Rockville Centre
WINNER OF
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HERALD
AWARDS Page 8
Rec leader retires after 44 years
Molloy ranked as a top college
SSHS awarded $5,000 grant
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VOL. 31 NO. 35
AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
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Two run for village trustee Special election set for Sept. 15 momentum, and I want to be able to continue that.” One of Howard’s top prioriMichael Scalere, a Rockville ties, she said, is completing Centre small business owner widespread infrastructure projand a candidate in the upcom- ects, including roads and an ing special election for village iron-filtration system for the viltrustee, says he represents lage’s water supply. “It’s very “Rockville Centre’s past, pres- costly, because it’s not just the ent and future.” surface — it’s water, sewage and “I grew up here, I have kids electricity,” she said. “We’re tryhere, and they will ing to keep taxes grow up and hopedown and do these fully live here,” the important projects.” lifelong village resiScalere is rundent said. ning on a platform Scalere, 47, who of transparency. owns a small televiEarly this summer, sion production he said, he and his company, is chalneighbors in southlenging incumbent ern Rockville CenTrustee Nancy Howtre awoke to bulldozard, 60, who served ers starting conon the village board struction of a new from 2011 to 2017, synthetic-turf field then moved to Florii n T i g h e Pa rk . da for two years While he was aware before returning to that the new field the board in 2019 was approved last upon the retirement NANCY HOWARD year, he didn’t know of Ed Oppenheimer. RVC trustee when the work was She is seeking rescheduled to begin. e l e c t i o n fo r t h e “I’m not against remaining portion of a term Tighe Field,” Scalere said. “We expiring July 5, 2021, “to finish just didn’t know it was happenwhat we’ve started,” she said. ing. I’m sure the field is going to “We’ve done a lot of great be beautiful. I’m not here to things,” Howard said of the make a statement about that board. “We had a long-term decision. I just want to get more vision, there’s been g reat CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
By BRIANA BONFIGLIO bbonfiglio@liherald.com
W
Jill Nossa/Herald
Rallying to save the Postal Service Several dozen people attended a rally to save the United States Postal Service last Saturday, in conjunction with MoveOn’s national movement calling for action after funding cuts and mail delays. Bob Brenner of Rockville Centre, left, stood with others in front of the Rockville Centre post office on Merrick Road. Story, more photos, Page 3.
RVC residents return to the gym Fitness centers finally reopen this week By JILL NOSSA and KAREN BLOOM jnossa@liherald.com, kbloom@liherald.com
Gym owners are rejoicing this week as fitness centers in Rockville Centre began welcoming back members for indoor workouts for the first time in over five months. Fitness centers had expected to be a part of Phase 4 of the state’s reopening protocol last month, and many have advocated for their reopening since
June. The decision they were anxiously awaiting finally came last week as Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that gyms could reopen as soon as Monday, following inspection by local authorities. They are allowed to open at 33 percent capacity, and masks must be worn at all times. The facilities will also have to perform health screenings; patrons will be required to use sign-in forms to help with potential con-
tact tracing; and ventilation systems must be upgraded to help prevent the transmission of Covid-19. Closed since March, gyms are reopening as the state sees its lowest infection rate since the coronavirus pandemic began. Reopening preparations at Sportset Health and Fitness Club, on Maple Avenue in Rockville Centre, have been under CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
e had a longterm vision, there’s been great momentum, and I want to be able to continue that.