Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown Vol. 69, No. 21
$1
Friday, May 22, 2020
HONORING FALLEN HEROES DURING A PANDEMIC
W.P. TRUSTEE DUNN DIES
TOWN OK OKss COVID-19 RELIEF MEASURES
PAGE 20
PAGE 3
PAGE 8
Nassau beaches limited to only county residents Curran backs measure as Cuomo allows elective surgeries again BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County beaches have remained open throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but on Wednesday the county’s legislators approved a bill to limit access to Nickerson Beach and all other Nassau beaches strictly to county residents. The measure passed by an 18-1 emergency vote, according to county officials. “With Nassau beaches open with limited capacity a small fraction of New York’s eight million residents could overwhelm our beaches and barrier island roads,” Nassau County Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) said. “It is important that Nassau residents have access to the beaches they pay taxes to maintain.” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat, expressed support for the legislation. “There is no summer on Long
Island without the beach, and now more than ever our shores will serve as much-needed relief for residents looking to beat the heat,” Curran said. Curran said beach officials will be checking licences of residents before they enter the beach in order to keep the state-mandated 50 percent capacity. Curran, who first made the announcement on Tuesday, said the decision was made after speaking to New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he would allow Nassau County hospitals to conduct elective surgeries and ambulatory care in the ongoing mission to begin phased reopening throughout Long Island. Cuomo made the announcement at Northwell’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset on Tuesday. He previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatContinued on Page 28
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHWELL HEALTH
Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling embraces Desiree Mohammodi, 7, of Syosset. Mohammodi had donated her life savings, just over $50, to essential efforts for nurses and doctors in the Northwell system. See story on page 6.
Incumbents unopposed in Mineola ed board race BY E M M A J ON ES
Residents will vote via absentee ballot in the June 9 Incumbent Vice President election due to the coronaviMargaret Ballantyne-Mannion rus pandemic. Ballots will be and Trustee Patrick Talty are distributed 14 days before the running unopposed for the vote. Candidates did not need to Mineola Board of Education.
collect signatures in order to file, in keeping with social distancing regulations. Ballantyne-Mannion is a Spanish professor at York College and earned a Ph.D. from Continued on Page 29
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebo ok.com/theislandnow