__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD WWII parade honors the fallen
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Vol. 28 No. 22
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Ron Segev talks mental health at MJC According to Rabbi Dorsch, the Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,200 civilians was “transforRon Segev attended the Nova mational in really ter rible Music Festival in Israel with ways, but really powerful ways, friends and family on Oct. 7, and it says something about 2023, when gunfire erupted. For us.” hours, Segev, 39, and his broth“Ron’s story is so compelling er carefully avoided death and so powerful, and it really before he noticed his friends highlights the fact that October were left behind, so 7 really just wasn’t he turned back to one terrible thing,” rescue them. He he said. “It really came all the way had a lasting from Tel Aviv to the impact and effect Mer rick Jewish on all of Israel and Centre on May 14 to all of the Jewish share his story of RoN SEgEV community.” o n g o i n g t r a u m a Nova Music Festival Segev’s discusrecovery at before survivor sion at the synaan audience of 100 gogue in Merrick local residents. focused on his menSince the Hamas-led massa- tal health journey, as well as cre during the festival, Segev the mental health of survivors has become an outspoken advo- of traumatic experiences. cate for mental health aware“After Oct. 7, there was ness, inspired by his own expe- chaos in Israel,” Segev said. riences with post-traumatic “No one knew what was going stress disorder and mental on. No one really took responsihealth. bility for the survivors that “We’ re honored to have needed therapy.” invited Ron to come back and Segev described the common speak with us tonight, to speak symptoms of trauma, including not just about his mental denial, disbelief, confusion, difhealth journey as a result of ficulty concentrating, anger, his experience on Oct. 7, but mood swings, anxiety, guilt and that of all of Israel,” the Jew- shame, as well as social isolaish centre’s rabbi, Josh Dorsch, Continued on page 2 said.
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo
jdalessandro@liherald.com
I
Holden Leeds/Herald
Marching in memory: Merrick honors the brave The streets of Merrick were flooded with red, white and blue as the community celebrated Memorial Day. Angelo, 11, Valentina, 9, Guiliana, 8, and Dominic, 6, waved their flags and cheered on the parade participants. Story, more photos, Page 10.
‘Pop-N-Drop’ for the environment
Nonprofit organization Balloon Mission continues advocacy work By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
When Cynthia Seibold founded Balloon Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to balloon waste and environmental education in January 2023, she never could’ve imagined how much the organization would grow in just over two-and-a-half years. Through partnerships with fellow organizations — big and small — dozens of libraries around Long Island and environmental groups, Balloon Mission has collected and recycled nearly 55,000 balloons and counting on Long Island and in Queens.
In an interview on the heels of the height of the coronavirus pandemic, she explained that she spent a lot of time outdoors, and among all of the litter in various parks, preserves and beaches, one item stood out: balloons. She found and collected their strings and whatever was left of their plastic or rubber bodies, impacting trees, plants, and of course, wildlife — animals that could easily mistake balloon pieces for food. The pandemic, she said, created a surge of helium-intensive events, as people found different ways to share birthdays, graduations, and retirements, among other celebrations. “Balloons are a leading cause of pollution in Continued on page 4
’m still in the process.