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Students thank their teachers

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Aiding local businesses Malvernites collect donations for merchants, first responders

By NAkeem GRANt ngrant@liherald.com

Courtesy Feeding Our Heroes

mAlVeRNe PolICe DePARtmeNt officer Taylor Belviso picked up donated meals from Sarah Hartford at Connolly Station during his night shift as part of the Feeding Our Heroes campaign.

Seeing the humanitarian efforts taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic in neighboring communities, Malver nite Bridg et Jelovcic thought it would appropriate for her village to do the same.

Jelovcic and her sister, Lori Lang, launched the group Malverne Feeding Our Heroes on March 25, and are collecting donations to send food to groups of first responders, volunteers and essential service workers throughout the village.

The group had raised more than $12,000 as of press time on Monday.

“We’re just trying to collaborate as much as we can for everyone during this time,” said Jelovcic, a staff member at Maurice W. Downing Primary School. “My goal is for people to realize that it’s not just me and my sister doing this. It’s a community that’s doing this.”

The group has donated food from local eateries to the Malverne Department of Public Works, the Police Department and local hospitals such as Continued on page 12

Malverne, W.H. schools remain optimistic amid coronavirus

By NAkeem GRANt ngrant@liherald.com

With schools not expected to re-open until at least April 29 in New York state because of the coronavirus pandemic, both the Malverne and West Hempstead school districts have continued to move forward with their learning-from-home initiative.

In West Hempstead, students have used numerous apps and web programs for online learning. Teachers have held videoconferences to share tips and teach lessons, and staff members have created videos for their schools, turning a challenge into an opportunity to

enhance learning opportunities.

“The West Hempstead School District is rising above the uncertainty as a phoenix rises out of the ashes,” said district Superintendent Daniel Rehman.

Teachers have continued to plan a more rigorous and interactive program of instruction, Rehman said, and more interdisciplinary learning opportunities are in the works as well.

He added that he hoped the district would continue to push boundaries and try new learning strategies to meet students’ needs.

“This process takes time and patience,” Rehman said. “Teaching in a brick-and-mortar set-

A

s you know, this continues to be an exceptionally trying time for all of us.

DR. JAmeS HuNDeRFuND Superintendent, Malverne School District

ting and teaching in an online world are two different types of instruction. I applaud our entire district as we make this transition. Learners need to be free to work individually, cooperatively

and collaboratively, with the best information available in this technology-rich learning environment.”

Rehman said he expected the district to hit the ground running when schools reopen.

Malverne schools Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund said that administrators had been in constant communica-

tion since Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered schools closed, planning ways in which students could continue their coursework at home.

The district has also continued cleaning all schools and facilities. For students who rely on free and reduced-price lunches, the district is working with Continued on page 16

Herald offers $500K in grants for businesses Richner Communications Inc., publisher of Herald Community Newspapers and The Riverdale Press, this week announced a $500,000 grant program to support local businesses. Through the Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program, each Long Island business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for marketing services to promote the business’ products and services.

The Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program is being supported by: ■ Long Island Main Street Alliance ■ Cedarhurst BID ■ Gold Coast Business Association ■ Bellmore Chamber of Commerce ■ East Meadow Chamber of Commerce ■ Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce ■ Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce ■ Long Beach Chamber of Commerce ■ Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce ■ Malverne Chamber of Commerce ■ Oceanside Chamber of Commerce ■ Oyster Bay/East Norwich Chamber of Commerce ■ Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce ■ Seaford Chamber of Commerce

■ Vally Stream Chamber of Commerce ■ Wantagh Chamber of Commerce ■ West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce Businesses can apply for grants at www.liherald.com/grants starting on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, and they will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities,” said Stuart Richner, president of RCI and publisher of Herald Community Newspapers. “With Long Island quickly becoming the center of the Covid-19 crisis, we knew that we had to do whatever possible to support our small business community.

“We are a small business ourselves, so we understand the pain that small business owners are going through right now,” Richner added. “But all studies show that businesses that continue to market during down times are those that fare the best long-term. We at the Herald want to do our part to make sure that members of our business community can continue to promote themselves during this trying period.”

Eric Alexander, of the Long Island Main Street Alliance, applauded RCI for stepping up to help the Long Island small business community. “Half-a-million dollars will go a long way toward helping the local restaurant owners, downtown retailers and other business

The herald is kicking off a new $500,000 grant program to help small businesses market themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic. services,” Alexander said. “With so many small businesses changing how they offer their services, like dine-in only restaurants now offering takeout, promotion is critical during this crisis and even more important as we head toward recovery.”

The Herald Small Business Marketing Grant Program will provide up to $500,000 in matching advertising dollars and can be used toward print or digital advertising in any Herald or other RCI property. Since the coronavirus crisis started in March, the Herald has seen its audience increase by 100 percent, meaning that advertisers now have the ability to reach even more people than

before.

The program is open to all locally owned and operated businesses impacted by the coronavirus. Grants are available for between $300 and $15,000 of matching funds and can be used in April, May and June 2020.

Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on advertising will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied toward advertising costs. Applications must be submitted via the online form at www. liherald.com/grants. Businesses will be notified about the status of their application within two business days of submitting it.

Island Harvest Responds to COVID-19 Island Harvest Food Bank is a lifeline for people struggling to put food on their tables during this unprecedented public health crisis, but we need your help.

Your generosity will allow us to continue to provide critical food and support for homebound seniors, veterans, working families, and children.

And, If you, or someone you know, needs food assistance, or to support our work on Long Island call 631-873-4775 or visit islandharvest.org.

HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED: Every $25 donated will support a family meal kit which provides food for 3–4 days.

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April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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What’s neWs in and out of the classroom

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

Herald ScHoolS

Photos courtesy Our Lady of Lourdes School

Sophia, left, maGGie and Lucy Carey cheered on teachers and staff members during Our Lady of Lour.des School’s teacher and staff parade on March 30.

OLL teachers and students parade the streets

By Nakeem GraNt ngrant@liherald.com

Signs that read “OLL Strong” and “We Love Our Teachers” could be seen throughout the village on March 30 as members of Our Lady of Lourdes School took part in a teacher and staff parade. Keeping a safe distance from each other, students, teachers and families of OLL drove and walked through the village to uplift their school community.

With schools still closed until at least April 29, OLL showed their school spirit and brought some cheer to the village. OLL Principal Kathleen Cotilletta said that teachers had proposed the idea to her. She informed parents ahead of time and shared routes teachers and staff members would take so that parents would know where and when to cheer them on.

“The teachers came out in full force and decorated their cars, and I was overwhelmed,” Cotilletta said. “A lot of parents told me that this is just what they needed and that it lifted their spirits. We pulled this together in a matter of hours and they’ve been rocking it since then. We’ve had very little problems, and I’m really proud of our teachers at Our Lady of Lourdes.”

Cotilletta, who started her career at OLL in August, said that while dealing with this pandemic has been a challenge, she has remained optimistic. “The thing is none of us have ever experienced anything like this,” Cotilletta said. “We’re all in this together and navigating uncharted waters, but I have an unbelievable support system with Father Duffy so we’re making it work.”

oll priNcipal kathleeN Cotilletta took part in the parade, above left.

JuliaNa theveNot, aBove, at left, and Ava Intal celebrated their teachers. the DuBoN SiSterS, Bridget, left, Kate and Maggie made a sign to celebrate their teachers, near right. maryN hickam aND her parents joined the festivities.

First responders workout for free

By J.D. FREDA jfreda@liherald.com

The coronavirus pandemic has created many complications and has affected numerous groups of people.

One highly-effected group is first responders – all first responders.

“First responders are people who are trained to respond to emergency,” said Michelle Panetta, co-founder of Beyond the Badge, a local nonprofit that promotes mental health awareness and the wellbeing of law enforcement officers.

“Some people say it is only cops and firefighters, but it’s everyone. Military is included, nurses, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers, they all count.”

Bloomberg Business Wire posted an article on March 25 that cited statistics collected from Oren Barzilay, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2507, a union that represents mainly uniformed emergency medical technicians, paramedics, fire inspectors and dispatchers. According to Barzilav, medical emergency calls are up to 6,500 a day, a 40 percent hike from before the crisis. Barzilav said the union typically sees about 5,000 calls on New Year’s Day, its busiest day.

It’s Your MoneY By

Jonathan Wolfsohn MBA, CFP, EA, ATA

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Miscellaneous itemized deductions suspended Previously, when a taxpayer itemized, they could deduct the amount of their miscellaneous itemized deductions that exceeded 2 percent of their adjusted gross income. These expenses are no longer deductible.

