Manhasset Press 11/23/22 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Roslyn Teen Featured In Second Solo Show

Manhasset library features art, hosts reception

AMANDA OLSEN

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

For Sydney Weisman, art is more than a pastime; it has been a ubiquitous presence in her life. Before she graduated to oils and mixed media, she was making sculptures with the wax wrap ping from her mini cheeses at lunch and crafting things from duct tape. “Many of my earliest memories are of art. I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember.” Weisman said.

Weisman also credits growing up in such a culturally rich and accessible area for instilling her love of art at an early age. Her family took her to the city often, and she was captivated by both the art and her ob servations of the people viewing it. “I was really lucky to grow up in a place where it’s so easy to access places to view art. So I would go on day trips to the city with my parents or grandparents to the MET and the MoMA and I would do little doodles there. And as I got older, I would go in with my sketchbook and just copy certain things that I liked from different artists.”

There is a level of discipline in Weisman that you don’t often see at such a young age. She practices her techniques when ever she has a free moment, but also maintains a regimented schedule. “During the summers I would paint for 20 hours a week, and during the school year I paint for 10 hours a week. And in college when I took a painting course I would just like go in whenever I have free time, bring a friend do a quick like hour and a half portrait of them. I did around 60 1-hour portraits where I would give myself like an hour, maybe like an hour 15 minutes, to capture someone’s portrait. And when you’re under that time constraint It makes you look at what’s essential.” This dedication to practice and honing her skills is evident in her paintings.

People are a strong source of inspiration for Weisman, who cites portraiture as a favorite category of work. “I just love watching people. It’s so crazy how a single stroke can change someone’s entire expres sion, (their) demeanor. That’s something I’ve always found really exciting about portraiture, because of the story you can tell through the expressions on your faces.”

The process for her work usually begins

with a photo, which she then revisits when she returns home. She evaluates them for composition and light to determine if they would translate well into her chosen medium. “Photos can be taken on a simple, mundane, activity that I do regularly or when I go into the city, taking pictures of people on the street...I’m always taking pictures and always analyzing what I see.”

During the pandemic, Weisman was able to explore many different mediums, including colored pencil, gouache, watercolor, acrylic, paint marker and wood burning and whittling. She has also been throwing pottery for many years. While at college she created an installation called Plarn in Place, which involved creating yarn from discarded

plastic. This material, called “plarn,” was then crocheted around a tree. She is also interested in exploring digital design and using some of those designs to produce 3d printed and laser cut projects. When it comes to her plans for college and beyond, it should surprise no one that art features prominently. However, Weisman’s passion extends beyond her own interests. Her enthusiasm for art may be driving her to share it with others. “I just love how art brings people together and connects people. During the summer I spent time teaching art to kids at a camp and (I loved) seeing how much joy making art can bring them. It doesn’t matter your skill level or anything, It’s just so fun and joyful and free. And I would

love to continue to teach art in that way, or pursue a master’s in teaching art so that I can continue to share it.”

The Manhasset Library is currently ex hibiting the art of Sydney Weisman through the end of January 2023. This featured artist has over 60 works on display throughout the three floors of the building.

This is Weisman’s second comprehen sive, one-woman show at the Manhasset Library. Her paintings have been featured in The Roslyn School of Painting’s Annual Art Show. They have also been a part of the “Juxtaposition” art show in 2020 and the “Art in the Pandemic” show earlier this year, both at the Manhasset Library. Select works have also been published in Emulate Magazine at Smith College. On Nov. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. there will be a reception and an opportunity to meet Sydney Weisman in person.

contributions from Manhasset Public Library

This piece entitled “The Met” is 24’x48”. It is oil on canvas. (Submitted by Sydney Weisman)

This oil painting entitled “To The Park” is 30”x40” (Submitted by Sydney Weisman)

This piece entitled “Hammock” is acrylic on paper and is 11 1/2” x 12 1/2” (Submitted by Sydney Weisman)

—With

“I just love how art brings people together and connects people... It doesn’t matter your skill level or anything, It’s just so fun and joyful and free.”

