By Nicole Falco
Thanks to the efforts of two dozen Town of Hempstead Housing Authority employees, Supervisor Rich Guardino and Councilmembers Jim Darcy and Anthony Santino, Gogol and about 25 other displaced seniors were relocated or are in the process of being relocated within the town's senior housing system.
The two dozen employees were honored Tuesday by the town for their around the clock efforts to accommodate the displaced seniors. A ceremony was held at Green Acres Housing in Valley Stream, which is one of the town's 14 senior residences. All other residents will likely remain with family members until Nathan Hale is renovated.
This was a terrible tragedy for any individual to be in, to be without a home especially in their senior years. The staff really appreciated that and were able to work around the clock to relocate them, Guardino said.
[The Housing Authority] literally worked day and night to ready apartments to make sure they were comfortable and welcoming, said Ronnie Lawrence, executive director of the Town's Housing Authority. It normally takes about two to four weeks to turn an apartment around. In this case we took 25 apartments and turned all of them around in a week's time. It truly was a Herculean effort on everybody's part and they deserve the recognition.
According to the town, all 25 apartments were assessed, repainted, re-carpeted, and bathroom tiles were replaced or re-grouted. Whenever possible employees catered to seniors' requests for handicap accessibility, a first-floor apartment or an apartment in the same complex as a friend.
Many of the people only know Lynbrook. It was a monumental task coordinating what was available and what people wanted, said 30-year housing veteran Carol Ransom, assistant to Lawrence. It was gratifying that we were able to help these people. At least we were able to tell them there was an apartment available for them.
Gogol was relocated to housing in Elmont, but her belongings including photos, clothes, important papers and personal paintings can not be replaced. Gogol, a 17-year resident of Nathan Hale and a 55-year Lynbrook resident, said her only other option would have been to live with her granddaughter in Malverne.
I was putting her out. She has four children, with her and her husband that's six people, Gogol said. At least now my mind is at ease and I can think clearly.
Alice O'Grady, of Levittown, has been with the housing authority for 14 years, and said the employees did what was natural.
Many of us have elderly parents. If they were in a situation where they needed someone to help them, hopefully someone would help them, O'Grady said.
Others said they were in awe of how well the seniors reacted to their tough situation.
They are really, really strong people. Stronger than we might have been in the same situation, said Karen Richards, who has been with the housing authority for less than one year.
Joanna Pat Mirrione, 73, is another senior who has had to remain strong during this adverse situation. Mirrione, who is one of five seniors relocated to the Green Acres facility, had lived in the apartment adjacent to the fourth-floor apartment where the fire is believed to have originated from.
I am totaled. I have absolutely nothing. I tell people that the day of the fire I was born again, Mirrione said. I wouldn't have had any place to go because I couldn't have afforded any place else.
Mirrione said all of her personal belongings were destroyed and she has been sleeping in scrubs she borrowed from a family friend since the fire.
Councilman Darcy said he and his office would continue to stay in contact with residents and abreast of the situation as the town looks to rebuild the Lynbrook complex. The complex, originally built in 1972, sustained structural damage as well as fire damage and will likely take at least one year to be completely renovated. Darcy said there is speculation that a few of the complex's apartments might be habitable within two months. As renovations occur, the 154 residents will have first crack at their former apartments, officials said.