This includes unreimbursed employee expenses such as uniforms, union dues and the deduction for business-related meals, entertainment and travel. It also includes deductions for tax preparation fees and investment expenses, such as investment management fees, safe deposit box fees and investment expenses from pass-through entities.

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April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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In the same article, Anthony Almojera, vice president of Local 3621 of the Uniformed EMS Officers Union, which represents EMS officers in the fire department, said that virus-related concerns have been the most prevalent cause for calls since 9/11.

And that comparison is important, especially for longtime first responders in the New York-metropolitan area.

“At this point, you’re getting that feeling of 9/11 all over again in terms of how bad this could be,” Panetta said. “A lot of 9/11 first responders have health issues from that. Now they are up against this, and you have anxiety from all of that, knowing that this virus is out there.”

Typically, Beyond the Badge focuses on the mental health of law enforcement.

Now, Michelle Panetta says she and husband Chris see the bigger picture and more dire need to help a wider array than normal – and not just mentally.

“A lot of first responders rely on fitness. If we have a bad day, we can get a hard workout in at the gym to get stress out,” Michelle said. “Once the gyms closed, I asked, what ways can we still destress?”

Panetta, a probation officer, mentioned that her office does not have a gym. She said many precincts, firehouses and law enforcement offices do, but she is not sure whether they are open.

She also thinks that many are hesitant to use public, shared equipment. So, Panetta wanted to create an opportunity for first responders to destress while keeping their bodies healthy.

“We wound up posting something about fitness, and then the Yoga Shack wrote to me saying they’d like to work with me,” Panetta said. She connected with the Yoga Shack in Bethpage’s Michelle DeNicola-Turano and Cindy Mussman-Valentine to offer free virtual guided meditation and yoga courses to first responders. The courses run roughly four weeks and throughout the month of April.

Panetta is also working with Suzanne Kraemer and Ada Coonerty of Fitness 19 in Malverne. Fitness 19 provides online classes on Fridays and Saturdays, offering abdominal strengthening classes, cardio classes and Zumba classes. Panetta said that physical activity is a fantastic “destressor” and “preserves your mental health.”

She doubled down, saying that being static can bring on anxiety. “Everybody is starting to get that unsettling feeling,” Panetta said. “That anxiety feeling of ‘could it be me? Do I have symptoms? Do I have no symptoms but am spreading it?’”

But, beyond the stress of responding to calls professionally, many first responders must adapt to unfamiliar situations at home now, too.

“Now, every day is something different and you are thrown in to different situations so fast,” Panetta said. “A lot of people are homeschooling their kids right now. So, you have to go from parent, to first responder, to teacher, and still be a provider. That’s a lot of stress.”

Courtesy Michelle Panetta

An oFFiciAl FlyER for one of Beyond the Badge’s free yoga class offers.

But Panetta has seen her latest idea put into action already. She gets updates from the Yoga Shack or Fitness 19 whenever they have a new member sign up for the program. She even sent the offer directly to the Nassau County Police Department health and wellness department. Panetta really hopes they send it to their dispatch team, who she believes are a group of unsung heroes that rarely get recognition.

Beyond the Badge has grown steadily since its inception late last year, and more law enforcement officers are taking notice. When asked if Panetta would quit her job to take on the full responsibility of demanding nonprofit, she was not sure, but she did offer this: “I don’t know if I would stop my career, I’ve never been asked that. But I think the beauty of the situation is that we’re active. We’re working the same type of job and going through the same things as the people we aim to help.”

All information for the free exercise classes can be found on https://www. facebook.com/BeyondTheBadgeNY/.

Courtesy Michelle Panetta Facebook

MichEllE PAnEttA is focused on keeping first responders healthy and happy during this global crisis.

Fire departments donate food to LIJ Valley Stream on April 4. Additionally, Malverne Fire Department First Assistant Chief Ernie Bohringer’s children made signs to thank the staff.

Photos courtesy Joseph Gerrato

MeMBers of the Franklin Square & Munson and Malverne fire departments donated food to the medical staff at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream.

Overcoming tragedy and becoming stronger As a child, I remember learning One of the items on the Passover Seder plate is an egg. It’s not one of the that the egg represents the Jewish peofoods we’re commanded to eat on Pass- ple. At our Seder we read that “In over, and no mention of it is made dur- every generation there are those who ing the Seder meal itself. So why is it stood up and tried to destroy us, but the Holy Blessed One there? We know that the redeemed us.” It’s a more shank bone represents the eloquent way of saying, Passover lamb, and the “they tried to kill us, we others are foods that are won, let’s eat!” As a people eaten ceremonially, but and as a community, the roasted egg sits there. we’ve overcome tragedy This roasted e gg and become stronger as a reminds us of the special result. When an egg is sacrificial offering– cooked, it hardens, and hagigah–made on festiwhen the pressure is on, vals during the time of we respond and work the Holy Temple. Unlike together. some of the other offerEssentially, we’re resilings, which were totally ient, and this year, we consumed by the fire, the need that resilience as we hagigah of fering was abbi approach Passover much eaten. However, there’s uSan lkodSi differently than in the rarely more than one reapast. Many singles, famison for something in Jewlies and couples will be ish tradition, and this is spending their Seders alone instead of no exception.

Under the right circumstances, an with family and friends. Others will sit egg can become a chicken (or turkey, in front of a computer or smartphone duck) and is a symbol of new life. to create community and have virtual Spring, when the Israelites left Egypt, Seders. There will be so many answers is that same time of rebirth, trees and to the question, “Why is this night difflowers are blooming, we’re planting ferent from all other nights?”

This Passover, may we be blessed to our gardens, and (usually) spending tap into our personal and communal more time outdoors.

Eggs and other round foods are tra- resiliency to have a sweet and joyful ditionally served at a meal following a holiday. funeral, representing the circle of life, and the knowledge that although Rabbi Susan Elkodsi is the spiritual “tears may linger for a night, joy leader of the Malverne Jewish Center, at 1 Norwood Ave. comes with the dawn.” (Ps. 30).

Guest Column

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Comprehensive Audiology: ‘We’re still here for you’

By Briana BonfiGlio bbonfiglio@liherald.com

Hearing loss could cause anxiety for a person at any time, but even more so during this time of physical isolation, said Dr. Esther Fogel.

That’s why, although her Lynbrook practice, Comprehensive Audiology, is currently closed due to the coronavirus, she is still taking calls and emails to assist her patients however she can.

“During this time, many of us are home alone or with one family member, and that impacts people with hearing loss,” she explained. “Those with hearing loss, of any severity, rely a lot on face-to-face contact and visual cues.”

At the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Audiology and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Fogel closed the Comprehensive Audiology office on March 23 and rescheduled all appointments. However, there are several ways that she is maintaining contact with existing patients and treating new ones: ■ Phone call — Call (516) 226-2141 with questions, concerns or for a phone consultation with Fogel.

■ Video appointment — Schedule a virtual, 30-minute consultation. Talk face-

www.liherald.com

Malverne fire DepartMent Assistant Chief Ernie Bohringer’s children made signs to thank the staff.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

Members of the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department and the Malverne Fire Department delivered food, snacks and water to the doctors and nurses of Long Island Jewish

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Have a great story?

to-face with Fogel to discuss hearing health, history, symptoms and treatment options. For existing patients, Fogel can help troubleshoot hearing aids. Patients should have access to a computer, iPad or laptop with a camera, microphone, email and reliable internet access.

■ Drop off/pick up — If a hearing aid is in need of an emergency repair, patients can schedule a drop off and pick up time.

■ Shipping/mail — If a patient needs hearing aid supplies or batteries, they can contact Fogel and arrange for it to be shipped or mailed to the patient’s home.

In addition, the federal government is now issuing free caption telephones, Fogel noted. Fogel has partnered with the company CaptionCall, and anyone who needs one can contact her directly.

She also stressed the importance of staying connected during this time and encouraged those with hearing loss to video call their loved ones so they can see visual cues. “We’re truly trying to be in contact,” Fogel said, “and give ideas on how to communicate with family and friends.”

For more information, contact Fogel at (516) 387-4000 or efogel@comprehensiveaudiology.com.

Call our editors today 516-569-4000 or email ngrant@liherald.com

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April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

On Saturday, COunty Executive Laura Curran said, “We’re in the heat of the battle,” as she spoke about the increasing number of coronavirus cases in Nassau. As of Monday morning, the state was reporting 15,600 cases here. At back was Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggiWhitton, who represents the 11th District on the North Shore.

Christina Daly/Herald

The week that was: coronavirus in Nassau

By SCOtt BrintOn sbrinton@liherald.com

The coronavirus outbreak took a sharp turn this past weekend, as cases soared on Long Island. Governor Cuomo said the epidemic appeared to be shifting east from New York City.