—Sydney Weisman

A Summer Of Discontent In Long Island’s Coastal Waters:

New 2022 Map Shows Record Number of Fish Kills, Dead Zones, and Toxic Tides That Intensified Under the Heat of Summer

Scientists at Stony Brook University have completed their assessment of water quality in Long Island’s estuaries in 2022 and the news is not good –the announcement was made recently at a press conference on the Cold Spring Harbor waterfront. During the months of June through September, every major bay and estuary across Long Island was afflicted by fish kills, algal blooms and oxygen-starved, dead zones. Excessive delivery of nitrogen from onsite wastewater has been cited as the root cause of these disturbing events.

“While some aspects of 2022 were the ‘new normal’, other aspects were a surprise” said Dr. Christopher Gobler, Professor of Stony Brook University. “Most obviously, there was a ten-fold increase in the number of fish kills during summer 2022, all occurring during the hottest heat of summer, when oxygen levels were dropping to zero in many water bodies at night. The oxygen content of water naturally decreases as waters warm. The excess oxygen demand from decaying algal blooms transform these water bodies into ‘dead zones’ with ‘nocturnal anoxia’, or no oxygen at night.”

Beyond fish kills, the 2022 water quality impairment map noted more than 20 lakes and ponds with toxic blue-green algal blooms, more than two dozen low oxygen ‘dead zones’, and marine harmful algal blooms (HABs) across the North Shore, South Shore, and East End. Among the ma rine HABs, a worrisome development was the spread and intensification of a fish-killing HAB caused by the genus, Gymnodinium. The alga is notorious for causing one of the largest fish kills in recent history when it bloomed and contributed to the death of more than 500,000 fish in the western Peconic Estuary in 2015.

The occurrence of harmful algal blooms has contributed to the collapse of critical marine habitats such as seagrass, major fisheries on Long Island such as scallops and clams, and the coastal wetlands that help protect waterfront communities from the damaging impacts of storms. Groups such as The Nature Conservancy have been working for more than a decade to revive and restore these habitats and shellfish but have been challenged by algal blooms such as those witnessed during the summer of 2022.

Excessive nitrogen coming from house hold sewage that seeps into groundwater

and ultimately, into bays, harbors, and estuaries or, in some cases, is directly discharged into surface waters, is a root cause of these maladies. Suffolk County and Nassau County completed ‘subwatershed studies’ last year that identified wastewater as the largest source of nitrogen to surface waters. Excessive nitrogen stimulates algal blooms that can, in turn, remove oxygen from bottom waters as they decay. Policies to mitigate nitrogen loading such as upgrading onsite septic systems are, therefore, the best defense against these impairments.

Despite all of the gloomy news, there were

some signs of hope that can be found in the data.

“In Long Island Sound, the dead zone in 2022 was nearly 100 square miles smaller than it was 20 years ago thanks to sewage treatment plants removing 60 percent more nitrogen and reducing the flow of nitrogen into the Sound proper”, said Gobler. “This proves that reductions in nitrogen loading does improve water quality. It is likely that the fish kills in 2022 would have been far worse had these improvements not been made.”

—Submitted by Friends of The Bay

Temple Judea Celebrates Simchat Torah

One of the most joyous holidays in the Hebrew calendar is Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing of the Torah”). This celebration, with all of the joy and excitement of the holiday, contains rituals that date back thou sands of years.

A long line of tables had been set up in advance to accommodate the entire length of the Torah scroll from the beginning to the end. Rabbi Chizner came in, holding the Torah and, with the help of Cantor Deborah Jacobson and some of the congregants, began to carefully unroll the Torah along the tables, starting at Genesis “In the Beginning—-” and ending with the final words in Deuteronomy, “for all the awesome power that Moses displayed before all Israel.”

This yearly cycle of reading the last portion in Deuteronomy and immediately reading the first

portion in Genesis are historic and symbolic. Jews around the world are performing this exact ritual on this day of Simchat Torah.

After the reading of the Torah by Cantor Jacobson, and explanations by Rabbi Chizner, the congregation moved into the Sanctuary. Everyone received a small paper flag, Torahs were taken from the ark after appropriate blessings and the ritual called “hakafot” began. With Cantor Jacobson leading the singing, the march began around the Sanctuary, with three Torah scrolls on the shoulders of members strong enough to carry them, followed by the children and all others, each holding their little flags and singing. The children of the Temple Judea’s Religious School, along with their parents and other members of the Temple, were wide-eyed with delight.

