Williston Park 2020_05_08

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

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Friday, May 8, 2020

Vol. 69, No. 19

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SCHOOLS & EDUCATION

SCHOOLS BUDGET VOTES POSTPONED

INFECTIONS, DEATHS CONTINUE TO FALL IN NASSAU

PAGES 23-26

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Schools shut for rest of academic year Talks now focus on return to traditional schooling

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLEN SCHIFF

Students taking virtual classes at the Gold Coast Arts Center were asked to draw something that accurately depicted their emotions throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that all kindergarten-12th grade schools and college facilities throughout New York will remain closed for the rest of the academic year and will continue to provide distance learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement resulted in superintendents from school districts throughout the North Shore expressing their support for keeping students and families safe, despite ending the year remotely.

“While this is not the school year we had hoped for, we have adapted and will get through this together,” Port

Washington School Superintendent Michael Hynes said in a letter to the community.

“Despite the hardship of illness and loss from this crisis, we will also have many memories of heroism and perseverance that will last a lifetime.”

“The health and safety of our school community always comes first, so I understand why the governor has decided to close schools throughout the state for the remainder of this academic year,” Great Neck School Superintendent Teresa Prendergast said in a statement. “Still, it’s sad news for our students, staff, and families, who miss see-

ing each other and sharing end-of-the-year celebrations together.”

A representative from the Great Neck district said officials are still discussing when the school year will officially end, what will happen with graduation ceremonies, and if there will be any classes conducted remotely or in person this summer.

New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School Superintendent Jennifer Morrison said her district, like others, is following the guidelines from the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We are in the process of reviewing the CDC’s guidelines and making decisions Continued on Page 34

Village elections postponed to September

BY R O S E W E L D ON

until Tuesday, Sept. 15.

In the order, issued May 1, An executive order from Cuomo declared that “any vilGov. Andrew Cuomo has offi- lage election previously schedcially postponed village elections uled to be held in March, April,

May, or June will be held on September 15, 2020.”

The order also states that village elections with “fully determined” ballots at the time of the order will maintain their ballots.

Local villages that originally scheduled their elections in March include Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, East

Hills, Port Washington North, Munsey Park, Baxter Estates, Plandome, Plandome Manor, Plandome Heights, Flower Hill, Great Neck Plaza, Great Neck Estates, Thomaston, Kensington, Saddle Rock, Russell Gardens, Floral Park, East Williston and Mineola. All of them, as well as villages with elections scheduled in June, such as Old Westbury

and Manorhaven, will hold elections on Sept. 15.

“Any village election postponed by Executive Order originally scheduled for a date in March, April, May or June of 2020 for which the ballot was fully determined at the time of this Executive Order shall proceed with the same ballot Continued on Page 35

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The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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COVID diagnostic test School budget vote rollout up in the air moved to June 9

Pharmacies have yet to receive guidelines from state

Residents can cast absentee ballots

BY R O S E W E L D ON

and election of the district for all purposes.”

The new deadline for school board candidates to file their nominating petitions is May 11, 30 days prior to the vote, but the candidates will not be required to collect signatures .

School boards must also adopt their budgets in meetings held by teleconference with public access by May 21, according to the order, as well as their property tax report card filing.

Absentee ballots will be distributed 14 days before the vote.

Districts are already taking action, with the Manhasset, Roslyn and Mineola school districts scheduled to hold their budget hearings on May 7, while the Great Neck school district has scheduled its public hearing and budget adoption for May 13 and the East Williston school district will be holding its hearing on May 11. Additionally, the Port Washington district held a budget hearing on Tuesday.

School budget and trustee votes have been postponed from May 13 to June 9, according to an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Districts are also required to send absentee ballots to all qualified voters in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as post two public notices of school budget meetings.

“Such adjourned meeting shall take place remotely, and qualified voters shall vote in such adjourned election only PHOTO COURTESY OF METROCREATIVECONNECTION.COM by absentee ballot, to be provided to all qualified voters by Pharmacists Society of the State of New York President-elect Tom D’Angelo said there is no each school district,” the order states. “Each district shall send timetable on when independent pharmacists roll out diagnostic testing for the coronavirus. out postcard notice which details the date of the election, date of budget hearing, definition of conduct diagnostic testing for the out New York with an oppor- qualified voter, and an absentee

BY R OB E RT tunity to help out,” D’Angelo ballot. The adjourned district coronavirus.

PELAEZ Cuomo said the need for ex- said. “We’re all in the process of meeting or district meeting and There is no timetable on panded testing is related to how responding right now, but there election shall be deemed the anwhen pharmacists throughout quickly the state’s economy can are some hurdles to clear like nual meeting or annual meeting the North Shore, and all of Long reopen. State officials said they applying for proper licenses and Island, will begin diagnostic test- are in talks with pharmacists over getting our facilities prepared for ing for the coronavirus, according the implementation of testing, more equipment.”

D’Angelo said the main priorto Tom D’Angelo, president-elect along with funding issues.

“We know that testing is a ity for independent pharmacists of the Pharmacists Society of the key component of reopening the is to roll out the test at their own State of New York.

North Shore pharmacists economy and getting to a new pace and comfortability.

“They are able to begin the were reluctant to comment on normal, and New York state is the status of diagnostic testing already doing more tests per process with the state’s Departand how long it would be until capita than any state or coun- ment of Health at any point,” they would be ready to conduct try,” Cuomo said. “[The testing] D’Angelo said. “One of the issues tests safely. More than 10 local will greatly increase our testing though is that pharmacies are not pharmacies throughout the North capacity and allow us to expand used to billing medically for supShore declined to comment on eligibility for these tests to the plies, so they have to get comfortfrontline workers and essential able doing that.” the matter.

New York state requires pharOne representative from employees who have been going Manhasset Park Drug, located to work and interacting with the macies to apply for a limited-service laboratory license to receive on Plandome Road, said the public throughout this crisis.”

D’Angelo, the owner of the resources necessary to conpharmacy has not received any guidelines nor information from Franklin Square Pharmacy, said duct testing. The Department of the state, and when testing will he appreciated Cuomo’s support, Health advises those who apply but noted challenges each phar- to allow for a minimum of three commence is not clear.

PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuo- macy or health care entity will weeks to process applications from the date they are received mo signed an executive order to face.

“We’re happy the governor in the office.

The Great Neck school district is one of several districts to grant 5,000 independent pharmacists statewide permission to provided [pharmacists] throughContinued on Page 35 see its budget vote postponed to June.

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WILLISTON TIMES (USPS#685-100) is published weekly by Blank Slate Media LLC, 25 Red Ground Road, Roslyn Heights, NY, 11577, (516) 307-1045. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2020. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Williston Park, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Williston Times, C/O Blank Slate Media LLC, 25 Red Ground Road, Roslyn Heights, New York, 11577.

The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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Nina Balducci, grocery key, dies at 91 E. Williston resident a driving force of gourmet stores in Manhattan and later, Greenvale

BY R O S E W E L D ON Nina Balducci, who served as a key figure in her family’s influential grocery empire, has died.

Balducci died at 91 on April 12 at her home in East Williston.

Born in Port Washington to fashion designer Marta D’Amelio, the owner of a children’s clothing store, and stonemason Michael D’Amelio, the founder and owner of North Shore Mason Supply Corp. in Great Neck, Balducci graduated from Simmons College in Boston in 1949 with a degree in business, and according to The New York Times soon began working in women’s boutiques.

Three years later in 1952, she met Andrew Balducci, a veteran of World War II whose father owned a grocery store in Manhattan. They married less than a year afterward, with both of them working for PHOTO COURTESY OF BALDUCCI’S her father at the mason supply.

In time, though, the two returned to the market, dubbed Balducci’s, to run it Nina Balducci, center, a legendary figure in Manhattan specialty stores with Andrew’s father, Louis, and brother- who died April 12, on the cover of her market’s Winter 1993 catalog. She is in-law Joe Doria. surrounded by the store’s master chefs, identified in the catalog as Cosmo, A move in 1972 to a 5,000-square-foot Hartley and Vittorio. storefront in Greenwich Village, bringing a had designed the logo and the bags, and premium butcher, a fishmonger, a green- alongside Zabar’s and Dean & Deluca.

Nina Balducci’s sharp business acumen oversaw the market’s catalog as the store grocer and imported food to one place, escatered to customers such as chef James tablished Balducci’s as one of the foremost was evident with the store’s marketing.

Her niece later told Newsday that she Beard, Vogue magazine editor Anna Wingourmet specialty stores in Manhattan,

tour, and then-budding Queens restauranteur Lidia Bastianich.

The Balduccis’ eldest daughter, Maria, later married Kevin Murphy, who built the store’s wholesale division.

In 1991 Murphy created Baldor, which later broke from the business and now is one of the largest wholesale importers in the region.

In 1985, the Balduccis bought out Doria and his wife, Grace, who would found Grace’s Marketplace on the Upper East Side. A Long Island location of Grace’s opened in Greenvale in 2008.

In 1999, the Balduccis sold their store to Sutton Place Gourmet, a chain of gourmet markets based in Maryland, which later took the Balducci name in 2004. It currently operates eight stores, with the last New York City store located on West 56th Street.

Balducci is survived by her daughters Marta and Andrea, her grandchildren Andy, Lisa (Aurelien), Christopher (Susan), T.J. (Christine), Kirk and Donald and greatgrandchildren Nina, Lily, Luca and Georges. She was predeceased by her husband Andrew in 2018, and daughters Dena and Maria in 1991 and 2006, respectively.

The family planned a private interment at Mount Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Flushing, Queens, with a celebration of Balducci’s life to be held at a later date.

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The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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E.W. to hold revised LIRR 3rd track work Memorial Day events remains on schedule

BY E M M A JONES

holding social distancing restrictions.

At noon on Monday, The Village of East May 25, the village will Williston will alter its hold a drive-through to Memorial Day traditions honor those who died this year to commemo- while serving in the Unitrate veterans while up- ed States armed forces.

PHOTO BY TOM MCCARTHY

The East WIlliston Fire Department will lead the Memorial Day procession.

The parade will be led by the East Williston Fire Department.

Residents are encouraged to show their support from their front lawns as the parade passes. The village will inform residents of the route that the parade will follow as Memorial Day approaches. Volunteers will distribute small flags to residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homes on the morning of the holiday.

Veterans who would like to participate in the drive-through should go to the East Williston Firehouse before the parade commences.

The village typically also holds a Memorial Day 5K Race. Mayor Bonnie Parente announced in an email on April 15 that the race had been canceled. It is possible that the race will be held later in the year.

BY E M M A J ON ES Reconstruction of an underpass connecting the north side of the LIRR Main Line to the Floral Park pool and recreation center, and the restoration of a ball field at the location, are complete, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Friday.

A similar underpass and ball field revitalization project in Carle Place is finished as well. It is not known, however, when the recreational areas will be open to Floral Park and Carle Place residents for use.

Work on the Long Island Rail Road Third Track Expansion Project is running Continued on Page 35

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD

The New Hyde Park LIRR station and parts of New Hyde Park Road have been temporarily shut down until August to prepare for construction on the Third Track Expansion Project.

The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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Williston Park Office | 24 Hillside Avenue, NY 11596 | 516.248.9494

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Over 3,700 on N. Shore test positive Number of confirmed cases increased by 188 over past week: Nassau Health Department

BY R OB E RT PELAEZ

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations in Nassau County decreased for the 20th consecutive day to 1,014 as more than 3,700 people throughout the North Shore had tested positive for the virus, according to figures provided by the Nassau County Department of Health.

The statistics, broken down by community on the county’s interactive map, were the most up-to-date figures available as of Wednesday morning.

Last week, the confirmed number of coronavirus cases throughout North Shore communities was 3,566. That number increased by 188 over the week, for a total of 3,754 confirmed cases.

Municipalities that stretch into more than one North Shore area such as Flower Hill, Herricks, Albertson, Garden City Park, Searingtown and North Hills were counted separately and accounted for 556 cases.

According to the map, the New Hyde Park area has a total

es. Kings Point ranks third in the area’s confirmed cases with 90.

Mineola and Garden City combined for a total of 522 confirmed cases, right around half of the area’s total of 639 cases. The surrounding areas include Westbury with 443 cases, Uniondale with 1,013 cases, and Hempstead with 1,917, the most cases in one village in the county.

Port Washington has just 341 of the North Shore’s 3,700 cases. Of that total, 196 are from town-governed areas and 81 in Manorhaven.

Manhasset, with 214 confirmed cases, has closer proximity to areas with more positive cases.

Roslyn, with 322 confirmed cases, CHART CREATED BY ROBERT PELAEZ has two villages with more than 100 (Village of Roslyn: 118, Roslyn Heights: 116).

More than 3,700 North Shore residents had tested positive for the coronavirus as of MonThe town-governed parts of day night, according to figures provided by the Nassau County Department of Health.

Manhasset, with 108 confirmed cases, along with North Hills, The areas surrounding New insula had tested positive for the Flower Hill and Herricks, made up of 1,468 confirmed cases of the virus. North New Hyde Park, just Hyde Park were again hit even virus, an increase of 38 from last a majority of the area’s cases. The villages of Munsey Park, Plandsouth of Manhasset Hills and harder by the virus, such as El- week.

The centralized villages, such ome, Plandome Manor and PlandLake Success, is the area with mont’s 1,135 cases and Franklin as the Village of Great Neck and ome Heights accounted for 51. the most confirmed cases at 390. Square’s 692 cases.

As of Tuesday night, according A total of 703 residents Great Neck Plaza, account for That was an increase of 10 over throughout the Great Neck pen- 358 of the area’s confirmed casthe past week.

Continued on Page 41

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Hempstead Hospitals struggle under COVID-19 financial weight receives $133M

BY E M M A J ON ES Health systems across Nassau County, including Northwell Health, Catholic Health Services and NYU Winthrop, are experiencing steep revenue losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The $2 trillion stimulus package enacted March 27 provided $100 billion in aid for U.S. hospitals, including $4.4 billion for New York hospitals deemed coronavirus hot spots.

Even with federal aid, hospitals on Long Island expect huge losses.

Northwell, which operates 11 hospitals on Long Island and was treating about 3,500 coronavirus patients a day at the apex of the pandemic around April 7, said that it is experiencing losses of $350 million to $400 million per month.

Terry Lynam, senior vice president and chief public relations officer at Northwell, said the health system has received about $200 million from the stimulus package.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

NYU Winthrop Hospital, located in Mineola, reports losses of about $450 million per month.

The statewide elective surgery ban has contributed significantly to the financial strain on health systems.

Northwell canceled all elective surgeries beginning March 16, which has taken away a significant amount of revenue, Lynam said. Hospitals get higher insurance reimbursement rates from elective surgeries than from other services, he said.

Health systems have all but shuttered their ambulatory centers as well.

Approximately 75 percent of Northwell’s 780 ambulatory centers have been closed, officials report.

“The financial stress is enormous, as our hospitals have effectively become COVID-19 sites and our ambulatory settings are shuttered,” Dan Widawsky, chief financial officer at NYU Langone, which operates NYU Winthrop, told Newsday. “Our losses are at $450 million per month. To put that in perspective, that’s more than we’ve earned in a year, with one exception.”