That shift was straining Nassau’s hospitals, according to Cuomo and County Executive Laura Curran Meanwhile, the governor pushed back the May 19 school vote to June 1.

Below is a day-by-day timeline of how it all played out.

Friday, april 3

School budget votes were delayed until at least June 1 because of the coronavirus outbreak, by order of Governor Cuomo.

The votes were to have taken place May 19.

The governor issued the executive order March 30. It states: “Any school board, library board, or village election scheduled to take place in April or May of 2020 is hereby postponed until at least June 1, 2020, and subject to further directive as to the timing, location or manner of voting for such elections.”

Whether the school budget votes take place on June 1 remains to be seen. The coronavirus pandemic is fluid, and if new cases were to continue to arise, the vote could be delayed further, state officials said.

“The state budget was difficult,” Cuomo said in his Friday news conference.

Pushing back the vote will give state and local officials a clearer picture of New York’s finances after the Covid-19 virus forced tens of thousands of businesses to close and sales tax collections to plummet. The governor had earlier predicted a $10 billion to $15 billion gap in the state budget, which is unprecedented.

GOvernOr CuOmO Said over the weekend that the center of the Covid-19 epidemic appeared to be shifting away from New York City toward Long Island.

Friday, april 3

Cuomo had warned in recent weeks that New York’s apex of Covid-19 cases was coming within seven to 21 days.

Already, though, the state had surpassed 100,000 cases as of last Friday, he said, and Thursday into Friday was the deadliest 24-hour period during the coronavirus crisis to date, with 562 new deaths statewide.

“We had more deaths,” Cuomo said, “we had more people going into the hospitals than any other night.”

In all, 2,935 New Yorkers had died of the disease.

In Nassau County, more than 12,000 people had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Friday.

The governor identified Nassau and Suffolk counties as emerging areas of concern.

He also noted that a number of Nassau County hospitals were identified as hot spots because of the high volume of Covid-19 patients they were seeing, including St. Francis Hospital, North Shore University Hospital, NYU Winthrop Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital.

Saturday, april 4

Nassau County had the third-highest number of coronavirus cases of any county in New York as of Saturday, surpassing Westchester, Bronx and New York counties.

New York County includes all of Man-

hattan.

That was according to the state Department of Health’s newly implemented Covid-19 tracker, found at covid19tracker. health.ny.gov.

In his daily briefing Saturday, Cuomo described the virus as a “fire spreading” across Long Island.

As of Saturday, Nassau had 13,346 coronavirus cases, compared to 13,081 in Westchester, where the Covid-19 outbreak began in New York a month ago. Meanwhile, the Bronx had 12,315 cases and Manhattan, 9,300.

Queens and Brooklyn — both geographically on Long Island — had 20,114 and 17,504 cases, respectively.

Suffolk County had 11,370 cases.

Combined, Nassau and Suffolk represented 21.7 percent of the state’s 113,704 cases — up from 16 percent earlier.

Cuomo described his concern for Long Island as the growing center of the coronavirus outbreak.

“You see the Long Island number growing,” he said, “and it’s growing steadily. It’s growing more east than north.”

He also noted, “We’ve been saying for the last few days watch Long Island.”

Cuomo spoke of the increasing need for ventilators, breathing machines to keep the hardest-hit patients alive — Covid-19 is primarily a respiratory disease afflicting the lungs.

The state had ordered 17,000 ventilators, but had received only a fraction of them by Saturday, the governor said.

Saturday, april 4

Speaking Saturday afternoon, Curran reported 11 new deaths overnight of the coronavirus, bringing the total number to 149.

That number, she said, contradicted a Continued on next page

Coronavirus outbreak shifts to Long Island

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

continued from previous page state report that indicated 396 people had died in Nassau. The county Department of Health was working with local hospital officials to quantify the exact number, she said.

County officials were also checking whether all of the people reported dead by the state actually lived in Nassau or a surrounding area.

As of Saturday morning, the state Department of Health was reporting 13,346 people had tested positive for Covid-19 in Nassau. Many of those cases, the county executive said, had resolved, though she did not give an exact number.

“We are in the heat of battle now,” Curran said.

Some 355 patients were reportedly on ventilators to enable their breathing, Curran said. That figure was up 31 people from the day before, she said.

Sunday, April 5

Coronavirus cases in Nassau County continued to climb steadily overnight from Saturday into Sunday, nearly reaching 14,400, up from 13,346 the day before — an almost 8 percent increase, according to Cuomo.

Statewide, 4,159 people had died of Covid-19 as of Sunday, he said.

Speaking that day, Cuomo said, “There is a shift to Long Island … As Long Island grows, the percentage of cases in New York City has reduced.”

The sharp rise in Nassau cases in recent days contrasted with data that showed an emerging “plateau” of cases statewide over the past three days, the governor said.

It is too early to tell, he said, if New York was reaching the apex of cases, when the number of deaths will drop, but it appeared the high point could be reached sometime in the next week. Previously, he had said it could be seven to 21 days before the apex is reached.

Data appeared to suggest the state was nearing a plateau or the apex, Cuomo said. Overnight from Saturday to Sunday, the state saw its highest number of hospital

Source: New York State Department of Health Illustration by Christina Daly/Herald

discharges — 1,709. The total number of people who had been treated for Covid-19 and released from the hospital stood at 12,187 as of Sunday.

“Discharge is way up, and that is great news,” Cuomo said.

The state also saw its smallest number of new hospitalizations overnight, at 574. That was a 52 percent

decrease from the day before, when there were 1,100 new hospitalizations. The day before that, there had been 1,400.

The state had not seen such a low number of new hospitalizations for 16 days, according to state data.

In all, 16,400 people were hospitalized as of April 5.

Urgent care centers debut rapid Covid-19 test

By BRIAN STIEGLITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com

Three urgent care centers on Long Island are among the first in the nation to debut a rapid test to detect coronavirus, which gives patients results within minutes.

The American Family Care health care providers in East Meadow, Farmingdale and West Islip began testing patients as part of a full examination on March 31, before launching regular tests the next day.

The molecular, point-of-care tests reduce wait time from days to roughly five minutes for positive results and 13 minutes for negative results.

Testing will only be available to those who are symptomatic, according to officials at the AFC Urgent Care centers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of such testing, developed by Abbott Laboratories, on March 27.

The urgent care centers began regular testing the same day Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Regeneron Pharmaceuticals would

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donate 500,000 test kits to the state, in shipments of 25,000 per day. Corning Life Sciences also donated 100,000 tubes for testing and provided an additional 500,000 at a reduced cost.

As of April 1, the state had given 220,880 tests and continued to provide roughly 15,000 tests each day. Of those tested, 83,712 were positive.

“Rapid testing is the fastest way to return to normalcy and get the economy back up and running, and will also help end the anxiety that has become the most oppressive part of this situation,” Cuomo said. “In the meantime, New Yorkers must continue to comply with all social distancing protocols and stay home as much as possible to prevent spreading this virus to others.”

ThE AFC URGENT Care center on Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow is one of three on Long Island to debut the nation’s first rapid coronavirus test.

Christina Daly/Herald

April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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What’s up next door and around the corner

Herald neigHbors

Courtesy West Hempstead Historical Society

The WesT hempsTead Historical Society created a poster to celebrate Helen Duryea’s 92nd birthday.

Celebrating a longtime W.H. resident While the coronavirus has kept people from getting together, it didn’t stop the West Hempstead Historical Society from celebrating one of the community’s longtime residents and members.

The group honored Helen Duryea, who is turning 92 on Saturday.

West Hempstead Historical Society vice president Lesley McAvoy said that while this is trying times for everyone, moments like this are “character building,” and that good character will be sorely needed in the coming weeks.

“Helen is one of the treasured individuals of my life and as she has no middle name, I am giving her one, character,” McAvoy said. “She exemplifies good character through her lifelong generosity to two communities, tireless devotion to her family and friends and deep-dish caring.”

As a 62-year-old woman who had pneumonia twice, McAvoy said she is looking for ways to do something positive during this pandemic. She said she has followed health guidelines, supported her family and friends with encouraging phone calls and finding interesting topics for the West Hempstead Historical Society.

“Hopefully on her birthday, I will be able to drive by her home with this sign on the car and she can see it safely from behind the glass,” McAvoy said.

“I hope it gives her a little chuckle.”

Courtesy West Hempstead Historical Society; compiled by Nakeem Grant

Herald file photo

duryea, righT, joined Jennifer, Karl, and Charles Riesterer during Reisterer Bakery’s 85th anniversary celebration in 2016.

