Freeport Herald 07-02-2020

Freeport

Leader Village welcomes Phase 3

T-shirts sell for Covid-19 victims

People of color hit hard by virus

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Vol. 85 No. 27

JUlY 2 - 8, 2020

Village forms local police advisory group

Officials, residents discuss policing will be introduced by the village later this week, consists of two officers and an adviser. Village As protesters demanded jus- officials said the two officers, a tice for Akbar Rogers outside black woman and a Latina Freeport Village Hall on Monday, woman, will meet with neighborabout a dozen local residents hood and faith leaders, civic entered the buildassociations and ing to speak with PTAs to g ather village of ficials ideas on how the about the changes Police Department they wanted to see can better serve the in the way the vilcommunity. lage polices the A c c o rd i n g t o community.

C u o m o ’s o r d e r, Although the local governments conversation grew will have until next heated at times, vilApril 1 to redesign lage officials said their police departcommunity memments or face the bers would become possibility of losmore involved in ing state funding. deciding policing T hose gover npolicies, because ments must the village formed TIffANY Cook account for the size a community adviof their police forcFreeport sory group a little es, the weapons over a week ago to they use, their dishelp Freeport follow police ciplinary procedures for punishreform mandates signed into law ing offending officers and a citiby Gov. Andrew Cuomo on June zen-complaint process.

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Kennedy and Deputy Police “The community will have Chief Mike Smith urged resimore input than ever before,” dents to reach out to them directMayor Robert Kennedy said, ly to offer their input on policing “and you will see changes in how policy. policy is formed from now on.”

The advisory group, which Continued on page 3

By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com

I

Ronny Reyes/Herald

AkBAR RogERS ShAREd the story of his arrest publicly for the first time on June 25.

Akbar Rogers breaks his silence Demands justice over alleged police brutality

By RoNNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com

As Akbar Rogers watched the video of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck, the Freeporter’s mind flashed back to what had happened to him seven months earlier, he said.

On Dec. 3, Freeport Police officers chased the 44-yearold, who had a bench warrant for his arrest, and wrestled him to the ground. Video cap-

tured by a bystander shows seven white officers on top of Rogers, with one officer kicking him and another punching him.

Rogers said that he told police he couldn’t breathe a number of times during the arrest. He said that officers responded to his pleas with expletives.

Rogers has not spoken publicly since the incident, allowing his attorneys and community advocates to speak on his behalf, but he said he would

no longer stay silent as he shared his story for the first time during a Black Lives Matter rally in front of the Nassau County district attorney’s office in Mineola on June 25.

“I knew I couldn’t be silent,” Rogers told protesters, his hands trembling as he held a microphone. “I needed to speak out, and we need to stop the next George Floyd, the next Eric Garner from happening again.”

Continued on page 3

’ve always respected the police, but it’s hard to give that respect when it isn’t returned because of the color of my skin.

July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Ronny Reyes/Herald

MaYOR ROBERt KENNEdY, along with other local leaders, welcomed the start of Phase Three of reopening at Freeport’s Nautical Mile.

Local officials welcome Phase Three at the Mile

By RONNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com

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Freeport Village leaders gathered at the Nautical Mile today to ring in the start of Phase Three.

“We’ve been through one the hardest economical and emotional times in recent history,” Mayor Robert Kennedy said.

“But I’m glad that our businesses on our Nautical Mile can reopen, and I welcome everyone to come down here during the summer to support our businesses.”

During Phase Three, restaurants will be permitted to open for indoor, in-person dining at 50 percent capacity, provided employees and patrons wear masks and tables are spaced six feet apart, with no more than 10 people per table.

Under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s guidance, personal services — including spas and tattoo parlors — will also be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity, but waiting rooms must remain closed.

Jenny Jorge, president of the Freeport Chamber of Commerce, said the pandemic has been especially hard on Freeport, which depends on spring and summer tourism to bolster its economy as many businesses close down for the winter.

She said that while some businesses are currently struggling, she hopes a steady stream of summer tourists will help them get buy.

“It’s important that we go to local restaurants and shop at our mom-and-pop stores because they’re the heart of our village,” Jorge said.

While the village hopes for a successful reopening of the Nautical Mile, village officials urged residents and business owners to follow proper safety protocol when shopping and dining at the Mile.

Kennedy and Freeport Police Lt. Carl Hetzel said that there would be extra police presence on the Nautical Mile to make sure regulations are being followed.

Officers will also be handing out free masks to residents and non-residents who do not have one.

Village Attorney Howard Colton said that those not following regulation could be charged with disorderly conduct and have to pay a $2,500 fine.

Christina Daly/Herald

MaYOR ROBERt KENNEdY, along with other local leaders, welcomed the start of Phase Three of reopening at Freeport’s Nautical Mile.

Hetzel added that restaurants and bars that break regulations could lose their liquor license as Freeport Police reports violations to the State Liquor Authority.

There have been at least two instances of this happening prior to Phase Three.

On May 7, the owner of a restaurant near North Main Street and Leonard Avenue was arrested for allowing patrons to enter and drink alcohol. The same happened to another restaurateur on the Nautical Mile on May 16. Both were charged with willful violation of public health laws, as well as laws set forth by the State Liquor Authority.

There have been no other cases since then.

“I’m confident we can maintain safety here,” Kennedy said. “We used to have 20 Covid-19 cases a day and now we’re down to only two in the past 14 days. We rebuilt after Sandy, and we’ll rebuild again after Covid-19.”

Protesters urge D.A. to drop Rogers charges Rogers’s attorney, Greg-Patric Martello, said his client suffered a fractured wrist and severe injuries to his shoulder and back.

Rogers, along with local community advocates and State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, urged District Attorney Madeline Singas to fully investigate his case, and to drop the charges against him for resisting arrest.

Nia Adams, of Jericho, who helped organize the event, said she was devastated when she saw what happened to Rogers. She organized a rally for him in December, and said that the fact that nothing has happened with his case yet is unacceptable.

“We need to put pressure on our leaders now more than ever,” Adams said.

“Six months ago, we said, ‘No justice, no peace,’ and we meant it.”

A spokesman for the D.A.’s office said that the case was under review.

The Rev. Arthur Mackey Jr., of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, in Roosevelt, added that the seven officers involved in Rogers’s arrest should no longer be employed as police.

“We need to make sure each officer is

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

Continued from Page 1

Ronny Reyes/Herald

Protesters gathered outside the Nassau County district attorney’s office to demand justice for Akbar Rogers. arrested, charged and convicted,” Mackey said. “We need to stand against racism in our own county.”

Before the protests began, Rogers filed

a lawsuit against the Freeport Police Department, the village, Nassau County and the county Police Department for $25 million.

Both Nassau County and village officials said they would not comment on pending litigation.

Residents push for better police relations Continued from Page 1

Photos by Ronny Reyes/Herald

freePort Village offiCials met with residents on Monday to discuss policing policy in the wake of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signing of police reform legislation on June 12.

Protesters rallied outside Village Hall, demanding accountability for the officers who arrested Akbar Rogers.

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Smith added that, unlike the Nassau County Police Department, F re e p o r t p o l i c e o f f i c e r s a re equipped with body cameras. He said footage from the cameras is stored for 90 days, so anyone who has a problem with police should follow up with a complaint as soon as possible.

“You can always reach out to my office, and I will follow up on any complaint,” Smith said. “We can figure out who the responding officer was through their badge number . . . vehicle number . . . or the time and day where the incident occurred.”

While residents said they appreciated the move to include the community in policing policy, some wanted village officials to confront the reality of implicit biases — attitudes or stereotypes that unconsciously affect one’s actions or decisions — in police departments.

Several of those who spoke with village officials shared their stories of how they or their family members were harassed or singled out by police officers.

Tiffany Cook accused the Police Department of over-policing black and Latino neighborhoods, which she said causes dissonance between officers and residents.

“I have friends and family who are police officers and in the criminal justice system, so I’ve always respected the police,” Cook said, “but it’s hard to give that respect when it isn’t returned because of

the color of my skin.”

Janice Batiste also spoke about how she had been pulled over by officers for “rushing,” and how her boyfriend had been pulled over for “preemptive speeding.”

Batiste added that when she had called police about a stalking incident at her house, officers brushed her complaints aside repeatedly.

Batiste said she wanted more funding allocated to train officers and build better communication systems with the local community.

Residents also complained about the makeup of the Police Department. Officers of color comprise a third of the department, despite serving a majority-minority community. Village and FPD officials said it was difficult for the village to make changes on that front, as all hiring is done through the county.

While village officials were reluctant to agree with residents about the problems they had with police, they said they hoped the new advisory group could help build and maintain the relationship between officers and the community.

“There are about 20 to 30 points the Police Department needs to address to follow all of the governor’s guidelines,” said Village Attorney Howard Colton. “It’ll be a long process, as it addresses changes from the top of the Police Department to the bottom.”

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July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Arrests:

Crime watCh

■ A male, 31, of Roosevelt, was arrested on June 21, near 100 Plaza West, for criminal mischief. Officers said they were investigating a possible dispute between two males when they found one of them had an open warrant for criminal mischief. He was arrested without incident.

■ A male, 37, of Westbury, was arrested on June 26, on Sunrise Highway, for petit larceny. Officers were reporting to a case where security personnel were holding someone who left the store without paying for $816 worth of merchandise. The male was placed under arrest.

Robbery: ■ Police reported a robbery that took place near N. Columbus Avenue on June 18. According to detectives, a male victim was walking on N. Columbus Avenue when three teenage males approached him from behind and assaulted him. The victim said one of the suspects then reached into his back pocket and removed his wallet. All three ran away.

Larceny: ■ A local resident reported that an unknown suspect took his wallet from his

parked car on Roosevelt Avenue on June 21. The victim believed the car was locked, but there were no signs of forced entry or damage.

Fraud: ■ Officers responded to a report of fraud at Porterfield Place on June 16. Detectives said a local resident had received mail notifications from the state regarding unemployment benefits despite the fact that she had never applied for such benefits. The victim is unaware of who it was that attempted to use her identity to get those benefits. The benefit card was not activated and the state has been notified.