Additionally, hospitals have needed to add beds and hire additional staff to handle the influx of coronavirus patients.

Continued on Page 46

in federal aid

BY E M M A JONES Town Supervisor Donald Clavin and the board announced on Tuesday that the Town of Hempstead had received $133 million from the federal stimulus package intended to aid those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Clavin introduced the newly formed Town of Hempstead Economic Recovery Committee in an email. The committee “will provide much-needed financial assistance for the health, safety and economic recovery for [the] Town’s residents,” he said.

The committee includes Joe Belluck, founding partner of Belluck & Fox LLP.; John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of La-

bor; Charles Fuschillo Jr., president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America; Margarita Grasing, executive director of the Hispanic Brotherhood; Kevin Law, president and CEO of the Long Island Association; Mitchell Pally, chief executive officer of the Long Island Builders Institute; Geoffrey Prime, mayor of the Village of South Floral Park; Stuart Rabinowitz, president of Hofstra University; and Cherice Vanderhall, Hempstead Village attorney.

“We are grateful for this significant level of funding that will be directly routed to our residents who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Clavin. “On behalf of our Town residents, we are very grateful Continued on Page 41

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

“Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi ...

Fighting for New York in Washington” —NY-1, April 20, 2020 I have been fighting hard for New York and, along with my colleagues, I’ve helped deliver aid and PPE’s to local hospitals and frontline workers, and helped secure billions of dollars for individuals, small businesses, testing and research.

I will continue to fight: ! To make banks help smaller-small businesses, not just big-small businesses ! For more funding for New York State, local governments and hospitals based upon rate of infection ! To dramatically increase testing and contact tracing so we can re-open our economy ! For massive infrastructure investment targeted to Nassau, Suffolk and Queens ! To repeal the state and local tax (SALT) cap

SuozziForCongress.com

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10 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

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D’Arrigo backed by grassroots group

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z

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Melanie D’Arrigo, a Democratic congressional candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), received an endorsement from the Long Island Network for Change last week.

“I’m proud to have the endorsement of LINC, a grass-roots group that organizes and puts in the work every single election,” D’Arrigo said. “Together, we have an opportunity to take action on the biggest issues we face like health care, the environment, taxes and an economy rigged against everyone but the uber-wealthy.”

The 3rd Congressional District includes Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Great Neck and Floral Park, among other areas. Suozzi, the former mayor of Glen Cove and former Nassau County executive who was first elected to the seat in 2016, won re-election in 2018 and is seeking another term this year.

D’Arrigo, a Port Washington resident, mother of three, and community and health care advocate, said she was grateful to hear about the endorsement after speaking to the organization earlier this year.

“When I spoke to [the organization], I realized they were so in touch with the needs of the community, and the peo-

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ple are extremely active and engaged,” D’Arrigo said. “It was very humbling to receive their endorsement, and I am excited to work with them going forward.”

The organization, according to its website, was formed in the wake of President Donald Trump 2016 election victory. The organization’s mission is “to be a force for social, racial, economic and environmental justice through personal engagement, education, and political action,” according to its website.

“We are excited to endorse Melanie D’Arrigo in the June 23 primary because her progressive platform meets LINC standards for economic, social, racial and environmental justice,” Lynn Kaufman, one of the organization’s founding members, said. “Long Island needs Democrats who will stand up for the people of this community and stand against corporate political contributions, corruption and inequality in our district and for the United States of America.”

The organization is a member of Indivisible, “a movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOP’s agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies,” according to its website.

Continued on Page 46

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

11

12 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Art center’s classes move online

BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z With schools throughout New York closed for the remainder of the year due to the coronavirus, the Gold Coast Arts Center has converted 90 percent of its classes into virtual sessions to provide a creative outlet for students.

When asked what the pandemic’s impact has been on programming, the center’s executive director, Regina Gil, recalled something she said in a pitch to open the center in Great Neck more than 20 years ago.

“If somebody else in the medical world can save your life, we in the arts can make your life better,” Gil said.

In early March, when the coronavirus pandemic began to affect the lives of Long Islanders, Gil said the staff started to come up with various plans and courses of action to prepare for whatever obstacles the virus could cause.

“One of the challenges we faced was adapting the courses to a virtual platform in such a rapid time frame,” said Ellen Schiff, director of the center’s School for the Arts.

“We did not want to lose the momentum that each class had going into the pandemic, and I say we’ve accomplished that goal.”

According to statistics provided by Schiff, more than 250 students are enrolled in the center’s online classes. She said that the center has maintained close to 90 percent of currently enrolled registrants for virtual classes.

The classes, Schiff said, include art, robotics, theater, dance and music. The center also offers private lessons in music, dance and chess, all of which have resulted in praise from students and parents, Schiff said.

Private lessons, according to Schiff, have approximately doubled since the pandemic began.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLEN SCHIFF

Gold Coast Arts Center continues to provide students with virtual classes, even one centered around pandemic art.

“Parents appreciate us providing their children with a distraction throughout these times,” Schiff said. “We receive emails from parents with suggestions, comments or concerns, and we address them very well.”

Schiff said there are a number of aspects that make the center’s virtual classes special and successful such as small class sizes, immediate feedback on work progress, encouraging social interaction, realtime direction from instructors, and specialized teaching for children from 4 to 16 years old.

One of the programs that has received a lot of attention has been the center’s pandemic art. According to Schiff, students from 10 to 16 years old were asked to create something inspired by a renowned artist or famous painting and incorporate their emotions throughout the pandemic in their piece.

One student, who took a page from Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell’s Soup art, said, “Older people are really affected by the pandemic and food is getting depleted. Andy Warhol cans are in the background and a very sad man is portrayed who needs help.”

If students are not equipped with the proper supplies at home to take part in courses, Gil said, the center makes resources available for students to pick up in a safe manner. While picking up a paint brush or paint may not seem like a challenge, a

course such as ceramics presented a new slate of obstacles, Schiff said.

“It was definitely a challenge at first,” she said. “We ended up ordering the clay, plastic bags, and made them available for students to pick up to participate. The clay will be sanitized, and will be put back in the kiln by our instructor.”

Schiff and Gil said instructors have been reaching out to the executive staff, touting their persistence and efforts throughout the pandemic.

“I would like to express my gratitude to [Regina] for being an inspiration to us,” the director of the center’s art gallery, Jude Amsel, wrote in an email. “[Her] reluctance to fail, [her] desire to persist, all the while keeping positive defines GCAC to remain positive during this difficult time.”

“We didn’t realize how meaningful this would all turn out to be,” Gil said. “This pandemic is terrifying for children and parents and I firmly believe the arts is one of the best outlets for people to turn to in these times.”

Schiff said the center is still looking at options for the summer and beyond, prioritizing staff and student safety. Whether students will be present in person, or through a monitor, Schiff said, classes will be offered to the hundreds of Gold Coast patrons.

For more information, or to register for one of the center’s virtual classes, visit https://goldcoastarts.org/.

Viscardi exec takes reins at UCP of L.I.

BY E M M A J ON ES Hauppauge-based United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island announced the appointment of Colleen Crispino as president and chief executive officer on Thursday. UCP offers programs and services intended to enhance the indepen-

PHOTO COURTESY OF UCP LONG ISLAND

Colleen Crispino will serve as president of UCP Long Island.

dence and productivity of people with disabilities.

Crispino has 25 years of experience in program development, strategic planning, corporate communications, team building and staff development. She has dedicated her career to advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce.

“We are privileged to have someone of Colleen Crispino’s caliber and experience joining us to lead UCP of Long Island,” Thomas Pfundstein, the board chairman, said on Thursday.

Crispino formerly served as chief program officer of the Viscardi Center in Albertson, which provides education and employment to people with disabilities.

She managed key Viscardi Center initiatives such as the National Center for Disability Entrepreneurship, the National Business & Disability Council and Project Accessible Oral Health.

“I look forward to working in partnership with our dedicated board and staff to enhance the lives of those we serve,” Crispino said. “Together we can increase our visibility and promote our vital mission in our community and to the businesses of Long Island.”

The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

WT

13

Local photographer starts ‘porch project’ Joel Harris takes pictures of families in front of their homes during quarantine

BY E M M A J ON ES Local photographers are finding inventive ways to continue creating beautiful images during quarantine.

Joel Harris, owner of Joel Harris Photography and president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, has begun capturing families outside their homes for his new “Mineola Porch Project.”

Photographers across the United States have begun arranging their own “porch projects,” taking images of people on their front steps from a safe distance and sharing them on social media to spread community cheer during this difficult time.

“I had heard about it being done around the country,” Harris said.

“And basically I said, ‘why aren’t we doing this here?’”

The project has extended beyond Mineola. Harris noted that he has photographed families in Albertson, Williston Park and Garden City as well.

Harris has taken over 1,000 pictures of about 100 families.

“Mineola Moms and Dads [Facebook page] is where I initially started it,” he said, “and from there it

spread like wildfire.”

Harris said he began the project on Easter.

“That was actually one of the catalysts, because Easter is such a big family day, and that wasn’t going to happen this year,” he explained.

Harris said that he is careful to maintain proper distancing during photo shoots, noting that he often takes the pictures from nearly the other side of the street.

“If there are other people around, I’ll put a mask on as well,” he added.

“Everybody is just so kind and so warm and just so happy to be out of their house with the family. Many people said to me, ‘it’s just so hard to get everybody together at the same time.’ And this gets everybody all together at the same time. And for this, they want to capture the moment.”

Harris said that he has enjoyed the experience, noting that it is a great opportunity to get out and meet people in the community.

“I always like to say I like to put a smile on a face, and I’m definitely achieving that,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOEL HARRIS

Photographer and Mineola resident Joel Harris is creating a series capturing local families outside their homes during quarantine.

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14 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Opinion

OUR VIEWS

Is the post office still essential?

N

ot surprisingly, postal carriers have been tagged as essential employees during the coronavirus pandemic providing a service considered too important to shut down.

We rely on postal carriers to deliver personal and business correspondence, periodicals such as ours, Social Security checks and prescriptions during normal times and personal protective equipment now.

It is not surprising that these carriers, like many essential workers, have experienced higher rates of infection than the general public. Some local post offices, where carriers stand side by side as they sort the mail, have been working with just half the usual manpower due to carriers getting sick.

The United States Postal Service has also become increasingly important to the political process.

Millions of census forms were delivered to American households through the mail last month with the expectation that many will be filled out and returned the same way. That census information will help determine everything from how much federal aid we receive to how many representatives we have in Congress.

Then there are our elections.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order last Friday that calls for annual school board meetings, elections and budget votes to be held June 9 – by absentee ballot that is to be sent and returned by mail.

Cuomo had earlier cleared the way for all New Yorkers to cast absentee ballots in the June 23 primary elections.

One would expect the use of mail-in and absentee voting will be greatly expanded in New York and every other state through the fall – from village elections to the presidency – to ensure that Americans do not have to risk their lives to cast their votes.

But the Postal Service faces two problems that threaten its service.

The first is that the agency, which has 600,000 employees, could run out of money in September, according to Postmaster General Megan Brenan.

The second is that the Trump administration is threatening to block that aid at least until it raises shipping rates for online companies like Amazon.com.

President Trump has long accused the Postal Service of charging too little for packages, saying that deliveries for Amazon and others cost the service money.

This is not true.

The Postal Service’s package business is one of the few areas where it has made a profit and others have warned that a significant increase in price could drive private companies to pursue alternatives.

What is true is that Amazon’s chief executive is Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post – a newspaper that Trump has accused of unfair coverage.

Conservatives have also long seen the Postal Service as an obstacle to their vision of small government. Some support its full privatization.

And then there is the opposition of Trump and his allies to expanded use of mail-in ballots nationwide. Even during a pandemic in which many of the ad-

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Editorial Cartoon

ministration’s own health officials view the expanded use of mail-in ballots as one of the most effective ways to make voting safer and curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

But many Republicans don’t believe that allowing more people to vote is in their interests.

Trump said that under the Democrats’ plans for a national expansion of early voting and voting by mail “you’d never have a Republican elected in the country again.”

Still, Trump is not wrong that the Postal Service needs reform.

Like many businesses, the Postal Service has been hit hard by the coronavirus.

Mail volume is down nearly a third over this time last year and continues to fall, according to The New York Times. The Postal Service is predicting $13 billion in lost revenue this year as a direct result of the coronavirus.

But its problems did not start

with the coronavirus.

The United States Postal Service has lost $69 billion over the past 11 fiscal years.

Part of that can be attributed to a dramatic reduction in its firstclass business – a decline partially offset by its move into the package delivery business.

Another part is a bill passed

by Congress in 2006 that requires the agency to set aside $5.5 billion per year to prepay health care benefits for future retirees. This is a requirement that no other company or government agency has.

According to one report, the agency would have turned a profit in each of the past six years were it not for this burden.

Congress has also stepped in on various occasions when the Postal Service attempted to rein in costs by closing offices or cutting service.

This has been an ongoing theme.

Even though the post office

REPORTERS Rose Weldon, Robert Pelaez, Emma Jones

has been self-financed since the 1980s and all revenue is derived from postal postage and postal services, Congress has repeatedly prevented the post office from making its own decisions.

Laws restrict the post office’s ability to raise prices and cut costs.

And Congress has often prevented the post office from going into new businesses.

It is hard to believe that Congress and the Trump administration would not come to the rescue of an agency whose employees are risking their health and, in some cases, their lives to ensure that Americans receive their prescriptions and protective equipment during this pandemic.

Not to mention such essential items as Social Security checks, your weekly newspaper and the ability for you to safely cast your vote.

But then again who would have expected us to be where we are today.

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

15

ON THE RIGHT

Gov. Cuomo: Where’s the shared sacrifice?

I

n March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered an economic shutdown and confined most New Yorkers to their homes.

After consulting a constitutional lawyer, I’m not sure the governor actually possesses the authority to direct businesses to close. He appears to have the power to order curfews, but that’s different from shuttering businesses.

However, since no one has challenged him in court, we must deal with the present reality—1.4 million New Yorkers out of work.

Many small companies will never open their doors again due to the governor’s actions.

A recently released U.S. Chamber of Commerce poll indicates “40 percent of the nation’s 30 million small businesses could close permanently in the next six months because of the coronavirus pandemic.”

New York’s contracting economy also means tens of thousands of the state’s most economically vulnerable may find it difficult, if not impossible, to find a new job.

In addition to the financial and mental suffering the unem-

ployed must endure, there is a corresponding impact on the state and its local governments. Income tax and sales tax revenues are dropping like a rock.

“The economic crisis,” state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reported in late April, “will take a multiyear toll on New York’s finances.”

He added, “Tax revenues will be substantially lower in the near term because of the pandemic and likely well beyond.”

Thanks to the economic shutdown, the state budget could run up a deficit that exceeds $12 billion.

So, what could be done?

One thing the state could not do—file for bankruptcy.

Sovereign states, by their very nature, cannot go bankrupt. The United States, a sovereign nation, can become insolvent—that is, run out of money to meet its financial obligation. Similarly, the sovereign State of New York can declare insolvency if its treasury runs dry.