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020 Courtesy Caroline Bert

MeMBerS of the community and firefighters rallied at Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital in Oceanside to show their appreciation for the hardworking staff during the coronavirus.

Community rallies to thank MSSN staff

By Mike SMollinS msmollins@liherald.com

The community and first responders gathered outside Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital on Sunday night to show their appreciation for doctors, nurses and other frontline medical staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some yielding signs and wearing masks, the group cheered on hospital staff from a social distance. Members of the staff came to the hospital’s entranceway to greet those gathered at the rally to support them.

The rally was done to show medical professionals, health care workers and essential staff members that the community appreciates their hard work, dedication and effort in treating patients during a global pandemic.

Courtesy MSSN

Part of the hospital staff, above, came to the facility’s entrance to acknowledge those gathered who expressed their appreciation.

Many of the attendees held signs thanking the staff.

DozenS of coMMunity members and firefighters attended the event.

Courtesy MSSN

Courtesy Caroline Bert

April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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Photos by Christina Daly/Herald

Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital has set up two triage tents for coronavirus patients amid the outbreak. Together, the tents can fit up to 20 cots, but hospital administrators said the number could be doubled if necessary.

MSSN sets up COVID-19 triage tents

By Mike SMollinS msmollins@liherald.com

As coronavirus cases climb at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, the hospital has set up two triage tents in a parking lot, and the local business community is pitching in to help the staff.

“We have more than 100 patients who are COVID-positive,” said Joe Calderone, the hospital’s senior vice president of corporate communications and development. “The surge is here.”

The triage tents will be used to screen patients who present with coronavirus-like symptoms. Combined, the tents can hold up to 20 cots, but the number can be doubled as needs arise, Calderone said. They were built to keep patients who have the symptoms away from others and as an extension of the Emergency Department.

Calderone cautioned that the triage area is not meant to be a testing center like the one set up at Jones Beach. If people feel coronavirus-like symptoms, they are urged to call their primary physicians and not to come to the hospital seeking a test.

The tents are fully equipped and will enable physicians to obtain electronic medical records, while also providing patients with a language translator as needed. Patients will be brought into and discharged from the tents as needed, Calderone said, and they will be brought into the hospital’s Emergency Department if they need additional care. The department has designated a space to house coronavirus positive patients as a way to segregate them from those who are suspected to have the virus, and patients who do not exhibit symptoms.

The tents were a part of hospital administrators’ emergency preparedness plan for the expected rise in patients amid the pandemic. As an additional measure, the Nassau Parkway entrance on the southern part of the

DoctorS anD nurSeS working in the negative-pressure tents will be able to access patients’ electronic medical records from computer terminals located in each tent. hospital has been reopened for ambulatory patients after being recently closed for a construction project.

While the hospital had some issues with mask and supply shortage when coronavirus cases climbed, its partnership with Mount Sinai has enabled it to procure the needed equipment, Calderone said. In addition, the Chinese American Association of Long Island donated 10,000 surgical masks to the hospital last week, and construction workers who are not working because of the virus have also donated materials.

“We’re grateful that the community has been responding to the hospital’s needs,” Calderone said.

Even though local shops have had to limit business recently, they are no less in the giving spirit, perhaps even more so than ever before.

Healthcare workers at the hospital

received many food donations from local businesses as they treat coronavirus patients.

Workers from Dee’s Nursery also showed community spirit by placing carnations on every car in the physician and employee parking lot last week to express their appreciation.

Calderone said the donations have raised the staff ’s mood. “It’s extremely helpful, but it’s more than just the food,” he said. “It’s really lifting the spirits of everyone here, especially our frontline staff because they see that the community is rallying around the hospital, and that’s more valuable than the food.”

Dana Sanneman, MSSN’s executive director of public affairs, said a few community groups have raised money through Facebook and used it to pay local businesses to deliver to area hospitals. “The community is supporting the businesses,” she said. “The restaurants

that are shut down except for takeout, it’s keeping them going, and at the same time, it’s helping the frontline workers.”

The Kiwanis Club of Oceanside and the Oceanside Library have also joined forces to help the staff at Mount Sinai South Nassau and local restaurants, delis and other businesses, but they need the community’s assistance.

Volunteers from the Kiwanis and library staff are collecting donations and will coordinate with MSSN to purchase meals from local eateries to deliver to its staff. Sanneman and Calderone each expressed their gratitude to the library and Kiwanis Club for their efforts.

Tony Iovino, the library’s assistant director for community services, explained the motivation behind the collection.

“We have a close partnership with Mount Sinai South Nassau,” he said.

“They regularly run programs for our patrons at the library. We decided to run a fundraiser and use the money to have meals delivered to the hospital staff and to our local first responders.”

Iovino said donations poured in from more than 100 residents, as well as Kiwanis members, library personnel, the Kiwanettes of Oceanside and the chamber of commerce. The efforts raised more than $5,000 in the first week, and the plan is to deliver 200 meals at a time to the hospital.

Additionally, the project received a large donation from the Levitt Foundation, a trust that has provided the library with grants in the past. “The grant was arranged by Patricia Roth, a library trustee and Kiwanian, and will enable us to deliver a lot of meals in the weeks to come,” Iovino said.

For more information about making donations to Mount Sinai South Nassau, call (516) 377-5360.

Briana Bonfiglio contributed to this story.

11

AVAILABLE NOW TO LOCAL BUSINESSES

SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING GRANT

Apply for your share of the $500,000 marketing grant available to assist locally owned businesses.

STUART RICHNER Publisher Herald Community Newspapers

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. We are a small business ourselves, so we understand the pain that small business owners are going through right now. We at the Herald want to do our part to make sure that members of our small business community can continue to promote themselves during this trying period.”

Herald Team

WHO For all locally owned and operated small businesses on Long Island that have been negatively impacted by coronavirus.

WHAT A $500,000 grant program to support local small businesses. Each local business is eligible to receive up to $15,000 of matching grant funds, which can be used for Herald Community Newspapers print, digital and direct mail products in April, May and June 2020.

WHERE Apply at www.liherald.com/grants.

WHEN

RHONDA GLICKMAN VP Sales

LORI BERGER Sales Manager

AMY AMATO Executive Director

rglickman@liherald.com

lberger@liherald.com

aamato@liherald.com

Applications are currently open and are first come, first serve. Businesses will receive a decision within two business days of submitting their application.

WHY Studies show that businesses that continue to market themselves during down times are the ones that fare the best long-term. This grant program will allow Long Island small businesses to continue promoting themselves and any new services they are offering during these unprecedented times.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS: • Every dollar that a grant recipient spends on marketing in Herald products will be matched with a dollar of grant funding, up to the award amount, to be applied towards marketing costs.

• Businesses must be locally owned and operated.

• Grants range from $300 to $15,000.

• Grants can be applied to any Herald Community Newspaper marketing product or service during April, May and June 2020.

• Grants applied to direct mail products are net of postage/mailing costs.

COURTNEY MYERS Media Consultant cmyers@liherald.com

For more information call Rhonda at 516.569.4000 ext. 250

APPLY TODAY AT

WWW.LIHERALD.COM/GRANT

1085582

A Special Collaboration With The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

$500,000 IN GRANTS

Malvernites raise money for local heroes nurses and doctors at Mount Sinai South Mercy Medical Center, LIJ Valley Stream Nassau in Oceanside last week. Her Northwell, Cohen Children’s Medical brother, Keith Perez, is a dialysis technical coordinator at the hospital.

Center and St. Joseph’s Medical Center.

“It’s been hard for them, so they were “We didn’t want to set a so happy when I donated goal because, honestly, we food to them,” Arroyo said. don’t know how long it’ll be “But Bridget and Lori until we can go back to our brought that out in me. It’s regular lives,” said Lang, the something you always think owner of Simplify by Lori about, but they made me Lang, a home-improvement think it was possible. If they business. “This could be could use us to reach out to another month that these all these local heroes, then merchants have to survive I’m going to pay it forward, like this.” too.”

Villa g e Juice Garden Jelovcic said that all of owner Yma Arroyo said that the merchants she has visitJelovcic and Lang’s initiative ed have made their own has lifted her spirits. While donations to people in need.

A r r o yo ’s b u s i n e s s h a s “That was the most humslowed, the food drive, she bling thing to me,” she said. said, has reignited the store.

“We’re not as large as the “It brought joy to everybody communities around us, but and gave all of us an opporthe fact that we raised so tunity to say thank you to the yMa arroyo much in such a short time to people we can’t reach out to give back to our community every single day,” she said. Owner, “The donations that each Village Juice Garden and essential workers is promising.” m e r c h a n t i s r e c e iv i n g Lang said that through through this event [are] helping owners keep the lights on. That’s pay- the drive, she and Jelovcic hope to recoging some of the rent, and that’s helping nize all of the village’s groups for their us stay here when this is all over and contributions to the community over the years. Once the pandemic is over, helping us to survive.”

