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From Ukraine with love Peace Corps volunteer forced home after Covid-19 outbreak By PeteR BelFIoRe pbelfiore@liherald.com
Courtesy Victoria Tytone
NoRth hIGh SChool graduate Victoria Tytone, center, with a fifth-grade class she taught in Radomyshl, Ukraine, where she was stationed as a Peace Corps volunteer. All members of the Corps were recalled on March 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The winters can be tough in Radomyshl, a city of nearly 15,000 people in norther n Ukraine. At a few points the heat broke down in the small house that Valley Stream North High School graduate and Peace Corps volunteer Victoria Tytone had rented out. But for nearly a year and a half she persevered, building a life there, albeit a temporary one, teaching English to primary- and secondary-school students at a school of roughly 350
kids, and helping to build relations between America and the populace within the large Eastern European country. She even adopted a dog — a cocker spaniel named Dima. All of that ended abruptly, however, on March 16, when all Peace Corps volunteers worldwide were recalled to the United States from their respective countries as the coronavirus pandemic tightened its grip on the world, forcing many nations to close their borders. “We got a call that we had 24 hours to pack up our stuff, Continued on page 5
V.S. counseling center offering 24/7 aid in time of need By PeteR BelFIoRe pbelfiore@liherald.com
As millions of people nationwide lose their jobs amid the coronavirus outbreak, and millions more shelter in place to avoid infection, anxieties are likely at an all-time high. But in Nassau County, there is help. New Horizon Counseling Center, a non-profit mental health organization with its local center in Valley Stream, is offering a gamut of 24/7 telephone and telehealth services for people suffering from anxiety, depression, addiction and grief from the death of a loved one. Additionally, the center offers food
delivery for seniors. No insurance is required. “We’re really here to support the community that we serve,” New Horizon Chief Executive Officer Herrick Lipton said. Anecdotally, he reported that with people stuck at home, the tensions that come with everyday life have become heightened during the pandemic, with families staying in close proximity for longer than under normal, and parents and children unable to leave to go to work and school. “The daily stressors are even more profound than usual,” Lipton said. Generally, he said, people who live alone are the most vulnera-
Need help? Call New Horizon at (516) 569-6600 ble at a time such as this. Founded in 1981, New Horizon covers people living in Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as New York City, with its Valley Stream location serving as its main facility in Nassau. Normally, the organization provides in-person counseling, but in light of the coronavirus crisis, Lipton said it has
switched to counseling by phone, and also offers telehealth services for people who might need face-to-face sessions. “Even though our facilities are closed, we are here to support everyone now more than ever,” Lipton said. Flora Bienstock, New Horizon’s chief clinical officer, who oversees its staff of social work-
ers, psychiatrists, art therapists and doctors, said they have been even more proactive during the outbreak in reaching out to the center’s most at-risk clientele, who due to feelings of isolation or stress may be struggling because of a history of addiction or suicidal thoughts. Additionally, they are not Continued on page 10