technical pieces of equipment. They’re not manufactured in two days or four days, seven days or 10 days.” Cuomo said the federal government has 20,000 ventilators in the federal stockpile and asked Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar why New York has not received more ventilators. “New York has 25,000 cases,” Cuomo said. “It has 10 times the problem that California has. Ten times the problem that Washington state has. You prioritize resources, and your activity, and your actions to where they are needed.” Cuomo said that after the apex passes in New York, the ventilators could be deployed in other areas throughout the country where they are needed. When asked about the supply of ventilators, face masks, and hospital

beds in the county, Nassau Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein said hospitals have sufficient resources “as of now.” “Measures may have to be taken… but there is a capacity that we are working on,” Eisenstein said. “We have been keeping in close contact with the state and our hospitals. Anyone who needs a ventilator right now would be able to get one.” Eisenstein encouraged residents to monitor their procurement of the N95 masks, noting that first responders and people with the disease should have a priority. “Wearing a mask if you do not have the virus is not [Center for Disease Control and Prevention] protocol,” he said. “If you buy the masks, please be mindful and only get what you really need.” TOWN, COUNTY & STATE Since drive-thru testing began at Jones Beach last Tuesday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nassau County has increased from 278 a week earlier to 3,285, as of Wednesday according to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “We’ve been getting ready for this jump,” Curran said. “We knew with the drive-thru testing and the increased testing capacity that this number would increase significantly and that is exactly what is happening.” A total of 17 Nassau County residents have suffered coronavirus-related deaths since last week. Each of the deaths, Curran said, were also a result of underlying health issues such as lung and heart disease and diabetes. Curran said 33 members of the Nassau County Police Department have tested positive for the virus. Forty police department members are in quarantine awaiting results, and 40 others in quarantine due to someone in their household testing positive, according to Curran. Four corrections officers and one deputy sheriff have also tested positive for the virus, Curran said. According to Curran and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, a growing issue in the county is the heightened number of spam calls relating to the coronavirus. Curran said residents have reported receiving calls requesting personal financial or healthcare information. Ryder said there has been a 49 percent increase in spam calls in the past year and advised residents to remain vigilant. “There is a lot of uncertainty in this world right now and it is unfortunate that people are taking advantage of that uncertainty,” Curran said. “There’s a bunch of lowlife people that sit and wait and prey in times of crisis,” Ryder said. “Well, they’re coming out in groves right now and making these phone calls. Our seniors are more concerned about fighting and keeping away from catching the virus and now they have to concern themselves about a scam that comes over the phone.”

County officials have spoken about recent cases of price gouging in the county by local businesses that have increased prices on N-95 protective masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and other products in high demand since the virus began to spread. “Along with everything else we are dealing with as a society, it is unforgivable to prey on people in a very vulnerable time,” Curran said. “We encourage all residents to report any price gouging they see whether online or in a store.” She said Monday marked the first over-the-phone meeting with the county’s new economic advisory council. Curran said the council includes business leaders throughout Long Island and the members had a “very frank” conversation on the impact the virus has on many aspects of life. Curran said the effects cover small and large businesses throughout the county, such as hotels, retail, restaurants, construction, mom and pop shops, and more. Curran encouraged all businesses to participate in a data-gathering survey conducted by Nassau, which can be found online at https://www.hofstra. edu/economicimpact. The county Legislature also approved a motion to extend the deadline to file a property tax assessment grievance to March 30. North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth issued a statement Sunday saying that all playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and the town dog run are closed. Parks are open for passive use only. “I cannot be emphatic enough: The only way to maintain public health right now is by staying apart. This includes social distancing—even for children,” said Bosworth. “While this may serve as a temporary inconvenience, understand that the decisions we are making can literally save lives.” North Hempstead town facilities will remain closed until March 30. Essential services, including the clerk’s office, sanitation, and the 311 call center, will continue operating. All meetings, programs, and events have been canceled or postponed. The town’s Project Independence grocery shopping transportation program for seniors will run on an expanded schedule, operating from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week. “North Hempstead and our Department of Services for the Aging and Project Independence understand how incredibly difficult these times can be, especially for seniors,” Bosworth said. “We are proud to offer these extended hours to help our residents take advantage of when their grocery stores are less crowded.” The Town of Hempstead, which declared a state of emergency March 16, has limited its town hall hours to Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Town clerk services will be unavailable until further notice. The tax office is offering drive-