Arroyo said that Feeding Our Heroes Jelovcic said, she would like to throw a encouraged her to donate lunch to the party on Hempstead Avenue, similar to continued from front page

T

he donations that each merchant is receiving through this event [are] helping owners keep the lights on.

The Malverne Jewish Center One Norwood Ave., Malverne 516-593-6364 • malvernejewishcenter@gmail.com

The Malverne Jewish Center has been serving the area’s Jewish community for more than 65 years, and we’re here for you during this difficult time with online Shabbat services, classes, discussions and more.

Wednesdays at 7:30pm • Torah portion of the week Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/804781720 Fridays at 10am • Talmud discussion (English) Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/389986946 Shabbat Morning Services, beginning at 9:30am Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/551762308 If you need technical assistance, visit Zoom.us To RSVP, for spiritual support, questions, etc., please call 516-593-6364 or email malvernejewishcenter@gmail.com www.malvernejewishcenter.org

Courtesy Feeding Our Heroes

Maurice W. DoWning Primary School students Bridget and Declan Cunningham raised $214 by selling flowers to support Feeding Our Heroes. the village’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting, to celebrate its merchants and give away leftover donations. “ M y m o t h e r wo u l d always tell us that we’re oak trees from acorns,” she said. “Not to sound cheesy, but if all of us acorns are rooted and planted, we’re strong.”

How to contribute to feeding our Heroes Residents can join the group on Facebook and donate through Venmo at Bridget-Jelovcic, PayPal at bhunt0925@aol.com, or by dropping off contributions in the home mail slot at 16 Coolidge St. in Malverne.

News brief Kaminsky hosts emergency food drive

Our building may be closed, but our hearts, minds and virtual doors are wide open!

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat who represents the Five Towns and other areas of Nassau County, will hold an emergency food drive to benefit families in the 9th Senate District. Suggested donations include gift cards; fresh, canned or boxed food; toiletries/personal items and cleaning supplies.

“The Covid-19 health crisis is leaving too many families unable to make ends meet and lacking basic necessities,” Kaminsky said. “If you are someone with a little extra willing to donate, please reach out to my office and we will get it into the hands of those who need it most.”

To donate, call Kaminsky’s office at (516) 766-8383 or email Kaminsky@nysenate.gov.

–Jeffrey Bessen

1085544

April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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an eMergency fooD drive to benefit people because of the Covid-19 health crisis is being held

by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

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Spread the news(letter) not the virus!

Stay up to date with the latest Nassau County news.

Sign up for an online account at www.liherald.com to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories and breaking news delivered to your inbox.

What you need to know today.

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April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 21st day of April, 2020, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following locations: FRANKLIN SQUARE WILLOW ROAD (TH 66/20) STOP - all traffic traveling northbound on Hemlock Street shall come to a full stop.

GARDEN CITY SOUTH BRIXTON ROAD SOUTH (TH 513/19) STOP - all traffic traveling eastbound on Warren Boulevard shall come to a full stop.

BRIXTON ROAD SOUTH (TH 513/19) STOP - all traffic traveling westbound on Warren Boulevard shall come to a full stop.

WEST HEMPSTEAD HOWARD AVENUE (TH 57/20) STOP - all traffic traveling northbound shall come to a full stop at Jefferson Street.

HOWARD AVENUE (TH 57/20) STOP - all traffic traveling southbound shall come to a full stop at Jefferson Street.

PARK AVENUE (TH 43/20) STOP - all traffic traveling eastbound on Maple Street shall come to a full stop.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: March 31, 2020 Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 121548 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

April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

LMAL1 0409

LEGAL NOTICE ASSESSOR’S NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF THE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL THE ASSESSOR OF THE COUNTY OF NASSAU HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that he has completed the 2020/2021 final assessment roll, which will be used for the 2021 levy of Town and County Taxes in the Towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, and the City of Glen Cove and the City of Long Beach, and for the 2020/2021 levy of school taxes in such Towns and in the City of Long Beach.

A certified electronic copy of the roll was filed with the Department of Assessment on April 1, 2020. The electronic roll may be examined on public terminals located in the offices of: DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT NASSAU COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING 240 OLD COUNTRY ROAD, FOURTH FLOOR MINEOLA, NY 11501 where the same will remain open for public inspection for fifteen days.

Dated this 1st day of April, 2020.

DAVID F. MOOG Nassau County Assessor 121537

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… Printed in this publication can be found online. Search by publication name at: www.mypublicnotices.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 21st day of April, 2020, at 7:00 o’clock in the evening of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE and REPEAL “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following locations: BALDWIN KENNETH AVENUE (TH 47/20) East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Demott Avenue south for a distance of 25 feet.

STANTON AVENUE (TH 621/19) North Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Edward Court west for a distance of 35 feet.

STANTON AVENUE (TH 621/19) North Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Edward Court east for a distance of 50 feet.

ELMONT PELHAM STREET (TH 583/19) North Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of Roquette Avenue west for a distance of 52 feet.

FRANKLIN SQUARE MAXWELL STREET (TH 52/20) North Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the west curbline of New Hyde Park Road west for a distance of 38 feet.

NEW HYDE PARK ROAD (TH 52/20) West Side NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Maxwell Street north for a distance of 30 feet.

NEW HYDE PARK ROAD (TH 52/20) West Side NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the south curbline of Maxwell Street south for a distance of 25 feet.

INWOOD SMITH STREET (TH 411/19) West Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 206 feet south of the south curbline of Mott Avenue south for a distance of 45 feet.

(NR) ISLAND PARK WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 70/20) South Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME from the west curbline of Pettit Place then east for a distance of 80 feet.

WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 70/20) North Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 30 feet east of the east curbline of Pettit Place east for a distance of 30 feet.

WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 70/20) North Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 150 feet east of the east curbline of Pettit Place east to its east most terminus.

ROOSEVELT W. CENTENNIAL AVENUE (TH 67/20) South Side NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 82 feet west of the west curbline of Brookside Avenue then west for a distance of 70 feet of Brookside Avenue then west for a distance of 70 feet.

WEST HEMPSTEAD

PARK AVENUE (TH 43/20) West Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER starting at the south curbline of Maple Street south for a distance of 30 feet.

POPLAR STREET (TH 71/20) East Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 20 feet north of the north curbline of Hempstead Avenue then north for a distance of 70 feet.

ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following locations: INWOOD SMITH STREET (TH 373/16) West Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at a point 206 feet south of the south curbline of Mott Ave., south for a distance of 18 feet.

(Adopted 11/29/16) (NR) ISLAND PARK WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 418/87) North Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at the easterly terminus west for a distance of 30 feet.

(Adopted 11/29/88) WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 418/87) South Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME starting at the easterly terminus west for a distance of 30 feet.

(Adopted 11/29/88) WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 329/93) South Side - NO STOPPING ANYTIME - at the easterly termination from its north curbline to its south curbline.

(Adopted 1/25/94) WATERVIEW ROAD (TH 550/97) North Side - NO PARKING ANYTIME starting at a point 30 feet east of the east curbline of Pettit Place east to a point 30 feet west of the easterly terminus.

(Adopted 2/23/99) WEST HEMPSTEAD POPLAR STREET - East Side - NO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER starting at the north curbline of Hempstead Avenue north for a distance of 30 feet.

(Adopted 10/16/62) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: March 31, 2020 Hempstead, New York

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD DONALD X. CLAVIN, JR. Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 121547

No Paper, No Justice

Weigh the advantages of legal advertising.

For information of rates and coverage call 516-569-4000.

Christina Daly/Herald

District leaDers in Malverne and West Hempstead hope to keep up their learningfrom-home intiative.

Locals schools make do during a ‘trying time’ continued from front page local officials to ensure that those meals are available.

“As you know, this continues to be an exceptionally trying time for all of us,” Hunderfund wrote in a letter to parents.

“Thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we continue to adjust to ever-changing information regarding this health emergency and strive to protect the health and welfare of our Malverne students, staff and community.”

As for school budget votes, Cuomo issued an executive order delaying them until at least June 1. The votes were scheduled to take place May 19. The order, issued March 30, states, “Any school board, library board, or village election scheduled to take place in April or May of 2020 is hereby postponed until at least June 1, 2020, and subject to further directive as to the timing, location or manner of voting for such elections.”

If many new cases of the coronavirus were to continue to be detected, the vote could be delayed further, state officials said.