There is, however, one significant difference between the sovereigns. The U.S. government can print money to pay bills. New

GEORGE J. MARLIN On The Right York can’t. It would have to stop paying bills.

Cuomo could burden presentday, struggling taxpayers and future generations with more debt to avoid insolvency. But while running for governor in 2010, he wrote in The New NY Agenda, that he would “not support borrowing to fund operating expenses.” He opposed “pushing today’s problems down the road and making future taxpayers pay for today’s mistakes.”

A better option: Cuomo could require “shared sacrifices.”

In a 2010 Labor Day Weekend op-ed in the Daily News titled “Labor, be part of the solution: Public employees unions must make sacrifices for the sake of the state,” Cuomo pointed out that union sacrifices helped save New York City from bankruptcy in 1975, and argued, “that today is another moment in time where the public sector (along with everyone else) must make sacrifices for the common good.”

Well, New York is in a lot worse financial shape today then it was in 2010, and while “everyone else” has endured pain and made sacrifices, the state’s public employees have not.

The governor has stopped a 2 percent 2020 pay increases for unionized state workers. It’s only temporary, however. To make it permanent, the Legislature would have to approve a broad-based pay freeze. Such a move, E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center for Public Policy estimates, could save “nearly $2 billion in public money.”

But as this is being written, not one state employee has been furloughed or laid-off and the

governor has not declared a hiring freeze.

Are we to believe that every state worker is essential?

Let’s start with Cuomo’s office. His staff, according to the 2019 edition of The New York Red Book, includes 12 “Assistant Counsels to the Governor.”

In 1985, Gov. Mario Cuomo had only a “Counsel to the Governor” and one “First Assistant Counsel.”

Reporting to Cuomo’s “Secretary to the Governor” are 14 deputy secretaries and 11 assistant secretaries. His father had only four deputy and two assistant secretaries.

The governor could begin a program of “shared sacrifices” by pairing back his bloated staff to his father’s levels, and then demand that all state departments and agencies as well as legislative offices follow his lead.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has imposed tremendous financial and social hardships on New York civilians. It seems only fair that he insists that government employees, as he wrote in 2010, “make sacrifices for the common good.”

A LOOK ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

We’re all in show business now

T

he other night I was watching “A Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” his showfrom-home, when his stage manager stepped into the frame. It turned out to be his wife, Evvie.

I was so glad to see that. I was even more glad when she added, “This is hard!” Because she was right.

Immense amounts of time, effort and money are usually spent, behind the scenes of every medium, to make sure that all we see is “effortless perfection.” But now, with all the video meetings we are joining, — for work, religion, or family — we have all begun to appreciate the difficulties of lighting, audio, set dressing, and unflattering camera angles.

It reminds me of some lessons I learned while working at WNET. In 1980, the show I had worked for was over. Our budget was spent, the unit disbanded, and everybody was either laid off or at new jobs somewhere else — except me.

In addition, the station was about to face a strike by the engineering unions that kept it on the air.

I was trying to find another

job somewhere at the station, but so far no luck. Then I received an interoffice memo from the VP of Engineering.

I had been “volunteered” to attend a local technical school to learn how to run station equipment in case of a strike.

It was tantamount to a draft notice really and presented me with almost as dire a choice.

First of all, my dyed-in-thewool-liberal parents did not raise me to be OK with crossing anybody’s picket lines.

Second, even if I were willing, what would happen when the strike was over — as it would eventually be — and I ever again needed something done here?

Would any tape I needed copied be “mistakenly” erased instead?

Or simply lost, in the bowels of the tape library? Would things mysteriously go wrong for the rest of my days?

On the other hand, if I refused, and ended up fired “for cause,” I wouldn’t even be able to collect unemployment.

Knowing my concerns, a friend put me in touch with the union shop steward, who met with me — not in a darkened parking

JUDY EPSTEIN

A Look on the Lighter Side garage, like Deep Throat in “All the President’s Men,” just an unused edit room.

“First off,” he told me, “everyone knows that you don’t really have a choice.”

“Everyone?”

“And second,” he continued, “You’re maybe going to get a week of training, tops.”

“Three days,” I corrected him.

“Three days vs. professionals who’ve spent entire careers learning their trade. Any one of my guys who feels threatened by someone with three days under their belt doesn’t deserve to be here.”

I felt better…although I wasn’t going to be THAT bad. When the director tells you to push a certain button, you push it; how hard could that be? So I went to my three days in “scab school.”

My first assignment was putting microphones on students playing the host and guests of a talk show. My microphone didn’t fall off its guest until half-way through the show, so I felt like a winner.

My second assignment was running the camera. This was what I had secretly been hoping for.

However, I was not prepared for the amount of chit-chat from the director, right in my headphones. Zoom in, pull out, truck left, pan right — How could anyone possibly keep up?

“OK, Camera One, push in.

Camera One, start your zoom. Anytime now, Camera One — who is that anyway? Judy! Zoom in!”

Oh, Camera One was ME? “I hear you!”

“Camera One, you do not have a speaking part in this production!

And for the love of God, would you please zoom in before the credits roll!” My resulting herky-jerky zoom did not win any awards. Or praise.

But my star turn came while running the audio board.

At least the audio person is in the control room, with the director, the producer, and the technical director. In other words, not out on the studio floor. This meant at least I could cough every now and then, without it being a criminal offense.

“Good evening and welcome to our show,” said the host.

“Ready, Camera Three on the guest. And… Take Three.”

The student doing video switched obediently to the feed from Camera Three.

“What are they saying? Why can’t we hear them? Audio? What’s going on?”

“I was waiting for him to say something,” I answered.

“And how were you planning to hear him if you haven’t put up his mic?”

Oh. Right. I was waiting, not hearing anything, because the audio person was asleep at the switch. And that audio person was ME. In short —no matter where they put me, I stank. Either I’m incompetent or these jobs are all very hard.

I know what I believe.

16 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

OUR TOWN

It’s an ill wind that blows no good

I

t’s an ill wind that blows no good Our brave new world includes words like COVID-19, pandemic, paranoia, panic, social distancing, face masks, no handshaking, the new death count, herd immunity, the infected, quarantine, hunkering down, sheltering in, flattening the curve, shutdowns, furloughs, laid off, unemployment, containment, PPE’s, ventilators, respirators, testing, swabs, and hoarding. Have I left anything out?

I’m sure I have.

But as my father would always say “It’s an ill wind that blows no good.”

Indeed working from home presents challenges. Most families are now faced with the need to balance multiple roles of working, parenting, teaching, entertaining kids all in the same space and at the same time. Well, good luck, folks! But as productivity plummets and as tempers rise let us take a peek at the obvious good that has

emerged amidst all this worry and all this sickness.

1) Safer streets: For the first time in perhaps 25 years I can cross Hillside Avenue in Williston Park without fear of being run over by a car going 45 mph in an effort to beat out the yellow light. I am sure you’ve noticed how few cars are on the road. This also means that it only takes me 10 minutes to get to work rather than 20 minutes. And I’m not alone in my joy over this.

I have noticed how the animals seem to be coming out of hiding. I have seen rabbits hopping around my neighborhood. Who knew we had rabbits around here?

2) The joy of walking: People are no longer working out in gyms so many have taken to long walks around the neighborhood. This reacquaints us with the infinite pleasures of walking, something written about by Virginia Woolf, Herman Hesse and Henry David Thoreau. You don’t have to be walking down Ocean Avenue in

DR. TOM FERRARO Our Town

Carmel-by-the-Sea or the Via Vittoria Emanuela in Capri to enjoy nature. Any quiet street on Long Island affords you a view of the spring sky with its white clouds, the smell of fresh cut grass and the sound of birds in the trees. These are the many small pleasures that life offers up free of charge.

3) Rest time, nap time, free time, slow time: The miracle of our current shutdown is that it has provided a much-needed break for every harried American soul. I work

with professional athletes and they are uniformly telling me how much they appreciate the chance to rest their bodies and to actually spend real time with their families. I think nearly every American I know has been in a state of overwork and over activity for the last 30 years.

This is due to the success of capitalism and the irresistible power of all the dazzling goods and services it provides. We see all this stuff within reach, but the disconcerting fact is that you have to earn real money in order to afford all these things. But now as capitalism has been temporarily shut down there is not much to buy and not much to do. So we rest. And with rest comes peace, calmness, better sleep and mental and physical health.

4) Home projects: We now actually have time to address all those home projects we have postponed for years. I’ve wanted to replace the eight windows in the rear of my home with stained glass ones

and I finally had the time to get an expert in and do the job. I’ve also had a few extra hours to complete a book proposal I have procrastinated about for three years. I am certain you are experiencing the same thing. There is finally some time to clean things up and create something new.

5) Family life: We now have a chance to actually spend time with our kids and they have time for us.

Some kids are even experiencing a thing call dinner-time whereby the parents cook a meal and then the family gathers together at one table, sits down and eats a home cooked meal. Then they engage in this new thing called dinner conversation. Yikes! This is a throwback to Luddite times.

These five gifts are just a taste of how humans have adapted and how we have found some goodness among all this uncertainty and fear. So enjoy your next walk and be on the lookout for Peter Rabbit.

E A R T H M AT T E R S

Cleaning safely in the time of COVID-19

I

had originally wanted to write about the cleaner air we are all enjoying due to fewer cars and trucks on our roads. Not only has the reduced traffic made our environment noticeably cleaner, but the diminished ambient noise levels have revealed other sounds that are often masked by our busy transportation-heavy lives. Now when we sit in our backyard, it’s often so quiet we can hear the flutter of bird’s wings.

But conversations with friends and neighbors about the stress they feel when shopping in grocery stores, accepting deliveries or having a plumber or other home repair professional come into their homes convinced me that I needed to write instead about how we are trying to stay safe and avoid exposure to the virus through almost constant cleaning.

Some of the first items that disappeared from our store shelves in early March were disinfectants like Clorox and sanitizing personal care products in the form of hand sprays and wipes. And as the virus spread, poison hotlines were seeing a rise in accidents with cleaning products. A recent idea floated by our president that we could cleanse our bodies internally with disinfectants further exacerbated these situations, even

though the worldwide medical community concurred that this was a ridiculous and dangerous suggestion.

Sanitizers are designed to be used only on our skin and disinfectants are designed to be used on hard surfaces.

For COVID-19 and other viruses, we can take simple precautions and purchase products that can protect us without using toxic chemicals. The Centers for Disease Control advises that the best way to prevent infectious disease transmission is to stay out of contact with those who have already contracted the disease. You can best accomplish this by staying home, wearing a fitted mask whenever you have to go out and keeping a safe distance from people in grocery stores and other public places. Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes and wash your hands when you have touched anything that other people may also have touched.

Washing your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds with plain soap and warm water is very effective at killing the coronavirus.

Soap breaks down the virus’s fat membrane and the infectious material falls apart. Soap is made of molecules that look like tiny pins, but like a magnet, the pins have

PATTI WOOD Earth Matters

two different poles. The head of the pin loves water, but the tail of the pin hates it. So when these soap molecules are on your hands, that tail is searching for something else to stick into, to get away from the water. When it finds viruses or bacteria, it sticks into them, bursting them and killing them. Eventually a bunch of these pins come together in a ball, tails in and heads out, carrying away the remains of their poking. Those little balls, called micelles, wash down the drain!

Antibacterial soap is not more effective than regular soap at destroying COVID-19. And those popular antibacterial gel hand sanitizers are ineffective because the antibacterial ingredients do

not affect viruses at all. On the other hand, alcohol-based hand sanitizers or wipes with at least 60 percent ethanol or 70 percent isopropanol are effective. Another chemical common in hand sanitizers is benzalkonium chloride, but CDC says evidence shows that it is less reliably effective against the coronavirus than alcohol.

Frequently touched surfaces and objects like kitchen counters, sinks, screens, handles and switches can be cleaned and disinfected easily using regular household cleaning products and safe disinfectants. If a surface is dirty, however, it should be cleaned with soap or detergent before disinfecting, as the disinfecting ingredient could be wasted on attacking dirt and less effective at killing germs.

Natural-based disinfecting active ingredients include citric acid, ethanol, isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide, L-lactic acid and sodium bisulfate, all listed as effective at eliminating the virus on the EPA’s “Design for the Environment” Program.

Care should be taken to avoid more toxic disinfectants that can cause adverse health effects, especially those with chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite, quaternary ammonium compounds, phenolic compounds, hydrochloric

acid or peracetic acid. There are also many other toxic ingredients in popular disinfectant products that are not listed on labels. The Environmental Working Group has a very useful guide to disinfectant products that are safe and effective against the novel coronavirus. Look for “Cleaning for Covid-19 Safely and Effectively” on its website.

One of the few important facts we have learned about COVID-19 is that there are people who are more vulnerable to the effects of the virus than others. These are generally people with respiratory illnesses, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and those with weakened or compromised immune systems. And it is in these populations that there may be a higher use of sanitizers and disinfectants that may actually have a negative impact on their existing conditions, making them even more vulnerable.

During a public health emergency involving an infectious disease, it is important to carefully choose the products you will be using frequently to keep your family safe. Introducing toxic chemicals that can exacerbate pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of serious complications from COVID-19 should be avoided.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

17

VIEW POINT

Women suffer most harm from COVID-19

G

un shops are considered “essential services” by Trump and his ilk during this coronavirus pandemic, even as incidents of domestic violence spike. Women’s reproductive health services? Not essential.

Indeed, during the nationwide lockdown, there has been a 20 percent increase in domestic violence, there are lines around the block at gun shops, and there is a well-known link between guns and domestic violence – for sure, we see AK-47 and AR-15 wielding Trumpers intimidating lawmakers, undermining authority notably of “that woman” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, to force her and others to end social-distancing intended to mitigate the high rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

They demonstrate their misogyny in the cavalier attitude toward making sure healthcare workers have adequate Personal Protective Equipment. Women are also the overwhelming majority of minimum wage earners like those in the meat packing plants ordered to return to work while the employers are not required to implement any safety measures. If they refuse, they will lose unemployment insurance, and I’ll bet they don’t have access to health insurance when they are sickened.

Women are the majority of workers in grocery stores and nursing homes.

All these jobs have been given lip service as “essential” but are re-

ally being treated as “expendable” and in some cases as “sacrificial” and it is no coincidence that the majority are women.

“Eighty percent of all healthcare workers are women, one out of three jobs held by women has been classified as essential,” said 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a recent Women for Biden virtual town hall in which she endorsed Joe Biden for president. “This is an issue that affects all of us, young and old, every background, walk of life, but has disproportionate impact on women on the front lines, working, caring for others, holding down their home.”

Right wing states are exploiting the coronavirus in a shameful way to undermine women’s rights, starting with designating abortion as an “elective procedure” that cannot be performed during the lockdown. Their wink-and-a-nod rationale is to preserve limited PPE resources, except that earlystage medical abortions don’t require much in the way of PPE, and certainly less than multiple prenatal examinations, a possible C-section, the risk to the woman during maternity (Texas has one of the highest maternal death rates) and ongoing medical care that the woman or the child might need which states like Texas fail to provide. And “elective” implies that there is no risk to delaying a procedure, when obviously abortions are time-sensitive.