—Submitted by Temple Judea

Temple Judea congregants gather for Simchat Torah earlier this month (Photo submitted by Temple Judea)

Map showing water quality changes around Long Island. (Graphic Submitted by Friends of the Bay)

Students Smash Pumpkins For The Planet

First-graders in the Manhasset elementary schools learned this lesson by participating in a pumpkin smash right after Halloween with volunteers from Planet Manhasset. Each class smashed a pumpkin and buried the pulp and seeds in the community gardens at Munsey Park and Shelter Rock. The students had to work together to make sure that the entire pumpkin

was smashed and that not too many of the seeds were buried.

Anyone can dispose of leftover Halloween pumpkins in an eco-friendly way. If you have a compost pile, it will easily break down into compost. For those who love to cook, roasted pumpkin seeds make a delicious snack, and the rest of the pumpkin can be cooked into baked goods or a puree.

Leftover pumpkins can also be buried in your backyard; just make sure they are deep enough that the squirrels cannot dig them for a snack.

Planet Manhasset is deeply appreciative to the school community for being so supportive of the community gardens, and the students and teachers loved this hands-on “pumpkin smash” project.

There are many opportunities for classes at all three schools to be involved, and the gardens offer a unique learning experience for students and teachers. For more information about Planet Manhasset or the SCA please visit our website manhassetsca.org or e-mail planetmanhasset1@gmail.com.

—Submitted by Planet Manhasset

New Bill Ensures Reserved Beds For Veterans In All New York State Veterans’ Homes

Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (A.6551/S.2238) to establish a reserved bed day policy for people residing in New York State Veterans’ Homes. The legislation, sponsored by Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont), will ensure that veterans do not lose their spot in New York State Veterans’ Homes during medical leave.

Requiring NYS Veterans’ Homes to reserve a bed when a veteran temporarily leaves prevents individuals from losing their housing. This bill also assists veterans’ homes by requiring the state to reimburse them for reserving beds for veterans who are out on leave. NYS-run veterans’ homes were greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this new stream of funding will go a long way in helping veterans and their families.

The signing of this bill is a culmination of years of advocacy by veteran’s organizations, legislators, and veterans who have served our country.

“No veteran should be at risk of losing their bed in a New York State Veterans’ Home because they face a medical emergency. By

requiring facilities throughout the state to establish a bed hold policy, we will protect the livelihoods of veterans and ensure they have access to quality care and housing. This law will also offer financial reimbursement to New York State Veterans’ Homes to allow them to stay afloat during financially difficult times. I thank Governor Hochul for supporting this legislation and acknowledging the veterans who have served our country” stated Assemblymember Solages.

State Senator John Brooks said, “I would like to thank Governor Hochul for signing this important bill into law that will protect our most vulnerable veterans. For anyone residing in a State Veterans’ Home, they will now be protected should they ever need to temporarily seek care elsewhere and will not be forced to surrender their spot in the Home. It is not uncommon that our State Veterans’ Homes are at full capacity, and, under the current system, if a veteran needed to leave for a day or two for a procedure or specialized care, they would be unable to return or maintain their reserved spot because it would have already been given to

another veteran on the wait list. As a result, this bill is a huge victory in ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our military community are unburdened by the stressors that come with finding and keeping a steady source of shelter.”

“On behalf of all of us at the Long Island State Veterans Home we are grateful to the legislature for taking action on this important issue. New York State veterans have risked their lives to protect the everyday freedoms we enjoy as Americans. We should

be doing everything we can for any veteran who resides in any of the five State Veterans Homes in our great state. This new legislation will give peace of mind to all those who have served, as well as their families. New York must continue to be a leader in serving our veterans. This bill proves that we honor their service to our nation!” Said Fred S. Sganga, Executive Director of the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University.

—Submitted by NY State Assembly

Shelter Rock and Munsey Park students smashed pumpkins and then planted the seeds with Planet Manhasset (Photos by Planet Manhasset)

CALENDAR

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Dinosaur Canvas Craft

Come to the library for a take and make craft. Paint your own dinosaur canvas to celebrate Dinovember. Supplies included. Grades 1 and up. Registration is required. Contact the Children’s Room at (516) 627-2300 ex. 301 or mlkids@manhassetlibrary.org for more information. Registration will begin on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.

