Letters

Letters to the Editor: East Rockaway, Lynbrook

Dec. 25-31, 2014

Posted

Many Sandy survivors are still suffering

To the Editor:
In this season of joy and good will, there are thousands of survivors of Superstorm Sandy peppered throughout our communities who are still suffering, cold and hungry. Many of them are living in gutted, moldy houses because their money ran out. Some of them have children, and some are sick, disabled or even dying — and they’ve been waiting too long for help. These survivors are isolated and on the fringes of a society in denial.
Many Sandy survivors have been drained, financially and emotionally, by failed U.S. disaster recovery systems that were ill-prepared for this major disaster. We’re being tormented and forsaken by inept repair and renovation programs, such as New York state’s failed NY Rising program.

Victims are working diligently to get home, yet are pummeled by inaction, delaying tactics, a manipulation of facts, constant “lost” paperwork, unanswered communications, favoritism and, in some cases, total abandonment of desperate homeowners. NY Rising was hastily implemented before it was completely designed, and officials are continually and erratically changing their rules, increasing their requirements, decreasing grants, and backsliding to the extreme detriment of those who are still displaced.
All we want to do is go home. I beg you, the public, to look into the eyes of your community members, recognize your neighbors who’ve lost everything through no fault of their own, and reach out to them with kindness, support, empathy and good will. There, but for a few degrees on a map, go you.

Wendy Wagner
Seaford





‘Strength for Life’ training offered

To the Editor:
Winthrop-University Hospital’s Breast Health Center will offer a new strength training program facilitated by a certified cancer exercise specialist from the non-profit organization, Strength for Life. The free program is open to women who have a history of treatment for breast cancer or who are in current treatment.
Sessions will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Spatz Conference Center Room A, located in the lower level of the main hospital at 259 First Street in Mineola. Classes will be held once a week on Mondays, from Jan. 12, through March 2. Equipment will be provided.
Strength for Life’s Certified Cancer Exercise Specialist Jacqui Errico’s mission is to empower, inspire and strengthen by using exercise as a method of healing.
To register for the program, call her at (631) 675-6513.
For information about the Breast Health Center at Winthrop, call (516) 663-2556.

Karen Tripmacher
Assistant director,
Community Relations
Winthrop-University Hospital