RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 30, 2010, Weekly editorial
When Irish Eyes Are Smilin'
Mary Cornils, former office manager of this newspaper who died on Saturday, was the kind of person who made people think of popular songs: “When Irish Eyes Are Smilin” for the friendly greetings she always gave to visitors to the newspaper office, to fellow parishioners at Sacred Heart, to neighbors, to anyone.
“Mother Mary” to her large brood of kids and grandkids. Once, her daughter Carolyn wrote about how, after a long day at work, and while making supper in the kitchen, Mary still had the energy and joy to do a little Irish jig. During her final years in the office, she looked frail, as if you could blow on her and she would topple over. Ensure was her lunch drink, though not of choice but because of problems with her esophagus.
Her family wanted her to stop working, but she was absolutely adamant about continuing. She worked at home for a while, eventually returning after the flu season. When she finally did retire, we held a party for her, and even other customers in the restaurant stopped by to thank her.
Mary started at Merrick Life, operating the Addressograph machine, making metal plates for the subscribers’ addresses. Soon she began answering phones and helping with filing. Eventually, she became office manager and manager of the classified ads. Her customers were her friends. And for them she fought constant battles with the computer program that organized those ads. She created her own system that worked for her, although she probably often still would have liked to hit the computer with her little notebook that she also still kept.
Her successor, Olimpia Santaniello, had to work out her own new style, but she kept Mary’s charming way of making her customers her friends.
We love Merrick, so there!
No one aspires to live in Merrick, according to New York City freelance writer Jessica Pilot, writing for Vanity Fair’s website regarding screen star Lindsay Lohan’s hometown. Well, just about every real estate agent around would beg to differ. So would many bankers who have located their branches here based on the highest average of homeowners earning more than $100,000 on Long Island. Since those people can afford to move, they would if they wanted to.
One reason they moved here is the outstanding school districts. Others would be the waterfront lifestyle and the easy commute to New York City. Many second or third generations move back to Merrick when they start their families. Others wish they could. The Merrick Chamber of Commerce spearheaded an ongoing campaign for downtown revitalization that has brought together the resources of the state, county and town.
President David McDonough, who later became a state assemblyman, served as liaison with all of those groups and has continued to help, as have state Senator Charles Fuschillo, state Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, county Legislators David Denenberg and Norma Gonsalves, and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray. We think the streetscaping and landscaping have been a big improvement. The chamber also sponsors a fall festival and spring kidfest that help bring people downtown.
This is a caring community full of religious and service organizations that pull together in time of need. Sometimes new ones spring up, as they did after 9/11, or when a child has died or when cell towers were proposed for residential neighborhoods.
One local resident, Jay Pitti, shared his vision for an Overlook Preserve and Sanctuary to replace a landfill that now is the landmark Levy Park and Preserve, visited by groups from all over the world. Another, Charles Rosenblum, heads the Keep A-Merrick-A Beautiful Committee that organizes an annual essay contest to inspire schoolchildren, and helps sponsor a holiday home decorating contest and Spring cleanups.
The community newspaper helps them get the word out.
Only perhaps those who pursue an edgier or a city lifestyle would agree with the freelancer. And, of course, teens who cannot yet drive often wish they could fly the coop. If they aren’t part of the social group that hosts house parties, they are sometimes stuck gathering in the woods or behind schools at night. That’s when boredom leads to vandalism and other unhealthy pursuits.
School-based efforts to provide teen nights and other ways to hang out ebb and flow with the energies and resources of volunteers. What this town needs is a recreation center that serves teens, like the excellent ones that the seniors already have.
Merrick Life stands ready to help anyone who would like to take up this cause.