through services at 200 North Franklin Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. All taxpayer forums for the month of March have been postponed. Gov. Andrew Cuomo enforced a shutdown of all non-essential places of business in New York, which began Sunday at 8 p.m. Businesses exempt from that regulation include grocery stores, pharmacies, and healthcare facilities. On Friday New York implemented a 90-day moratorium on evictions for residential and commercial tenants, according to Cuomo. Cuomo announced on Friday the implementation of Matilda’s Law to protect New York residents aged 70 and over and those with compromised immune systems, whom he called a “vulnerable population.” TRANSPORTATION The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported Monday that ridership was down 67 percent on the LIRR, 90 percent on Metro-North, 60 percent on the subway and 49 percent on buses. As of last Thursday, 23 MTA workers, including four Long Island Rail Road workers, had tested positive for coronavirus. MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye said in a statement that the individuals were “in quarantine or receiving appropriate care.” “The MTA is working closely with the state Department of Health to identify any colleagues who came in contact with employees who are confirmed, send them home to self-quarantine, provide access to necessary testing and immediately and aggressively disinfect the workplace,” Foye said. MTA workers are demanding better protection from the transportation authority during the ongoing crisis. The authority now disinfects subway stations twice a day, and its full fleet of trains, cars and buses once every 72 hours. They no longer accept cash fare payments at ticket counters or on trains, in an eﬀort to avoid unnecessary contact. LIRR and union oﬃcials, including LIRR President Phil Eng, explained and demonstrated heightened cleaning procedures to the public at the Hicksville LIRR Station last Thursday at 1 p.m. NATIONAL On Wednesday morning, the White House and Senate struck a deal over a $2 trillion stimulus package to jumpstart the economy, which has faltered in the face of the pandemic. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) described the deal as “a war-time level of investment for our nation” and announced that the Senate would move to pass it later in the day Wednesday. The deal is one of the most expensive measures passed in the country’s history. It is the third piece of bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the coronavirus spread. Continued on Page 43

36 The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Officials outline coronavirus procedures Continued from Page 1 Once a representative has answered the line, they will proceed by asking the reason for the call and to have the caller relay any pertinent information. The representative will then ask for the caller’s full name, date of birth, address, and contact number. The representative will then convey to the caller that a personal file has been created in their database and health oﬃcials will reach out at some point in the near future to schedule a time to get tested. Depending on the caller’s personal profile, drive-thru testing may not be the proper procedure, according to one representative. “It really depends,” the representative said. “State health officials comb through each profile and try to analyze what the best course of action is. It could be asking an individual to come into one of the hospital labs in the county, or simply a drive-thru appointment.” Northwell Health began man-

ual testing for the virus on March 5 and received permission to begin semiautomatic testing two days prior. Northwell Health Senior Vice President and Chief Public Relations Officer Terrence Lynam said manual testing limited “testing to the severely ill, those who have had direct contact with confirmed or suspected patients, the elderly, those with immune diseases and pulmonary diseases, et cetera.” With the authorization of semi-automatic testing, which greatly increases Northwell’s capabilities, the criteria will most likely be loosened, Lynam said. Efforts to reach NYU Langone Health System and the Catholic Health Services of Long Island were unavailing. According to officials, the testing consists of a brief swabbing of a person’s nose and throat. Most of the time spent at the

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S OFFICE

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced coronavirus testing is deferred to first responders, people with underlying health issues, those who show symptoms, and those who have been in direct contact with a confirmed case. facility will be waiting and filling out the necessary paperwork, much like a trip to the doctor’s office for a physical. Oﬃcials said the entire process takes roughly 10-15 minutes,

the swabbing sample is sent back to a lab for the determination of its result. Typically, oﬃcials said, results would not be sent back to an individual for at least “a few days.”

When asked how the public’s response to the procedure start to finish, one representative admitted many people call in scared or frustrated but have generally taken it well. “There’s a mutual understanding of us knowing this is something nobody is used to,” one representative said. “Nobody likes to wait around not knowing what is happening, so there’s a sense of urgency on both ends. Typically, there has been an encouraging response [from callers].” Other Long Island testing facilities opened up at Stony Brook University and ProHEALTH Urgent Care in Jericho on Wednesday. The Stony Brook facility accommodates up to 1,000 tests per day and will be open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., oﬃcials said. ProHealth oﬃcials said roughly 100 cars appeared at the center throughout Wednesday morning. Their facility will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Village halls shutter as coronavirus spreads Continued from Page 4 “North Hempstead and our Department of Services for the Aging and Project Independence understand how incredibly diﬃcult these times can be, especially for seniors,” Bosworth said. “We are proud to oﬀer these extended hours to help our residents

take advantage of when their grocery stores are less crowded.” The Town of Hempstead, which declared a state of emergency March 16, has limited its Town Hall hours to Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Town clerk services will be unavailable