■ A local resident reported that her credit card had been used to purchase about $2,400 worth of items. The victim said she has not used the card in more than a year and has not given anyone access to it.

Physical Harassment: ■ Officers reported a case of physical harassment when responding to a dispute on Atlantic Avenue on June 28. A woman from Roosevelt was in an argument with a woman from Brooklyn. One of the women filed a complaint that her shoulder was grabbed and pulled but suffered no injuries. Both parties eventually left the area without incident.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

Herald File Photo

The FreeporT Fire Department is selling special shirts to benefit of the families of two members who died from the coronavirus.

FD holds fundraiser for ex-captains’ families The Freeport Fire Department has started a t-shirt sale fundraiser to help the families of Joey Giordano and Chris Loche, two members of the department’s Truck Company No. 1 who died from the coronavirus earlier this year.

Loche, of Amityville, died on March 25.

He was a member and former-Captain of Truck Company No. 1 for the Freeport Fire Department. Loche was also a member of the Dead End Kids Tournament Team, former Fire Council warden, and executive secretary for Fire Council for the Freeport Fire Department. He worked as a sales executive for Underwriters Laboratories.

Giordano, of Port Jefferson Station, formerly of Freeport, died on April 13.

He had joined the fire department in 1974, going on to serve as captain of the Hose Company No. 2 from 1979-1980 and captain of the Truck Company No. 1 from 1989-1990.

Through the Freeport Truck Company, Giordano supported the “Dead End Kinds” drill team, where he served as an assistant coach with Don Mauersberger.

He served a long career as a New York City Police Officer.

Giordano helped found the Dead End Kids Alumni Association to help reconnect old members and have them mentor and inspire new members. Giordano also served as president of the alumni association, as well as the Truck Company’s financial secretary, warden, Benevolent Association representative and historian.

Loche was a father of two, and Giordano was a father of four. Both families were dependent on their fathers for help and financial support.

To purchase the t-shirts, which commemorate Loche and Giordano’s legacy, visit the Freeport Fire Department’s website at freeportfd.org/truck-companymemorial-shirt/.

Pools to reopen at rec center

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While most amenities at the Freeport Recreation Center will remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, village officials said the pool would reopen at a limited capacity on July 6, at 10 a.m.

Residents who wish to use the pool must wear a mask when entering the rec center and while lounging on the deck. Masks must not be worn inside the pool.

Social distancing will be in place both on the deck and inside the pool.

Residents must also bring their own chairs to use on the pool deck.

The showers, sauna and steam room will not be accessible.

The pool will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Christina Daly/Herald

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Can flowers live through a pandemic? thy flowers as “sympathy was another thing people wanted to convey.”

As communities ease back into normalcy, Pierce said she has been treated with kindness and understanding from her customers during the past few trying months.

“We had to tell people we’re sorry more times than not,” she added. “Overall people were kind, understanding.”

Graham said he is looking forward to buying from local growers to benefit the community that has supported his businesses. In an effort to keep the focus on online marketing, “by the end of the

summer we are launching a pretty amazing website.”

“I think the future is bright,” Graham said.

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Flowers only last for so long after being cut.

The inventories of some local florists, including those in Baldwin, Freeport and Oceanside, were greatly affected when shops were forced to close in late March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Roses, lilies and daisies tend to live longer than hyacinths, tulips and lilacs, however, the maximum lifespan of cut flowers is still about a week with maximum care.

Since Phase One of New York’s reopening plan began May 27, florists were able to open in a limited manner with hopes of restocking as much as possible.

Face masks and a limited capacity were requirements made by New York State that Imperial Florist in Baldwin, Flowers by Mike in Oceanside and Duryea’s Flower Shop in Freeport are all following in order to continue peddling petals.

Ann Marie Pierce at Imperial Florist in Baldwin has been operating her shop with only one in-store employee and one delivery driver since late May, accepting curbside and delivery orders. According to Pierce, for “at least six weeks we didn’t work at all.”

Imperial Florist has recently opened its shop to customers with caution, putting up dividers, allowing one person inside at a time, requiring mandatory facial covers and accepting only credit cards.

Similarly to Pierce, Susan Martin, whose family runs Duryea’s Flower Shop in Freeport, has taken precautions in the first few weeks after reopening. Martin wipes down everything in the store frequently, allows no one to enter the refrigeration unit and has employees “working limited hours.”

Mike Graham, the owner of Flowers

by Mike in Oceanside and East Rockaway, said one of the main challenges he faced was coming up with new marketing strategies to reach his customers who were only able place orders online and via phone.

“We basically focused on just being able to provide flower arrangements for people through the Internet and the phones,” Graham said, adding that he worked with limited employees in the store and took state-mandated precautions.

And customers were not the only scarcity for florists in the area.

“The wholesalers did not have the product,” Pierce said. “It was a whole residual thing that happened in the floral industry starting with the growers and working their way right down to us . . . It’s still not as bad as it was, but it’s not great.”

Unlike other businesses, florists work with a live stock of flowers that can last up to a few weeks with proper care before wilting. Rather than letting the petals fall inside their shops, Imperial Florist, Flowers by Mike and Duryea’s Flower Shop donated flowers to their communities.

Pierce donated flowers to local churches and soup kitchens.

“I really tried to give away almost

everything that we had because I knew we were going to be closed down for a couple of weeks,” she said.

Now that florists are able to welcome customers into their stores while social distancing protocols are practiced, the shops are seeing a variety of occasions being celebrated florally.

Pierce has seen a large increase in sales for birthday-oriented flowers.

“Birthdays, because people weren’t able to celebrate and they came up with all these different ideas . . . and flowers became very important,” said Pierce, who has also noticed a surge in sympa-

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

By AlexAndrA WhitBeck

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July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Celebrating Pride amid a pandemic PFY officials talk acceptance, progress and the need for change

By Victoria caruso aseidman@liherald.com

Where to find LGBtQ+ resources

As this year’s Pride Month came to a close this week, LGBTQ+ rights activists across Long Island reflected on the community’s progress and shortcomings in creating a safer, more welcoming Long Island for people of all identities.

“Pride Month has always been about taking a moment to hit pause,” said Aiden Kaplan, a services manager at PFY, a Bellmore-based LGBTQ+ organization.

Formally known as Pride For Youth, the nonprofit has been helping to transform the region into a more inclusive and accessible environment for those with non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender identities. It provides free HIV and STI testing, counseling, support groups and programs for members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as educational workshops at local middle and high schools.

“It’s a safe place,” said Christian Milan, a 23-year-old client and peer navigator at PFY. Milan gained the confidence to start his drag career at the center’s bimonthly drag competition, Drag Factor.

“There are so many youths who view PFY as the only space where they can go to feel affirmed and accepted,” Kaplan said. “Our goal is to create an all-encompassing space where you can access lifesaving services, [a] community and culture and feel celebrated for those things.”

Although the pandemic has forced Gay Straight Alliance clubs to temporarily disband and PFY in Bellmore to close its physical doors, support for LGBTQ+-identifying individuals remains.

Popular PFY programs, like Coffee House, continue to provide a comfortable environment for LGBTQ+ youth to connect virtually. The organization also launched Long Island’s LGBTQ+ Covid-19 relief program in April, which provides assistance with employment, housing, technology, at-home HIV testing, free condom delivery and case management services.

In a 2015 report by the New York State LGBT Health and Human Services Needs Assessment, LGBTQ+-identifying Long Islanders most frequently reported a lack of psychological support groups and health professionals who specialize in LGBTQ+ issues. With these barriers in mind, PFY’s program was “designed to make sure that LGBTQ+ individuals are not at a higher risk during the Covid-19 Crisis,” Kaplan said.

LGBtQ+ acceptance in the schools

Administrators at the Long Island Crisis Center founded PFY in 1993, at a time when LGBTQ+ services were virtually nonexistent on Long Island. In the late 80s, the center’s hotline experienced an uptick in calls from people who identified as LGBTQ+, but there were no resources to be shared.

During this time, incidents of homophobia went unchecked in Bellmore-Merrick schools. Records from Uncovering the Past, a program at John F. Kennedy High School, showed an incident from the ’70s at Shore Road Elementary in which a third-grader, Richie Jackson, was harassed for choosing choir as an elective. The phys.-ed. teacher told the children in his class to “jump on the faggot,” and stood by while a group of boys piled on Jackson and made him cry. The incident was never addressed.

In 2007, Kaplan began his female-tomale gender transition while attending Grand Avenue Middle School; the process continued into his time at Mepham High School. As the schools’ first openly transgender student, Kaplan said the faculty made an effort to ensure he was respected, though, given the time period, he was still unable to use his bathroom of choice.

Now, as a PFY facilitator for the Central High School District, Kaplan has seen firsthand the progress the schools have made over the last decade. “They have actively been trying to recognize

Courtesy Christian Milan

christian MiLan’s draG persona, Aphrodite, has become a symbol of PFY, where he works as a peer navigator to educate LGBTQ+ youth on sexual health and identity. that this isn’t just one student anymore,” he said. “This is possibly hundreds of students who are coming out, who need support, and schools need to make sure that they’re affirmed.”

Graduating Calhoun High School senior Noah Marchuck, who is gay, is the former president of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance. “Bellmore-Merrick has come a long way with LGBTQ+ acceptance, but I think a stigma does still exist,” he said. “At Calhoun, the atmosphere is very accepting, and every faculty member embodies that; however, I’ve [had] a good deal of people call me hurtful things regarding my sexuality, both to my face and behind my back.”

Christina Dimitriou, the faculty adviser for Mepham’s GSA, said her students occasionally hear offensive language targeted at the LGBTQ+ community, such as when the club handed out rainbow-colored ribbons for national Coming Out Day. “GSA is not just about getting together and having a safe space, but about us going out into the Mepham community and normalizing these things so that these derogatory terms trickle away,” she said.

unity with BLM

In the wake of George Floyd’s death — which sparked thousands to turn out for Black Lives Matter protests in Merrick and Bellmore — LGBTQ+ rights activists are also thinking about racerelated problems on Long Island. Among 291 communities, the majority of Long Island’s Black residents live in just 11 neighborhoods, making the region one of the most segregated places in the nation.

