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Vol. 27 No. 40
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‘We’re alive and thriving’ Crossroads continues operations, attracts new visitors amid pandemic By NAkEEM GRANT ngrant@liherald.com
Christina Daly/Herald
CRoSSRoAdS FARM’S PuMPkiN patch provided fun for Michelle Barbara, 3, and Logan Morales, 1.
Malver nite and Nassau Land Trust Chairman Rick White said that volunteers at Crossroads Farm, in Malverne, were just as anxious as other residents when the coronavirus lockdown went into effect in March. The farm was preparing for its annual opening day celebration in April to kick off its Barnyard Event series. With all of its spring events canceled, White said, the farm had to devise a plan to keep operating.
“Once we were deemed as essential, we carefully researched and put together a plan that would allow visitors on the farm in limited numbers,” White explained. “While we followed Covid-19 guidelines for both staff and the visitors, we still wanted to give people an opportunity to feel like they’re part of the farm.” White said that Crossroads, which is operated by Nassau Land Trust — a nonprofit that preserves land throughout Nassau County — had to limit its volunteers this year as part of Continued on page 3
Local pharmacists give back through donation event By Jill NoSSA jnossa@liherald.com
When West Hempstead Pharmacy owner Howard Jacobson heard the news in April that his longtime friend and colleague Bill Mantell, an 18-year resident of Rockville Centre, had died of Covid-19 complications, Jacobson vowed to find a way to honor the dedicated pharmacist. This summer, as the virus continued to rage and the economy suffered, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet, Jacobson decided to launch a twoweek-long food drive to benefit local food pantries, which culminated with a collection Sept. 13
outside Ryan Medical Pharmacy in Rockville Centre, where volunteers collected 115 boxes containing more than 7,500 items while being entertained by live music. Jacobson, who owns Ryan Medical Pharmacy as well as Rockville Centre Pharmacy, dedicated the event to Mantell, who was exposed to the virus in March, while working at his pharmacy in Jamaica, Queens, and died on April 17, at age 68. Mantell and his wife, Carole, lived in Rockville Centre before moving to East Meadow in 2016. At the event, Carole read part of a letter she wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo after her husband’s death, describing the dire
situation pharmacists faced, being deemed “essential” yet lacking protection from the virus. “Not only did Bill have limited product to sell to patients and customers,” she read, “but also there were few supplies to clean the pharmacy with, and he had zero personal protective equipment to keep himself and his employees safe. Bill went above and beyond for his patients, his family, and his friends.” Carole told the crowd that she has known Jacobson for many years, and she was grateful to him for holding the event. “My daughters and I are proud to be part of this food drive to continue Bill’s legacy of helping
others,” she said. “I hope this event will shed light on the hardships small businesses are facing during this pandemic.” More than 30 independent pharmacies on Long Island and in New York City took part in the drive, collecting donations for two weeks before delivering them to Ryan Medical Pharmacy three Sundays ago. Jacobson said he
was happy with the turnout, and noted the dedication of others in the business and how so many stepped up despite their own hardships. “We have so many issues in our business that we can barely survive, but my aim today was to show that, first of all, pharmacists are on the front lines and Continued on page 16