until further notice. The tax oﬃce is oﬀering drive-through services at 200 North Franklin Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. All taxpayer forums for the month of March have been postponed. Commuter parking permit enforcement

will be suspended until further notice for Town of Hempstead LIRR stations. The Department of Water will continue to function normally with regard to water supply and testing. Its customer service counter will be open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MTA flounders as coronavirus spreads Continued from Page 3 “This is a national disaster that requires a national response and we are urgently requesting the federal government provide more than $4 billion in federal funding to ensure the finan-

cial health of the MTA,” he said. “We cannot aﬀord to wait.” Foye cited the transit system’s crucial role in allowing medical professionals, first responders, transportation workers and child care workers to

continue to do their jobs as the crisis grows. Lisa Daglian, director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, echoed this sentiment. “Riders are going to be the ones

who are aﬀected by any loss of funds for the MTA,” she said. “We need to ensure that service continues to run, repairs continue to be made, that the workforce continues to get paid.”

School board proposes 2.93% budget increase Continued from Page 2 Dragone emphasized the importance of morning meetings, part of the responsive classroom approach, which teachers have built into their classroom schedules. Teachers have continued to prioritize students’ social and emotional well-being as schools transition to remote learning in an eﬀort to quell the spread of coronavirus. “So incredibly floored by the way our teachers are connecting with our kids and continuing the best practices of morning meeting,” Dragone tweeted Tuesday. The proposed budget for the Wheatley School is $12.96 million, up 5.58 percent from last year’s $12.31 million budget. Wheatley Principal Sean Feeney said

the recommended budget for the 2020– 2021 year will allow the school to maintain instructional and support programs, oﬀer new elective courses and address the yearthree focus areas of the five-year plan. In order to improve social and emotional learning, Wheatley is seeking to hire a part-time substance abuse and prevention counselor and a strength and conditioning coach. The addition of an environmental center and implementation of the Visual Enterprise program in business classes would address the district’s real world learning goals. As part of the district-wide initiative to improve the STEM curriculum, Wheatley is looking to begin using ALEKS, a computer-

guided adaptive program, in math classes, and TopoBox, an augmented reality tool, in science classes. The athletics department is looking to add JV football, varsity boys’ bowling and varsity girls’ bowling coaches, as well as varsity boys’ soccer, varsity girls’ soccer and strength and conditioning assistant coaches. Their proposed budget would also support the addition of varsity bowling and the purchase of a Pixellot Camera, a treadmill for the fitness room, a high jump mat for track, a sound system for the new stadium field and an electric golf cart. Capital reserve projects to improve athletic facilities, which are NYSED-approved

and slated to beginJune 1, include a new turf field and track, new baseball turf, full renovation of the tennis courts, sodding of Grummet Field and a new gymnasium floor. In total, the proposed athletics department 2020–2021 budget is $27,595. The 2019–2020 budget was $15,118. As it currently stands, residents can vote on the final budget on May 19 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the Wheatley gymnasium. However, New York school board representatives are calling for a statewide postponement of district voting on budgets and board candidates due to public health concerns resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

Business&RealEstate

Feds’ virus response falls short Looking at real estate, it’s worth examining the relationship between how brokers and salespeople disclose their obligations and how our government has responded to the Covid-19 Virus? There are six things that all Brokers, Associate Brokers, and salespersons must be aware of as fiduciary duties when dealing with sellers, investors, purchasers, renters and lessees of residential and commercial properties. They are the following: reasonable care, undivided loyalty, confidentiality, full disclosure, obedience and duty to account (shorter and abbreviated version=CCLOAD). How many in our industry follow these legal rules and regulations is probably far and few between and many more that should be but don’t. I would be very suspect about anyone disagreeing with my belief. After 38 years of being in the industry (26 as a broker and agent and 12 as an investor), I have personally experienced and seen how many, many agents handle their client sellers and customer buyers. Many times they become so attached to their buyers that as sellers or brokers agent they forget who their obligation and loyalty

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are to! Yes, sometimes we lose track of this because we might be around our customers more than the sellers, but it doesn’t matter, because you were hired by one person, the seller. Yes, there are exceptions as to when you are a dual agent, where you do not have those six exclusive obligations to either seller or buyer. My feeling, however, is that if you are upfront and candid with both parties, then it becomes less of an issue. It’s really about the transaction and having both parties come to an amicable agreement on price, terms, and conditions (transaction agency is the law and practiced in Texas and other states). I have done numerous transactions this way and have never had any issues that I could not handle or negotiate. The reason that many don’t choose this path of agency is that it is either truly misunderstood and they don’t know how to perform it properly or agents choose the path of least resistance while at the same time still losing sight of the fact of who they legally represent. Now let’s take our government’s handling of the coronavirus in relation to our disclosure rules in real estate. Was our gov-