“I think Pride this year is unique. It’s a time for us to remember our roots and look at other communities that are having their fight right now, and relate their experiences to where we were 50 years ago,” Kaplan said. “It’s an opportunity for [our] community to stand in line with another movement and say we know what it’s like to face injustice.”

Recognizing that Mepham is in a community made up of 85.7 percent white residents and only 1.45 percent black residents — with similar demographics in Merrick — Dimitriou agreed that change is needed, and that starts with education.

“We don’t have members in the club that are people of color, but we absolutely address these things, whether I send

Herald Life file photo

PFY is a division of the Long Island Crisis Center. out an article or share a book,” Dimitriou said.

Marchuck urged residents to use their platforms to educate one another about the susceptibility of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, and “donate to organizations that focus on Black LGBTQ+ people,” such as “The Trevor Project” or “The Center for Black Equality.”

“We have a long way to go.” Milan said. “Long Island has been so systematically separated for so long now, but I think that now, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement, people are starting to understand.”

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

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July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Belmont Stakes go on — despite pandemic

By VisVajit sriramrajan The Belmont Stakes looked a little different to fans and the larger horseracing community this year, as industry officials had to alter their operations due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

“Our biggest challenge over the past 90 days has been keeping people safe,” said Terry Finley, the president and CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, a Saratoga Springs-based racing consultant. “Tragically, we had one death on the backstretch and some others tested positive for the virus, but we have over a thousand people who work on the backstretch every day, and everyone was well taken care of.”

Other companies, however, did not fare as well, he said, noting that he was grateful the Stakes went well despite pandemic-related risks.

Fans were not allowed to attend the Stakes on June 20 — when bay horse Tiz The Law, jockeyed by Manuel Franco, crossed the finish line to become the first New York-bred horse to win the race since 1882 — and the race was shortened from 1.5 to 1.125 miles.

“Fortunately for us, the pandemic didn’t affect Tiz The Law’s performance,” said Jack Knowlton, operating manager of Sackatoga Stable, which owns the horse. “It has made life much more difficult for the team at the stable, though. We haven’t had the opportunity to be at the race to see our horse run in person.”

He added that the team is hopeful they can see Tiz The Law in action again at Churchill Downs, where the 146th Kentucky Derby was rescheduled for Sept. 5. Subsequently, the Preakness, the third leg of the Triple Crown, was rescheduled to Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The pandemic even affected the coverage of the event. Adam Coglianese, the lead track photographer for the New York Racing Association said, noting, “The experience leading up to the race was a little quieter

Courtesy Chelsea Durand/New York Racing Association

tiz the Law crossed the finish line first at the Belmont Stakes on June 20, becoming the first New York-bred horse to win since 1882. than normal, but we still photographed the horses in the morning and set up our cameras around the track like we usually would to produce images for the trainers.” He added that the lack of a physical audience meant that he and his staff had to focus more of their photography on the horses and the track.

“We all maintained social distancing,” he noted, “but otherwise there were no significant challenges.”

The race was broadcasted on NBC. With 3.4 million

people watching, it marked the lowest recorded viewership for any broadcasted Belmont Stakes and for any opening leg of the Triple Crown.

“The Belmont Stakes provided sports fans across the country with world-class entertainment during these challenging times,” said Patrick McKenna, the communications director for NYRA, calling the race unique but successful this year, and congratulating Tiz The Law for his win.

Northwell opens L.I.’s first LGBTQ transgender center Northwell Health has opened Long Island’s first center in New Hyde Park dedicated to transgender care, providing an array of services to serve the LGBTQIA+ community. The $850,000, 3,000-square-foot office opened in June in observance of Pride Month, giving the program first established in 2016 a physical home.

The Northwell Health Physician Partners LGBTQ Transgender Health Program, at 410 Lakeville Road, features four exam rooms, eight offices/ consultation rooms and two genderneutral restrooms. The center is staffed by a medical director, a primary care physician, psychiatrist, senior psychologist, nurse practitioner and two transhealth navigators. The program offers services for endocrinology (adult and pediatric), plastic surgery, adolescent medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and otolaryngology.

“We understand that there are thousands of individuals living on Long Island who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming and non-binary.

This is an underserved community that has specific health care needs,” said Dr. David Rosenthal, medical director of the Center for Transgender Care at

Northwell Health. “The goals of this center are to bring together multiple clinical services at Northwell to serve the needs of the transgender community, educate health care professionals about transgender health, perform cutting-edge research and work with the health system to address infrastructure to meet the needs of the transgender community.”

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has ranked Northwell Health as the No. 3 health system in the nation and first in New York state based on the number of facilities designated a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality, according to its 2019 Healthcare Equality Index.

“Northwell Health’s mission to break down barriers and achieve health equity is evidenced in numerous programs and initiatives, including the health system’s ongoing investment into transgender health,” said Dr. Thomas McGinn, senior vice president and deputy physician-in-chief at Northwell Health. “Discrimination in all its forms must be eradicated.”

Northwell’s commitment to continuing medical education also includes the launch of a cultural competency mod-

Dr. DaViD rosenthaL, seated, medical director of the Center for Transgender Care at Northwell Health, and Sundeep Boparai, administrative manager of Northwell Health Physician Partners LGBTQ Transgender Program at New Hyde Park.

Courtesy Northwell Health

ule that educates physicians to the special needs an LGBTQIA+ patient might have, Rosenthal said. The program is funded by the New York State Department of Health and is organized in collaboration with Northwell’s Center for

Equity of Care.

For more information about Northwell Health’s LGBTQIA+ services or to make an appointment, go to: https:// www.northwell.edu/doctors-and-care/ lgbtqia-services.

9

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

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was excitedly starting orientation for a new position on a different unit at Mount Sinai South Nassau when the Covid-19 pandemic patient surge hit. I felt the need, deep in my heart, to answer the call to take care of patients infected with the virus.

Every time the opportunity presented itself, I volunteered to serve on the units designated for patients with Covid-19 and was greeted with open arms by teams of nurses and doctors on those units.

They made me feel resilient; we worked side by side, uplifting each other, giving each other light during such a grim time. It was an emotionally painful struggle for me to see my patients suffer with the multiple, ever-changing and harmful effects of the virus.

Throughout the surge, I constantly felt a persistent pain as I reflected on our patients, and when I walked from the hospital to my car after a shift, it would be with a heavy heart and tears flowing from my eyes.

It gave me some hope to serve as a bridge of communication for my patients to their family members, and I used the time driving home to pray for the healing of my patients and the safety of my co-workers and family.

After work, I arrived home to a house that appeared empty, but it wasn't because my family stayed in their rooms until my routine of changing clothes, putting my scrubs in the washer and sanitizing all door knobs and all surfaces that I touched.

e never completely shutdown during the coronavirus pandemic, not for one day. We continued to do takeout and deliveries.

One day I got a call from a friend. She wanted to donate $200 to my restaurant to buy a meal for a health care worker. I said, I'll make it $400. It was all supposed to be anonymous.

I had another idea. I called a friend, a gastroenterologist, Charnjin Sing, who is in private practice. I asked him to put me in touch with someone at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital. He put me in touch with Alice Naudus, who works there in the development office. She put me in touch with Joel Schneider, who is on the hospital's board.

In 24 hours, we all raised $10,500. I put in $2,500, and with some other donations, we had about $14,000 for meals and the like hospital workers. We were going to provide meals and stuff to Mount Sinai South Nassau, but someone said, let's keep it local.

So every night for three months, we were able to provide meals to eight doctors, nurses or staff at the emergency room at the old Long Beach Hospital. We provided a few meals for big meetings at Mount Sinai Nassau too. We were in touch with a few local organizations, and we helped provide them with food too.

It was an absolute community event. It just all came together. I had never done anything on this level before. It just happened.

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round Easter, we, as a troop, decided to start a food drive. Since then, we’ve gotten more and more help and every week, we’re doing better.

My son, Michael, who is 13, goes around and puts out fliers. We’re trying our best to get everyone involved. We make deliveries at the Hispanic Brotherhood, St. Agnes Parish, The Vineyard, and really concentrate our efforts at the MLK Center because they have the greatest need right now. People keep asking me how long I’ll be doing this, and I guess I’ll be doing it until the donations stop coming in. The residents have been very generous; we collect and sort the donations, then try to distribute it evenly.

So far, we’ve collected about 3,000 pounds of non-perishable food that we deliver every Friday. Under the guidelines, we can’t get together as a troop, but it has been a troop effort, with everyone pitching in however they can.

Michael and I spend about four to five hours a week distributing flyers, sorting the food and delivering the donations. The need is great — there are a lot of people out of work that need our help, and a lot of people’s jobs might never come back. I post a lot on Facebook to raise awareness of what we’re doing. A lot of people don’t realize how many people are in need of food right now.

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

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July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

16

Virus hits communities of color hard

By AlexAndrA WhitBeck

While previous inequities between predominantly white and predominantly Latinx and Black communities have led to increased challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, Make the Road NY, MRNY, is trying to relieve and resolve economic, social and medical issues facing communities of color in Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Westchester Black and Latino New Yorkers face the immediate and long-term risks of Covid19 at a disproportionate rate compared to white and Asian communities, according to statistics from the Nassau County Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health.

Local villages with a minority-majority population, like Freeport, Valley Stream and Hempstead, had the highest rate of infection in Nassau.

Latinx and African-Americans also saw a significantly higher death rate .

Supporting medical services and helping financially to seek medical aid has been a primary goal of Make the Road NY, all services which are difficult to access in the communities they serve.

At its core, Make the Road NY implements policy innovation, community organizing, education and legal services to provide safety, solidarity and support to those in need with a focus on Latinx communities.