Further exposing the fraud,

KAREN RUBIN View Point

these states are also prohibiting medication for abortion that eliminates the need for a surgical procedure – even outlawing receiving the medication by mail.

The misogynistic regimes are exploiting the pandemic in other ways as well: in Florida, the court (no doubt packed with Trump’s unqualified ideologues) granted a man sole custody of a couple’s children because their mother was a doctor on the front line of the coronavirus.

Underscoring what Trump has failed to do, Biden outlined the measures he would take to mitigate the heightened stresses on women during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond, beginning with insuring access to health care; ramping up testing and making testing, treatment and an eventual vaccine for COVID-19 free for all regardless of insurance or immigration status; picking up the full cost of COBRA premiums for

women who have lost their jobs; opening Obamacare enrollment, instead of using the courts to gut the landmark law; and stopping states from using the pandemic to curtail access to abortions.

He would address the heightened levels of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse of women and girls by improving text, chat and phone-based assistance so women can obtain help; expand access to sexual assault programs and child advocacy centers as well as shelters, enlisting FEMA; and provide financial assistance to survivors who otherwise would be financially bound to their abuser.

The ultimate irony is the Trump campaign politicizing the Tara Reade allegations against Biden. That is beyond hypocrisy, beyond chutzpah coming from a guy who was credibly accused of actual sexual assault by 19 women and who has obstructed any actual investigation. Biden should not be attacked as if he committed the acts of sexual predation that Trump has been accused of because of his habit of hugging women, rubbing their shoulders or tapping their head. That’s not the same as illegally paying off a porn star with whom Trump had an illicit sexual affair to keep the secret from voters, or boasting that when you are a celebrity, you can “grab ‘em by the pussy.”

It’s one thing for women to be listened to, respected and taken seriously, but quite another to immediately condemn or to lump ev-

ery indiscretion as the same – that undermines what the #MeToo movement seeks to achieve. Moreover, there are gradations of a crime, from misdemeanor to felony – saying something off color is not the same as sexual harassment, sexual assault or rape. And there still have to be standards of “innocent until proven guilty.” It shouldn’t be so easy to destroy a person’s entire career. Nor should we apply the same cultural measuring rod of today to decades ago.

And women do lie, like the woman who lied about a UVA campus rape. How many would like to be as famous as Monica Lewinsky forever known as bringing down a president and changing history? As it is, Tara Reade’s story has shifted and is unsupported by any evidence that should have been available like a copy of her Senate complaint.

Republicans (who seem inoculated from shame or hypocrisy) have learned they can use the Democrats’ moral standard to commit political suicide. Now will the press do what they did with Hillary Clinton’s emails and make this the focus, distracting from Biden’s record such as championing the Violence Against Women Act and policies he would implement as president at a time when campaigning has been hamstrung, even as Trump campaigns from the White House and manipulates states to reopen so he can hold his dangerous rallies?

READERS WRITE

Suozzi compromised by caucus membership

R

obert Pelaez’s piece posted to your website on April 21, “Suozzi sole New York Dem on bipartisan group to reopen nation,” certainly painted incumbent Rep. Tom Suozzi and his Problem Solvers Caucus in a favorable light.

That may have had something to do with the fact that it was nothing more than a lightly modified version of an official press release issued by Suozzi the previous day.

In addition to pointing out how blatantly unethical it was to try to pass off your top advertiser’s self-aggrandizing press release as original content, I thought it was necessary to offer your readers a less rose-tinted view of Suozzi and the PSC. Firstly, Suozzi was not the only New York Democrat selected

for Donald Trump’s “Opening Up America Again” advisory groupbecause of his unearned reputation for bipartisanship or because Trump or his cabinet have the slightest interest in any of Suozzi’s suggestions.

He was the only New York Democrat selected because he has been very friendly with Trump in the past and worked hard to sabotage his fellow Democrats and advance a Republican agenda.

When Democrats clawed the House of Representatives back from Republicans in the 2018 Blue Wave, the first order of business undertaken by Suozzi and his PSC associates was to hold Nancy Pelosi’s confirmation as speaker hostage in exchange for making it easier for the Republican minority to introduce amendments to bills.

When the recent refugee crisis at the southern border reached its zenith and Democrats agreed to allocate more money to federal agencies (such as Customs and Border Protection) to try to improve conditions for detainees, Suozzi and the PSC insisted that they would only vote in favor of an emergency funding bill if explicit protections for those detainees were stripped out.

While the PSC claimed they did this because they were afraid Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would shelve a bill with explicit protections for detainees and there was no time to negotiate, it was actually because they wanted to advance Trump’s agenda.

In response to their efforts, progressive Rep. Mark Pocan,

who had attempted to work with the PSC in good faith in the past, branded the group the Child Abuse Caucus.

When Suozzi was asked at a town hall if he personally opposed the detainee protections or was merely carrying out the will of the majority of PSC members, Suozzi replied that internal caucus votes were confidential.

While Suozzi did eventually vote in favor of impeaching Trump, he was one of the last Democratic representatives to announce his intention to do so and later told Newsday that he hoped the Senate trial would be short and no witnesses would be called.

Suozzi could have told Newsday anything when asked for comment, and he decided to throw out a Republican talking point.

What about this “back-towork” PSC checklist that Suozzi was bragging about in his press release? Assuming this six-page documenteven makes it to Trump’s desk, he’s sure to ball it up and throw it in the garbage.

The man who openly encourages his supporters to break quarantine and avail themselves of dangerous, ineffective treatments has no interest in a “multi-prong, data-driven proposal.”

Suozzi has run out of excuses for his complicity. Hopefully, when the Democratic primary for the third congressional district is held on June 23, he’ll also run out of luck.

Matthew Zeidman New Hyde Park Letters Continued on Page 20

18 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Notre Dame School #NDStrong Our world has certainly been turned upside down!

We left school on March 13, not knowing what the next few months would bring.

Suddenly, our administrators and teachers were faced with creating a whole new style of teaching and learning for our students.

Fortunately, our teachers were ready! We jumped into our online learning on March 16th. Our students in Grades 4 through 8 have been using google classroom for several years, so this was not as big an adjustment as it might have been. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long for us to add Kindergarten through Grade 3. Colleagues pitched in and soon all teachers were fully immersed in the world of online learning. Even our smallest scholars joined in, with teachers scheduling Google Meets for crafts, chats and bedtime stories.

Our special content teachers are all on board as well, with our four language classes continuing, STREAM learning, PE and Health. Our Music teacher continues to visit all of her classes, bringing fingerplays and funny songs. We even had our first Art Show open this week! Our teachers have explored and collaborated with their coworkers, learning new applications and learning platforms. Our students have had access to both IXL and Razz Kids for a while, but their

teachers have extended their learning opportunities through the use of other sites.

Each morning either Mrs. McCarthy, our Assistant Principal, or Mrs. Durkin, our Principal posts a video of our morning prayers, pledge and announcements. This is a great way for the children to start the day and to be reminded of our regular morning routines. Our administrators often drop into Google Meets throughout the day, maintaining close connections with our students.

Our Pastor, Father Joseph Scolaro, has been reaching out to our parishioners and our students in many ways.

He celebrated our First Friday Masses in April and May, and prefaced both of them with a short chat with the students. He traveled throughout the parish for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, blessing people as they greeted him in the street. He and the other priests and our two deacons, also blessed houses at Easter. Father says Mass frequently and all are welcome. These events, along with a tour of the church, a detailed explanation of Mass and Bible Study, serve to strengthen us and keep our faith strong. Father joins our students in our Google Meets and is happy to see them, as things are certainly much quieter around Notre Dame these days

Notre Dame School 25 Mayfair Rd., New Hyde Park, NY 11040 516-354-5618 www.ndsnet.org

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

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Council Member, Dist. 3 Angelo P. Ferrara

Council Member, Dist. 4 Veronica Lurvey

Council Member, Dist. 5 Lee R. Seeman

Council Member, Dist. 6 Mariann Dalimonte

Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman

Town Clerk Wayne H. Wink, Jr.

20 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

SALUTE TO ALL The Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons would like to express their gratitude to all the first responders, health care workers, doctor and nurses working at area hospitals, funeral directors, delivery drivers, grocery store workers and restaurant workers.

Our restaurants are open for delivery and take out, please view our chamber page to see who is open.

We are supporting our restaurants by placing food orders to be delivered to Winthrop hospital We will also be doing a food drive for Convid-19 with the Salvation Army, The INN and our local food pantries in the next few weeks.

We are also keeping business informed of the SBA applications.

Remember when the stay home order is lifted please support the business of the Williston’s

www.chamberofthewillistons.com

READERS WRITE

MTA failing to submit grant applications

G

ov. Cuomo proudly announced that work performed by the MTA Office of Capital Construction, NYC Transit and private contractors on the rehabilitation of the Canarsie L subway line East River Tunnel was completed ahead of schedule and under budget once again illustrates how he continues to ignore past transit history.

This project reached what is known as substantial completion and will go into beneficial use. Super Storm Sandy occurred in 2012. You have to ask why it took the MTA eight years later to complete?

Today the work is essentially finished.

There is always the remaining outstanding 1 percent of odds and ends. There is still additional work to do. This includes completion of inspection and acceptance for hundreds of contract punch list items, receipt of asset maintenance plans for project components, followed by the release of retainage and final payment to the contractor(s).

The final closeout process for a project of this size can average six months to one year before contract(s) closeout. The contract closeout milestone is when a project is really complete.

What Cuomo and the MTA ignoredis why for four years they have been unsuccessful in applying for two old Federal Transit Administration discretionary funded project allocations that would also improve the Canarsie line.

On Feb. 3, the FTA published Federal Notice of Available Funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2020. This included the availability of carryover earmark allocations from 2016. They are NY Canarsie Power Improvements $3,200,271 and NY Canarsie Power Improvement Program Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program for $13,121,114.

Details may be found under Table 16 — Prior Years Unobligated Section

5309 Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants Allocations.

MTA should have previously developed and submitted grant applications to apply for these funds totaling $16,321,385. Four years later, work should have already been completed.

Perhaps this work could have been coordinated with the Canarsie Line East River Tunnel project.

Sharing the same overnight and weekend track outages along with NYC Transit Force Account employees might have saved both time and money. Why has MTA been unsuccessful in having these funds obligated under approved grants?

These funds will eventually lapse and be lost to MTA. The MTA is in intense competition against transit agencies from other cities and statesaround the nation.It hurts NYC and the Metro NY area, when the MTAleavesthese discretionary dollars on the table year after year. Our Congressional delegation loses credibility when lobbying for more transit dollars.

What incentive is there for Washington to approve additional discretionary transit dollars, when you don’t follow up and apply for these funds? As each year goes by, the project cost will increase.

The dollar value of the earmark does not. In the end, taxpayers, commuters and MTA employees end up the losers. With a multi-billion growing shortfall in the MTA $51 billion 2020 — 2024 Five Year Capital Plan, every dollar counts. MTA must move quickly to secure these two FTA earmarks.

Larry Penner Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office.

Letters Continued on Page 32

21

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

SALUTE TO

ONE THING THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF RIGHT NOW. HEROES. THANK YOU TO OUR NURSES AND CAREGIVERS Our heroes come to work every day and do the practically impossible.

They protect and care for our communities’ most vulnerable citizens during this time of crisis. This Nurses Day, we’d like to take the opportunity to give our heroes the recognition they deserve.

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22 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

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& How families can confront the challenges of remote learning Amid concerns of coronavirus clusters and efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, and based on social distancing recommendations from medical professionals, schools across the country began to close their doors and adopt a remote learning model in March 2020.

School administrators and educators quickly scrambled to find a workaround to meet children’s educational needs. Remote learning has been a part of many school curriculums for some time. While remote learning had predominantly been reserved for higher learning institutions, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, it became a necessity for grades K through 12 as well. Teach-

ers have had to design curriculums and assignments virtually on the fly in an attempt to minimize disruptions that could adversely affect students.

Remote learning requires the cooperation of school staff and also parents and guardians. Patience is necessary, and parents and educators may need to completely transform their daily schedules. The following tips can be an asset as students continue to navigate remote learning. · Record class sessions. Teachers can consider recording or “going live” with class instruction so that students can view the video and still have access to their teachers. This

helps parents who may be unfamiliar with explaining the curriculum. · Utilize chat features. Remote education software programs likely have a chat or “hangout” feature, which enables classrooms to keep in touch and ask questions in real time. · Keep a schedule. It’s easy to begin to sleep late and fall out of routine when not required to go to a school building. Families should make scheduling a priority, which can help students stay on top of lessons and complete their assignments on time. · Ask questions. Everyone is learning as they go, and further clarification may be needed. Students should email or chat with teachers

if they don’t understand an assignment or are unsure about instructions. Teachers may be able to clearly model a math problem or explain a concept via video chat for students who need help. · Explore educational options.

Many companies are offering free educational services while kids are home from school. Scholastic.com is offering online courses, Nat Geo for Kids, Fun Brain, PBS Kids, and Highlight Kids are other places to turn to for activities.

Remote learning has become the new norm as the world continues to navigate COVID-19 in an effort to keep the public safe.

A Blank Slate Media Special Section • May 8, 2020

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• Benefit from academic preparedness and study skills seminars.

• Work one-on-one with an academic advisor and subject area specialists.

Session 1 application is due June 5th

Session 1 application is due May 15th

sps.columbia.edu/HSLI

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020 • Guide to Schools & Education

2020 Summer Programs – Coming to You Online Your Columbia, Your Community Columbia is your premier resource to continuing your studies at an Ivy League university this summer. We will miss our beautiful campus, but we are glad we can help students proceed with their educational goals by offering our world-class curriculum online.

Undergraduates & Graduate Students

Bachelor’s Degree Holders & Professionals

Join Columbia students and faculty in hundreds of university courses taught in an online format.

Prepare for graduate studies or sign up for certification programs offered online this summer.

Session I: May 26–July 2 | Session II: July 6–August 14

sps.columbia.edu/SSLI

25

26 Guide to Schools & Education • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

You child could be receiving teletherapy for Speech and/or Occupational Therapy right now.

Call us today!

Speech • Education • Evaluation & Developmental Services

Eileen M. Devaney, MS, CCC-SLP, Director 129A Hillside Avenue - Williston Park, NY 11596 Tele: (516) 742-5243 - Fax: (516) 742-3536 EileenDevaney@seedsofthewillistons.com

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

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

LOVE MOM LOUDER with our beautiful flowers!

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27

28 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Mom’s Are Special At Joanne’s!

We have a large variety of Mother’s Day Balloons and Candy Bouquets

79

$

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

524 Jerico Turnpike Mineola, NY 11501

516-739-2747

OPEN 12 - 8 PM

CURBSIDE PICK UP Order by phone & we will deliver to your car by our front door

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DELIVERY Orders over $150 call us for catering

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30 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

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31

32 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

READERS WRITE

Watercraft rentals Hotel industry essential to should be in phase I New York and needs help

G

ov. Cuomo’s Step 2 in his well-thought-out regional plan for getting New York back to work: “Identify industries that will bring people back to work and get the economy going while abiding by social distancing. Phase One includes construction and manufacturing. Must identify businesses for the second phase.”