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

ernment candidly transparent and did they have a duty to account to all of us all information and factors within the scope of how to properly and safely deal with the coronavirus? Not really and the response has been very poorly executed. As more and more of our citizens got sick and died, where was their undivided loyalty to us (make believe we were a seller) or to some other government entities? And you know who I am talking about. Yes, there certainly was confidentiality among themselves amid their public position that this virus would just pass and not to worry until it became extremely apparent how treacherous and deadly it was and had become to our country. The vi-

rus has already ensnared more than 25,000 New Yorkers and people in other states like California and many more. It was clear that it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Would we as brokers and agents withhold information from our clients who we represent? Probably not but those who are still not disclosing correctly are still breaking the law and still doing it anyway. It’s the same as all those spring break beach goers and the fact that the governor of Florida waited way too long to close down the beaches to minimize the infection rate that was escalating. Although the action was finally taken to close the beaches, the state’s fiduciary duties to the public were so poorly executed in this worst of times. The last two fiduciary duties are obedience and loyalty that one has to their clients. Was our government obedient and loyal to us when they should have been instead of being Monday morning quarterbacks, in one of the most critically, poorly prepared and damaging events in our history, causing devastation to the health of our country’s people, economy and financials? Thank god, they did finally wake up, but it was too little

too late for those who were infected and passed it on to those who got severely sick and those who died. Our economy, businesses, and financials will recover after the pending recession, but we are not out of the woods by any stretch of one’s imagination and have a considerable way to go. But what do you say to those families and individuals who lost loved ones who suffered and are no longer with us and those who lost jobs, income and wealth? You can decide and come to your own answers and conclusions to my question. 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 (G.R.I.) and also as a Certified International Property Specialist (C.I.P.S). Just email or snail mail (regular mail) him with your ideas on future columns with your name, email and cell number and he will 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.

38 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

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42 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

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Army Corps to build temporary hospitals Continued from Page 35 The proposed package will provide $250 billion in direct payments to individuals and families, $350 billion in small business loans, $250 billion in unemployment insurance benefits and $500 billion in loans to corporations. The deal includes $1,200 payments to individuals making $75,000 a year or less, according to Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Families will also receive $500 per child. A sum of $150 billion is designated for hospitals, research, treatment and the Strategic National Stockpile to boost supplies of ventilators, masks and other medical equipment. “We’re going to take up and pass this package to care for those who are now caring for us, and help carry millions of Americans through these dark, economic times,” Schumer said.

The deal is an expansion of the CARES act that Republicans proposed last week. Democrats delayed negotiations until they could secure more funding for hospitals, unemployment benefits and workers as part of the package. The legislation has yet to be released to the public. New York is the epicenter of the outbreak. In recent days, however, numbers of cases in New Jersey and Louisiana have surged. Cuomo said Wednesday that there are early signs that the state’s social distancing measures appear to be working. “We have dramatically slowed what was an exponential rate of increase,” Cuomo said. He said that hospitalizations were doubling every 4.7 days by Tuesday, compared to every two days Sunday. Emma Jones contributed reporting.

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READERS WRITE

Trump’s calming effect with coronavirus

e thank the heavens that Trump is in charge when we are going through one of the most diﬃcult times in our country’s history. On Tuesday, March 17, Trump, talking to a nation-wide audience proclaimed; “This is a pandemic. I felt it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic. All you had to do was look at other countries.” He also suggested that he knew as much about the coronavirus as any scientist since, as he said, “I really like this stuﬀ. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it. Every one of these doctors said; “How do you know so much about this?” Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president.” He warned people; “Don’t leave your home.” And to show

he understood the severity of the situation, he declared a national health emergency. Yep. He knew it all the time. The above and what follows is well documented in print and on video. Trump also cast blame on where it belonged. He asserted “The Fake News and their partner, the Democratic Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power to inflame the coronavirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant.” He went on. “And the Surgeon General said; “The risk is low to the average American.” Trump also characterized the coronavirus as a Democratic hoax. His taking charge of the situation, in actuality, really began on or about March 13. However, nearly two months earlier, on Jan. 21, the first American case of coronavirus was reported. When asked

