by Brian McLaughlin
Between the relief efforts of the Red Cross, the fundraising of Lynbrook's own Nathan Hale Fund and the rebuilding of the Nathan Hale building itself, a number of different factions are doing their part to help get the former residents back in the place they once called home as soon as possible. However before they return, that home is going to receive a serious makeover.
About 50 percent of Nathan Hale Senior Village suffered substantial damage in the April 22 fire. The amount of devastation prompted building officials to call for a complete renovation of the building, said building manager Jack Gordan.
Gordan said a sprinkler system might have helped control the blaze, but when the building was built in 1970, the village building code did not require sprinklers. The remodeled senior village will not only have a sprinkler system, it will also be given mold prevention features and new ceilings and walls.
With the remodeling being so extensive, former residents may have to wait up to a year before Nathan Hale will be able to open its doors again. Gordan is confident though that most of the former residents are willing to wait.
"I expect that roughly 85 to 90 percent of them will return when we reopen," said Gordan. "Most of them can't wait to come back."
Former Nathan Hale resident Faye Tuzzi, 81, agrees there is no place like the home she made at the senior village and eagerly awaits the reopening of building.
"They really made you feel at home [at Nathan Hale]," she said. "They would take care of anything you needed."
Like most Nathan Hale residents Tuzzi experienced a struggle in acquiring housing following the disaster. The Nassau County chapter of the Red Cross, the Town of Hempstead Housing Authority, the Nathan Hale Housing Board and a number of other organizations cooperated in a search for any available housing that could be found in the area, but finding homes for 150 people in Nassau County is easier said then done.
About 70 percent of the former residents have been placed in various assisted living facilities throughout the county according to Linda Cohn, chairwoman of emergency services and a member of the board of directors of the Red Cross. The rest of the residents found housing on their own, most of them moving in with their families.
Tuzzi was originally placed in living quarters in Uniondale, but actually chose to move back in with her family. Since her legs were permanently injured in a car accident a few years ago, Tuzzi has been living with a handicap that she said makes it difficult for her to walk up stairs or far distances without an escort. The building in Uniondale made it too inconvenient for Tuzzi to accomplish her daily activities, so she moved in with her daughter. But Tuzzi still desires another move.... back to Nathan Hale.
"I like to be independent, I like to have a private life." she said. "The rooms were great and the staff was very nice, they took care of everything we needed."
Fortunately for former Nathan Hale residents there is still someone taking care of their needs - the Red Cross. Beginning on the night of the fire when they set up shelters and handed out warm clothes for the frightened residents, the Red Cross has been following the Nathan Hale case very closely, providing administrative and financial aid in a number of capacities.
"We're trying to help the residents deal with the financial burden of this situation as much as we can." said Cohn.
The Red Cross has paid for moving costs, the first two months of storage and two months of rent for the displaced Nathan Hale residents, in addition to providing aid for food, clothing and furniture.
"The Red Cross has really gone beyond the call of duty," said Tuzzi.
The Red Cross has also been serving as social workers for the displaced residents, and Cohn said that after discussing housing issues with many of the residents, she can confirm "they'll all go back."
In addition to the aid provided by the Red Cross, Nathan Hale is preparing a relief fund of its own. Soon after the tragic fire, Lynbrook Mayor Eugene Scarpato established the Nathan Hale Emergency Relief Fund, a charity open to donations from village residents, businesses and civic organizations. Robert Becker, president of the Nathan Hale Housing Board, and Robert Ferraro, board member, have served as trustees of the fund and are in charge of consolidating and distributing the donations.
"We don't want to start spending the money yet because we don't know how much we will have to work with and we don't want the money to be given out to residents on a first come, first serve basis," said Becker.
Instead, Becker hopes to wait until the raised funds are totaled up, and then have them equally divided among all the residents.
The goal of the Nathan Hale Relief Fund is to raise $50,000 to help defray the costs for residents moving back in next year. The fund is already well on its way, having raised close to half the amount.
"We have been getting a good response from the community," said Becker, who added that the fund's Web site receives an average of 19,000 hits per week.
Hopefully, the foundation's fundraising efforts, in addition to the continuing aid of the Red Cross will help give the displaced residents a warm welcome back to Nathan Hale sometime next year. Until then, residents such as Tuzzi said, "I'm just glad to be alive and still have a roof over my head."