Long Island is surrounded by water. Upstate New York is full of lakes and rivers. Water-based businesses are aplenty.

Properly executed using existing regulations, selected watercraft rentals and charter operations in New York state should be allowed to open in Phase One. The state has already opened private marinas, giving boat owners water access. Do the same for

the rental and charter businesses to give New York non-watercraft owners the same benefit.

This outlet can serve as a well-needed outlet for residents where spread of the virus can be substantially mitigated.

Allow sail, power boat, kayaks, paddle boat rental and charter businesses that can operate with social distancing to open in Phase One. Saltwater or fresh, being on the water is a needed relaxing, stress-reducing avenue. It would serve both workers who rely on a seasonal business (started May 1) as well as the residents in desperate need of a safe outlet.

Bill Gordon Long Island Boat Rentals, LLC Port Washington

D

ear Governor Cuomo, I have appreciated your steady leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, on behalf of us hospitality-industry people, who became your target today, I would like to make our case that we are in fact essential here in New York.

No, we are not health-care heroes. We are the people who get their laundry, make their food, clean there rooms, thank them in person while we drop them off and pick them up from the front lines.

We are honored to have them.

We charge a rate about one-third of what the public pays, and we lose thousands of dollars a day doing it. We understand that it’s our responsibility.

This pandemic has hurt many

industries, but ours has taken one of the biggest hits. Every member of our team has had to make sacrifices.

Every manager and executive, as well as most line team members, have either lost pay or hours.

So many more of our people are on furlough.

Yes, thanks to the PPP, received two months after this crisis began, we have help with our payroll and have the ability to bring some of our people back.

But after having to work so hard to get our people their benefits, fighting the broken New York unemployment system, why would we bring them back to potentially try to go back on unemployment in eight weeks?

Our industry will not be functioning with typical guests in

eight weeks, maybe not even eight months. At our company cost, we are covering the furloughed medical benefits.

You don’t hear about that when you talk about corporate America. Amazing that those of us that have made our careers caring for out of town guests, making their parties, cleaning their rooms and feeding them are now your poster child for corporate greed in America.

The point is, state and municipalities need to survive, they need to take care of their people.

Just don’t do it at the expense of my people and the hotel industry because our people and companies have a right to survive too; we too are essential.

Alan Mindel Great Neck

School choice would save taxpayers billions

P

ort Washington School Superintendent Michael Hynes made many fine points in his article (5/1), “Changing the purposes of schooling.”

He suggested more physical activity and more coverage of civics, crafts, home economics and life skills. I do, however, disagree with his call for only 30 minutes of homework for mid-

dle school kids—I’d say at least twice that much.

But one key recommendation he didn’t mention was parental choice in education.

Parents should have the right to select any state-accredited private school and receive state funding at a level 40-50 percent below that of public school students.

A 1991 study (New York

Times 11/24/1001) for the New York State Senate by Ron Lauder (president of the World Jewish Congress) concluded school choice would save New York taxpayers $4 billion a year.

Today those savings would be $8 billion a year. These savings could be split between our public schools and New York taxpayers.

This would be especially

helpful in these difficult high tax days. Everyone wins with school choice and the competition that results—students, parents and taxpayers!

The opponents of school choice are our teacher unions, which want to keep their monopoly and anti-religious bigots who hate the idea of parents selecting schools where kids say prayers.

But parents, especially poor parents, would be able to pick schools they want for educational quality and with moral values they want taught.

Frank J. Russo, Jr. President Port Washington Educational Assembly (P.S. My wife and mother were public school teachers)

Trump’s signature wasted taxpayer money

I

received a letter from the IRS. Upon opening it, I found the letter to be from the White House (not the IRS) telling me about the Economic Impact Payment that I had received. It was signed by the president. What an absolute waste of taxpayers’

money!

I am certain that many millions of these letters went out. Was this necessary?

One of the sentences in the letter states: “Our top priority is your health and safety.”

But all the White House wants

to do is to get the economy rolling.

Yes, I want the economy to get much better but not the way the White House has been pushing to open up. Since there are many things still unknown about this virus, we must proceed with the utmost caution.

The most important thing to do right now is to control and produce a vaccine for the coronavirus and ensure that the health of the people of the United States is the top priority. Remember, without people, there is no economy.

I also thank all the nurses,

doctors, aides, emergency workers and all who have literally put their lives on the line to treat those who have been affected by this disease.

God bless you all.

Bruce L. Hecht New Hyde Park

Giving thanks to a mother who shaped my life

A

s Mother’s Day draws near, I remember my mother who passed away in 1963.

Her name was Teresa. And I still remember my mother with a great deal of fondness and love.

I remember my mother trying to impress upon me the importance of respecting all those I meet and to show kindness even if that kindness was not returned.

My mother did a lot of charity

work for the church and the community in Queens Village. She also went around door-to-door collecting funds for Jerry Lewis’ Muscular Dystrophy Foundation and for Cancer Care. I once asked her why she did so much for others and she said it was because she felt the Lord had given her so much and she needed to give something back. I guess what she said kind of rubbed off on me.

I have served in the United

States Navy, I am now Grand Knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus in Douglaston, a member of the American Legion Post #103 and a member of St. Anastasia Parish and Our Lady of the Snows parish and a member of the Queens Village Republican Club and I also help run two blood drives a year for the Knights of Columbus. I am involved in a number of charitable activities.

Now like I said about my

mother, others have asked why I try to do so much and I have responded that it was what my mother inspired me to do. Let me also mention that Sundays were a little different back then when families would all get dressed up in their best and attend their houses of worship. These scenes could be seen all over Queens Village. There was a saying back then: “A family that prays together stays together.”

When my mother passed away

when I was 14 years old, my father said to me, “Don’t ever forget your mother.” Well, I never have. And to my mother, let me say,” Thank you for helping me to be all that I am today.” In closing remember your mothers both living and who have died on this day we call “Mother’s Day.” Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Mineola Letters Continued on Page 41

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

Business&RealEstate

33

Why real estate is essential business

W

hen Covid-19 Novel Corona Virus began back in February (actually on Dec. 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China, but possibly earlier) our administration was formerly warned! Back then who would have thought that it would have become a pandemic of such a severe and deadly impact throughout the globe.

I would never have imagined that it would have shut down the real estate industry as well as the majority of all non-essential businesses in the United States in such a way as to critically and totally blindside our national and state governments without our being able to proactively create some type of plan in advance with some guidance from Washington. This most monumental and historymaking pandemic had no prior history or track record or way for us to know how to handle this tsunami of an event.

There was information out there, however, that really wasn’t taken seriously as we all know from the live news reports that we saw and the way this most serious situation was initially handled in a haphazard fashion as if it was nothing to worry about and that it would pass during the warmer months. Well, we all know now what has happened and that, unfortunately, the United States has succumbed to the greatest number of infections and deaths in the world.

It has shaken so many businesses and livelihoods and put our economy in such a rapid tailspin from the most robust environment into a recession in less than five weeks’ time (most likely a depression if we don’t come out with an antidote vaccine in the very near future) like no other event in recent memory. In my professional opinion, it is obviously apparent that we could have been so much more cognizant and prepared if our pandemic was considered much more seriously.

Then again, in our world common sense is generally not common.

We as realtors are currently prevented from showing properties as well as doing open houses (except by virtual tours) by the current New York state regulations enacted by Gov. Cuomo four weeks ago and I wholeheartedly agree. I also realize that we are waiting for that magic number of 14 days of no increases in infections to know that maybe we will be allowed to begin opening up our NYS economy (as well as

other states, too) once again.

Responsible individuals are going out to the grocery stores and food takeouts wearing their masks, surgical gloves and also hopefully carrying disinfectant wipes and using them to use on whatever packages that are touched by other parties to be safe and eliminate transmitting the virus to themselves or anyone else. So we are around people (not necessarily crowds) and although my community has hundreds of people who have been infected (although I am not sure how many have died since I cannot find any statistics), we are going out to parks, walking and running.

I was in Steppingstone Park last Sunday, May 3, where there was the greatest gathering of people that I have seen since the beginning of the pandemic, but for the most part they were social distancing and the majority had masks or face coverings.

So, Governor Cuomo, if you want our economy to take its first baby step in healing itself, please rescind your order on our real estate industry, which is a truly essential business as you originally had said a few weeks ago. A full 99.9 percent of buyers will not buy from a virtual tour and by the time they and sellers become

PHILIP A. RAICES Real Estate Watch

comfortable with this type of “new norm” in buying and selling, will our economy survive to prosper once again? If it does, how many years will it take to recover? Begin slowly and allow us to begin showing homes and doing open houses with several caveats.

No. 1, limit showings to a maximum of four people with the showing or listing agent the only one to open doors, cabinets or anything else and the buyers would have to wear the same PPE (masks or face coverings and gloves) as we would be required to do. No. 2, for those of us who are experienced and responsible to our buyers and sellers, the same would hold true when the house inspector and appraiser

shows up, too. We can limit exposure during open houses by only allowing two people in at a time and the rest would have to wait outside or in their cars. Sellers would have to be wearing their masks or face coverings and have handy disinfectant wipes as a back-up. Sellers would also have an option to leave their home until showings are completed.

Empty homes would obviously be easier to show with fewer chances of any issues occurring.

The showing agent and/or listing agent after the showing would be required to wipe off all touched surfaces as well as all door, cabinet, sinks, toilet bowl handles, etc. and sign a sheet with their name, date, and time of doing so. The NYSAR (NY Association of Realtors) and N.A.R. (National Association of Realtors) could provide input and guidance to create a plan to follow (I would be more than happy to assist, too).

Fines could be enacted and levied since warnings would not be sufficient when someone’s health is at stake and the rules are not followed. The Long Island Board of Realtors and the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island have strict fines without warnings and it works quite well.

Real Estate is one of the true engines of our economy and with-

out sales of homes how and why would buyers (and developers) purchase refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, washers, dryers and all the capital improvements that many pay for enabling more jobs to start once again and begin propelling our economy forward to where it was? In conjunction with NYSAR, NAR and Albany, regulations and guidance as such would give us the ground rules to allow the 125,000+ Realtors in NYS to bring our economy back from the deadly depths to a healthier state while allowing us to begin earning a living once again.

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 and suggestions on future columns with your name, email, and cell 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 or concerns.

34 The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

WT

Schools shut for rest of academic year Continued from Page 1 based on the health and safety of our students and staff, which includes social distancing,” Morrison said in a statement.

“It’s critical that we protect our students from this virus, and given the current circumstances we are in we do not think it is possible to put the necessary precautions in place that would allow us to reopen schools this academic year,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo said that schools throughout the state will be required to continue meal programs and child care services for essential workers. The state will make a decision about summer school programming by the end of May, according to Cuomo.

“We want schools to start developing a plan to reopen with new protocols that incorporate everything that we are now doing in society and everything that we have learned from this pandemic,” Cuomo said. “This has been a hardship on everyone, but our educators across the state have done a phenomenal job stepping up to make the best of this situation.”

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said she supports Cuomo’s decision to prioritize the health and well-being of families throughout the state.

“I support Governor Cuomo’s decision to keep schools closed until the end of the academic year,” Curran said. “It’s in

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that schools throughout the state will remain closed for the remainder of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. the best interests of our students, school employees, and families.”

Curran said she has been in contact with Cuomo and discussed “all of the moving parts” to ensure proper preparations and measures are taken when traditional schooling ultimately returns.

Those preparations include the organization of school bus schedules and school bus drivers, providing school

29 Hillside Ave. Williston Park

nurses with medications for their students, and ensuring school districts have enough cleaning and sanitation supplies.

“We saw that the runway for getting all of these things ready was getting shorter and shorter and I very much support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s decision on schools,” Curran said.

Curran touted the work of Nassau County’s Board of Cooperative Educa-

tional Services Superintendent Robert Dillon throughout the pandemic.

“He’s been my lifeline, my pipeline to our 56 school districts and school superintendents,” Curran said. “He and I have had many conversations throughout this pandemic about what’s happening with our schools, what we’re looking for in the future, what do superintendents and parents need. His input has been invaluable.”

Right after hearing the news of Cuomo shutting down schools, Curran said, she called Dillon, who provided a quote which Curran read at her Friday news conference.

“I applaud the governor for using science in making the decision to continue distance learning to the end of the academic year,” Curran said. “We look forward to providing support to our school districts and their families. Working together, schools and parents, and most of all students will prevail in meeting educational standards through this pandemic.”

“Keeping school buildings and colleges closed for the rest of this academic year is the smart choice,” New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said Friday. “We also will continue advocating that summer school programming should be voluntary, with decisions on what is right for students made at the local level.”

CURBSIDE PICK-UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE

PIZZERIA & RES TAURANT

516-248-8200

of Williston Park

Mother’s Day Family Dinner

Choice of Salad served with pasta and entrée, finished off with a dessert platter and bottle of wine PASTA CHOICE: Alla Vodka, Pomodorro, Marinara or Broccoli Aglio-Olio

SALAD CHOICE: Tossed or Caesar All Meals Served With Homemade Bread

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ENTRÉE CHOICE: Chicken Your Way, Eggplant Parm or Boneless Scarpiello

Must place all orders by Sat., May 9th by 5pm for pick-up or delivery for Mother’s Day

Coming soon: Spuntino Williston Park…Summer 2020

Call Ahead For FREE Fast Delivery

The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

WT

35

Village elections moved to September Continued from Page 1 as would have been used at such prior election,” the order reads. “If such ballots were already printed, such ballots may be used at the September 15, 2020 election despite containing thereon the original date of the election.”

All provision of election law or village law otherwise applicable to the manner of conducting such an election in March, April, May or June, shall apply to the date of Sept.

15, according to the order.

Any village elections previously postponed for which ballots were not completed at the time of such suspension shall be conducted, though.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

The Village of Flower Hill is one of a number of local municipalities that will see its election rescheduled to Sept. 15.

No timetable for pharmacy diagnostic testing Continued from Page 2 “We’re trying to get everyone throughout New York adequately situated with all of the procedural aspects,” D’Angelo said. “The truth is, most of these pharmacists are not ready to run tests like some of the bigger scale facilities like Quest and LabCorp.”

According to officials, Quest Diagnostics conducted 940,000 molecular tests for the coronavirus from March 9 to April 20 throughout the nation. By mid-April, Quest conducted up to 50,000

tests per day throughout the country.

D’Angelo lauded the work of Quest, LabCorp, and other large-scale entities that are able to conduct testing, but said it is imperative to have the smaller-scale, independent pharmacists be able to conduct testing.

He said the society will conduct a webinar within the week, with more than 200 representatives from independent pharmacists slated to participate.

Another issue that local pharmacists must take into account, D’Angelo said, is

the ability to conduct testing in a safe, most likely outdoor, environment.

“It’s one thing getting all of the proper information, equipment, procedures, billing codes, but we want to make sure the nasal swab testing is conducted to keep everyone as safe as possible,” D’Angelo said.

As of now, diagnostic testing for the coronavirus has been made available in large-scale health care entities such as hospitals and urgent care centers, as well as drive-thru testing at places such as

Jones Beach and Stony Brook University.

D’Angelo said if the independent pharmacists were granted permission to conduct diagnostic testing and received the proper guidelines to do so sooner, some of the burdens could have been taken off the state’s shoulders earlier in the pandemic.

