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Through illness, through books, through love just show up for them,” Arzberger said. “That was a big lesson for me, and it’s something For one North Bellmore that I literally witnessed by mother, the simple act of walk- w at ch i n g h e r a n d Ja m e s. ing through the doors of her Because, whereas I was feeling local library and browsing the guilty about everything that I shelves became the heart of couldn’t do, she definitely knew her family’s summer. something was off and that Recently diagnosed with a things were different. It didn’t rare autoimmune disease after matter. Because she still got years of unantime with mom and swered questions, it was still special Laura Arzberger time.” found herself What began as a unable to do many manageable routine of the activities she soon became a lifeonce enjoyed with line for Arzberger, her two young chil37, whose days were dren. What she otherwise filled could do, however, with doctor’s visits was create a ritual lAuRA and unpredictable of walks, stories, symptoms. The ARzBERgER and new memories library offered joy, North Bellmore mom with her daughter. nor malcy, and a Every afternoon, place where she Arzberger and her 5-year-old, and Gina could share uninterGina, took the short walk to the rupted time together. North Bellmore Public Library, “It was like a great thing to chose a fresh stack of about 10 do because it got us out for like books, and carried them home. a good half hour between the In the evenings, Gina curled up w a l k a n d s t ay i n g a t t h e and read aloud to her 3-year-old library,” she said. “She looked brother James, bringing the forward to going. It was somestories to life. The next day, thing that got me out of the they would return and begin h o u s e, o f f my p h o n e fo r the cycle again. researching [my illness]. I was “I think that really what’s seeing the librarian and all of most important, and it doesn’t Continued on page 23 matter how it looks, is that you
By BRIAN KACHARABA
bkacharaba@liherald.com
Courtesy Bellmore Public Schools
l
istening to her read got me out of my mental space.
Bellmore students head back to school Pool days turned into school days and hallway hellos, fresh sneakers, and brand-new backpacks were out in full force on Sept. 2 as students across Bellmore bounded back to class. Above, friends heading to Shore Road School were excited to be reunited. Right, Eighth-grade friends Reagan, Mia, and Zara waited for the bus to take them to Grand Avenue Middle School. Story, more photos, Page 10. Courtesy Izzy Herns