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He’s fur real: Rescuer saving animals’ lives cue work prioritizes emergencies, most frequently cats stuck in trees and sewers, in the midWhenever an animal is in dle of highways and in other distress, John Debacker’s help precarious places. While he is only a phone call away. Bell- most frequently handles cats, more’s premier animal rescuer he has also rescued raccoons, has a mission to help every ani- squirrels and other domesticatmal he can. ed small animals. Debacker, 32, lives alone with He does his work with equiphis four cats. He got his start as ment he bought himself: nets, an animal rescuer around the leashes, incubators, trail camtime he graduated eras, microchip from Iris Wolfson scanners and more. High School in 2010. “It’s full time, but He saw that a neighI don’t get paid — I bor had abandoned don’t charge money four cats when they for the services,” moved away, and he Debacker said. “I do volunteered to help take donations, but catch them and findit’s all optional. If i n g t h e m l ov i n g someone can’t JoHN DEBACkER homes. afford my services, “We need more Animal rescuer the animal won’t animal rescuers in suffer. I’ll still catch the world,” he said. “There’s the animal either way.” just not enough of us. UnfortuIndeed, he stops at nothing nately, people abandon cats to protect the lives of misplaced every day, every week. There’s critters. In 2023 he got a mesnever, never an excuse for ani- sage describing feline screams mal abuse — there’s always coming from a tree in someresources, such as shelters, res- one’s backyard. There, 40 feet in cues. They’ll take the kitten the air, was a 6-week-old kitten. happily from them.” Debacker climbed as high as he After that first experience, could, and the kitten, as he tells Debacker committed himself to it, leapt into his outstretched helping animals any time and hands. The cat now has a safe anywhere. These days his res-
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo
jdalessandro@liherald.com
W
Courtesy Mike Figliola
Mike Figliola captures the genuine spirit and complexity of Queens in his book “The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue.”
Local author finally spotlights book that’s an ode to Queens By ISABEllA PlANTE Intern
For Mike Figliola, of Bellmore, receiving some publicity for his book five years after releasing it was well worth the wait. Figliola is finally hosting a book signing for his novel, “The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue,” at the Barnes & Noble in Massapequa on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. The book was released in August 2020, but due to the pandemic, all interviews and promotional events were limited and held virtually. After he spoke with the bookstore’s manager about potentially stocking the novel after a resurgence in popularity this year, Figliola said the owner was eager to highlight a local author.
“The next thing I know, he’s like, ‘I can do you one better. Why don’t we do a book signing?’” Figliola recalled. “‘And I’ll stock your book in the store.’” Born and raised in Queens, the 47-yearold Figliola lived in New York City for 30 years before moving to Bellmore in December 2019. His novel explores the rich, layered culture of Queens. Growing up on the streets — “in a good way,” as he puts it — Figliola reminisces about spending his days playing in the schoolyard and exploring the culturally rich, interconnected neighborhoods of the city. Each borough, he said, has its own distinct personality, and with his debut novel, Figliola sought to capture the essence of the ConTinued on pAge 11
e need more animal rescuers in the world.
ConTinued on pAge 15