“The immigrant communities continue to be disproportionately affected by Covid-19,” said Elina Fernandez, an activist and Lead Organizer for MRNY. I think that communities of color continue to suffer.”

education efforts

In an effort to close the gap of racial disparity amidst Covid-19 statistics, MRNY published a report on the impact of working-class immigrants, Black and Latinx New Yorkers called “Excluded from the Epidemic,” in April 2020. This report’s purpose is to highlight the challenges that these communities face that are not seen in nightly news statistics.

In taking responses from 244 people across the communities they aid, one third of which who are undocumented, it was found that 58 percent of participants have been sick themselves or have had a family member who was ill. This statistic is comparable with the 48 percent of participants who did not know where to turn for medical attention due to questions of immigration status, explained Eliana Fernandez. She said the driving factor was fear.

Not only is there fear about the uncertainty of the future, but parents are also afraid about how they are going to feed their children if they lose their job and do not qualify for governmental aid. There is also the fear being experienced by families who lost a loved one and are in need of mental health assistance.

MRNY is pushing to make these services available and accessible to everyone in downstate New York regardless of status.

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network, NDLON, strives to improve the life of day laborers, migrants and low-

Courtesy MRNY

A vigil held by MRNY honoring the 67 MRNY members who died due to COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Make the Road New York. wage workers. In wake of the coronavirus pandemic, NDLON focused at a national level by creating information and spreading education to their member organizations so that they could distribute to the day laborers because many times workers are isolated from sources of information, said Nadia Marin-Molina, co-executive director for NDLON. The goal to educate the community is seen in MRNY’s active support of those who do have an immigration status to go apply for Emergency Medicaid. This allows them to get medical care and even get tested for Covid-19 without being questioned about their immigration status.

MRNY also supports literacy programs to make medical aid more accessible when there is a language barrier that may prohibit care. Fernandez recognizes that there are translators in the hospital, but with the high influx of patients, they can only translate for so many at a time.

In addition, family members who may be their loved one’s translators are no longer allowed into the hospital under Covid-19 precautions.

Undocumented workers left out

While unemployment benefits and other federal aid have become a cushion for those who lost their job, undocumented workers in New York are left without any financial help. Undocumneted workers are unable to apply for unemployment benefits and other financial aid such as food stamps, leaving them without federal or state help.

“Undocumented workers have contributed more than $1.4 billion per year to state and local funds, and then more directly to unemployment, [but] are absolutely unable to access those funds,” said Marin-Molina during the Hofstra University’s virtual town hall on Systematic Racism and the Impact of the Covid-19 Crisis on Communities of Color on Long Island on June 17.

In early April, stimulus checks from the government were given to tax filers with a Social Security number. This financial boost was denied to the over 11 million undocumented people who were living in the U.S. and anyone from a mixed immigration status family whose tax payer does not have a Social Security number, according to the according to the Migration Policy Institute and the IRS Economic Payment Information Center.

Marin-Molina said unemployment services and stimulus checks “were sort of the two key financial responses, and undocumented workers were excluded from both of those.”

A report by James A. Parrott and Lina Moe at the New School’s Center for New York City Affairs identified in “Excluded from the Epidemic,” by MRNY, found that “68% of job loss in New York City has been among people of color, with an especially high figure among Latinx New Yorkers,” and “192,000 undocumented workers in New York City have lost their jobs or been unable work since the crisis began.”

The Freeport Trailer, located on Bennington Avenue, has been a place for day laborers to connect with employers, eat breakfast, and take training and English as a Second Language classes for nearly 20 years. Marin-Molina said the Freeport Trailer adjusted to state regulations in lieu of the coronavirus pandemic and were adhering to social distancing requirements under the non-profit organization CoLoKi, Inc. An eviction notice from the Village of Freeport gave people accessing the trailer 72 hours to leave.

“Within a couple of days, not even, they didn’t bother going through a court process, they came in, locked the trailer, shut it, and removed it from the premises,” Marin-Molina added.

Village Attor ney Howard Colton claimed the village found various health

hazards and stated, “it could have been a hotspot for Covid-19” in a May article published by the LI Herald.

Marin-Molina said that the trailer was shut down due to a lack of social distancing, which she claimed was not true.

The removal Freeport Trailer is under ongoing investigation by Nassau County officials, leaving day laborers and homeless people who depended on the services provided without this form of direct aid.

To ease financial burden, NDLON created a national fund in order to be able to provide some funds to the local organizations that they can distribute as cash support to day laborers.

Make the Road NY has developed a recovery plan which urges New York State to create a $3.5 billion Emergency Worker Fund to financially support workers that have lost their source of income found on social media as #Recovery4All. “People who have been excluded and immigrants regardless of their status will be able to qualify for that fund,” Elina Fernandez said.

Fernandez is also working under the hashtag #FreeThemAll which pushes for the release of people held in detention centers “I think it is impossible to maintain social distance when you are in a cell” said Fernandez, who has noticed exponential rates of Covid-19 among imprisoned populations.

Make the Road NY holds bi-weekly Zoom meetings to communicate with members in addition to a WhatsApp group for people without access to cellular service. They also spread information through flyers and Facebook Live sessions where community members are encouraged to participate.

For more information, visit https:// maketheroadny.org, or https://ndlon.org to learn more about the work NDLON does in Long Island.

By nAkeem GRAnt ngrant@liherald.com

Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

CustomeRs enjoyed outdooR dining at Halfway Down.

BRewsA Also hAd an array of outdoor tables for customers.

Outdoor dining thrives across the Nautical Mile

By Ronny Reyes rreyes@liherald.com

Restaurant owners throughout Freeport are embracing Phase Two of reopening as they begin to accommodate customers for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began in March.

Back then, Frank Montana, of Montana Brothers Pizza and Catering at 385 S Main Street, said that he was busy prepping his restaurant with hand sanitizer stations after his family from Italy warned him of the impacts of Covid-19.

Now the stations continue to service Montana’s customers as he reopens dining at the restaurant in the backdoor patio area, where he’s able to fit at least 35 customers at a time.

“Things are better after we initially took a 60 percent drop in customers at the start of the pandemic,” Montana said.

“We’ve been working on keeping the place safe and clean for the past three months, so we’re hoping to open up fully as soon as we can.”

Richard Duffy, one of the co-owners of Halfway Down, located at 153 Woodcleft Ave, said he too was glad to have his restaurant able to seat people outdoors despite the initial scramble to get everything set up.

The popular restaurants, which could normally seat 90 people, can now serve

about 30 people in their outdoor space.

“Business has been bad because of the pandemic,” Duffy said. “We were down to 90 percent from last year, so hopefully the curve continues to flatten and we can start operating at full capacity as summer starts. If that can happen, we’ll be okay.”

Ilona Jagnow, of Otto’s Sea Grill, at 271 Woodcleft Ave., hoped for a speedy return as well after reopening the restaurant’s deck. With the restaurant’s large deck space, Jagnow, who runs the restaurants with her mother, Barbara, set up about 30 tables to seat customers.

The restaurant had spent days on making sure everything was clean and sanitized to prepare for their customer’s return. Jagnow added that she was grateful for the Village of Freeport to allow businesses on the Nautical Mile to set up additional seating on the sidewalks.

“Hopefully we get good weather, no storms, and a full reopening by the Fourth of July,” Jagnow said. “That would be ideal because we want to be able to open at full capacity as soon as possible.”

“We’re glad to see our business open back up again and we’re welcoming any applicants who want to apply for limitedseating space,” Mayor Robert Kennedy added. “We also want to make sure people keep following social distancing and wear their masks whenever possible.”

Douglas Tuman (R-West Hempstead) defeated Cindy Grosz in the 4th Congressional District Republican primary race, with 74 percent of the vote.

Tuman, 39, is now set to challenge U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice in November. An attorney who is also the Town of Hempstead’s engineering commissioner, Tuman told the Herald that among his goals, if elected, would be to improve infrastructure — such as damaged roads and mass transit — in the 4th district.

“These are not national issues. These are

local issues that the community cares about,” Tuman said. “Now, in light of Covid-19 and the George Floyd tragedy, my priority is to rebuild our economy and come back stronger, safer and more united than ever before. My priority now is to get things back to normal.”

The 4th district includes Elmont Baldwin, Bellmore, East Rockaway, East Meadow, the Five Towns, Lynbrook, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Garden City, Hempstead, Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Malverne, Freeport, Merrick, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Wantagh, West Hempstead, Westbury and parts of Valley Stream.

Public Notices

LFRE1 0702

LEGAL NOTICE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS PUBLIC HEARING - JULY 16, 2020 NOTICE IS HEREBY given that a Public Hearing will be held before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 6:00 P.M., in the Incorporated Village of Freeport, Main Conference Room, 46 N. Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, on the appeals and applications of cases as they appear on the calendar; residential applications that do not extend their prior nonconforming status may be called first; public comment invited. It is anticipated that the Board will adjourn the legislative session and enter into Executive Session until 6:30P.M. To view the meeting live please visit; https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/89600640795?pwd=UVl SdWZ3c21FNXEyalROWkt ab2EvQT09 For Audio please dial 1 929 205 6099 US. Meeting ID: 896 0064 0795, the Meeting Password is 225967.

All applications are nonconforming with zoning regulations herein specified for the districts in which they are located.

Application #2019-24 28 Guy Lombardo Ave., Business B - Section 55/Block 219/Lot 28 - 28 Guy Lombardo Ave, LLC. Construct 5-story 27 room hotel with partial basement.

Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-80A Permitted Uses.

All uses permitted in Residence AA, Residence A, Business AA and Business A districts except residential. The application proposes a hotel use which is considered to be an R1 transient (residential) use.

Application #2019-22 18 Gill Ave., Residence A Section 55/Block 213/Lot 48 - Anastasio Rodriguez - Second floor addition, first floor cantilever, 144 sq. ft.

wood shed & maintain existing front access portico. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-43A(1) Front yard depth.

Minimum 20 ft.

Application indicates 16.9 ft. §210-43A(3) - side yard width. Minimum 5 ft. Application indicates 3.3 ft. §210-39B Sky Exposure Plane. Plans indicate a significant sky exposure plane violation. §210-41 Lot Coverage.