“We have been lobbying for this permission from the state for years,” D’Angelo said. “We will all work hard to figure out the correct policies and procedures, and we will do it the right way.”

LIRR 3rd track work still on schedule Continued from Page 4 on schedule, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Under a state executive order, construction of roads, bridges and transit facilities is considered “essential” and can therefore continue during the statewide shutdown.

In May, residents can expect work to continue on LIRR stations, bridges and sound barriers, 3TC, which is carrying out the project, said in an emailed statement last Thursday.

The LIRR will continue to conduct night and weekend work throughout the Main Line corridor, according to a statement on the LIRR Expansion Project website.

Throughout May, the Floral Park community can expect to see continued work on three new elevators at the LIRR station.

Construction on the Linden Avenue pedestrian underpass is nearly finished, and the Plainfield Avenue Bridge modification project is complete.

Construction crews in New Hyde Park will continue work on the New Hyde Park Road grade crossing elimination project throughout May. New Hyde Park Road is expected to open by Labor Day. Work on the New Hyde Park station will continue, and commuters can continue to use the temporary 10-car platform that runs along Second and Third Avenues. Work along the railroad rightof-way will likely take place at night and on weekends.

In Garden City and Garden City Park, crews will continue renovations of the Merillon Avenue station. 3TC is using some green spaces adjacent to the station

but will restore the areas following completion of the project, the company said.

Sound wall construction on the north side of the tracks in Garden City and Garden City Park is nearly complete.

Mineola LIRR station commuters will be able to access temporary platforms and walkways beginning in mid to late May. Due to preparatory work leading up to the elimination of the Willis Avenue grade crossing, there will be a number of street closures throughout the month. A full list of closures and a detour map can be found at lirrexpansion.com.

Work on the Harrison Avenue parking structure is expected to be finished by the end of the summer. This week crews were to begin work on the east end of the Glen Cove Road Bridge, which is being replaced to support the new third track.

Carle Place residents will see construction continue throughout May on the Meadowbrook Parkway Bridge, which is being modified to support the new third track, although drivers will still be able to use three lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides.

Crews will begin laying the foundation of the north support building of the Carle Place station this month. Work will continue on the Westbury north parking structure, which is scheduled to be completed in spring 2021.

In New Cassel, the stretch of School Street between Railroad Avenue and Union Avenue will close to car traffic on May 18 for approximately six months.

Retaining and sound wall construction as well as utility pole relocation will continue throughout communities affected by the Third Track Project.

BLANK SLATE MEDIA WELCOMES YOUR SUBMISSIONS. PLEASE E-MAIL THEM TO NEWS@THEISLANDNOW.COM

36 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

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37

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ CLEANING

ANTIQUES

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MOVING & STORAGE INC.

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38 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

BUYER’S GUIDE ▼ LAWN SPRINKLERS

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• Spring Turn-Ons • Backflow Device Tests • Free Estimates • Installation • Service/Repairs

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PAINTING

PAINTING & WALLPAPER est. 1978

Interior and Exterior • Plaster/Spackle Light Carpentry • Decorative Moldings Power Washing

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PAINTING, POWERWASHING

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WINDOW TREATMENTS

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TREE SERVICE

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nassau

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

39

COMMUNITY CLASSIFIEDS To advertise here call:516.307.1045

▼ EMPLOYMENT To Place Your Ad Call Phone:

516.307.1045 x 218

Fax:

516.307.1046

e-mail:

DFlynn@theislandnow.com

In Person:

25 Red Ground Rd. Roslyn Heights, NY 11577

We’re Open:

Mon–Thurs: 9am-5:30pm Fri: 9am-6pm

Deadlines

Tuesday 11:00am: Classified Advertising Tuesday 1:00pm: Legal Notices/ Name Changes Friday 5:00pm Buyers’s Guide Error Responsibility All ads placed by telephone are read back for verification of copy context.

In the event of an error of Blank Slate Media LLC we are not responsible for the first incorrect insertion. We assume no responsiblity for an error in and beyond the cost of the ad.

Cancellation Policy Ads must be cancelled the Monday before the first Thursday publication. All cancellations must be received in writing by fax at: 516.307.1046 Any verbal cancellations must be approved by a supervisor. There are no refunds on cancelled advertising. An advertising credit only will be issued.

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

EMPLOYMENT

HELP WANTED JOB OPPORTUNITY: $18.50 P/H NYC$16 P/H LI$13.50 P/H UPSTATE NYH. CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate! Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553

CAREER TRAINING COMPUTER & IT TRAINING program! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Now offering a $10,000 scholarship for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS COVID-19 Coronavirus testing is available by appointment in our Floral Park facility Mon., Wed. Thurs. at Floral Park MD across from Lady of Victory Church in the village square. Please call (516)488-1414 GET DIRECTV ! ONLY $35/month.

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ACTIVITIES LUNG CANCER? And Age 60+?

You and your family may be entitled to significant cash award. No risk. No money out of pocket. For information call 877-225-4813.

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

BY TRACY JORDAN is doing VIRTUAL TAG SALES and ONLINE AUCTIONS now! Sell the contents of an entire house or sell just a few things! You can host your own sale on invitedsales.com and Facebook and Instagram or we can do it for you. We can photograph, advertise and handle the winning pickups for you within a week! Don’t worry about your closing date, we can get your house ready on time!

We are a one stop service for all your needs when you are moving or selling a property! Selling, donating, discarding and cleaning out services can be done to meet your time frame with minimal stress. Contact info@invitedsales.com for more information or call 516-279-6378 to schedule a consultation or receive more information. Visit us at www. invitedsales.com for a listing of our upcoming Virtual Tag Sales and Weekly Auctions!

MARKETPLACE BOY SCOUT COMPENSATION FUNDAnyone that was inappropriately touched by a Scout leader deserves justice and financial compensation! Victims may be eligible for a significant cash settlement.

Time to file is limited. Call Now! 844-587-2494 PRIVACY HEDGES SPRING BLOW OUT SALE. 5’ Green Giant Arborvitae only $59 each.

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WANTED TO BUY Freon Wanted: We pay CA$H for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-361-0601 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

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

AUTOMOTIVE

AUTOS WANTED AUTO BUYERS! We visit you.

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JUNK CARS BOUGHT Auto Wrecking Frank & Sons

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REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

VACATION RENTAL STUNNING BAYFRONT RENTAL In Southold NY. 6BR, 3.5 bathrooms. Sleeps 20+. Great for families. Sandy beach, dock and large deck. Rental biweekly, monthly or seasonal. Contact 917-838-7732 for further details.

SUMMER BAYFRONT NORTHFORK RENTAL 6BR waterfront home in Laurel, North Fork. 3BR first floor, 3 on second. 2 1/2 bath, kitchen, LR & DR. Deck includes large outdoor dining table & gas grill. Private sandy beach w/ calm water excellent for children & kayaking. Close proximity to wineries & farmstands. Avail. June, July & Aug. $5250/week. Prefer 2 week increments. Contact Stephen Ripp 516-741-9669.

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40 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

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41

Over 3,700 on North Shore test positive Continued from Page 6 to figures provided by the county Department of Health, a total of 37,152 county residents had tested positive for the coronavirus. A total of 1,818 people had died.

Total hospitalizations,1,014, and patients on ventilators, 257, both have gradually decreased over the past two weeks, according to the figures.

Curran said on Tuesday that the number of hospitalizations represents a 58 percent decrease from one month ago.

Though the county will remain in New York Pause until May 15, Curran discussed the possibilities of reopening the economy for downstate areas such as Nassau County and New York City.

“I believe that downstate regional approach to reopening will be different from [New York City],” Curran said. “I am encouraging all business owners, education leaders, to start thinking about what reopening looks like.”

TOWN ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF PARKS Officials from the Town of North Hempstead announced on Monday that all parks will reopen for passive use beginning Monday, May 11. According to a news release from the town, the Championship Golf Course at Harbor Links will also reopen on Monday, but on a limited basis.

“With the weather getting warmer, opening up our parks for passive use offers additional opportunities to get some fresh air and exercise,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “We have been encouraged by the amount of progress made here in New York State in diminishing the spread of coronavirus.”

Bosworth stressed the importance of residents not becoming complacent in practicing social distancing and other protective measures.

“While this modified reopening repre-

Hempstead receives $133M in federal aid Continued from Page 8 for the leadership of Senator Schumer and our congressional delegation on the development of this crucial legislation. We are very fortunate to have Governor Cuomo’s historic leadership at this very desperate time in our state’s history. Our town government looks forward to working with the county and state governments to ensure these funds are used appropriately and efficiently to produce the greatest possible outcome for our communities.”

“I am honored to serve on this committee as much of my career has been dedicated to implementing and offering services and resources to members of the Hempstead community and beyond,” said Grasing. “This collaborative effort will make certain that the division of funds spreads across all of Hempstead so none of our communities struggling from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are forgotten about.”

“The launch of the economic relief advisory committee is the first of many steps that will be taken over the next couple of months to regain economic stability for our town, its businesses and residents,” said Town of Hempstead Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby. “Quickly getting the economy back up and running is important, but the equitable distribution of these funds in addition to everyone’s safety is our foremost priority.”

Due to the population threshold of 500,000 to apply to the federal aid program, Hempstead was the only town in Nassau County to receive funding. The county received $103 million in federal aid.

The Economic Recovery Committee announced on Tuesday that $2 million of the funding will be given as a grant to

temporary food banks to provide relief to food insecure families during the COVID-19 crisis. The town is partnering with Hauppauge-based food bank Long Island Cares in this effort.

“Nobody in our Town will go hungry because of the hardships they have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Clavin said. “Between many of our residents losing their jobs and the grocery stores struggling to meet demand, this funding will keep our food banks stocked for the next couple of months so our residents can be reassured with quality meals.”

The food distribution centers, which will be staffed by volunteers as well as two Long Island Cares staff members, will be open two days a week for eight hours total.

They are currently located in Baldwin, Elmont, Inwood and Roosevelt.

A 20-pound box of nonperishable food will be provided to each family in need.

Each box will be enough to feed a family of six for up to a week, the emergency committee said in a statement.

The $2 million will also go toward allowing Long Island Cares’ satellite location, the Nassau Center for Collaborative Assistance, to meet the increased need for support within Hempstead, Uniondale, Merrick, Bellmore and Oceanside.

“The ongoing COVID-19 health emergency has triggered a financial crisis for a multitude of families in our area — a phenomenon which too often results in less money for groceries and thinly stocked home refrigerators,” said Councilman Thomas Muscarella. “Local food banks like Long Island Cares have been at the forefront of the battle to prevent hunger in our hometown, and I know these funds from the Town of Hempstead will be put to good use supporting that cause.”

sents a message of hope, the health and well-being of everyone will always be our top priority,” Bosworth said. “As such, all park visitors must wear protective masks when in situations where they are unable to practice social distancing.”

After canceling virtually all of the town’s spring events, Bosworth said, she met with all other town supervisors throughout Long Island and formed the Nassau/Suffolk Joint Summer Operations Task Force.

The task force will devise a strategic reopening of recreational facilities throughout each Long Island town to prevent any potential surge in crowding due to a lack of coordination. Bosworth said she reached out to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino to coordinate efforts.

In ongoing efforts to continue safe interaction within the town, Bosworth and

the Town Board announced the launch date of new television programming for North Hempstead residents.

The programs, which will begin to air on May 18, according to officials, will include targeted programming for children and seniors. Highlights of the program include skill classes for basketball and football, dance parties, a reptile show and National Circus project workshops.

“We have adapted our recreational offerings during these unprecedented times to present fun and interactive programs for kids to enjoy in the comfort of their own homes,” Bosworth said. “We wanted to be able to offer programs that the Town normally hosts, but in a virtual setting so everyone can still participate.

All programs are broadcast on the town’s North Hempstead TV station. Residents are able to watch all the programs on channel 18 or 63 on Cablevision and channel 46 on Verizon FIOS.

READERS WRITE

Crime pays for school administrators

R

ead Newsday. It appears crime does pay if you’re a Roslyn school superintendent and steal $11.2 million as follows: Frank Tassone with another administrator Pamela Gluckin steals $11.2 million from the Roslyn school district. They were arrested and sent to prison. Gluckin

served 4 ¾ years and Tassone served 4 2/3 years, both released 2010.

Tassone still receives his $173,000 state pension, thanks to the people who we pay big bucks to watch the store. Am I missing something here?

Clara Rucker Floral Park

Local stores important to village’s future

C

ongratulations to all of us in the Plaza for enduring all encroachments on our personally guaranteed constitutional rights for the sake and respect for our neighbors.

Hopefully, the light at the end of this tunnel is not an oncoming train and we can envision the day, in the foreseeable future, when we can return to a normal state of living.

Some of our utility providers have recognized the financial reality of the situation and have instituted policies to ameliorate payment pressure. But our small businesses in the Plaza need additional help to get back on track.

If the monies from federal programs that were extended to the small businesses in the Plaza were used to pay workers’ salaries, that money would be considered a grant and no repayment would be due.

We should be aware that the life of our commercial business center in our village depends on our frequenting these stores and shopping locally.

The stores add to the allure of our village and provide us with products and services that come with personalized service unavailable online. I hope that we can all look forward to shopping in a revived business district in the near future.

Lastly, our wish to all of our friends and neighbors is that they continue to be patient just a while longer and stay safe.

We should be aware that the life of our commercial business center in our village depends on our frequenting these stores and shopping locally. The stores add to the allure of our village and provide us with products and services that come with personalized service unavailable online.

I hope that we can all look forward to shopping in a revived business district in the near future.

Lastly, our wish to all of our friends and neighbors is that they continue to be patient just a while longer and stay safe.”

Leonard Katz Revive Great Neck Plaza

42 The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

▼ LEGALS

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WT

NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION AND PUBLIC HEARING on the 2020 - 2021 School Budget in the HERRICKS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Town of North Hempstead, Nassau County, New York NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual election of qualified voters of the Herricks Union Free School District, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 for the purpose of voting, exclusively by absentee ballot, on the following matters: A. to vote on the annual school budget as set forth in Proposition No.1 below: PROPOSITION 1 RESOLVED that the 20202021 annual school budget for the Herricks Union Free School District and the appropriation of the necessary funds therefore and the levy of taxes necessary to meet the expenditures in said budget be authorized.

B. to elect two Board member for a three-year term commencing July 1, 2020 to fill the vacancy occasioned by the expiration of the term of James Gounaris and Henry R. Zanetti.

C.to vote on such other propositions as may properly come before the voters at this annual school election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Education will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2020, virtually, for the purpose of discussing the expenditure of funds for school district purposes and the budgeting thereof for the school year beginning July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021 (the 2020-2021 annual school budget).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of said 2020-2021 Annual School Budget for the Herricks Union Free School District containing a statement of the amount of money needed to meet the estimated expenses for school purposes for the 2020-2021 school year, exclusive of public monies, together with the text of any propositions, questions and resolutions which will be presented to the voters, will be made available for public viewing on the District’s website (www.Herricks.org) during the fourteen days immediately preceding the day of the budget vote and election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, an exemption report detailing exemptions from real property taxation shall be available and appended to any tentative, preliminary or final budget.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that each candidate for the office of a member of the Board of Education shall be nominated by petition and a separate petition for each such candidate shall be directed to and filed in the Office of the Clerk of said School District located in the Herricks Community Center no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2020 by email or mail delivery.

