Bethpage-Tribune_2000-05-05

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YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
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VOL 34 NO. 18 MAY 5-11,2000 40 CENT$
The Gift of Life
From Sister to Sister
The relationship between
siblings is a special relationship.
A bond so to speak that is
stronger than most would ever
imagine. That bond is
sometimes put to a test or
stressed in many situations
through our lives. Just ask
Kathy (Weber) Simpson about
how her and her younger sister
Gerry (Weber) Whalen how
their love and special bond was
tested and proven to be a bond
stronger than most.
In October of 1999 Kathy
was told by her doctors that her
kidneys were not functioning as
they should be and he suggested .
either putting a shunt into her
arm or to have her be placed on
a waiting list for a kidney
transplant. As time went on
Kathy's condition deteriorated
and she became severely
anemic. This anemia was
treated with injections ofepigen
that were given twice a week.
These injections that were given
to Kathy by her sister Gerry.
At this time, after seeing
Kathy's condition worsen Gerry
wanted to be considered as a
possible kidney donor. Kathy did
not think it was a good idea for
Gerry and so she told Gerry that
family members could not be
considered. Gerry did not take
no for an answer and so she
persisted in asking Kathy to find
out the specific reasons why a
family member could not be
considered a possible kidney
donor. Kathy finally broke down
and told Gerry the truth. She
told her that she herself felt that
it was too much for Gerry to
bear as she has two small <•
children at home to care about.
What Kathy did not realize is
just how strong and how much
her sister loved her. In
November Kathy contacted
Patricia McDonough, a
transplant coordinator, and
advised her that her sister Gerry
wanted to be tested as a possible
donor. With that the testing
began and that testing was a
long and exhausting process but
after the testing it was
determined that the doctors had
found a match in Gerry.
On February 8, 2000 the two
(Cont. on page 5)
Bethpage to Defend
Best Tasting Water Title
Will the Bethpage Water District
defend its title of Best Tasting Tap
Water in Nassau County? We'll soon
find out at the Best Tasting Tap
Water Contest sponsored by the
Long Island Water Conference in
honor of National Drinking Water
Week.
The Broadway Mall in Hicksville
will host the organization's twelfth
annual tasting competition from
Sunday, May 7 through Thursday,
May 11 between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30
p.m. Shoppers are invited to
participate in a blind taste test to
determine which Nassau County tap
water is the most delicious.
Always the first full week of May,
National Drinking Water Week was
started to raise awareness of the
quality and quantity of local tap
water supplies. Unfortunately, the
public is too often the victim of
misinformation when it comes to
drinking water, in an effort to set the
record straight, a special display and
water experts will be on hand
throughout the duration of the event
to provide information and answer
consumers' questions.
"Long Islanders have tape water
that is among the best in the nation,"
said LIWC First Vice Chairperson
Bob Santoriello. "While everyone
uses the water, most people don't
give a second thought to where it
comes from. Public water suppliers
work hard to consistently provide a
safe and tasty product to their
customers."
The Long Island Water
Conference, established in 1951, is a
professional organization dedicated
to providing and maintaining an
adequate and safe public water
supply system on Long Island.
Members include Nassau-Suffolk's
public water suppliers, consulting
engineers, attorneys, water
contractors and officials from
governmental regulatory agencies.
Tim Mooney Saluted for
Heroic Efforts
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto (second from right)
recently joined the Nassau County Fire Commission in honoring
Dispatcher Timothy Mooney (center), of the Bethpage Fire
Department, on his outstanding firematic efforts assisting the
Hicksville Fire Department, which earned him the Emergency Medical
Service Award, during the commission's annual Awards Night. Also on
hand (left to right) were 1st Battalion Commissioner William Coffin, Jr.,
County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta and 9th Battalion Commissioner
William Bier.