The principa1 building on any lot shall not cover more than 30% of the lot area.

Application indicates 32%.

Application #2020-8 332 N. Main St., Service Business Section 55/Block 364/Lot 722 Greater New York Corporation of SeventhDay Adventists Proposed interior & exterior alteration to existing church. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-172A(3) Required parking. Places of public assembly, including churches, temples and religious auditoriums. At least one parking space for each 3 seats provided.

201 spaces required. 6 spaces provided Application #2020-7 497 N. Main St., Service Business Section 55/Block 402/Lot 355 GF&A Holding Corp. Proposed 14.9ftx36.2ft rear addition & 13.11ftx31.9ft side addition.

Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-94(C) Rear yard.

Minimum 25 ft, application indicates 2ft. §210-95A Plans do not indicate required 10ft buffer zone.

Application #2019-12 445 S. Main St., Marine Industrial Section 62/Block 45/Lot 153 Sanjay Patel - Proposed to maintain existing Motel and parking spaces on the south (lesser) lot (A) and a new 4 story hotel. Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-118 Building height not to exceed 40’ in height or

have more than three stories.

Application indicates 47ft 2in and four stories. §210-119 Required yards. Rear yard not less than 5ft.

Application indicates 0ft. §210-121 Plans submitted do not indicate loading and unloading zone. §210-172A(5) - 97 spaces required. Plans indicate 39 stacked parking spaces.

Application #2019-13 445 S. Main St., Marine Industrial Section 62/Block 45/Lot 153 Sanjay Patel - Create a buildable lot (B) to construct a new catering hall with parking spaces (North Lot).

Village Ordinance §210-6A, §210-119 Required yards.

One side yard setback of 10ft required. Plans show 5ft. §210-121 Vehicular access for loading and unloading. Plans do not include loading zone as required.. §210-118 Building Height. Building height not to exceed 40’ in height or have more than three stories.

Application indicates 43ft 2in creating 3ft. 2in overage.

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Pamela Walsh Boening, Village Clerk 122259 Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS PURCHASE OF SOLAR POWERED SPEED SIGNS THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF FREEPORT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Notice is hereby given that the Purchasing Agent of the Incorporated Village of Freeport, New York will receive sealed proposals for “PURCHASE OF SOLAR POWERED SPEED SIGNS” until 11:00 A.M. on July 21, 2020 in the Main Conference Room of the Municipal Building, 46 North Ocean

Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, at which time and place they will be opened publicly and read aloud.

Specifications, proposal and proposed contracts may be obtained by visiting the Village website at www.freeportny.gov or at the Office of the Purchasing Agent, Municipal Building, 1st Floor, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York, 11520, from 9:00 A.M. on Monday, July 6, 2020 until 4:00 P.M. July 17, 2020. There is no fee for a set of contract documents.

Each bid must be accompanied by a bidder’s bond in the amount of not less than five (5%) percent of the bid insuring to the benefit of the Village of Freeport, or a certified check of not less than five (5%) percent of the bid, made payable to the Village of Freeport, to assure the entering of the successful bidder into an acceptable contract.

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bid proposals received and subject to these reservations, shall award the contract to the lowest qualified and responsible bidder. Bids which in the opinion of the Board, are unbalanced, shall be rejected.

In submitting a bid, bidders agree not to withdraw their bid within forty five (45) days after the date for the opening thereof.

Kim Weltner Purchasing Agent Village of Freeport VILLAGE OF FREEPORT Issue Date - July 2, 2020 122258 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.mypublicnotices.com TO PLACE AND AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

Douglas Tuman victorious in 4th C.D. primary race

17

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Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail you ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify and ad.

Homes

Civil Service Position(s) Available

HERALD

Substitute Cleaners (Part-time/Substitutes)

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Job Duties & Responsibilities: Cleaning, Minor Maintenance Other duties assigned by the Superintendent of Schools, School Business Administrator & Supervisor of School Facilities School Experience Preferred

HOME OF THE WEEK

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Valley Stream

Beautiful, Spacious Colonial

Nassau County Civil Service Clearance & NYS Education Department Fingerprint Clearance Required

FAX letter of interest, resume of experience To Mr. Vincent Randazzo, Assistant Superintendent

by July 6 at noon to 516-431-7550

1094152

Salary: $15.35 per hour

JOB OPPORTUNITY

EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted AUTO DETAILER FT

Experienced And Dependable. Clean Driver's License. Busy Merrick Shop.

Call 516-781-5641 CHEF'S ASSISTANT For Busy Kitchen.

Grocery Store West Hempstead. Kitchen Experience Helpful. Call 516-489-6926 COOK: F/T, EXPERIENCED For Seafood. Fish Market In Oceanside. Call 516-678-4522 DAYCARE ASSISTANT: F/T. Must Have NYS ID. Bilingual Preferred. Will Train.

516-319-6852 IT Support Coordinator, Hempstead, NY Bachelor’s + 1 yr. exp. req.

Email res to: Un1960@hotmail.com Iyaho Social Services, Inc. JOB OPPORTUNITY $18.50 P/H NYC $16 P/H LI Up to $13.50 P/H UPSTATE NY CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate!

Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care. Phone: 347-713-3553

RECEPTIONIST

Professional/ Outgoing Person Needed M-F, 8AM-6PM For Busy Oceanside/Island Park Office $35.00/Hour Submit 1-2 Minute Video Telling Why You Would Be The Perfect Candidate To: longislandapplicant@gmail.com

T

his Mint Condition 5 Bedroom, 2 Bath Colonial has all the room you need. It has a living room with bay windows and parquet oak floors. The formal dining room has a pass through to a large EIK. The den has direct access to the rear patio fenced in with a new vinyl fence. There is a finished basement with a playroom, soundproof music room/office, laundry room and 2 car garage. This home is close to Valley Stream State Parks, shopping, public transportation and LIRR. $649,000

JUAN JARA Licensed RE Broker Associate Cell: 516-318-0142 Juan@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

ROUTES AVAILABLE AT CALLAHEAD Corp.

NO CDL required, 4 DAY WORK WEEK, (enjoy 3 days off). Run your own route. Year round No lay offs!

100% medical, dental, uniforms, 2 weeks paid vacation. 401K. Plus commission. Will train! 4am-2:30pm. .

Route driver $800.00 per week, includes $100.00 weekly bonus program. Plus 10-12 hours overtime. Apply in person Monday- Friday 9am-7pm at 304 Crossbay Blvd, Queens NY 11693

SEWING MACHINE OPERATOR And WELDER: Experienced. PT/ FT. Also BOOKKEEPER PT. Awning Company 516-239-8090; tgawnings@aol.com

Gallo-Turschma, Broker Owner • 516-902-1750 Michael Turschman Associate Broker • 646-922-9439 224 W. Merrick Rd., Valley Stream, NY

75 SEAMAN AVENUE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE o: 516.766.7900 | signaturepremier.com

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING? Contact one of our hardworking professionals today for all of your real estate needs!

CAMILLE GIARDINA Licensed RE Broker/Owner Cell: 516-318-1392 Camille@AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

We’re Keeping the American Dream Alive. www.AllStarRealEstateBrokers.com

2949 Long Beach Road, Suite 8 • Oceanside, NY, 11572 Phone 516.766.8200

1093388

$18.50 P/H NYC • $16 P/H LI CDPAP Caregiver Hourly Pay Rate!

Under NYS CDPAP Medicaid program you can hire your family or friends for your care.

Phone: 347-713-3553

1080712

July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

18

Let Me Help You Find Your Dream Home

We look forward to providing home buyers and sellers with the highest level of personalized service and support.

, ABR,SRS

Health Care/Opportunities *If your property is currently listed with another brokerage, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the listings of other brokerages.

RECEPTIONIST

P/T, Experience Required Must Be Able To Multi-Task Busy Optical Office Cedarhurst 516-374-1010

WE HAVE THE HELP YOU NEED!!!

HHA's, LPN's, Nurse's Aides Childcare. Housekeeping Day Workers No Fee To Employers

Evons Svces: 516-505-5510

1094137

WWW.LIHERALD.COM

1090754

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Professional Organizing

& lANdSCApINg • Tree Removal • Stumps • Fertilization • Planting • Land Clearing • Topping

HEWLETT 397 DAUB Ave, Spacious 6 BR, 4 Bth CH Colonial Built in 2004. Huge Gran/Wood EIK/St Steel Appl. 5 BR on Upper Level. Main Flr BR.Full Fin Bsmt. Att Gar. SD#14. Near LIRR & Houses of Worship..$1,199,000 R o n n i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n 516-238-4299 HEWLETT BAY PARK 30 Heron Dr, Magnificent 8500 Sq Ft Waterfront Home on 2 Acre Resortlike Prop w/ Pool, Tennis/Sport Ct, New Landscaping w/ Waterfall & 3 BR Guest House w/ Kit, LR, Den. 300 Ft New Bulkhead and a 4 Car Heated Gararge.

SD#14..$4,850,000 R o n n i e G e r b e r, D o u g l a s E l l i m a n 516-238-4299

Houses For Rent SEAFORD- CANAL FRONT- 2 BDRM, 2 BATH, Stainless Appliances. Excellent!

Available Immediate. $2300+ Utilities.

631-317-9979.

www.garycap.com

Dave marlOWe Plumbing, inC. DBA BOB PHILLIPS PLUMBING

Lic# H206773000

Office: 516-546-4971 Cell: 516-852-5415

Mention this ad and get

10% Off

COMPLETE RENOVATIONS

on labor only

• Permits & Legalizations • Certified NYS Backflows • Licensed Master Plumber • Insured • FREE Estimates

Over 15 Years Experience Licensed • Insured

Vacation Rentals/Prop.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND. Best selection of full/partial week rentals. Call for FREE color brochure. Holiday Real Estate, Inc: 1-800-638-2102. Online reservations: www.holidayoc.com. $50 discount - new rentals. Code: "WelcomeBack" (Expires 2020-09-01)

FINDS UNDER $100

GOLF BAG SUN MOUNTAIN good condition $35.00 9LH clubs wood wedges iron $5.00 each 516-221-5374

10% OFF

5% OFF

inc.