Pushing back budget votes will also give state and local officials a clearer picture of New York’s finances, after tens of thousands of businesses were forced to close and sales tax collections began to plummet. Cuomo had earlier predicted a $10 billion to $15 billion gap in the state budget, which is unprecedented.

“The state budget was difficult,” Cuomo said in his daily news conference last Friday.

“Given the current climate, a delay in the budget vote is a welcome announcement,” Hunderfund said in a statement.

“With more information available regarding possible retirements, as well as calculated savings related to the complete extent of the Covid-19 school closure, the hope is that despite State Aid numbers remaining flat, Malverne may be able to enhance its budget for students in the 2020-21 school year. At this time, the board anticipates its adoption of the budget being moved into May with the potential for a public vote not until at least sometime after June 1.”

Scott Brinton contributed to this story.

News brief Nassau County libraries offering digital library cards during pandemic Fifty local libraries are now offering digital library cards amid library closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This new tool will allow residents of Nassau County who do not already have a card to utilize the digital resources of their library while facilities are closed.

Having access to library resources can be essential for people at all stages of their lives, especially during times of crisis. Since public libraries across the county are currently closed, a digital library card would enable people to explore the full complement of online library services from the comfort of their homes.

Readers can download the Libby app to borrow ebooks and audiobooks. Some libraries provide access to streaming entertainment apps like Kanopy or Hoopla that can be installed on smart TVs. Other resources include live homework help from tutor.com, interactive language learning from Pronunciator and currentissue popular magazines from RB Digital.

Residents with active library cards can visit their library’s website to discover the resources that are already available to them. Those who do not have a card can visit nassaulibrary.org/digital-card-application to get started.

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HN1 04/09

Employment

CLASSIFIED

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.

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Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to rglickman@liherald.com

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HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

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I was looking at my ceiling just the other day, since you mentioned it. It’s not the best ceiling in the world, but it’s definitely up there.

In the early 1980s I must onte eeper have designed dozens of homes near the ocean that were covered in vertical tongue-and-groove interlocking siding. All cedar, it was coated with opaque stain that did a pretty good job of covering it and penetrating the wood. There were two problems I noticed. As often as possible, I tried to prevent potential rotting from the back side when I was either able to see the job or at least advise the owner to look for the method I specified for installation. The planks were to be installed over staggered horizontal wood strips that created a half-inch air space to allow inevitable moisture to drain downward, preventing mold and rot. The other item was to make sure the siding, and especially the joints, were fully stained to protect them.

Over the years, when an installer defied our notes on the plans by placing the planks right against house-wrap paper, I would stop by and walk up to the walls, which must have looked pretty suspicious to neighbors who wondered who was peering at the house. What I observed wasn’t surprising. The boards with the airspace lasted much longer, even though they still required expensive re-staining, than the boards with no airspace, which all deteriorated from the back side outward.

And you need not worry about the possibility of flame spread due to the chimney effect in the air space. Studies were done by several public and private agencies over the years, and they showed that flame consumes the oxygen in such a small airspace before it can replenish. It turns out that it takes at least an inch of airspace to support continuous combustion.

The alternative that will still give you the nautical look is vertical cement board, which also comes prefinished in numerous colors, can’t rot or support mildew, can’t burn and won’t chip, peel or crack. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, you still need to provide a moisture barrier that has enough spacing to drain from behind the panels. The best choice for this is a drainage fabric that resembles the intertwined look of an air conditioning filter. The best part of this choice is that the cement board siding is wind-rated for hurricanes. Enjoy your home!

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Q. We live near the water and have vertical plank siding. I’m told it’s cedar. It’s been there many years, and we noticed that it’s rotted from the back side and ready to crumble. We like the look and even have it on our family room ceiling, which still looks new, but we’re concerned about how long it will last if we have new outside planks installed. Is there a better material to get the same look or a way to prevent the rotting?

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19

HN3 04/09

April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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News briefs Dean Skelos, citing coronavirus fears, wants out of prison now, not later

By Jill Nossa jnossa@liherald.com

Former State Sen. Dean Skelos, of Rockville Centre, sought early release from federal prison because he was worried about the c o r o n av i r u s p a n d e m i c , according to court papers.

Skelos, 72, filed a motion in federal court in Manhattan last week, asking to spend the remainder of his 51-month sentence in home confinement to lessen the risk of contracting the virus. Skelos still has more than two years left on his sentence for political Dean corruption, which he began serving in January 2019 at Otisville Correctional Facility, in Orange County. The motion, filed under seal, was opposed by federal prosecutors in papers filed publicly, saying that an application

for release should first be filed with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which could better assess his health situation.

The prosecutors noted that steps were being taken to stop the spread of the disease in federal prison, and said that, since Skelos lives in New York state, “the global epicenter of the coronavirus,” he has not provided any information to show that he would be better protected outside of prison. The judge, Kimba Wood, had decided as of press time.

Skelos was convicted in July 2018 of using his political power to secure roughly skelos $300,000 in jobs and fees for his son Adam, also of Rockville Centre. They were each convicted on eight counts of conspiracy, extortion and bribery. Adam Skelos was sentenced to four years in prison.

Courtesy Debbie Greco Cohen

Nassau couNty is hiring a consulting firm to develop an “economic portrait” of the county after the coronavirus crisis has abated.

PeoPle have uNtil Aug. 14 to respond to the U.S. Census.

Be counted — the 2020 Census is under way By scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com

April 1 was Census Day, when the federal government counts every person across the United States and five of its territories.

Population counts are used to allocate seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to states. The 435 seats in the House are divided up by the population of each state. The larger the population of a state, the more seats it receives.

A state’s population is also used to allocate federal funding for a variety of programs.

Federal officials are urging everyone to fill out the census online, by phone or mail. Census invitations were mailed earlier in March. You may respond after April 1.

The census is mandated every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution.

Who is counted? Here are directions from the 2020 Census website, 2020census. gov: “You should be counted where you are living and sleeping most of the time as of April 1, 2020. If you are responding for your home, count everyone who lives and sleeps there most of the time as of April 1, 2020. This includes young children, foster children, roommates, and any family members or friends who are living with

you, even temporarily.

“Please note that if someone is staying with you temporarily on April 1 due to the COVID-19 situation, they should be counted where they usually live. This includes college students, who should still be counted at school, even if they are home early because of the COVID-19 situation. If they live in student housing, the college will count them. If they live off campus, they should respond for the offcampus address and include any roommates or other people living there.”

Below is a timeline of upcoming dates: ■ April 29 – May 1: The Census Bureau will count homeless people over these three days. Census takers count people in shelters, at soup kitchens and mobile food vans, on the streets and at outdoor locations like tent encampments.

■ April 16 – June 19: Census takers will work with administrators at colleges, senior centers, prisons and other facilities that house large groups of people to ensure everyone is counted.

■ May 27 – Aug. 14: Census takers will interview homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census to help make sure everyone is counted.

■ December: The Census Bureau will deliver apportionment counts to the president and Congress as required by law.

County hires consultant to study the economy Hempstead Town waiving water fees By scott BriNtoN sbrinton@liherald.com

County Executive Laura Curran stood last Thursday at the Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola with the two heads of Nassau’s Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council — Industrial Development Agency Chairman Richard Kessel and Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz —to announce results of a weeklong survey to assess the state of local business amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The news were grim.

The county received 1,431 responses to the survey, Curran said. Many businesses said they have or would need to lay off workers. Half predicted no profit for the year. And 80 percent said they would need loans to sustain their businesses.

“It’s pain now, and we know it’s going to be pain down the road,” the county executive said.

Nassau, she said, has hired HR&A Advisors, a real estate and economic advisory firm based in New York City, to develop an “economic portrait” of the county before and after the crisis. From there, the firm can create models of the county’s potential economic state in order to prove future need for federal and state aid.

Curran said she was “incredibly grateful for the help received by the state and federal government.”

But, she noted, “we will need more.”

She also said she would work closely with Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone on a regional plan for future economic development after the medical crisis has abated.

The Town of Hempstead is waiving all late fees and penalties for three months for its water customers who do not pay their bills on time, according to a news release issued by the town Wednesday.

The measure required legislation, which was supported unanimously by Town Supervisor Donald Clavin and the other six members of the town board.

The town’s Department of Water serves 37,000 customers in the Bowling Green, Donald East Meadow, Levittown, Roosevelt Field, Lido Beach, Point Lookout and Uniondale water districts.

“People are worried and concerned about COVID-19, and are contending

with major life changes, including business and job losses, reduced income and medical concerns,” Clavin said. “Our hope is that this bill will help give people one less thing to worry about during this uncertain period.”

