Tag Archives: Merrick

Tropical Storm Isaias Slams Long Island

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
August 5, 2020

My neighborhood hasn’t had power since early yesterday afternoon, shortly after Tropical Storm Isaias crashed into Long Island, so I used my iPhone 11 Pro to create and publish this post.

My daughters – one in Seaford, one in Merrick – lost power very briefly or not at all, so my family’s experience was typical, since one in three L.I. electricity customers lost power.

A tree in my backyard snapped in two several feet from the ground, with the top toppling over the fence behind it:

North Merrick, New York, U.S. August 4, 2020. Tropical Storm Isaias slams into Long Island, causing widespread tree damage and power outages. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, New York, U.S. August 4, 2020. Tropical Storm Isaias slams into Long Island, causing widespread tree damage and power outages. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

At dusk, I captured the above photo of the tree most severely damaged in my backyard. Just the bottom few feet of the trunk were still on my side of the white fence; the rest of the tree had fallen on the other side.  (You can see my shadow on the left side of image.)

When my daughter Sue’s power returned, I drove to her home a mile away. On my way, I passed a huge tree near the curb toppled down across the front yard onto the roof of the house, which had to be evacuated.

  • Click on below photo to see alternate version:
North Merrick, New York, U.S. August 4, 2020. Tropical Storm Isaias slams into Long Island, causing widespread tree damage and power outages. (© 2020 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, New York, U.S. August 4, 2020. Tropical Storm Isaias slams into Long Island, causing widespread tree damage and power outages. (© 2020 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

That night, while returning to Sue’s home to drop off some cheese and eggs to store in her refrigerator, I slowly navigated a dark maze blocked by trees felled by wind gusts up to 70 mph. All was dark until I reached her street.

Cars and pedestrians made their way by moonlight – and headlights & flashlight – on Camp Avenue in North Merrick, as seen in the below short VIDEO:

Governor Andrew Cuomo, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Tom Clavin are among the officials calling for an investigation into PSEG power company’s poor to non-existent communication with customers experiencing power outages, downed power lines….


Tropical Storm Isaias:  my PHOTO GALLERY

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North Merrick, New York, U.S. June 4, 2020. Black Lives Matter March heads east on Jerusalem Ave and then turns north onto Bellmore Avenue, toward eastbound entrance to Southern State Parkway. Shortly before protestors arrive, Nassau County Police officers park several patrol cars at intersection to stop and divert traffic to make path for peaceful march of largely of young marchers, black and white . Many marchers wore face masks, some masks covering mouth and nose, some masks lowered below mouth as they chanted. Young black man with megaphone led the chant: megaphone man: NO JUSTICE marchers: NO PEACE megaphone man: NO RACIST marchers: POLICE Signs marchers carried included: RIP GEORGE FLOYD - IGNORANCE IS ALWAYS AFRAID OF CHANGE - BLM! - BLACK LIVES MATTER - NO RACIST POLICE

from Merrick, Long Island: Black Lives Matter

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
June 5, 2020

peaceful march in turbulent June

VIDEO – Black Lives Matter March, N. Merrick, NY, Thursday, June 4, 2020:

Last night, while driving home shortly before 9 PM, I accidentally found myself in the path of a Black Lives Matter March about to turn onto Bellmore Ave from Jerusalem Ave in North Merrick.

When marchers turned, they passed between my car and several Nassau County Police patrol cars parked to block the intersection, so marchers had a safe, clear path.  [google maps]

I held my iPhone out the driver’s window to film the marchers, many spread out for social distancing. Most were young, some black, some white, and most wore masks, either covering their mouths and noses or under their chins.

They carried signs with messages including: RIP George Floyd  –  BLM!  –  Black Lives Matter No Racist PoliceIgnorance is always afraid of change

A man with a megaphone led his fellow marchers in a chant:  No JusticeNo PeaceNo RacistPolice

After they continued north for a few minutes, police cleared a path through the intersection, and neighboring cars and I continued south. 

Later, I learned the marchers were part of a massive, peaceful Merrick march that started earlier that night on Sunrise Highway and ultimately blocked traffic on the Southern State Parkway

NAACP.org   BlackLivesMatter.com


  This Tuesday night, June 2, self-proclaimed reporter got over 10,000 views on facebook when he live-streamed his take on about 30 people at Merrick Road, Merrick, protesting against Black Lives Matters supporters who wanted to march east from Trader Joe’s to Massapequa.

The ugly comments that anti-BLM March group made about the protestors were exacerbated by the videographer repeatedly and inaccurately referring to that small group as The People of Merrick, as if they represented the entire community.

As an aside:  One of the anti-BLM protestors commented how someone was wearing a mask (following CDC guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic) and asked, rhetorically, if the person was a coward.

It’s an anti-mask sentiment I suspect not only the chief executive of the United States but also the COVID-19 virus – if sentient – would share.


  48 minutes ago, today, an email from NY State Senator John Brooks (District 8) landed in my inbox:

Last night, we witnessed a second wave of protests over the tragic death of George Floyd. In good part, this second march was the direct result of spiteful remarks gone viral, made by ignorant people flanking the peaceful march the day before. Let’s be clear, in Merrick there exists an overall community of wonderful people who genuinely believe in the fundamental principles upon which this nation was founded. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness combined with the understanding that all are created equal provides the basis of outlook, action, and acceptance of any Merokian I have come to know.

The remarks made by these ignorant few do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the people of the Merrick community or, for that matter, any community on Long Island. Yesterday, many Merokians walked along in protest, while many others stood on sidewalks providing support, applause, and even bottles of water to the passing marchers. In response to the tragedy of George Floyd, I witnessed members of this community march in support of the most basic of human rights, and I was proud; In response to vile words of thinly veiled hatred by a minority of instigators peddling divisiveness, I witnessed this community come together once again to protest that hatred in a peaceful way, and I was inspired.

Merrick is a community of fairness and understanding, of acceptance and fellowship, and I am proud to represent this community in the NY State Senate.

Sincerely,    John E Brooks

I largely agree with Sen. Brooks’ above statement.


Walk the Walk

Segregation is rampant on Long Island, and – as Newsday’s undercover investigation found – it didn’t happen by accident. [*see links below] 

Yes, we need to Talk the Talk of the truth that Black Lives Matter and deserve equal justice, and to Walk the Walk by supporting/participating in Black Lives Matter protest marches.

Be we also need to take the countless steps needed to have our community, our Long Island communities, be more diverse and reflect the truth that Black Lives Matter and deserve equal justice, housing, health care, education and job opportunities….

*Newsday  – Three-year investigation uncovers widespread unequal treatment by real estate agents on Long Island (2019):

Undercover Investigation:  racial steering by real estate agents

Opinion/EDITORIAL (Updated Nov. 17, 2019): Segregation’s stain on Long Island can be overcome


FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Merrick, New York, U.S. June 4, 2020. North Merrick, New York, U.S. June 4, 2020. Black Lives Matter March heads north on Bellmore Ave in direction of eastbound entrance to Southern State Parkway.


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