A nominating petition may be submitted with no signatures, and shall state the name and residence of the candidate, and shall describe the specific vacancy on said Board of Education for which the candidate is nominated, which description shall include at least the length of the term of office and name of the last incumbent.

No person shall be nominated by petition for more than one specific office. A nominating

petition that is filed with the District Clerk by email, fax or mail is acceptable.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any resident of the school district who is not already a registered voter and wishes to be a registered voter for this election may register with the board of elections by submitting an on-line application for voter registration with the Department of Motor Vehicles at https://dmv. ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual election who is: 1) a citizen of the United States, 2) eighteen years of age or older, and 3) a resident of the School District for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he or she offers to vote.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that all propositions and questions, which qualified voters of the school district desire placed upon the voting machines at said election, shall be made by petitions subscribed by not less than one hundred (100) qualified voters of the district and filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 11, 2020 thirty (30) days prior to said election, except as to propositions and questions required by law to be stated in the published or posted notice of the annual election which shall be filed not later than sixty (60) days prior to said election. When the last day for filing a petition falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the petition may be filed on the Monday following the last day for filing.

Upon the filing of such a petition the Board of Education shall determine by resolution whether or not to place such questions or propositions on the voting machines. In the event that the Board of Education shall determine that it is not proper, feasible or practicable to place such proposition or propositions, question or questions, upon a voting machine, then such proposition or propositions, question or questions, as the Board of Education may resolve to place before the voters at said election shall be voted upon by the use of paper ballots.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that no absentee voters’ ballots shall be canvassed, unless it shall have been received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot.

Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 11, 2020. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day.

DATED: May 7, 2020

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF New Hyde Park, New York EDUCATION Lisa Rutkoske, District Clerk Herricks Union Free School District Town of North Hempstead WT #153143 2x 5/8, 5/22/2020 #153143

AVISO DE ELECCIÓN ANUAL DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR Y AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA sobre el Presupuesto Escolar 2020-2021 en el DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE HERRICKS Ciudad de North Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, Nueva York SE DA AQUÍ AVISO de que la elección anual de votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar de Herricks, Ciudad de North Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, Nueva York se llevará a cabo el martes 9 de junio de 2020 con el propósito de votar, exclusivamente por votación en ausencia , en los siguientes asuntos: A. votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual como se establece en la Propuesta No.1 a continuación: PROPUESTA 1 RESUELTO que se autorice el presupuesto escolar anual 2020-2021 para el Herricks Union Free School District y la asignación de los fondos necesarios para ello y la recaudación de impuestos necesarios para cubrir los gastos en dicho presupuesto.

B. Elegir a dos miembros de la Junta por un período de tres años a partir del 1 de julio de 2020 para cubrir la vacante ocasionada por el vencimiento del período de James Gounaris y Henry R. Zanetti.

C. Votar sobre cualquier otra propuesta que pueda presentarse adecuadamente ante los votantes en esta elección escolar anual.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que la Junta de Educación celebrará una audiencia pública a las 7:30 p.m. el jueves 28 de mayo de 2020, virtualmente, con el propósito de discutir el gasto de fondos para propósitos del distrito escolar y el presupuesto del mismo para el año escolar que comienza el 1 de julio de 2020 y termina el 30 de junio de 2021 (el presupuesto escolar anual 2020-2021 ).

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que una copia de dicho presupuesto escolar anual 2020-2021 para el Herricks Union Free School District contiene una declaración de la cantidad de dinero necesaria para cubrir los gastos estimados para fines escolares para el año escolar 2020-2021, exclusivo del dinero público, junto con el texto de cualquier propuesta, preguntas y resoluciones que se presentarán a los votantes, se pondrá a disposición del público en el sitio web del Distrito (www.Herricks. org) durante los catorce días inmediatamente anteriores al día de la votación del presupuesto. y elección.

EL AVISO SE OTORGA ADEMÁS de conformidad con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, un informe de exención que detalla las exenciones del impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles estarà disponible y se adjuntará a cualquier presupuesto provisional, preliminar o final.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que cada candidato para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación será nominado por petición y una petición por separado para cada candidato será dirigida y presentada en la Oficina del Secretario de dicho Distrito Escolar ubicado en el Herricks Community Center a más tardar a las 5 pm el lunes 11 de mayo de 2020 por correo electrónico o entrega por correo. Una petición de nominación puede presentarse sin firmas, e indicará el nombre y la residencia del candidato, y describirá la vacante específica en dicha Junta de Educación para la cual está nominado el candidato, cuya descripción deberá incluir al menos la du-

ración del período del cargo y nombre del último titular. Ninguna persona será nominada por petición para más de un cargo específico. Se acepta una petición de nominación que se presente al Secretario del Distrito por correo electrónico, fax o correo.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que cualquier residente del distrito escolar que aún no sea un votante registrado y desee ser un votante registrado para esta elección puede registrarse en la junta electoral mediante la presentación de una solicitud en línea para el registro de votantes con el Departamento de Vehículos Motores en https:// dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que una persona tendrá derecho a votar en la elección anual si es: 1) Ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, 2) dieciocho años de edad o más, y 3) residente del Distrito escolar por un período de treinta días antesde la elección que él o ella ofrece para votar.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que todas las proposiciones y preguntas, que los votantes calificados del distrito escolar deseen colocar en las máquinas de votación en dicha elección, se hará por peticiones suscritas por no menos de cien (100) votantes calificados del distrito y presentado en la Oficina del Secretario del distrito escolar entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m. y a más tardar a las 5:00 pm. el lunes 11 de mayo de 2020 treinta (30) días antes de dicha elección, excepto en lo que respecta a proposiciones y las preguntas que la ley exige que se establezcan en el aviso publicado o publicado de la elección annual que deberá presentarse a más tardar sesenta (60) días antes de dicha elección. Cuando el último día para presentar una petición cae un sábado o domingo, la petición puede presentarse el lunes siguiente al último día para la presentación.

Tras la presentación de dicha petición, la Junta de Educación determinará por resolución de colocar o no tales preguntas o proposiciones en las máquinas de votación. En el caso de que la Junta de Educación determine que no es apropiado, factible o practicable colocar tal proposición o proposiciones, pregunta o preguntas, en una máquina de votación, entonces tal propuesta o proposiciones, pregunta o preguntas, la Junta de Educación deberà de resolver un lugar ante los votantes en dicha elección que voten mediante el uso de boletas de papel.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que no se escrutaràn las boletas de los votantes en ausencia, a menos de haber sido recibidas en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. en el día de la votación.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS que los votantes militares que no están actualmente registrados pueden solicitor registrarse como votante calificado del distrito escolar. Votantes militares que son votantes calificados de la el distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro militar de votante, solicitud de boleta militar o boleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de registro, solicitud o boleta. Los formularios de inscripción de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boletas militares deben ser recibidas en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el 11 de mayo de 2020. Ninguna boleta militar se registrará a menos que sea recibida por la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar 5:00 pm. el día de las

elecciones.

FECHA: 7 de mayo de 2020 POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE New Hyde Park, Nueva York EDUCACION Lisa Rutkoske, Secretario Del Distrito DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE HERRICKS Ciudad de North Hempstead WT #153144 2x 5/8, 5/22/2020 #153144

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND ANNUAL BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION MINEOLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF NORTH HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Mineola Union Free School District, Town of North Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, New York, will be held on June 2, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. prevailing time, for the presentation of the budget document. Due to public health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Education will not be meeting in-person. As permitted under the Governor of the State of New York’s Executive Order 202.15, such public hearing shall be conducted remotely.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 202.1, the Board meeting will be held via videoconferencing, and a transcript will be provided at a later date. The public will have an opportunity to see and hear the meeting, including the public hearing, live and provide comments.

The School District will provide further information concerning how to see, hear and participate in the public hearing at a later date.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said annual budget vote and election, also referred to as the annual district meeting, will be held remotely on June 9, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as required by the Governor of the State of New York’s Executive Order 202.26, such annual budget vote and election shall be conducted by absentee ballot only.

The vote, by absentee ballot only, shall be upon the following items: 1.To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the 20202021 school year and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the School District.

2.To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education, each for a three-year term commencing July 1, 2020 and expiring on June 30, 2023, to succeed Margaret Ballantyne-Mannion and Patrick Talty, whose terms expire June 30, 2020.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the condensed form of the budget proposition and a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District’s budget for the 2020-2021 school year, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the School District during business hours beginning May 26, 2020, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the office of the District Clerk, Willis Avenue School, 121 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York, upon prior appointment only, subject to any and all applicable laws, regulations and Executive Orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to social distancing requirements, as well as on the School District’s website. A report of tax exemptions, showing how much of the

total assessed value on the final assessment roll or rolls used in that budgetary process is exempt from taxation, shall be annexed to the budget document.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at the School District’s administrative offices at 121 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York, not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 11, 2020. Under Executive Order 202.26, there is no minimum requirement for signatures on nominating petitions; however, an individual must meet any other requirements to be placed on the ballot, including applicable residency and age requirements. Such nominating petition may be filed by regular mail, directed to the District Clerk, 121 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York; electronic mail, directed to the District Clerk at lspagnola@mineola. k12.ny.us; or in person, at the School District’s administrative offices, directed to the District Clerk, subject to any and all applicable laws, regulations and Executive Orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to social distancing requirements. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large.

Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated.

In accordance with Part 122 of the Rules and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot. Applications for military ballots for the election of two (2) members of the Board of Education, for voting on the annual school district budget, and for voting on any propositions, may be requested from the District Clerk at 121 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York, or by calling that office at 516-237-2032 or by contacting the District Clerk via email at lspagnola@mineola.k12.ny.us.

Upon such request for a military voter ballot application, such military voter may indicate his/ her preference for receiving the application by mail, facsimile or electronic mail. Completed military ballot applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2020.

A list of all persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the School District in the office of the District Clerk during regular business hours during the five (5) days prior to the election, except Sunday, and on June 9, 2020, the day set for the election, upon prior appointment only, subject to any and all applicable laws, regulations and Executive Orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to social distancing requirements.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Board of Registration of the School District will not meet for the purpose of registering voters for the June 9, 2020 election. Voters who have heretofore registered and voted at an election within the last four calendar years are eligible to vote at this election. All other qualified voters who wish to vote must register. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America; (2) 18 years of age or older; and (3) a resident of the School District for 30 days preceding the annual vote and election; and (4) not otherwise prohibited from voting under the provisions of Section 5-106 of the Election Law.

The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

WT

â&#x2013;¼ LEGALS

WT

A qualified voter may register to vote in the June 9, 2020 election by registering to vote with the Westchester County Board of Elections.

You may contact the Westchester County Board of Elections for additional information at: Nassau County Board of Elections. You must register at least twenty-five (25) days before the election. You may contact the Nassau County Board of Elections for additional information at: Nassau County Board of Elections, 240 Old Country Road, 5th Floor, P.O. Box 9002, Mineola, NY 11501, or by calling (516) 571-2411, or by their website at: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/566/Boardof-Elections. A qualified voter may also register through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website at https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/ electronic-voter-registrationapplication.

Military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the School District. Military voters may apply to register to vote with the District Clerk, by calling that office at 516237-2032 or by emailing the District Clerk at lspagnola@ mineola.k12.ny.us..

Upon such request for a military voter application, such military voter may indicate his/ her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile or electronic mail.

Such registration application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2020. Any military voter shall be entitled to have his or her name placed upon such Register, provided he or she is known or proven to be to the satisfaction of the District Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to military voter status at the annual meeting and election for which such Register is prepared.

To be counted, absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the election.

The register of all voters prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District at 121 Jackson Avenue, Mineola, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the School District beginning five (5) days prior to the election, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the five (5) days prior to the election, except Sunday, and on June 9, 2020, the day set for the election, upon prior appointment only, subject to any and all applicable laws, regulations and Executive Orders relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to social distancing requirements.

Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such names, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for such challenge.

By Order of the Board of Education of the Mineola Union Free School District, Nassau County, New York By: Linda Spagnola District Clerk Mineola UFSD. Nassau County, New York WT #153152 2x 5/8, 5/22/2020 #153152

ADVERTISE HERE

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43

44 The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

WT

COMMUNITY NEWS

L.I. water supply FCA launches support line remains unaffected The Long Island Water Conference, an association of more than 50 water suppliers and other industry partners — as well as the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association— would like to remind all Long Islanders that the public’s drinking water supply remains unaffected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

While changes to some customer-facing services and non-emergency work have been implemented, water providers have not experienced any issues in carrying out the operations of delivering water to residents’ homes.

“Water providers throughout Long Island have shown once again that there is no emergency they are not prepared to handle,” stated Richard Passariello, chairman of the Long Island Water Conference. “With swift and de-

liberate actions, water providers quickly implemented policies that protected the health and safety of their employees as well as the residents they serve without jeopardizing water quality or their ability to meet demand.”

Even though the global pandemic is increasing local health concerns, Long Islanders can rest assured that the convenience of tap water is something that will continue unabated during these ever-evolving times.

New York State regulations require all public water suppliers to routinely disinfect the water supply with low levels of chlorine. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed that these standard practices are an effective method for inactivating the COVID-19 virus.

FCA, one of Long Island’s largest not-for-profit organizations, has launched an Essential Worker Support Line for those serving our communities throughout Nassau and Suffolk County during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus global health crisis continues to cause waves of crippling life-altering disturbances and challenges to our everyday existence.

Many have been stuck home in isolation following social distancing orders, while others have been out on the frontlines making sure that essential needs are still met and crucial services remain available.

From grocery store clerks and gas station attendants to healthcare workers and sanitation teams — it took a pandemic to truly bring to light what it takes to keep our communities running and how society sometimes overlooks the contributions of everyday heroes.

Long hours, work that is emotionally and physically taxing and time away from families all take a toll.

That’s why FCA is launching the Essential Worker Support Line designed to offer mental health and wellness resources for healthcare and other frontline pandemic workers. This service will provide a friendly voice on the other end of the line to listen, share thoughts and concerns with, or even just to serve as an outlet and sounding board.

For those filled with fear and anxiety, those overworked and overtired, and the essential workers who have experienced a great deal in just a short amount of time, FCA’s team of mental health counselors has stepped up to the plate to provide support to those who have sacrificed so much.

This group of trained professionals will be available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. through midnight.

FCA would like to remind

those who have faced and continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic head-on, that they are not alone. With a 135-year history of protecting and serving Long Islanders in need, FCA remains ready and prepared to help.

“We all know someone who has been working on the front lines during this pandemic” said FCA Chief Operating Officer Lisa Burch. “Many of us have watched those we know, and love break down after long shifts in hospitals and nursing homes or be filled with anxiety after spending all day trying to keep the shelves stocked at the local market.

Sometimes you just need to pick up the phone and talk to someone about your day before heading home. Sometimes you need to cry or vent. This support line can be that friendly voice and listening ear – even for five minutes”.