if there were any worries about a pandemic at that time, he responded: “No not all. And we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China.” Two days later, he reassured the nation by saying; “No need to worry. It will work out well.” At the end of January, he reported to the nation; “We have it very well under control. We have very little problem in this country at this moment. Five cases and those people are all recuperating successfully.” When Sean Hannity asked, “How concerned are you?”, he responded, “Well, we pretty much shut it down coming in from China.” More reassurance came on Feb. 10when he told the nation that warm spring weather could kill the virus. His words; “Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it mi-

raculously goes away.” Two weeks later in February, he informed us “The situation is improving. We’re going down, not up.” A day later, he was even more confident when he said; “It’s going to disappear – One day — It’s like a miracle – It will disappear.” On the last day of February, just in case a vaccine would be needed, he said it would be available “very quickly” and “very rapidly.” He went on to say that his administration’s actions are “the most aggressive taken by any country.” Now we come into the month of March. He told Hannity, “We’re talking about a much smaller range of deaths than from the flu.” Regarding testing kits, he said; “There is no testing shortage, nor has there ever been.” “Anybody that wants a test can get a test.” A few days later, he said; “I’m not concerned at all” and shortly

thereafter promised: “It will go away, just stay calm. It will go away.” And on March 13, Trump declared a national emergency. Follow the timeline. Lies or not lies? That is the question! Let’s go back in time, to the presidency of another Republican, George W. Bush. During his presidency, guidelines were developed for communicating during public health crises based upon four core principles: “be first,” “be right.” “show respect,” and “promote action.” Trump and his administration broke every rule. I challenge Trump supporters to check out these facts and I guarantee not one will be found to be fake. Alvin H. Goldberg Great Neck Letters Continued on Page 44

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44 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

READERS WRITE

Now is the time to perform a good deed

he coronavirus is a great time for a mitzvah. What’s a mitzvah? It’s a word that New Yorkers use to describe a good deed. And since I recently announced that I’m running for Congress — I’m eager to vacuum up as many mitzvot as possible. Those of us who are youngish need to adopt a couple of seniors. That’s what I’ve been doing. One of my favorite teachers from high school is now retired and recovering from cancer surgery. I told him and his wife that their open-campus privileges have been suspended for a while. Until the epidemic is over, I’ll be helping with their groceries and medications. And since I had a little free time on my hands yesterday, it was the perfect opportunity to make a pot of matzah ball soup and swing by their place. Truth be told, I was not the best student in high school. I

don’t imagine that I would have had the skills or the motivation to graduate from college and attend law school – if it wasn’t for the impact that this teacher had on my life. A couple of - errands and some soup is the least I can do. I’ll be doing the same thing for the mother of one of my best friends. Although she looks great, I happen to know her real age. And I’m concerned that if she gets the virus, she might develop breathing diﬃculties. This woman is not only an expert in the advice department, but she’s had me over her house for G-d knows how many Friday night dinners over the years. Of course, I’m lending a hand and keeping her safe. It’s a no brainer. And I’m sure that plentyofNew Yorkers have already begun doing the same exact thing. That’s what we New Yorkers do. We tell jokes that oﬀend Midwesterners and we jump at the

opportunity to help one another. Before I became a lawyer, I spent twelve years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. On the morning of 9/11, I was at the World Trade Center when the buildings collapsed. My most vivid memories from that day aren’t the images that made the news and gave so many people nightmares. My most vivid memories are the images of regular New Yorkers helping one another. I’ll always remember the men who stood next to the pushcarts when the enormous crowd of people were rushing by and the smoke was pouring upwards. Everybody was scared. And the smell of fuel was overpowering. Nonetheless, these street cart men didn’t budge. They stood in place for more than three hours handing terrified strangers bottles of water and Snapple. And they didn’t exchange a word. They just hand-

ed over their bottles one at a time. And I’ll always remember the bravery of Brooklynites at the base of the Manhattan Bridge. For hours these men remained in place and reached out their arms and helped scared oﬃce workers climb over the railing and get their footing on the bridge. The Manhattan Bridge is normally oﬀ-limits to pedestrians. On that day, it was filled with thousands of men and women rushing away from the fire and demonstrating grace and poise that impressed the world. The young men at the base of the bridge weren’t trained rescue workers like I was. They were regular New Yorkers who saw people struggling and came over to lend a hand. And they stayed in place for hours, despite the smell of fuel, the vibrations from the fighter-jets flying

over our heads and the blinding terror that we were all experiencing. They were black men and brown men and maybe a white guy or two. They saw the opportunity for a mitzvah and they stepped up. It’s time for younger New Yorkers to step up and help protect our older friends and neighbors. If you’re not willing to shoulder your part of the burden you’re no longer allowed to call yourself a New Yorker. If someone asks where you’re from, you have to say, “I’m from Long Island — but I’m not a real New Yorker.” Michael Weinstock Great Neck Michael Weinstock is if a former Assistant District Attorney and former rescue worker. He is now a candidate for Congress in New York’s 3rd Congressional District

