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Vol. 31 No. 16
THE LEADER IN PROPERTY TA X REDUCTION
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APRIl 16 - 22, 2020
Teen awaits lung transplant
Celebrating 105 with a parade Faustina Peri celebrated her 105th birthday by waving to a large procession of police officers, firefighters and Long Beach residents. Story, Page 4.
Masha Benitez, 17, finally makes list for life-saving procedure extraordinary precautions to make sure she doesn’t contract Covid-19. “The big thing is to Masha Benitez, a 17-year-old keep the virus from getting into Long Beach High School senior the house,” her mother said. who is awaiting a life-saving douMost days, no one leaves the ble lung transplant, has finally house. Quigley says she spends been placed on a waiting list for hours on the phone ordering the procedure at the Children’s deliveries and making doctors’ Hospital of Philadelphia. appointments. Once But these days of every week and a the coronavirus panhalf or so, Tony and demic are perilous Giancarlo go grofor Benitez. Her parcery shopping, and ents, Michelle Quigeverything that is ley and Luis “Tony” brought into the Benitez, said their house is quickly disdaughter was put on infected. Masks are the list on March 12. essential. Whenever But now she must her father and brothwait for a pair of er venture out, they lungs to become change clothes mICHelle available, and hospibefore they come tal officials say they QUIGleY back in. are unable to tell her Mother L a s t O c t o b e r, when that will hapMasha developed a pen. cold that quickly Because Masha is so small — spread to her already weakened she is 4 feet 9 inches tall and lungs. Her doctor sent her to weighs 80 pounds — the lungs Cohen Children’s Medical Censhe needs must be compatible ter in New Hyde Park, where she with her size and blood type. She spent a week before recovering may also need heart surgery. and going home. Many of her As the pandemic has spread, doctors’ appointments these she has been spending time at days are conducted online. home, like all other students. But Masha was born in Russia, to her parents and her brother, 16-year-old Giancarlo, must take Continued on page 3
By JAmes BeRNsteIN jbernstein@liherald.com
t
he big thing is to keep the virus from getting into the home.
Courtesy Stephanie Marra
It’s final: Boardwalk to stay closed with state’s blessing By JAmes BeRNsteIN jbernstein@liherald.com
A lawsuit demanding that Long Beach follow the proper steps to close its 2.2-mile-long boardwalk was withdrawn Wednesday after it was successfully resolved by the plaintiff. Scott Cohen, the lawyer for plaintiff Frank McQuade, who ran unsuccessfully for Nassau County District Attorney last year, said that McQuade decided
to withdraw the suit after being informed by the New York State Department of Health that it had given Long Beach the approval to close the boardwalk. Earlier this week, McQuade wrote in a letter to the Herald that it was never his intention to have the boardwalk reopened, but rather to see that the closing was done properly. McQuade’s suit was filed last Friday. Cohen said the state Health Department’s letter
detailing its action was dated Sunday. Cohen said he believed the department’s decision to approve the closing was a response to McQuade’s suit. “I believe it is a 100 percent victory,” Cohen said, The City if Long Beach said in a statement, “We are pleased the plaintiff has dropped the suit. We will continue to do everything possible to protect Continued on page 10