Merrick
HERALD Police search for lewdness suspect
Advocates decry NyAW rate hike
Gyms set to reopen
Page 5
Page 18
Page 20
Vol. 23 No. 34
$1.00 $1.00
AUGUST 20 - 26, 2020
Whaleneck marina sells for $14 million Developer proposes 140 units many people as we can.” The mixed-use project represents an $80 million investment Residents who live across the by Southern Land, according to street from a line of marinas on Senior Vice President Dustin south Mer rick’s Downey. While not Hewlett Peninsula age-restricted, the may have a new proposed complex view on the horizon would be geared in the coming years. toward empty-nestSouthern Land ers, divorcées, widCompany, a Nashowers and older ville-based developadults to provide er, has purchased them a “better an 8-acre lot at 3000 option of living.” Whaleneck Drive Joe BAker “As Long Island for roughly $14.1 continues to age, President, million. The firm is people need a place proposing a three- South Merrick to go where they story rental com- Community can stay in their plex for the proper- Civic Association own community,” ty, comprising 140 Downey said. “This units across five is the type of housstructures. ing that is so needed “The property traded hands for a place like this.” last year and was purchased from a marina operator who wanted to Housing and other amenities redevelop the site for multi-family Four of the planned buildings housing,” said Joseph Rossi, contain a mix of one- and twoSouthern Land’s Northeast direc- bedroom apartments, each with tor of acquisitions. “Currently we its own single-level parking deck are the contract vendee, since we on the first floor. The fifth buildhave not closed on the property ing is designated for townhouseyet, so during this due diligence style units, which would contain period, we will be holding a series three bedrooms and two-and-aof public meetings . . . to hear as Continued on page 3
By AlySSA SeidmAN aseidman@liherald.com
l
et’s hope the promises are kept if this does come through.
Courtesy Dylan Lipman
JoHN F. keNNedy High School’s Student Government Association held a Zoom meeting last Saturday to discuss how the club would conduct activities virtually and reshape operations under the district’s hybrid model once school starts on Sept. 8.
Views mixed on Central’s school reopening plan By AlySSA SeidmAN aseidman@liherald.com
When the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District announced that it would reopen under a hybrid model for the first two weeks of school — with plans to ease from a mix of online and inperson classes to a full reopening by Sept. 21 — the decision drew mixed reactions from parents and students. While a number of parents and students lauded
plans for a return to semi-normalcy, others feared that eventual full-time in-school instruction could cause Covid-19 cases to climb. “It’s a bit disturbing to me that they’re only giving the hybrid plan two weeks,” said parent Tara Bernstein, of Merrick. “At this point, fulltime school, while good for the social-emotional piece, is not safe.” Bernstein’s son is entering 10th grade at Calhoun High School in North Merrick this
year. While she acknowledged the district’s diligence in “putting students’ needs first” in the reopening, she said the hybrid model should be tried out for a month rather than two weeks “to see how the kids respond and if there’s a major outbreak,” she said. “As my kids’ pediatrician said, ‘There is no right answer, and a bunch of wrong answers,’” Bernstein said. “Any way you slice this, the kids lose.” Continued on page 4