East Meadow
HERALD Nassau Coliseum operators in debt
Students add to hospital mural
How MSSN fought the pandemic
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Vol. 20 No. 29
JUlY 16 - 22, 2020
A garden grows in E.M. Neighbors beautify their block during the pandemic teacher has been competing in triathlons across the country for almost a decade. Throughout the coronavirus For the past six years, pandemic, many East Meadow O’Leary has run along Wantagh residents have been decorating Parkway, and has passed a their homes with rainbows and stretch of flowers on the side of signs thanking the road. It made essential workers. him want to start Another trend his own garden, he that attracted attensaid, adding, “It’s tion on social media always been in the is “Rock the Meadback of my mind.” ow,” a Facebook O’Leary comgroup that has petes in grueling inspired residents to Ironman competipaint rocks with tions, which comhopeful messages prise a 2.4-mile and hide them a 112-mile TIMoTHY o’lEARY swim, through the commubicycle ride and a East Meadow nity. full 26.2-mile maraBut a group of thon. He had resident neighbors unintenplanned to comtionally created pete in Texas in their own show of unity. In April, but the event was canceled April, an azalea bush popped up because of the pandemic. With on the side of Bernice Court more time on his hands, he said, and, over the ensuing three he was motivated to begin his months, there have been many new hobby. other floral contributions, and it In April, he planted the azalea is now a community garden full bush in a stretch of bare grass of multi-colored flowers and along the sidewalk on Bernice lawn decorations. Court in front of his house. For The spark was Timothy roughly a week, neighbors O’Leary, whom neighbors on stopped by to take photos and Bernice Drive can spot jogging marvel at the bush of vibrant along their block most mornings. The 56-year-old retired Continued on page 5
By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
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Courtesy Kathryn Howell/New York Islanders
The Isles hit the ice once again Anthony Beauvillier and the rest of the New York Islanders returned to the ice at Northwell Health Ice Center, in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park, on Monday to prepare for the NHL playoffs, which begin Aug. 1. Story, more photos, Page 4.
‘We are flying a plane in the dark’ District mulls many different ideas on reopening By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
Dozens of administrators, teachers, parents, nurses and police officers have been working together throughout the summer to answer the question, How will schools in the East Meadow School District reopen in September? On July 7, they presented their ideas in a PowerPoint slideshow to a group of almost 100
people who tuned in to a Board of Education meeting on Zoom. But the question remained unanswered at the end of the threehour meeting. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced that school districts must submit reopening plans to the state by July 31. After reviewing those plans, the state will determine whether districts can reopen their buildings to students in the fall. Cuomo also plans to release safety guidelines
for schools early next week. But board President Matthew Melnick said that the district was not given any guidance on developing a plan. And Superintendent Kenneth Card Jr. added that doing so feels like “we are flying a plane in the dark.” “The best-case scenario is everyone back in school at the same time,” Melnick said. “The question now is if that’s not posContinued on page 7
t was just something I wanted to do for the block and for the community.