Customers are billed quarterly according to their metered consumption, and late payments are subject to penalties and interest. Under the new legislation, all penalties and interest charges for an individual that would norclavin mally accrue during the Water Department’s billing period – March 15 to June 15 this year – are waived.

–Scott Brinton

21

oPinions

lease allow me to reminisce about the past. I’m no longer a young politician, but I’m very much an alert senior citizen who can clearly recall the experiences in my life that have left an indelible imprint on my heart and soul.

I refer specifically to my recollections about the presidents of my past. I vividly recall my early childhood, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. My parents came of age during the Depression, and they worshipped Roosevelt for his soothing messages to AmerJeRRY ica during World kReMeR War II. I was a child, but I could see how his fireside chats helped my parents survive the stresses of the war.

I still can feel the tremors that reverberated across the country the day Roosevelt died. The neighborhood churches in Brooklyn rang their bells incessantly to tell the world that one of its greatest leaders was gone. My mother and father kept asking, how would their America survive?

i

Along came a former haberdasher named Harry S. Truman, who assured America that all would be well. In the ensuing years, he helped end the war, and assured our country that he was in charge, and that “The buck stops here.”

He assured us that our national agony was over. He did his job but never lost sight of his local roots. Truman was a great cheerleader for America.

He was followed by former Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had helped defeat the enemy armies in the war. He became a grandfatherly symbol to Americans, and made us feel that we no longer had to worry about foreign wars.

Fast-forward to the days of President John F. Kennedy. Young and vibrant, he made the nation feel that our future would be bright and promising. He energized the White House, and made millions of young people eager to embark on careers in public service. When he died, almost everyone in our nation felt the pain.

After the failures of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan emerged as the strong father figure that was needed to soothe our new global fears. His experience in

s

Hollywood helped him eloquently express his concerns for America, and he won over many of his skeptics.

The next trauma came during the tenure of Bill Clinton. On April 19, 1995, two American-born terrorists blew up a federal building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people and injuring nearly 700 others, many of them children. Our nation went into shock after the tragedy, and President Clinton became the healerin-chief with his soothing words, assuring us that we were better than those two criminals.

I recall President George W. Bush standing amid the rubble of the still-smoldering World Trade Center on Sept. 14, 2001, assuring America that we would catch the perpetrators of the attacks three days earlier. It was a shining moment not just for him, but for all of America.

Fast-forward to 2015, when a gunman opened fire at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., killing nine people.

Afterward, President Barack Obama offered words of compassion that captured the feelings of all Americans — and even led the singing of “Amazing Grace” at the funeral of one of the victims.

adly, there’s no FDR, no Reagan, no Bush, no Obama in this White House.

Now it is 2020. We are a nation living in fear of the unknown. Caught in the clutches of a pandemic, we must seek solace from our governors and our local leaders. We cling to the words of medical experts and our clergy, because we lack a powerful voice in the White House that could tell us that we are stronger than any virus.

We survived World War II and Oklahoma City and Sept. 11 because, when challenged, we united and rose to the occasion. Facing a disease that keeps us awake at night and could wreck our economy, we’re in need of a voice from on high that would give us the strength to carry on, but sadly, there is no such voice in the Oval Office. All we hear is the echo chamber telling our president how great he is, not how great he could be.

I pray that in your lifetimes we will again have a national leader who will remind us what Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Obama sounded like in times of national need.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years.

He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? JKremer@liherald.com.

Dear President Trump: This is killing us

f only Donald Trump had taken the same Hippocratic Oath our doctors take when they graduate from medical school: “First, do no harm.”

Instead, as we live through this global pandemic, we are caught between trained doctors, offering us fact-based science, and the White House, offering political expediency and short-sighted policy that could actually lead to more loss of life.

This is the worst, I thought as the virus spread over the past two weeks. But it wasn’t the worst.

The medical fight against the disease has been handiRandi capped by a presikReiss dent who is ignoring scientific evidence and the best advice of medical professions. He has denied, lied and deceived the public about the very existence of the coronavirus. He misled his fellow Americans about the severity of the disease. Early on, when he could have blunted the effects of a fullblown epidemic, he refused to take action, which would have mitigated the loss of life we are seeing every day.

What a week. As we move through this all-consuming emergency, ordinary peo-

ple, who want to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, are looking for advice based on sound medical practice.

The Hippocratic Oath, which evolved from the work of Hippocrates of Kos, who lived in the 5th century B.C., codifies the ethics and standards doctors still embrace. Not every doctor actually takes the oath in modern times, but some still do, and doctors around the world adhere to the tenets of selflessness, service and care.

In a bizarre turn of events, Trump has set himself up as qualified to tout experimental medicines that have been rushed through the approval process and administered to sick patients on a trial basis. He has pushed right past the obvious equivocation of the physicians standing with him during the nightly press conferences/ political rallies. Was it ever writ larger than this? Elections have consequences, and one of the unforeseen consequences of 2016 is our living through a once-in-acentury pandemic without qualified, stable or sensitive leadership.

This is a human rights issue, a political issue and a medical issue. We are stumbling through this valley hobbled by leaders who have no regard for the health and

T

safety of millions of vulnerable Americans.

As I wrote two weeks ago (during this siege my column may not appear every week), the heartening news is that this ship can sail without a captain. All hands are onboard. All of us in our everyday lives are listening to the experts and trying to limit the spread of Covid-19 by observing physical distance rules and absorbing the pain of isolation and loneliness. Hundreds of thousands of us are quarantining ourselves and staying indoors to help stop this modern plague. We’re doing our part.

As always, there is inspiration and precedent to be found in literature. I’ve been reading “Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour,” by Lynne Olson. What we’re living through has similarities to the Blitz, when Germany dropped some 30,000 incendiary bombs on London beginning in September 1940 and continuing for 57 consecutive nights. The bombing did not end for eight months.

Britain had Winnie, of course. Winston Churchill helped the people of London survive the Blitz by telling them how hard it was going to be. He said it would cost

he heartening news is that this ship can sail without a captain.

them blood, sweat and tears. He spoke the truth in terrible times, asked much of his fellow Brits, and they, in turn, summoned the courage they needed.

Hand in hand with the English people were the American journalists who lived through the bombing and reported the stories of stoicism and survival back to the American public. Those reports helped pull the United States into the war, and led ultimately to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The heroes of that era were the leaders who never faltered, the everyday citizens who crawled out of bombed apartments to go to work and the journalists who told the story. The heroes of this troubled time will be the doctors and other medical workers who turn up every day on the front lines of this epic battle, and the reporters and photographers who are telling the story, writing the first rough draft of history.

We don’t have a Winston Churchill in the White House. Trump delayed enacting the Defense Production Act until last Friday, and thereby delayed the manufacture of desperately needed ventilators. He continues to mislead the nation about the availability of testing, and the hard news about how long we will live in crisis mode.

In that, he is failing to protect and defend us.

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

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

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Longing for a comforting voice from a true leader

22

Herald editorial

Malverne/West Hempstead

April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

HERALD Established 1994 Incorporating: Malverne Community Times 1964-1994 West Hempstead Beacon 1950-2020 Nakeem GraNt Editor aUDreY COHeN jill kaplaN Advertising Account Executive OffiCe 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: mal-wheditor@liherald.com OffiCial NeWSpaper: Village of Malverne

Copyright © 2020 Richner Communications, Inc.

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ CliffOrD riCHNer StUart riCHNer Publishers miCHael bOlOGNa Vice President - Operations

Give what you can in these challenging days

a

t the Herald, we want to add our voices to the growing chorus of supporters thanking our frontline medical workers and first responders who are, as they say, doing God’s work. Each day, they put their lives on the line to save others. We can only admire their bravery, tenacity and sense of humanity.

That being said, these good men and women could use more than our thanks.

They could use our financial support.

We don’t presume to speak for them, but they no doubt appreciate the cards, cheers and pizzas — keep ’em coming. Hospitals, however, have been stretched to their limits, not only in people power, but also in their finances.

These are tough times financially. So many have lost their jobs or had their

■ SCOtt briNtON Executive Edtitor jim HarmON

Copy Editor CHriStiNa DalY Photo Editor tONY belliSSimO Sports Editor kareN blOOm Calendar Editor ■ rHONDa GliCkmaN Vice President - Sales elleN reYNOlDS Classified Manager lOri berGer Digital Sales Manager ■

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emergency medical technicians are putting themselves in harm’s way like never before. Covid-19 is a respiratory disease.

Many firefighters’ lungs are damaged because of the smoke they have breathed in while responding to calls over the years, potentially making them more susceptible to this virus.

You might also give to your local food pantries, which are running low on supplies because demand has risen exponentially in recent weeks.

Finally, don’t forget to patronize your local businesses to the degree that you can.

