INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 75 No. 30
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Robbie’s Law aims to bring AEDs to county fields Nassau legislators push for portable lifesaving devices in parks
the legislation, emphasizing that equipping county fields with AEDs could enhance safety for everyone — especially Nassau County legislators are hoping youth athletes. “Twenty years ago, Jill Levine lived to better protect youth athletes with Robbie’s Law — legislation that would make that tragedy,” Koslow said, in reference to it mandatory for all county fields to be her son’s death. “We’re here to make sure equipped with an automated external that no parent has to suffer the tragedy defibrillator to help victims of sudden that Jill suffered.” cardiac arrest. Most portable devices cost around Legislator Seth Koslow, a Democrat $500, Koslow said, and Nassau County who represents parts of Merrick, Bell- maintains roughly 200 fields, bringing the more and Freeport, introduced the initia- total cost of the initiative to around tive for the portable electronic AED last $100,000 — a small dent in the county’s week at Eisenhower Park’s ball fields. $4.2 billion budget. There is currently no requirement for Other municipalities on Long Island, county fields to have an like Suffolk County, have AED, although park offices, AED legislation in place, such as the one in EisenhowKoslow explained, and a er Park, are normally state law requires athletic equipped with one. leagues with five or more The legislation is named teams to have an emergency in honor of Robbie Levine, a plan to respond to victims of 9-year-old Merrick boy who cardiac arrest. died from sudden cardiac During the news conferarrest in 2005 while playing ence, an adult softball game baseball. His parents, Jill was taking place on one of and Craig Levine, founded JILL LEVINE the fields — and Koslow said F o r e v e r 9 – T h e R o b b i e Co-founder there’s no way to know if Levine Foundation, a non- Forever 9–The Robbie they’re associated with a profit that provides AEDs Levine Foundation league, or if its participants and CPR training to youth are members of the public. athletic organizations and other commu“These parks are open to the public,” nity groups. he said. “If you don’t have a five-team “Not only am I a legislator, but I’m also league, you have no requirement to have a dad and a Little League coach,” Koslow an AED here.” said at a July 7 news conference. “I’ve During a cardiac emergency, accessing spent countless hours on fields, watching an AED in a Nassau County park’s office kids play — and just the thought of that could be difficult — and the time it takes one moment where a kid falls and they to call for help could mean the difference need help because they’re suffering a car- between life and death, he stressed. Robdiac emergency, and the fact that there’s a bie’s Law aims to eliminate that uncerchance they won’t get the help they need tainty, ensuring that no parent, athlete or because there’s no defibrillator nearby, member of the public has to worry about could mean a tragedy.” getting hold of the lifesaving device. Also attending the news conference More than 350,000 people suffer sudden were members of the legislature’s minori- cardiac arrest outside of hospitals every ty caucus and Jill Levine to advocate for
By JORDAN VALLONE
jvallone@liherald.com
R
obbie didn’t get a second chance. This bill makes sure another child will.
Courtesy Larry Gore
Players with the town elite, Larry gore’s weekly basketball clinic for Hempstead youth, leaped for the ball at Campbell Park on Monday night.
The Town Elite attains nonprofit status Recognition for Larry Gore’s successful mentoring program By REINE BETHANY Special to the Herald
The youthful athletes powering basketballs through hoops at Campbell Park or Lincoln Park in Hempstead village on Monday and Wednesday evenings this summer are receiving far more than a few hours of satisfying sports play.
They are members of an increasingly popular mentoring-through-sports program called The Town Elite, which was started three years ago by Hempsteadborn community organizer Larry Gore. As of last week, The Town Elite became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. The boost in status could COntinued On Page 3
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