Vet’s Seniors & All Mail Services

First Responders & Armed Forces

$50 OFF

$100

OFF • Tree removal Jobs Under Jobs Under • land Clearing $1,000 $1,000 $500 Minimum • STump grinding USE COUPON CODE HER2020 USE COUPON CODE HER2020 Cannot be combined with other coupon Cannot be combined with other coupon • pruning We Care More Than The ResT for Less We’ll meeT & beaT any priCe guaranTeed Owner/Operated • residential/COmmerCial

Nass.

Lic # H2904450000

516-216-2617

Suff.

Lic # 5-4512-H

ALFREDO’S CONSTRUCTION Specializing

BICYCLE 24 INCH 6 speed Schwinn mountain bike, green and black $60.00.

Looks new. 516-312-6239

END TABLE: ETHAN Allen Mahogany Spoon Leg Drop Leaf table $99 516-561-2872

1092109

TREE SERVICE fREE ESTIma ESTImaTE

Finds Under $100

CHAR BROIL 3 burner grill with cover and tank used 4 times. $99 516-561-2872

RYAN 516-695-4527 917-697-3647

1092705

Kitchens • Bathrooms • Painting Roofing • Sheetrocking • Plumbing Electrical • Concrete • Powerwashing Carpentry • Basements • Baby-Proofing Ikea Furn. Assembly • Computer Repairs

1092296

FRANKLIN SQUARE: Second Floor, 2 Rooms, Fbth, EIK, Suitable One. No Smoking/ Pets. $1100. Heat/ Water Included. 516-437-6830

OffiCe: 516-766-4583 Call/TeXT: 516-840-9432

FREE ESTIMATES

HANDYMAN SERVICE

at

Se Habla Espanol

Licensed & insured

the

in

BLACKTOP

BeSt priceS in town

senior Citizen Discounts

Call For Spring Specials

• ConCrete • BriCk Patios • stooPs • stuCCo • Belgium BloCks • sidewalks • drainage ProBlems • Cellar entranCe • waterProofing • driveway sealing demolition • dumPster serviCe • Powerwashing • handyman rePairs

516-424-3598

Free estimates

Expert Watch Repair

*Power washing sPecialist*

Residential and Commercial - All Surfaces Call Anthony Romeo “The Local Guy” “Anthony & J Home Improvement, Inc.” Also specializes in ★ Deck Renovation ★ Driveways ★ Siding ★ Masonry ★ Fences ★ Roofing ★ Interior/Exterior Painting.

(516) 678-6641 - Licensed & Insured

Free estimates...Best Price For High Quality service

Chimney King, Ent. Inc.

(516) 766-1666 FREE • Chimneys Repaired, Rebuilt & Tuckpointing ESTIMATES • Stainless Steel Liners Installed

Chimney Cleaning & Masonry Services Done By Firefighters That Care chimneykinginc.com

LIGHT FIXTURE DR 25" high glass round bottom; halogen bulbs. bronze metal $ 99.00. 516-312-6239 LOROMAN DELUXE WHITE Heavy Duty Bathroom Wall Shelf Unit, 18" wide x 24" high $50. 516-486-7941

Over 100 Years Of familY Plumbing Oil to Gas • Toilets • Faucets • Repairs & Replacements Waste Piping • Water Piping

1084810

HEWLETT 239 KENT DR, BA, NEW!!1/3 Acre Property! CH Col w/ Open Layout.

Huge Fam Rm, LR/Fpl, FDR & Updtd Gran/Wood EIK/St Steel Appl. 3 Br, 2.5 Bth. New Mstr Bth. Easily Ext 2nd Flr To A d d B R s . F i n B s m t . 2 C a r G a r.

SD#20..$899,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman RE 516-238-4299

CEDARHURST NO FEE Pr ivate Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For O n e B e d r o o m W h e n Ava i l a bl e.

(516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

917-642-4308

Fully licensed and insured Nassau • Suffolk • NYC

1091610

EAST ROCKAWAY CHARMING Colonial 3 Bds, 2 Baths, Water Filtration System, 2 Car Garage. $509K. Call Persephone 516-809-1000 Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Apartments For Rent

FOR AN ESTIMATE TEXT:

947101

FREE ESTIMATES

GARY CAPARELLI InC.

1076858

EAST ROCKAWAY 18 MURDOCK Rd, NEW TO MARKET! 4 BR, 2 Bth Exp Cape on Beautiful St. in SD#20. Full Bsmt. Att Gar, WON'T LAST!!....$479,000 Ronnie Gerber, Douglas Elliman 516-238-4299

WATER

FRANCISCO’S TREE SERVICE

1092272

1200 West Broadway Fully Furnished Office Suites. Beautiful Offices Come With Use Of A Conference Room, Full Kitchen And Bathroom. Across The Street From The Hewlett LIRR. Large Free Parking Lot Included.

Call Steven Greenberg at 516-295-0406 Ext 204 or E-mail sgreenberg@thegreenberggroup.com

House For Sale

FREE

516-578-3590

"No Job Too Small!" Get the Best for Less!

HEWLETT OFFICE SPACE

REAL ESTATE

ExPENSIVE WATER

1087801

www.organizewithalice.com

2-4 YEAR PAYBACK FROM YOUR WATER BILL SAVINGS

1093762

As our community begins to reopen…

I am here for you!

Call today to schedule a free consultation.

WATER WELLS INSTALLED FOR YOUR LAWN SPRINKLER

1090797

OPEN HOUSES BY APPOINTMENT SUNdAY, 7/5/20 HEWLETT HARBOR 236 Richards Lane, BA, 5 BR, 5.5 Bth Contemporary Acre Of Resortlike, IGP. Open Floor Plan.

Full FBsmt. Main Flr Master. SD14................................................................................................ $1,699,000 255 Pepperidge Rd, BA, CREATE Your Dream Home! Gut Reno 5 BR, 3.5 Bth Split, Half Acre Overlooking the Golf Course. Great Opprtunity, SD#14 .....................................................................................$1,100,000 3 Payne Circle, BA, 5 BR, 3.5 Bth Spacious Split in Cul de Sac. State of the Art EIK, 2 Dens, Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#20 ......................................................................................................................................$1,190,000 1290 Seawane Dr, BA, WATERFRONT PROPERTY on MACY CHANNEL! Build Your Dream Home, 1.25 Acre Prop., Prime Location .................................................................................................................... $1,799,000 HEWLETT BAY PARK 159 Meadowview Ave, BA, Stately 5200 Sq Ft Colonial 6BR, 6.55Bths, Acre Of Resortlike, IGP, Tennis Ct, Outdoor Kit., FBsmt, 2 Car Gar, Fabulous Location, SD#14 ...................................................$2,899,000 30 Heron Dr, BA, NEW! Magnificent 8500 Sq Ft Waterfront Home 2 Acres, Resortlike Prop, Pool, Tennis/ Sport Ct, New Landscaping/Waterfall, 3BR Guest House w/ Kit, LR, Den. 300 Ft New Bulkhead. 4 Car Htd Gar. SD#14 .......................................................................................................... REDUCED! $4,850,000 90 Anchorage Rd, BA, Over an Acre of PRIME WATERFRONT Prop, Macy Channel, 135' Bulkhead, Open Layout, Main Flr Mstr Ste, Potential for Expansion ...................................................................... $1,999,000 70 Heron Dr, BA, 6 BR Contemporary Open Layout, Acre of Parklike Prop! Move Right in!

SD#14.................................................................................................HUGE PRICE REDUCTION! $1,699,000 HEWLETT 97 Princeton Ave, BA, Move Right Into Reno! 4BR, 2. Bth Colonial on Cul De Sac.11' Ceiling in LR w/ Fpl, FDR. Brand New State of the Art EIK, Full FBsmt/ Saun, 2 Car Gar. SD#14................................... $799,000 1580 Stevenson Rd, BA, 4/5 BR, 4.5 Bth Colonial on 1/4 Acre in SD#14. LR/Fpl, FDR, Den, EIK, Office & Finished Bsmt. 2 Car Gar. ............................................................................................. REDUCED! $899,000 239 Kent Dr, BA, NEW!! 1/3 Acre! CH Col, Open Layout. Huge Fam Rm, LR/Fpl, FDR, Updtd Gran/Wood EIK/SS Appl,. 3Br, 2.5Bth. New Mstr Bath. Easily Ext 2nd Flr To Add BRs. Fin Bsmt, 2 Car Gar. SD#20 .................$899,000 WOOdSBURGH 891 Keene Lane, BA, Magnificently Reno While Retaining Charm, Stone Cottage. 3BR, 2. Bth, Potential for Expansion, Brand New Mstr Bth. Over 1/2 Acre, Near All.........................REDUCED & MOTIVATED $1,049,000 WOOdMERE 960 Greenfield Rd, BA, 4BR 3Bth CH Col in Academy Area. Spac LR/ Fpl, FDR, EIK, Fam Rm. Main Flr Br/ Bth. Mstr Ste/Bth/ Off. Walk up Full Attic for Poss Expansion. FlBsmt. 2 Car Gar. SD#14. Near All ...........................$1,099,000 559 Leheigh Lane, BA, 4 BR, 2.5 Bth Updtd Hi Ranch, Gran/Wood EIK/SSl Appl. Mstr Ste/ Bth. Open Layout. Spac Yard with Deck off DR. 2 Car Gar. SD#14 .................................................................. $799,000 819 Broadway #2C, Spacious & Renovated 2BR, 2Bth Coop, Elevator Bldg. Updtd EIK, LR, FDR, Entry Foyer. Hi Ceilings. W/D. Indoor Pkg. Storage ..................................................................................$389,000 EAST ROCKAWAY 18 Murdock Rd, BA, NEW TO MARKET! 4 BR, 2 Bth Exp Cape in SD#20. Full Bsmt. Att Gar, WON’T LAST!! ................................................................................................................................... $479,000 35 Cathay Rd, BA, Waterfront Beauty! Move Right 4BR, 2.5Bth Exp Ranch. Resortlike Yard, Saltwater Pool, Waterfall on Thixton Canal. SD#19 .........................................................................................$829,000 44 West Blvd, BA, NEW EXCLUSIVE! Reno 2Br, New EIK/Great Rm, LR, Pull Down Attic. New Vinyl Siding, Roof & Pavered Circular Driveway, Gas Heat & Electric. SD#19. Low Taxes .....................$299,000 LYNBROOK 1 Sunset Ave, BA, 5 BR CH Col, South Lynbrook. New Gran/Wood EIK, LR/ Fpl, FDR, Fam Rm. Professional Office, OSE or Main Flr BR. Full FBsmt. 2 Car Gar. Spac Yard/ Trex deck, SD#20...................................$679,000

