Health fair at Number Four School on Sept. 9

To address some of the problems that are created by having a high poverty rate in its school district, Lawrence officials, along with community groups and residents and Nassau County are partnering to hold a health fair on Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Number Four School.

At the initial meeting for the Lawrence Community Health Fair on Aug. 2 at Lawrence Middle School, Superintendent Gary Schall said the district has a 71 percent poverty rate, which is based on the number students enrolled in the district that receive free or reduced lunches, the school community has the largest gap between the richest resident and the poorest among state school districts, but is the fifth richest school community on Long Island.

Longtime Inwood resident Pete Sobol defined the mission of the health fair this way: “Our arms are long enough to reach the people who don’t normally see a doctor,” he said at the meeting.

Woodmere resident Ann DeMichael, who works for the county legislature, and helped organize a similar type health fair in Elmont, brought the idea to Schall. “A lot of people need these tests,” DeMichael said, referring to the screenings the fair will include from mammographies to diabetes testing. County Legislator Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) is helping to host the fair.

With 35 percent of the district’s student enrollment being Hispanic, Schall said, and the Inwood community’s population nearly 43 percent Hispanic , the superintendent also enlisted the assistance of) Eldia Gonzalez, the director of the county’s Coordinating Agency for Spanish Americans. “The goal is for the county to provide more for this part of the Island,” Schall said.

Gonzalez said that the county will help with promotion, including making flyers and displaying event information on billboards in the area. “It’s nice to reach out to this part of the county, it’s a great opportunity for us and we will promote the event as much as we can,” said Gonzalez, who added that a pediatrician is already on board for the fair.

Number Four School classrooms will be used for health screenings, a martial arts demonstration with Warren Levi will be held in the gym, there will be health and medical insurance information available, food and entertainment, including a face-painting clown for the children.

Fair organizers have divided into eight committees: medical, entertainment, fundraising, promotions, athletics/sports, event coordinator, social services and student affairs to get the proverbial ball rolling.

While plans are in the preliminary stage, there was discussion of also having bilingual doctors, a nutritionist available for advice on improving people’s eating habits, a workshop on bullying for children and parents and possibly a blood drive.

Five Towns Community Chest Executive Director Bob Block, who attended the meeting along with Community Chest President Steven Spiro, said that their organization is always prepared to take part and support activities that seek to improve residents’ quality of life.

“The concept of a health fair is a great way to bring services and new information about available services right into the heart of our community,” Block said. “Add some fun into the mix and a great day will be had by all.”