East Meadow
HERALD Splash parks go to the dogs
A long-awaited return to schools
Running group starts fall season
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Vol. 20 No. 38
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2020
$1.00
Remembering Sept. 11 in E.M. Speakers say anniversary offers chance for reflection, unity munity.” East Meadow Board of Education Trustee Scott Eckers began Nearly 100 people spread out the ceremony by singing the across East Meadow’s Veterans national anthem, which was folMemorial Park last lowed by a presentaFriday to commemotion of the colors by rate the 19th annithe Fire Department versary of the Sept. Color Guard. 11, 2001, terrorist EMFD chaplain attacks. Douglas Wood, of A table at the the United Methodentrance to the park ist Church, led the offered hand sanitizgathering in a er and facemasks. prayer, speaking of The ceremony, hostthe compassion ed by the East Meadaround the nation ow Fire Department, after the attacks 19 went on as it has in years ago and callthe past, but this ing for unity as the year’s speakers fall election nears. In called on lessons past years, Rabbi lear ned from the Ronald Androphy, of trauma as a means the East Meadow of uniting the counJewish Center, has try as it pulls itself also offered a prayer, GlEN out of the coronavibut this year the CARPENTIER rus pandemic. memorial fell on a “We still cannot EMFD volunteer Friday, when he was help but be awed by conducting Shabbat the actions of everyservices. body following the Sept. 11 Carpentier recalled the pasattacks,” said longtime volunteer sengers of United Flight 93, firefighter Glen Carpentier, who which was hijacked by terrorists led the ceremony. “This anniver- who were eventually overpowsary gives us a chance to re-eval- ered by a group of civilians on uate how far we have come and rededicate ourselves to our comContinued on page 3
By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
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Brian Stieglitz/Herald
IN AN EAST Meadow “pandemic pod,” or “micro-school,” teacher Anne Bass read Eric Carle’s book “1, 2, 3 to the Zoo” to, from left, Karina Ponnappan, Rebecca Chalom and Susie Wansor.
A look inside a ‘pandemic pod’ ‘Micro-schools’ offer education alternative By BRIAN STIEGlITZ bstieglitz@liherald.com
“Welcome to Backyard School,” reads a dry-erase board in the backyard of Kim Chalom’s East Meadow home, which she had transformed into a “pandemic pod,” or “micro-school,” for her daughter and two other 3-year-olds. Twice a week, for two hours at a time, the children meet with retired Manhattan teacher Anne Bass instead of
going to a traditional nursery school. Pods like this one have been emerging across the country as an alternative for parents who would rather not send their children back to school and risk possible exposure to the coronavirus. Since Aug. 11, Bass has been teaching Rebecca Chalom, Karina Ponnappan and Susie Wansor about shapes, numbers and the alphabet, among other lessons. On Tuesday, the students learned about zoo animals by reading
Eric Carle’s book “1, 2, 3 to the Zoo.” “Do you think animals like being in the zoo?” Bass asked. Rebecca raised her hand and answered, “I think so. Animals want to be in the zoo so people could come and see them.” “That’s a good answer,” Bass said. “Then kids could see them and won’t be afraid of them.” Kim Chalom met Mani Continued on page 3
his anniversary gives us a chance to reevaluate how far we have come and rededicate ourselves to our community.