Franklin Square/Elmont
HERALD NYRA ends racing at Aqueduct
lIJ gets more coronavirus cases
tax suspension considered
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Vol. 22 No. 13
MARCH 26 - APRIl 1, 2020
Salons, tattoo parlors close nesses to close beginning last Sunday. Essential services include medical, police, fire, mkoenig@liherald.com water, sewer and food, including March is usually the busiest restaurants, which he said time of the year for the Solid would be allowed to continue Gold Tattoo Shop in Elmont, as offering takeout. many people use their tax Cuomo said he knew the execrefunds to buy themselves a new utive order would cause âdisruptattoo. But this year, the business tion.â was hit by many âI accept full c a n c e l l at i o n s a s responsibility . . .,â Long Islanders selfhe said. âThere is no isolated to stop the one else who is spread of the cororesponsible for this navirus. decision.â Then G o v. As of Monday, Andrew Cuomo there were more ordered all barbers, than 20,000 cases nail and hair salons re por ted in New and tattoo parlors to York, with more close on March 20. than 2,400 in Nassau. Tattoo ar tist Nine people had also Christopher Wilkie died in the county, said Solid Gold had according to County taken precautions, DANItA Executive Laura such as having its FoReMAN Curran. artists use plastic Because of the Owner, sleeves and masks outbreak, local busiwhile inking clients. Lavish Beauty Salon nesses like CoifStill, it had to close. and Spa fureâs By Genevive Any business that and Insight Hair does not comply Salon, both in with the governorâs shutdown Franklin Square, and Tattooing order could face civil fines or be by Richie in Elmont, had already shut down indefinitely. closed. The latter business postâThese temporary closures ed on Instagram and changed its are not going to be easy, but they voicemail greeting to notify cusare necessary to protect the pub- tomers of the closure, and told lic health,â Cuomo tweeted. them to âbe safe, wash your Additionally, the governor hands and cover your mouth.â ordered all ânon-essentialâ busiContinued on page 7
By MelIssA KoeNIg and sCott BRINtoN
W
Courtesy Jeanmarie Derby
think itâll work? Emily Ng, in Jeanmarie Derbyâs second-grade class at the John Street School, created a leprechaun trap out of supplies she found in her house. Story, more photos, Page 9.
Helping hands (just donât touch) In need themselves, business owners offer support By MelIssA KoeNIg mkoenig@liherald.com
After he saw other pizzerias charge $15 for make-your-own pizza kits, Vito Cortesiano, owner of Salvatoreâs of Elmont, decided to give families in need his homemade pizza dough for free while schools remain closed. âThis is a time people have to come together,â Cortesiano said, adding that as a father of two young children, he understands
they are cooped up without much to do. The dough doesnât cost much to make â itâs just flour and water â and Vitoâs wife, Anna, who helps out at the restaurant and works for the Board of Education, said it didnât make sense for them to charge people for it. âWhy would you charge a family thatâs struggling?â she asked. âWe just want to help out as much as we could.â In their first day distributing
dough balls on March 18, Anna said the couple gave nearly 80 to families in need. Some, Vito said, came into the Meacham Avenue restaurant with tears in their eyes, and others wanted to give money, but Vito would not accept it. âWeâre doing this from the goodness of our hearts,â Anna said, adding that every business owner should do the same. Continued on page 4
e need to figure out a way where [the government] could help us during this time.