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HERALD Coffee sleeves for community
Students to go into the woods
Raising money for rescue efforts
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Vol. 73 No. 49
DECEMBER 4 - 10, 2025
$1.00
This book club attracts those of all ages fresh discussion among the members. Before her retirement, KanFor more than a decade, the ner worked for decades as an Monday Afternoon Book Dis- office manager at a Freeport cussion at the North Bellmore day care center, and later as a Public Library has been a hub senior page at the East Meadow of lively conversation, laughter Public Library. Now, the book and connection for readers of club offers her exactly what she all backgrounds. needs: intellectual Led by longtime stimulation, social Bellmore resident engagement and a Stephanie Cohen, sense of belonging. the book club draws “It’s important members from for people my age across the area — who live alone to including Gold Kanhave someone to ner, a 94-year-old say hello to, to disWantagh resident cuss a TV show, or who has been just share a attending for the thought,” she said. past four years. Cohen, a former “ B o o k cl u b i s GolD KANNER teacher and long94-year-old book wonderful for me time member of the b e c a u s e t h e r e ’ s discussion member Friends of the other people to talk L i b r a r y, w h i c h to and to listen to me,” Kanner assists in fundraising events, said. “It’s a very infor mal has led the book club for more group. We enjoy each other’s than a decade. She carefully company, and we really get into selects books from a wide range the meanings of the books.” of sources — including The A l i f e l o n g r e a d e r w h o New York Times reviews — and received her first library card emphasizes participation over at age 8 in Brooklyn, Kanner perfection. has added her own brand of joy “This is not a technical kind to the meetings. Her “silly of book discussion,” she said. verse” reflections, often written “We discuss what we liked, in rhyme, spark laughter and
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
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Ainsley Martinez/Herald
Rep. Laura Gillen, left, and Georgina Cornago announced the federal push to fund EpiPens for first responders to carry and administer in June at Lynbrook Village Hall. Behind them was a photo of Cornago’s son, Giovanni Cipriano, who was 14 when he died from an allergic reaction.
Gio’s Law heads to Washington By AINSlEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Appearing before the House Judiciary Committee last week, Rep. Laura Gillen moved Gio’s Law toward becoming federal policy — this time with Giovanni Cipriano’s mother at her side. For more than a decade, Georgina Cornago has pressed lawmakers to ensure that first responders nationwide can carry and administer epinephrine to those who have life-threatening allergic reactions. Her son, Giovanni, a 14-year-old from Lynbrook, died in 2014 after suffering anaphylaxis while help was minutes away. New York has since authorized police officers to carry EpiPens, but advocates say that access remains inconsistent, expensive, and dependent on individual departments’ budgets. Cornago, visiting Capitol Hill for the first
time on Nov. 20, said the moment felt larger than anything she had imagined after 12 years of work. “I never would have imagined that it was going to be a national bill,” she said. Gio’s Law, introduced by Gillen and Republican Long Island Rep. Andrew Garbarino, would create a federal grant program to help law enforcement agencies purchase epinephrine and secure training for officers. Departments nationwide have struggled to afford the devices, which can cost up to $600 per single use set. The proposal also encourages expanded training in and awareness of emergency allergy response. Gillen said that having Cornago present, and Giovanni’s photograph displayed in the hearing room, shifted the conversation from procedure to lived experience. “I don’t expect that there will be too many no votes on such an important, noncontroContinuEd on PaGE 8
ook club is wonderful for me because there’s other people to talk to.
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