Kings Point R.F.D. southern justice in G.N.

hile traveling up Hicks Lane to the Old Village, I saw two Kings Point police units with cars pulled over for ticketing. Didn’t think much of it, ticket blitzes are common enough, until, traveling on the way back, I was pulled over myself! The oﬃcer said I ran a stop sign. Which came as a surprise to me, especially since I’m not exactly prone to that activity, and after 50 years of licensure, I have been up and down Hicks Lane perhaps 1,000 times before. What may have been the violation is that the stop itself may not have been like the one you do with a Driver Ed teacher in the seat next to you. Except nobody really drives like that in real life, and I’m not exactly a menace to society on the road. Over 500,000 miles driven without an accident

says so. I mean, it would be the height of stupidity to willfully run a stop sign after watching two police SUVs working like beavers on that stretch of road. As the officer was writing the ticket, I noticed the other unit with yet another victim pulled over, different from the one he had written up on my way into town. These guys were ticketing anything that moved. “Well, Gol’ darn it. What we have he’ah is a regulah chrahm wave of irrisPONsible reckless Yankee drivuhs comin’ through our little town! Whah, Magnolia honey, ah DO believe they are givin’ me a case of the chill blains!” The officer seemed to be in a foul mood. He glowered at my window stickers like he was reading a death sentence, his face con-

torted in an angry scowl. While he was in his unit writing me up, I realized this was nothing but a case of legalized pickpocketing that petit bureaucrats like to indulge themselves in. The officer handed me the ticket, I tossed it on my passenger seat like a used burger wrapping, engaged first gear, and drove off without a word. I saw the twisted, glowering scorn on that officer’s face in my side-view mirror as I pulled away. I had just committed a Class A felony: failure to genuflect. But I was not going to be bothered with the time-honored Requisite Display of Simpering Contrition the officer felt he deserved. If you want respect, Buster, you remember that door swings both ways. I’m out $243 so I can pay for a police force in an area where one isn’t needed that has to pretend

it’s performing real law enforcement in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the United States. I guess they must be desperate for revenue in Kings Point. Maybe Tom DiNapoli should audit the village and see where the money is going to. (Just kidding. Tom never audits people he can’t step on.) When you think the grift machine can’t stoop any lower, Nassau County’s degenerate culture of governance manages to outdo itself. As criminal as state Assemblyman Charles Lavine’s and “Judge” John Marks rigged red light camera grift, the pretense oﬀered by these “stepped up enforcement” actions is that they’re protecting not only the public but us from ourselves. Unfortunately, it costs money to keep up the pretense, so they’re

left to invent oﬀenses as they go along, and mechanisms to fund them. These actions also feed public resentment and undermine the respect they crave. Some people in “public service” seem to believe the term means the public serves them. They had better understand that every morsel of food they put in their mouths, every stitch of clothing on their backs, comes from the fruit of our labors. We shouldn’t be paying them to harass us under such specious pretenses. If this is what you need to do to justify your existence, all it means is you’re not needed in the first place. I’m not your ATM. The residents of Kings Point can pay for their own private force. Donald Davret Roslyn

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The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

!"!LEGALS

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46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, March 27, 2020

N.Y. needs to be fully Real estate training counted in census COMMUNITY NEWS

classes moved online Leap EDU and Hofstra University Continuing Education today announced that real estate professional training classes presented by Leap EDU on the Hofstra campus have been moved to a live online learning format in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The courses aﬀected by the move are the New York State 75-hour Real Estate Salesperson course and Back-2Basics Continuing Education classes. Almost 80 people are currently registered for the courses, which takes place three times daily, five days a week. “We want to give our students the opportunity to continue their education while staying safe,” said Adam Barda, founding partner of Leap EDU. “With governments issuing guidelines for ‘social distancing’ to reduce the spread

of the virus, students will be able to attend classes at home via their smart devices with a live instructor.” Hofstra University Vice Dean Colleen A. Slattery said that the university is committed to continuing to serve its professional students via online classes. “In asking asked our non-essential personnel to work from home, moving these courses online allows us to continue this important instruction,” said Hofstra University Vice Dean Colleen A. Slattery. “We will work with Leap and our instructors to help ensure a smooth transition.” Leap EDU’s published schedule of Hofstra University classes will not be aﬀected: Salesperson/Back-2-Basics classes will continue to be oﬀered 3 times a day, 5 days a week. Students can refer to the class schedule at leapedu.com/live-online/