For more information on this newly launched service, please call the Essential Worker Support Line at (516)281-0202.

New appointments ‘Driveways’ at Gold Coast Arts within Nassau IDA Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency announced these new appointments: Anne L. LaMorte, of Oyster Bay, has been appointed chief financial officer of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency. She previously was chief financial officer of the City of Glen Cove Community Development Agency.

She received a bachelor of science degree in business administration and legal adminis-

Nicole Gil

tration from Greensboro College and holds a certificate in financial management, accounting and finance from New York University.

Nicole Gil, of St. Albans, Queens, has been appointed an administrative assistant at the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency. She is a recent graduate of the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Elmhurst, where she received a bachelor of science in aeronautical science.

Gold Coast Arts has partnered with several top film distributors and filmmakers to bring great films to viewers as part of its virtual at-home screening series during the coronavirus crisis. Among those films is “Driveways,” starring the late, award-winning actor, and Mineola native, Brian Dennehy who passed away on April 15 at the age of 81.

In one of his last screen appearances, Dennehy delivers a touching and impeccable performance in “Driveways,” which is available May 4 through May 13, 2020, for $12 through the Gold Coast Arts’ website, www. goldcoastarts.org.

Director Andrew Ahn’s intimate drama, “Driveways” evolves around the unlikely friendship formed between a lonely young boy and his new octogenarian neighbor.

As his mother looks on, he provides the widowed veteran with a youthful outlook and begins to discover a newfound maturity within himself. “Driveways” also stars Hong Chau, Lucas Jaye, Christine Ebersole, and Jerry Adler and was nominated for two Film Independent Spirit Awards, Best Female Lead, and Best First Screenplay. “‘Driveways’ gives Dennehy a juicy role that he plays to the hilt without ever overplaying.

He has a final monologue, in

which he expresses a lifetime of regrets, that is a breathtaking piece of film acting,” noted The Hollywood Reporter.

In 2013, Gold Coast Arts welcomed Dennehy for a very special on-stage conversation event called “Dennehy by Donahue,” where personality, writer, and film producer Phil Donahue interviewed the Chaminade High School graduate about his illustrious career in theater,

film, and on television.

“We will always remember the thrill of meeting Brian Dennehy and getting to know him as a funny, charming and serious man, who was also an outstanding story-teller, who shared his life and career with us in one memorable evening,” said Regina Gil, Executive Director of Gold Coast Arts. “We will remember him fondly as a dear friend to Gold Coast Arts.”

Personality, writer, and film producer Phil Donahue; Executive Director of Gold Coast Arts Regina Gil; and Long Island native Brian Dennehy at an on-stage conversation event called “Dennehy by Donahue,” held at Gold Coast Arts in 2013.

The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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45

COMMUNITY NEWS

Birthday trifecta Gold Coast moves online at The Regency!

The Regency Assisted Living had three over 90 birthday celebrations on Sunday. Safe and sound in their home, three of our residents celebrated with their families, virtually.

Jeanne Geib turned 97! Her family sent in special cupcakes from The Cake Don in Carle Place. Regency staff delivered them to her with balloons and sang Happy Birthday. Photos were sent to Jeanne’s family to share her milestone celebration.

Babette Cohen, 95 years young, started the day with a Regency staff celebration. Balloons and a personalized birthday sign made her morning! In the afternoon, she had an international Zoom meeting with three generations of her family members.

Babette was thrilled to see all of her family, especially her great-grandchildren. Gary Co-

hen, her son said, “In this crazy time of quarantine, the enforced distance from my mother makes it hard to feel connected.

The Regency arranged the call for her and 15 family members to be able to connect via Zoom and it was a thrill for all of us.”

Adele Bennett, the baby of the group turned 91: who would believe it! She received a Regency Happy Birthday celebration with a specialty cupcake, balloons and a personalized sign.

Later in the day her family rejoiced together with her on FaceTime. Adele was so grateful that The Regency connected her with her family on her special day.

Despite the pandemic, we were thrilled to facilitate three birthday celebrations. Happy Birthday Jeanne, Babette and Adele. What a great day!

Gold Coast Arts, a non-profit multi-arts organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach, and North Shore TV, are pleased to present “Life & Larry Brown,” a powerful and moving documentary from New York filmmaker Scott D. Rosenbaum, the award-winning director of “Sidemen: Long Road To Glory.”

“Life & Larry Brown” had its virtual world premiere on March 27, as part of the Gold Coast International Film Festival’s yearround film screening program. The screening will include a post-film Q&A with Rosenbaum and Gold Coast Arts Founder and Executive Director Regina Gil. The free film and Q&A will be presented on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. beginning on April 25, and running through May 17, on Optimum channel 20, and Verizon FiOS channel 37.

“Life & Larry Brown” can also be seen simultaneously on North Shore TV’s website, www.nstv.org, and can be viewed free anytime through April 30, on the Gold Coast Art’s website. www.goldcoastarts. org. North Shore TV serves the

Life & Larry Brown is presented on NSTV on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. through May 17.

Great Neck/North Shore area of Nassau County.

Larry Brown, who sadly passed away on April 20, 2020, from complications related to the COVID-19 virus, was born in 1953 in Forsyth, Georgia, a town steeped in oppression and racism.

“Life & Larry Brown” is a deeply moving 37-minute film that follows Larry as he reflects on a tumultuous life that led to a murder conviction, subsequent 34-year prison sentence and the salvation that his mother’s love and a guitar provided.

Music was the game-changer for Larry Brown and helped him survive 34 years, across seven different prisons and five parole denials.

While its doors remain temporarily closed due to coronavirus restrictions, Gold Coast Arts is providing online classes and private lessons in all the visual and performing arts as well as online films, concerts, and other enrichment activities. To learn more about all of its virtual arts programs, visit goldcoastarts.org.

JCC aids essential workers

Jeanne Geib, Babette Cohen, Adele Bennett

In response to Long Island’s growing demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other necessities for those working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sid Jacobson JCC has launched the Sid Jacobson JCC Essential Works + First Responders Fund. The fund allows individuals to choose from a list of local, charitable organizations dedicated to supplying the necessary PPE and providing meals to essential workers. Donations can be made at sjjcc.org/essentialworkers.

“During these unprecedented times, SJJCC is committed to supporting those on the frontlines who are risking their lives to keep us all safe,” says David Black, executive director, Sid Jacobson JCC. “The mission of this fund is to raise dollars for charities who are directly helping Long Island frontline workers.”

Currently, donations can be made to support initiatives and organizations including All Hands and

Hearts and Mask A Hero NY who are distributing PPE to local hospitals and other healthcare facilities that need it most; Roslyn Softball First Responders Project, coordinating the delivery of donated food to feed health care workers at hospitals across Long Island; UJA-Federation of NY, addressing challenges across the community, helping sustain its non-profit partners (including Sid Jacobson JCC), and making sure that the most vulnerable members of our community on Long Island and across New York, get the help they desperately need right now.

“There is an urgent race to mask our health care workers,” says Dr. Emily Levin, Co-founder, Mask A Hero NY. “We need at least 3 million N95 masks in New York alone to fight COVID-19. If you have these at your home or office, Mask A Hero NY can donate them to area hospitals urgently in need.”

All Hands and Hearts board member and East Hills resident

Adam Haber is spearheading the AHAH Long Island PPE fundraiser.

“The purpose of the fundraiser is to raise $250,000 to benefit Long Island’s frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and food bank volunteers,” notes Haber. “To date, AHAH has already purchased and is in the process of distributing 50,000 KN95 masks and 4,000 Long Island manufactured face shields.”

The Roslyn Softball Group has coordinated the delivery of pizzas from local restaurants to the health care professionals at Long Island Jewish and North Shore Hospitals.

“Pizzas and sodas started to be delivered on April 13 to some of the evening shifts at the hospitals, and deliveries will continue for the next few weeks,” says Danny Goodman, Captain of the Roslyn Softball Group.

To learn more about organizations your donation can benefit or to make a donation today, visit sjjcc. org/essentialworkers.

Daniel Gale launches White Glove Concierge Service In February, Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty announced the launch of White Glove Concierge Service. White Glove provides sellers comprehensive home preparation services with professional project management and no upfront costs.

Services that are exclusive

to Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty clients include professional staging and design, high-impact upgrades, landscaping, packing, moving and temporary housing plus strategic home renovations, virtual staging, valuation services and furniture consignment.

White Glove will provide both the contractors to get the job done and offer third-party financing, so any home improvement won’t be charged to the sellers until closing.

“More than ever we have seen homes achieve a higher sales price when properly staged, freshly painted and otherwise prepped

for the market,” stated Deirdre O’Connell, CEO of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty.

“During this unprecedented time, we continue to represent clients who want or need to sell a home.

Our local teams are working hard, continuing to conduct the business of real estate, “ said O’Connell.

“We are committed to providing the highest quality service and will continue to support our buyers and sellers. Partnering with White Glove concierge services is something we have done to meet a market need and overcome some of the challenges we face in real estate today.”

46 Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 8, 2020

D’Arrigo gets backing of grass-roots group Continued from Page 10 According to a news release, the organization supports D’Arrigo’s stance on affordable and available health care, the repealing of the Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal funds for most abortions, equality for all, immigrant rights, economic justice and common-sense gun safety.

D’Arrigo’s campaign has been endorsed by more than 15 organizations as of Tuesday, including the National Organization for Women, Matriarch, Long Island Activists, Our Progressive Future, Forward Thinking Democracy, Brand New Congress, Moms in Office, and Muslims for Progress.

Though campaigning for votes and endorsements has changed since the coronavirus pandemic began, D’Arrigo said, meaningful conversations are being conducted every day.

“We’re very focused on voter outreach and holding virtual town hall meetings,” D’Arrigo said. “People are more likely to be listening to the issues now more than ever throughout what is going on in the world.”

D’Arrigo said she encourages everyone in the 3rd Congressional District and beyond

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW LAVIN

Melanie D’Arrigo, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 3rd Congressional District, received an endorsement from Long Island Network for Change last week. to fill out absentee applications along with reaching out to her campaign offices to discuss the issues further at https://www.darrigo2020.com/.

Kim Devlin, senior adviser for Suozzi for Congress, responded to the news of D’Arrigo’s endorsement.

“Congressman Suozzi has been focused

on addressing the pandemic and delivering funding for our hospitals and frontline workers, for his constituents, and small businesses, and getting federal aid to New York,” Devlin said in a statement. “The political season has begun and the Congressman will highlight his record of getting thing done for the people he serves.”

Devlin implored residents to find out more about Congressman Suozzi’s work at www.suozziforcongress.com Michael Weinstock, a Democratic challenger in the 3rd Congressional District and Great Neck native, said members of the organization contacted him and said the endorsement “came out of nowhere and there was no discussion or vote.”

“These people were especially appalled because Melanie claims to be a “progressive” but she is actually a very wealthy woman who has hired a team of lawyers to try to knock me off the ballot,” Weinstock said in a statement.

“We’re proud to have received LINC’s endorsement which was based on an internal vote,” D’Arrigo said in a statement.

“They voted to endorse me because my platform most closely aligns to their mission. I’m the only progressive in the race with a platform that helps Long Island and Queens families. Considering we’re in a pandemic, Weinstock seems to have more time for complaining than focusing on the issues, running a viable campaign or helping his community.”

Hospitals financially strained by COVID-19 Continued from Page 8 Northwell added 1,900 beds and hired 500 nurses from around the country through staffing agencies, Lynam said.

“In addition to the expense of creating additional bed capacity, the larger expense had to do with the staffing,” he said. “Creating the beds is a relatively

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easy thing. Staffing them is something else.

“The staffing demands have been one of the most intense and one of the most expensive parts of this effort.”

Health systems are having to pay higher prices than usual for personal protective equipment as well.

Catholic Health Services of Long Island, which operates six hospitals, is losing about $100 million per month, Chief Financial Officer Daniel DeBarba told Newsday. About $500,000 went to ventilators for coronavirus patients, he said.

Northwell has a large network of suppliers, and therefore fared better than most, said Lynam.

“[W]e were able to secure literally millions of N95 masks, visors, gloves, gowns, [and] other personal protective equipment that’s needed for those on the front lines,” he said.

Even so, the added cost of protective equipment, and N95 respirators in particular, has had a financial impact on Northwell. The health system spends $10,000 to $40,000 on each respirator, Lynam said.

He added that Northwell has been using three to four times the amount of PPE that is typically used.

The next round of federal aid allocates nearly $1.5 billion to New York hospitals and health systems. It is yet to be determined how much funding will go to Nassau County hospitals.

Blank Slate Media welcomes your submissions.

Please e-mail them to news@theislandnow.com

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The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Northwell board chair extends his gratitude Northwell Health Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Epstein offered words of thanks and encouragement to front line workers this week at two hard-hit hospitals at the heart of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Epstein, of Sands Point, Long Island, toured COVID-19 units on April 29 at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park and North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset as well as a visit to staff at Cohen Children’s Medical Center.

“I felt it was important to see the life-

saving work that’s being done at Northwell hospitals and to personally thank staff who have been putting themselves in harm’s way since this pandemic arrived in New York,” said Epstein, who is a senior partner at the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, in Manhattan and has served as a Northwell trustee for 15 years.

“I came away amazed and inspired by the professionalism and dedication these selfless medical workers have displayed throughout the toughest crisis of our lifetimes.”

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health Board of Trustees Chair Michael A. Epstein meets with the staff at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Virtual Pesach for Silverstein students Silverstein Hebrew Academy continues to bring out the best in their students despite the difficult circumstances. SHA has used this time to create an interactive, virtual environment for students and their families to continue to learn. In addition to the number of exciting activities for students to take part in on a regular basis, SHA has made it their main priority this past week to ensure their students are able to lead the Passover Seder in a virtual setting.

Prior to the Seder, Early Childhood teachers safely delivered bags with Haggadahs for students to work on from home with their teacher.

“We take great pride in how our school has made distance learning meaningful and productive for all students,” said Shireen Butman, head of school at SHA. “Although our students and teachers are separated for the time being, we wanted to ensure that our students knew the traditions and halakhot that relate to the Seder and were comfortable and able to lead a Seder.”

In order to celebrate properly, the school even added two mornings of learning during the Passover break to help children celebrate a virtual model Seder.

This was then followed by a program

that included a word unscramble game, Dvar Torah with Rabbi Ezagui as well as Musical Hallel and a Passover scavenger hunt. Kindergarten through second-grade students at SHA had their very own virtual model Seder, a ritual feast that marks the beginning of Pesach.

Third-grade students virtually honed their artistic skills by creating a Pesach painting of the splitting of the Red Sea. Early Childhood students had an exclusive program just for them that included music, storytime, and dancing.

These creative initiatives, a robust online learning platform through Zoom along with weekly wellness check-ins are giving students the personal connection that they need in these challenging times despite the sudden shift from a physical school setting to learning from home.

This is how the Silverstein Hebrew Academy ensures that their principle of educating children with an open mind and an open heart still stands.

For more information about the Silverstein Hebrew Academy, visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SilversteinHebrewAcademy or call the school at 516-4668522.

47

48 The Williston Times, Friday, May 8, 2020

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