FREE WATER

Organize With alice

1090818

Ronnie Gerber 516-238-4299

1087666

e s t. 1 9 1 1

1094193

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

19

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

Place Homes HERALD Market •

HERALD

Q. We have swing-out windows that need replacing.

The weather has been just right for fresh air, but our windows don’t work. A company that will change them sent a salesman, and he suggested we get the kind that move up and down because they work better, are easier to clean and last longer. I wonder why we ever had the swing-out kind, why they have problems — they literally stopped working, and we couldn’t even move the crank to open Ask The them — and do you recomArchitect mend changing them, or is there a less costly way to go?

Before we spend a lot of money, we’re checking everything.

A. Windows make a building. Before windows, humans huddled in darkness like cave dwellers.

With so many shapes, onte eeper types and sizes today, it’s a tease to try to choose between being creatively artistic and being practical and legal.

Windows are required to do a lot more, because there are laws and requirements that go far beyond the many styles, features and appearance. There are requirements for light, ventilation and fire escape that can mean the difference between life and death, plus the amount of unimaginable stress and aggravation when an insurance company delays or won’t settle the loss of life or property to the full extent of the policy because the windows were illegal. As building designers, we are trained to follow all limitations before completing the composition, just like a car designer knows to follow strict limits on crash survival, seat, wind-shield size and passenger orientation.

Before you switch window styles, consider that a window must, by law, allow for 5.7 square feet of clear opening when it’s in the open position.

Although an existing window can have a smaller opening in a building built before 2003, at least one window in each habitable room, like a bedroom or recreation room, must have an opening of not less than 4 square feet in the clear, open position.

Switching from casement (swing-out) windows to a double hung (up and down) sash style cuts the opening in half and probably much less than the 4 square feet. It’s a shame that the salesman didn’t know or comply with the law, because people say things with such confidence and it sounds believable.

Before replacing the hard-to-open windows, try doing something that most people forget to do: maintain them. Casement windows are notorious for sticking and being difficult, mostly because the tracks at the top and bottom of the window need to be cleared of debris and dust and then lubricated, along with all swing-arm and gear hardware, with a silicone lubricant. Without that cleaning and lubricating, the cranking becomes a wrestling match, and can cause the cranks to strip the gear that rolls out the arms that move the window. For about $30 you can invest in a can of silicone spray, a can of compressed air and some paper towels. Good luck!

M

L

© 2020 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

NORMAN ROCKWELL PLATES: with certificates, Brand new, different styles.

1st plate $15.00, $10.00 next 516-579-9089

Autos For Sale

WINE DECANTER, 6 glasses, brand new still in box. Asking $25.00. Must See! (516) 579-9089

SERVICES Air Cond. & Heating All Central Air Installs/ Repairs

Yearly Maintenance. Financing Available For Installs. FREE Estimates. 10% Discount With This Ad. Wise Aire Mechanical Inc. Call Cell 516-244-9137

Electricians E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas.

Services/Repairs. Violations Removed.

Free Estimates Low Rates.

WE ARE AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman HANDYMAN: All Kinds OF Interior Repairs. Baths, Kitchens, Tiles, Plumbing, Sheetrock, Painting, Carpentry. Licensed A n d I n s u r e d . E m e r g e n c y Wo r k .

516-810-0067

Home Improvement HANDY DANDY NO JOB TOO SMALL! *Kitchens/ Baths *Painting *Sheetrock *Taping/ Spackling *Installations Ceramic/ Vinyl Tile *Carpentry *Alterations *Repairs/ More. FREE ESTIMATES. Dan 516-342-0761

Miscellaneous DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice R e m o t e . S o m e r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y.

1-888-609-9405 GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies On Demand (w/SELECT All Included Package.) PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

Plumbing PLUMBER! PLUMBER! PLUMBER! FREE ESTIMATES! Heating, Repairs, Installations. $25 OFF New Customers.

24 Hour Emergency Response.

516-599-1011

Power Washing POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: H o u s e s , Fe n c e s , C o n c r e t e / B r i ck , Decks/Sealing. . ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Tree Services FRANCISCO'S TREE SERVICE

AND LANDSCAPING: Tree Removal, Stumps, Fertilization, Planting, Land Clearing, Topping. Free Estimates. Lic# H206773000. Office 516-546-4971, Cell 516-852-5415 T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *Tree Removal *Stump Grinding *Pruning *Roof Line Clearing. Residential and Commercial. "We Beat All Competitors' Rates."

Lowest Rates. *Senior Discount. Free Estimates. *516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

Wanted To Sell 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

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Careers/Training TRAIN AT HOME TO DO MEDICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

• Spring Turn-Ons

MERCEDES BENZ E350, 2006: 4-Matic, 70K Miles, Excellent Condition. Must See! $12,000. 516-603-8697

• Installations/Renovations Service • Repairs

Certified Backflow Tester Free Estimates Licensed and Insured

Joe Barbato 516-826-7700 Counseling

Have ADHD/ Executive Function Disorder?

Take a Free Virtual FOCUS Assessment Test to better understand your attention challenges 516-984-9365 OrganizeU4Life-Learn to Live Better

VOLKSWAGEN, PASSAT, 2002. 1.8 Turbo, Leather, 95K Miles. Good Condition, Needs Engine Work. $1,300Neg. 917-446-0124

Junk Cars Wanted

HIGHEST CA$H PAID

All Cars Bought, 24/7 FREE Pickup, Serving Nassau County 41 Years.

No Title, No Keys=No Problem ID Required. CALL US LAST! Call us at 516-766-0000

Motorcycles For Sale

Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highe$t Ca$h Paid$ All Years/Conditions!

WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199 Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS 516-297-2277

MOTORCYCLE: BMW R1200 MONTAUK, 2004. Pristine, Like New Condition, Low Mileage, Light Blue, $5,500.

516-313-3425

Education 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!

(844) 947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

1093972

Windows that ‘literally stopped working’

Finds Under $100

1082363

July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

20

Health & Fitness VIAGRA & CIALIS! 60 pills for $99. 100 pills for $150. FREE shipping. Money back guaranteed! 1-855-579-8907

Answers

to todAy’s puzzle

Legal Services BOY SCOUT COMPENSATION FUND Anyone 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 RECENTLY DIAGNOSED W/LUNG Cancer or Mesothelioma? Exposed to Asbestos Pre-1980 at Work or Navy? You May Be Entitled to a Significant Cash Award!

Smoking History Okay! 888-912-3150

Psychiatry & Medicine DR. ISAAC COHEN, NYS Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist. Woodmere. 30Yrs. Experience. Treating Adult's Mental Health Issues: English, Spanish, Hebrew. Accepts: Medicare, Medicaid, Most Insurances. 718-536-5417. driycohen@gmail.com

HErald

Crossword Puzzle

21

opinions

here’s an old saying (with many variations): “Beware what you wish for, because you might just get it.” That fits the current rush to judgment against police forces across America.

Calls to reform the police have been replaced by demands to “defund” or even “abolish” the police by the most radical political elements.

In Seattle, that’s led to the outrageous abdication of responsibility by elected state and local officials, who cowered before a mob that took over a whole city neighborhood. alfonse The occupiers d’amaTo of the city’s Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone stormed a local police headquarters and forcibly expelled the officers stationed there. They set up barricades and have established their own tumultuous version of an open society. no cops, no discernible rules of behavior.

The result: a spiraling decline into lawlessness and disorder. Armed thugs roam the zone, dispensing their own version of justice. Fueled by drugs and alcohol, this has inevitably led to late-night shooting, and at least one death. But Seattle’s mayor and Washington’s governor have sat on

Y

their hands, making apologies for the mob.

No one should make excuses for bad cops or accept criminal behavior from those sworn to protect us. Police forces do need to reform, to be much better trained, to opt for de-escalation rather than confrontation. Bad cops should be weeded out and expelled from their forces. Police must win the trust of communities they serve, not see themselves as occupying forces, especially in communities of color.

But just imagine what will happen if police withdraw from patrolling highcrime neighborhoods. Think crime will magically go down? Think the killing will stop? Think again, because the summer killing season has already entered full swing in a number of America’s cities.

In Minneapolis, where the tragic death of George Floyd sparked a national awakening to the need to stop inexcusable police violence, recent murders of young black men have brought the tragedy full circle. But most of these murders weren’t committed by police. They were committed by criminals.

In Chicago, the death toll has been staggering. More than 250 people have been murdered so far this year. At the current death rate, Chicago could exceed last year’s 510 murders.

W

Recently the New York City Police Department unilaterally declared a withdrawal from undercover policing aimed at the most violent drug gangs. The law-abiding citizens of areas where those thugs roam can only hide — they can’t run from their neighborhoods. Unlike New York’s wealthy, who can and will abandon the city for safer environs if the level of crime returns to that of the bad old days, those who live in its poorest neighborhoods will be trapped amid the violence and death. They’ll absorb the brunt of the drive-by shootings, the stray bullets, the revenge killings.

We may forget that at the height of the last crime wave, New York was terrorized by a high of over 2,600 murders in a single year. Last year there were just over 300 murders. That’s 2,300 fewer dead, fewer funerals, fewer grieving parents, widows and orphans.