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important it is our hospitals get robust funding, ventilators, proper amount of testing. It only emphasizes why it is so important everybody fill out – so our county has the resilience it needs for the next 10 years. “Long Island being undercounted in the 2020 Census would mean less funding for our schools, roads, health care services, and law enforcement for the next decade,” said Curran. “We simply cannot aﬀord an undercount. That’s why I established Nassau County’s Complete Count Committee. Nassau is fully mobilized in our eﬀorts to ensure we are fully counted. We are engaging our immigrant communities, and all of our hard-tocount communities early to educate, assure, and motivate them to be counted. Long Island residents know that we send more in tax dollars to Albany and Washington D.C. than we get back in funding. The 2020 Census is our chance to get it right and to ensure we’re getting our fair share for the next ten years.” With as many as 2 million deaths projected from the coronavirus pandemic in this country alone, don’t wait to be included in the count.

Be prepared not scared of coronavirus Continued from Page 17 jobs, grow the scope of paid family and medical leave (including those caring for our seniors), and make coronavirus treatment aﬀordable for patients. For our small businesses, we must give them hundreds of billions of dollars in grants and interest-free loans so they can stay afloat during this crisis. The government must also support critical industries that are essential for our security such as transportation, food, and manufacturers of medical equipment (for example, a big part of the mask short-

age is that we do not have mask manufacturers here in the United States). Finally, in the long-term, we must invest in the economy as a whole through massive infrastructure reform, which would spur investment and provide goodpaying jobs in countless American communities. We will get through this diﬃcult time, but it will take all of us. Keep calm, wash your hands, heed the advice of public health experts by practicing social distancing, be prepared, not scared, and most importantly, if you can, stay home!

Member of the Connie Liappas Team #1 Team in Manhasset Office, 2018/2019 * #10 Team on Long Island, 2018 * Pinnacle Award Recipient, 2019 *

Kristen Vlahopoulos

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.627.2800 | M 516.672.1577 kvlahopoulos@elliman.com

We are in this together

Continued from Page 16 The state has also worked to add 225,000 addresses to the Census Bureau’s Master Address file. And because the 2020 census will be conducted primarily online (a goal of 80 percent responses which will be even more crucial in light of the coronavirus pandemic), New York invested $500 million to leverage millions more from the private sector to expand high-speed internet to all New Yorkers. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has also been aggressive in promoting the census. She launched Nassau’s Complete Count Committee, comprised of more than 30 nonprofit, labor, faithbased groups and community organizations tasked with developing a plan to achieve a full count and dramatically improve on 2010 when only 77 percent of Nassau County residents sent back their U.S. Census Bureau questionnaires. During this public health crisis, “getting the message out about the census has never been more important,” noted Jordan Carmon, senior advisor to Curran. It also underscores the importance of being counted. “We are seeing how

The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Schools switch to distance learning Continued from Page 2 REMOTE LEARNING All schools have implemented distance learning, which will continue until school buildings reopen. Remote learning began in Roslyn, Great Neck and North Shore schools on Wednesday, March 18. “Rather than putting a focus on grading, we are more interested in meaningful engagement and feedback with students,” said North Shore Superintendent Peter Giarrizzo on Wednesday in a letter to families. “Active engagement is key, and we will continue to work through the mechanics of our record-keeping and grading as we move forward.” On Tuesday, March 17, following a Zoom conference with Nassau County superintendents and Education Commissioner Shannon Tahoe, Superintendent Elaine Kanas announced that the East Williston schools’ remote learning program would begin on Thursday and run through April 1. If the state orders schools to remain closed past April 1, remote learning will continue past that date. A spokesperson for East Williston schools confirmed in an email to Blank Slate Media on Friday that the district’s remote learning program began yesterday, and “so far so good.” She elaborated that teachers are using several platforms, including Google Classroom, Google Hangout, Flipgrid, Smore, and YouTube to interact with students. Manhasset faculty were asked to begin contacting students and their families beginning on Thursday to provide information including the platform they will use for online learning, how students should go about asking questions and when and how assignments will become available to students. Manhasset’s continuity of learning program will extend through Friday, March 27, Superintendent Vincent Butera said in a letter to Manhasset families. Port Washington and Herricks began implementing online learning on Thursday as well. Students in Long Island’s Catholic Elementary Schools are in their second week of distance learning. Gary Layton,