Few restaurants are making a profit. They remain open so they can keep as many jobs as they can for their loyal workers. They are so often there for us. Now they need us at this most precarious time.

Keep up the social distancing wo weeks ago, one South Shore school board member issued an urgent appeal to students in her district: Stop congregating. Stay

apart.

That same day, an editor of this paper was riding his bicycle through his neighborhood and couldn’t help notice groups of people gathering on sidewalks. One older man was smoking a cigar in a circle of neighbors. A family was barbecuing in their driveway, welcoming folks from surrounding homes.

These were the initial days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a stay-at-home order, which too many people seemed to treat as a mini-vacation. They had no idea what was coming.

In the days that followed, as the number of positive tests for Covid-19 climbed and

■

HeralD COmmUNitY NeWSpaperS

hours reduced. Many people are suddenly scraping by after having been solidly in the black only a matter of weeks ago.

For those who can, however, please consider giving to our hospitals, which are nonprofits. We need them, and they need us.

To give to Mount Sinai South Nassau, go to https://www.southnassau.org/sn/give.

• To give to the Northwell Health Foundation, go to https://give.northwell.edu.

• To give to Mercy Medical Center, go to https://mercymedicalcenter.chsli.org/ ways-give.

• To give to NYU Winthrop, go to https:// nyuwinthrop.org/giving/.

• To give to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, go to https://ehs.org.

You also might donate to your local volunteer fire department. Firefighters and

letters We still have to care for the environment To the Editor: I have mailed, faxed and emailed Governor Cuomo’s office about the specifics of “essential” landscapers and what they are allowed to do and not do. Specifically, I’m asking about the use of leaf blowers.

With several landscaping companies using them at once, they are potentially blowing toxic air into our homes, cars and faces during this Covid-19 pandemic. I hope their use will be temporarily banned.

I’m also disappointed that the state has postponed enforcement of the single-use plastic bag ban. Plastic bangs are polluting our waterways

the sobering death totals began streaming in, people got the message. No longer do they stand side by side or in tight lines in supermarkets. Gone are the barbecues and close clutches of socializing teenagers.

The message was loud of clear: This pandemic is not a hoax. It is very real.

Over this past weekend, however, we learned that Nassau County had the thirdhighest number of coronavirus cases of any county in the state, surpassing Westchester, where the outbreak began in New York, Manhattan and the Bronx. Only Queens and Brooklyn (a.k.a. Queens and Kings counties) had higher totals.

Nassau’s and Suffolk’s fast-climbing numbers prompted the governor to warn that the outbreak was shifting from New York City to Long Island. As of Monday,

more than 15,600 people had tested positive in Nassau.

That figure may very well reflect lax social distancing practices in the days after people were first told to stay home.

We will be tempted to loosen our social distancing practices. It’s hard to remain regimented for weeks on end. We can’t give up, though. There’s simply too much at stake. Forgoing social distancing and sound hygiene practices now would only prolong the crisis.

The pandemic will end. Statewide, we saw hopeful signs on Sunday.

On the other hand, those hopeful signs could be illusory. Hospitalizations and deaths could very well climb again. Which is why we must — must — remain disciplined and continue to practice social distancing.

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opinions

s another week has passed, and as we fight through this pandemic together, I continue to think about our Long Island Rail Road workforce, which continually rises to the challenge.

They are on the front lines, playing a key role in the response to this emergency as the LIRR provides a vital service to Long Island and the region, currently the nation’s epicenter of a global health crisis.

Our employees are heroes moving heroes. The workforce shows up each day to ensure phiLLip that we can safely enG transport fellow front-line workers — the nurses, doctors, police and other first responders, as well as the grocery store, pharmacy and transportation workers, and so many others who are helping us live.

Together with our labor partners, we’re ensuring that employees and customers alike remain safe.

Since this pandemic began hitting our state, the LIRR has seen a decline in ridership of about 90 percent. Adjusting to this

drop, while ensuring that we’re able to care for our employees and still provide critical service, we enacted the MTA Essential Service Plan, which began March 27. We are still running over 500 weekday trains, maintaining a 65 percent service level compared with a typical weekday. We also have crews and equipment on standby to supplement service if necessary.

We’re constantly monitoring this new service, and staying engaged with our customers and local elected officials and community leaders, listening to their feedback and adjusting where we need to. We’ve added trains strategically where the need was greater to enable customers to maintain safe social distancing.

We have eliminated cash transactions, closed all station waiting rooms and ticket windows, shut down our Lost & Found Office and the West End concourse of Penn Station.

We continue to distribute masks and gloves to employees, and provide washing stations, hand sanitizers, disinfected work areas and other protections they need, and deserve, to stay healthy. Our courageous workforce is doing what public ser-

t

hey doing not just a job, but a true service to their fellow New Yorkers.

Letters and harming wildlife. I don’t understand why markets can’t use paper bags for the time being.

Finally, I received a notice from the Town of Hempstead indicating that, as of Monday, there would no longer be recycling during the pandemic. The town wants us to hold on to all of our recyclables until further notice. I plan to call the town to inquire if there could at least be drop-off bins where conscientious people could deposit them.

We’re not moving in the right direction on the environment. Three wrongs will not make anything right.

MARCIA DITIERI North Merrick

Pets and the coronavirus To the Editor: Pet owners can rest easy that there is no reason to believe dogs or cats in the U.S. might be a source of infection for Covid-19 or cause its spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And so far, according to the CDC, there have been no reports of pets becoming sick with the coronavirus.

It appears to be transmitted primarily from human to human. Pet owners may have heard of canine coronavirus, an intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies, and feline coronavirus, which can cause feline infectious peritonitis, or

vants do. They aren’t just doing a job; they are doing a true service to their fellow New Yorkers. I simply can’t thank them enough.

I ask my fellow Long Islanders to continue to practice good hygiene. Social distancing is key. We cannot stress enough the importance of flattening the curve and what it will mean to the recovery of New York, New Yorkers and the rest of the country.

We know how trying these times are. But it is the efforts of our customers and LIRR employees that are an uplifting boost to us as management and labor leaders. They are the backbone of this pandemic response.

LIRR management and local labor leaders are in contact daily. They’re sharing important feedback, too, and this open dialogue has enabled us to better support the LIRR workforce, as our employees and as union members. Thank you to those who have been providing us the feedback that helps us better protect you. Please know that this line of communication remains open, always, and we’re all better for your thoughts and suggestions.

Even with all the precautions we’re

HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — April 9, 2020

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I’m proud of our LIRR workers

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taking, it’s crucial that we continue to focus on reducing the spread of the coronavirus. This means that unless you’re an essential worker, stay home. Do not ride public transportation unless it’s absolute- can cle life tha ly necessary.

Whether you’re at home or reporting my hea I ref to work, wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitizer if about t soap and water aren’t available. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue, and, most important, if you’re feeling sick, stay home.

My heart goes out to all who are affected by this illness, especially those in our MTA family. To those who are currently being treated for Covid-19, please know that you are in our thoughts, and we wish you a speedy recovery. Take good care of yourselves.

If there is a bright side to all of this, it’s that a large percentage of people, including many railroad employees, who have contracted the virus are recovering from it and returning to their daily lives. side ch Of the 378 LIRR employees who were on stresse I sti home quarantine as of last Thursday, 103 berated have returned to work.

I look forward to the day our LIRR fam- evelt d ily is all back together, standing side by Brookl tell the side and marching forward, together. ers wa Phillip Eng is president of the Long Island asking vive?

Rail Road.

FrAmework by Jack Healy

FIP. These viruses have been around for quite some time, and are not associated with the current outbreak.

To protect yourself, your family and possibly even your pets from this new coronavirus, you should follow these precautions:

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■ Frequently wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer with more than 60 percent alcohol if you can’t wash.

■ Maintain social distancing outside of your immediate family.

■ Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.

■ Sanitize often-used surfaces in your home and office.

The CDC recommends that you restrict contact with pets and other animals if you become sick, just as you would with people. Ask another member of your household to care for your pets while you’re ill. If you must do it yourself, wash your hands before and after you interact with your pets, and wear a facemask. The toughest part for pet lovers is that you must remember that you should not pet, snuggle or share kisses or food with your pet.

THE STAFF OF THE NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAgUE AMERICA

He’s gonna need a bigger mask — Seaford

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GET ANSWERS YOU CAN TRUST WITHOUT LEAVING HOME. With so many questions about COVID-19, it’s hard to know where to turn for answers you can trust.

If you or a loved one is feeling sick, use Mount Sinai NOW to access all of our virtual care options.

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All of us, throughout New York City, Long Island and the entire tri-state area, are here for you.

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April 9, 2020 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

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