Good policing had a lot to do with that dramatic drop in deaths. Constructive police engagement in communities plagued by high crime helped reduce the death toll. That’s why it’s all the more damnable that a few terrible cops have defamed the reputation of their police brothers and sisters, and damaged relationships between police and minority communities.

This damage must be repaired. Our

e need to offer more, not less, support for better law enforcement.

police forces must not retreat from our most vulnerable communities. They must not lose heart or commitment to the tough work they signed up for. We need to offer more, not less, support for better law enforcement, especially to encourage positive community engagement.

If that means creating specialized teams of social workers, medics, mental health professionals and others to help police respond to the calls they get, so be it. So many 911 calls today are domesticabuse calls, child-abuse calls, drug- and alcohol-abuse calls. They require more than law enforcement intervention. They require all the skills the public sector and the community can muster.

I certainly get it that policing needs to change and grow to serve our modern and all too often dysfunctional society. We should look at policing with eyes wide open. Let’s figure out what works and follow it. Let’s make public safety a No. 1 priority.

Let’s not throw in the towel on better policing, safer communities and fewer deaths, especially in our minority communities, which suffer the worst from criminal violence. Because black lives matter.

Every single one.

Al D’Amato, a former U.S. senator from New York, is the founder of Park Strategies LLC, a public policy and business development firm. Comments about this column?

ADAmato@liherald.com.

Marriage in the time of Covid-19

esterday morning, my partner, my husband of 52 years, my onetime Lawrence High School sweetheart, turned his head on the pillow and whispered: “What are you making for dinner tonight?”

My eyes weren’t open yet, but I whispered back, “Grilled scallops over buckwheat noodles and yakitori vegetables.”

We sighed. I opened my eyes and got rolling.

There were scallops to defrost.

This is life for us during the coronavirus pandemic.

Do you enjoy irony? All I ever wanted was for Randi him to retire so we kReiss could spend more time together. This winter he retired.

Three days later, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, the world took a timeout, and here we are, with more togetherness than human beings were ever designed for.

True, when we married on July 3,1968, we promised to stick together through the usual storms that blow through lives, but this? It definitely requires a codicil.

We are rigorously avoiding outside social contact, and not dining out or bringing in food. What that means for me is that I have cooked three meals a day for these many weeks since the pandemic hit. As I heard my husband confide to a friend on the phone, “I’m so lucky she’s a good cook.”

How priorities change.

Believe me, when we were 21 his mind wasn’t on my chicken fricassee. He’s thrilled with my meals, and I’m happy to slice and dice and sauté and bake, because what else is there to do in this crazy time? It’s a simple equation. Our marital quid pro quo: I prepare a complex seafood and rice dish with saffron and exotic mushrooms. We sit down together and enjoy.

It works particularly well because he is happy to share the work by cleaning up.

But . . . but . . . how did this get to be our lives? At least once a day I have a moment of being totally flabbergasted at the surreal turn of events.

When we got married, who could have imagined that in our 52nd year together, we’d be isolated in semi-quarantine? Who could have envisioned all these hours and days and weeks spent alone after lifetimes

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of individual careers and outside friendships that nourished our lives and created healthy separation?

Everyone is writing their own survival manual during the pandemic, especially because the federal government’s leadership has been so inadequate, so late and so confused. My kids are raising teenagers who no longer go to school or get to hang out with friends. My nieces and nephews are entertaining their toddlers all day and welcoming newborns. Some friends are living through all of this on their own. Others are going to work and keeping as safe as possible, whatever that means.

For me, the first month was the worst, when I realized this wasn’t going to be a two-week deal, when I realized how vulnerable we are as over-65 seniors, when I saw the medical experts doing quiet battle with the federal government. I did what I could for myself, meditating and yoga and talking to friends on the phone. My husband and I carved out space for ourselves within our home, separating for some part of each day.

Still, there are moments that feel close to panic. How will we get through this time

ho could have imagined that in our 52nd year together, we’d be in quarantine?

of not seeing our children and grandchildren? How will young people make sense of this in the arc of their lives?

Here at home base, the journey is fraught. From another room, I can hear my husband preparing his hourly glass of water, violently shaking ice for what seems like 20 minutes, creating an avalanche of sound that shakes the dishes in the cupboard. I hear it from upstairs. Hell, you could hear it from another state. You wouldn’t think that would make you want to kill someone, but you’d be wrong. It’s the little things that drive you mad.

But then, somehow, things settle. We find the light. We never had breakfast together because he went to work before 7.

Now we do. Yes, it’s true he does get testy when I leave crumbs from my toast on the table, but we’re coping. We have faith in us.

When we got married that July 3 in Woodmere, we promised to stick together.

As fragile as life has become, as much as we’ve changed, grown apart and together again, I’m still in. We got married on that date so we’d always have the Fourth of July to celebrate.

Alas, no fireworks this year, but I do have a nice whole snapper marinating in the fridge.

Copyright 2020 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

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Reform policing, don’t trash it

In Congress, July 4, 1776

22 Freeport

HERALD July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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The Declaration of Independence was first published on July 6, 1776, in a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Evening Post. We are proud to commemorate that high point in American journalism by reprinting that historic document.

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hen in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. e has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at

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places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness of his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing taxes on us without our consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Government: For suspending our own legislature, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free People.

Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. e, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.

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The Declaration was signed first by John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, and then by 55 others representing the 13 original states.

opinions

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hile commenting on the chants and signs proclaiming “Black Lives Matter,” a white colleague said, “All lives matter.”

Yes, I replied, all lives matter, but we need to be reminded that black lives matter because it is black lives that are being eliminated by police violence. And we know only about those killed by bullets and bullies.

What about the others who are “killed” behind closed doors and

by Covid-19, toxic water, lead paint, failing schools, a privatized prison roBert a. system and job sCott discrimination, among other ills visited upon black people.

I asked my colleague if he ever worried when his son goes to a mall with friends. Imagine you’re black, I said.

Would you be concerned then, since we know that black people are harassed more often than whites and are killed in their homes and suburban neighbor-

hoods by white police.

How many times have we heard of black professionals being mistaken for maintenance staff ? How often have we read about black students being asked why they’re in a university lounge, as if they don’t belong there?

We hear the protests of the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many others, but do we hear the cries of anguish of those who suffer the malignancy of daily slights and sights? The slights of having one’s name questioned because it seems foreign. The sights of statues honoring generals who wanted to maintain the slave system.

To solve a problem or cure an addiction, we must first name it and frame it.

We must own up to it, even if it takes time. We must acknowledge it and understand its causes and effects. This is true of racism in all its guises, whether individual or institutional.

I was fortunate to grow up in Mount Vernon, N.Y., where I had black friends in every grade of school. Even in college, although it was majority white, I had black friends — even one who today is a raving libertarian. But even with these experiences, I have to remind myself of white supremacy, of the many ways in

Letters

which I have been advantaged in life, despite the fact that my mother died when I was 9 and my father went bankrupt due to the medical bills. We were poor but white, and even that gave us advantages.

Racism is endemic. We must speak out against it, not in a patronizing way but as a patriotic act. For if we do not correct our nation’s original sin, this country whose ideals I admire will soon perish from its rotten core.

The sin of slavery and the dehumanization of black people was codified in our Constitution, written into law, condoned by churches and confirmed by courts. Through theology, political protocols, economic priorities and educational practices, black individuals, families and communities have been disadvantaged in American society. These are the sources of white supremacy and relative wealth.

It’s time for white people to acknowledge these injustices. It’s time for white Americans to acknowledge the justification for affirmative action. It’s time for white Americans to care about equal access to health care, education, job opportunities and justice for all Americans without regard for race, gender or background. To care about others is to care about the ideals on which this coun-

FrameWork by John O’Connell

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — July 2, 2020

Of course black lives matter!

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try was founded, even when those ideals were flawed in execution.

These ideals are stated as, “We the people” — not some people — “in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Jus- judgme tice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide Americ Call for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of replace Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do “abolis ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This is a promise to pursue these ideals, not of perfection at the time of writing, but if we do not maintain this pursuit after more than two centuries of trying in fits and starts, we will surely perish as a nation.

To affirm that these ideals apply to all Americans, black, white and other, is a form of reparation worth standing up for, a major but easy first step. Then they can become an action agenda for university and business leaders, elected officials and community activists to ensure voting rights as well as basic human rights. If we do not support our neighbors, wheth- storme er near or far — if we do not affirm that, forcibly yes, black lives matter — we will certain- there. T ly find that the center, the core, will not establi of an o hold. rules o The Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of lessnes Adelphi University. the zon justice has ine and at and Wa

A cross-continental reader checks in To the Editor: I moved to Merrick in 1950 and graduated from Mepham High in 1961. My wife and I lived in Merrick for 38 years before moving to Seattle in 2007. When we moved, we placed a full-page letter in what was then Merrick Life to say goodbye and explain that we were leaving not because of any fault of the town, but rather to seek a new life in new circumstances. Our three children had gone to school and grown to adulthood in Merrick, and all graduated from Calhoun High School.

We have stayed close to our former friends and neighbors there, have returned to visit many times and continue to subscribe to the Herald in order to stay current with what’s happening there. (If you have read the papers, though, you’ll note that we have plenty of news in Seattle also!)

I wanted to let you know that Randi Kreiss’s column “Thank you very much, but I prefer to remain alive” (June 18-24) was a remarkable piece of writing, and encapsulated and so aptly described what is taking place. My wife and I send Kreiss our best wishes and hope she continues to stir the pot with such wonderful prose.

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the pill making My pered b wheat n

SETH AND DANINE POPPEL Seattle

CorreCtion The name of a co-author of last week’s opinion column “Going to the doctor in a Covid-19 world” was misspelled.

She is Dr. Ankita Sagar, not Anika. The Herald regrets the error.

Beach chairs and umbrellas? For now, you bring your own. — Jones Beach

Three d zation world t with m beings Tru we pro usual s this? It

July 2, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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