director of marketing and enrollment, wrote in an email update on Monday that the transition has gone very smoothly. GRAB-AND-GO MEALS Closing schools hinders not only learning but also food access for some students. Curran acknowledged that the first consequence of the shut-down that comes to mind for many families is nutrition. “A lot of our kids are dependent on school breakfast and lunch, so we are working with our school districts to make sure all students who qualify for reduced or free meals continue to receive them through a grab-and-go program,” she stated. Grab-and-go school meal services began in Great Neck Public Schools on Wednesday. Students or family members may pick up bagged lunches from the kitchen entrances of North Middle School and South High School Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Options include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, cheese sandwiches and cereal. Meals also come with fruit, vegetables, milk and juice. Free lunches are available for pickup for Floral Park-Bellerose students at the Poppy Place side lunch door at Floral Park-Bellerose Elementary School between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. All students eligible for the free and reduced meal program can participate. Students in need of transportation or dietary accommodation should contact the school lunch oﬃce at (516) 434–2758, or email Karen Crenshaw at kcrenshaw@fpbsd.org. Roslyn Public Schools have prepared meals available for families eligible for free and reduced breakfast and lunch. Family members can pick up the meals, or request delivery. The Herricks School District began providing lunches to free and reducedprice lunch eligible students on Wednesday at the loading dock at Herricks High School between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. They are oﬀering two lunch options: sun butter and jelly sandwiches and cheese sandwiches. Westbury’s prepared breakfasts and

Your Neighborhood is My Neighborhood

lunches are available to all students for pickup Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at both Park Avenue Elementary School and Westbury Middle School until schools reopen. Families whose children are enrolled in Port Washington’s food programs can pick up meals from three locations, Monday through Friday. Staff will give out both breakfast and lunch between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the Paul D. Schreiber High School lobby, the John J. Daly Elementary School teacher’s parking lot and a school bus in the Our Lady of Fatima parking lot. East Williston is offering free graband-go meals, which include lunch as well as breakfast for the next day, to all students. The meals are available for pickup between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. on weekdays at the south side bus loop at the Wheatley School. North Shore schools are providing eligible students with breakfast and lunch delivered directly to their homes. Families in need of food should reach out to Director of Counseling Dan Doherty, who can be reached at dohertyd@northshoreschools.org. Grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches are free to all students in the Mineola School District, in addition to any household member who is under 18. Residents can pick up their meals between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on weekdays at Mineola High School. Social workers in the Manhasset Public Schools have reached out to families eligible for free or reduced-price meals to coordinate meal assistance. CHILDCARE SCOPE Education Services is offering free care for children of first responders, medical personnel and essential services personnel in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The emergency care program in Nassau County was developed in collaboration with the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents and Nassau BOCES. “SCOPE is pleased to be able to provide this much-needed service to those who are serving on the front lines during this health crisis,” said SCOPE Executive Director and CEO George Duffy. “Knowing their children are being cared for in

a safe and welcoming environment provides the peace of mind needed while they are working.” Childcare programs at all locations began on Monday, with some offering care services the previous week as well. SCOPE programs are being held at Babylon Elementary School, Sawmill Intermediate School, John F. Kennedy Intermediate School, Bowling Green Elementary School, Stewart School (available for first responders or medical personnel only) and Lakeville Elementary School (available for first responders or medical personnel only). SCOPE childcare is available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., at all locations. Children ages 4–12 in grades pre-K– sixth are eligible. Families must register through the SCOPE website in order to participate in the program. Those residing in the school districts where the programs are held are given priority, although families outside of these districts are eligible for childcare as well. Additional locations may be added in the future. OTHER INFORMATION The state Education Department has suspended the ELA test and mathematics test for grades 3–8, the grade 4 elementary-level science test, the grade 8 intermediate-level science test, the ESL achievement test for grades K–12 and the NYS alternate assessment for students with severe cognitive disabilities in grades 3–12 for the 2019–2020 academic year. Town of North Hempstead officials have requested a school tax payment extension from the state. On Tuesday, March 17, Supervisor Judi Bosworth, Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman and the Town Board sent a letter to Cuomo requesting that he extend the deadline for the second half of 2019–2020 school taxes, which is currently May 11. “We are asking the Governor to extend the deadline to June 1, 2020, which is the latest date allowable for paying taxes without interest or penalty,” said Bosworth. “In light of the effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic on our region, we believe it would put our residents at ease knowing that they have this extra time.”

Call me if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home!

Clarissa Pintauro Licensed Real Estate Salesperson O 516.627.2800 | M 516.633.3895 clarissa.pintauro@elliman.com

110 WALT WHITMAN ROAD, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.7401.

48 The Williston Times, Friday, March 27, 2020

Douglas Elliman’s Agents Make The Difference

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