Manhasset-Great Neck Camera Club

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

THURSDAY, NOV. 24

Happy Thanksgiving!

SATURDAY, NOV 26

Merry Manhasset: Small Business Saturday

From 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Plandome Road in Manhasset. Sponsored by the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce and Shop Manhasset. There will be photos with Santa, holiday movies, a winter scavenger hunt and more. For the Holiday Shopping Guide and more information, visit https://www.shopmanhasset.com/ merry-little-manhasset.

Art Reception

Art reception for Sydney Weisman in the library lobby. Open to everyone.

Weisman’s artwork is displayed on the stairs and the third floor of the library. The reception is free and open to the public from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Mary Glynn at (516) 627-2300 X 305 or mglynn@manhassetli brary.org for more information.

MONDAY, NOV. 28

A Time for Kids - Baby Start

Join our friends at A Time For Kids, Inc. from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. as we engage our littlest learners in this program designed to introduce your baby to the wonderful world of library programs. Activities include music, movement, finger plays, fine & gross motor development and circle time. For ages 6 months - 17 months. This program is limited to one caregiver per child. Contact the Children’s Room at (516)627-2300 or mplkids@manhassetlibrary.org.

The Manhasset-Great Neck Camera Club will meet at 7 p.m. at the Manhasset Public Library, 30 Onderdonk Ave, Manhasset. This meeting will feature a “Program Evening” where master photographer Alan Agdern, will provide an instructive, slide-illustrated lecture entitled: “Helping Photographers Improve Their Images”. This lecture will cover using various photo editing tools and techniques to attain better results. Alan is a member of the Syosset Camera Club. A “Meet and Greet” takes place between 6-7 P.M. This meeting is open to the public. For further information, please email mgncc@ optonline.net.

SUNDAY, DEC. 4

Sunday Afternoon Live: A Christmas Carol North Shore Theatre Group Presents A Christmas Carol from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Manhasset Library Community Room. This one-man play, adapted & performed by Greg Oliver Bodine and directed by Shana

Solomon, is based on the condensed ver sion Dickens himself used on his historic reading tours of the United States and is adapted here to offer a unique theatrical experience. This show is rated G and is suitable for adults and children over ten years of age. Contact the library at (516) 627-2300 for more information.

ONGOING

Project Independence: Bridge Class Come learn to play Bridge at this be ginner-friendly class. Every Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. at the North Hempstead “Yes We Can” Community Center at 141 West Garden Street, Westbury. Call 311 or (516)869-6311 to register or for more information.

Project Independence: Bingo and BP A fun hour of bingo with a bonus of blood pressure screenings and health coun seling. At the Roslyn Community Center auditorium, 53 Orchard Street, Roslyn Heights. Call 311 or (516)869-6311 to register or for more information.

Calligraphy

Every Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the lower level Meeting Room at the Manhasset Public Library, 30 Onderdonk Ave., Manhasset. Contact Ting Wong at (516)708-1287 or email tingdaiwong@ gmail.com.

Retired Manhasset, NY Educator Robert (Bob) Rule passed away on Nov. 6, 2022 on Block Island. Goaltender and MVP of Cornell’s 1971 NCAA Championship Lacrosse team (13-0), he was an AllAmerica and All-Ivy rst-team selection winning the C. Markland Kelly Trophy as the nation’s outstanding goaltender. As both a junior and senior, he led the Ivy League in goaltending and was the Ivy’s second-best goalie as a sophomore. Bob was also a goaltender for Cornell’s 1969-70 NCAA Championship Hockey team thus becoming the only Cornellian to play on two NCAA Championship teams in di erent sports. He was the starting goaltender for the 1974 USA World Championship team in Australia. Returning to his alma mater, Bob assisted in coaching boys’ lacrosse helping Manhasset to reach seven state championships games and win four titles, while also racking up several Nassau County and Long Island crowns. As an inventor, he received many US Patents for innovating lacrosse equipment. Bob received numerous Hall of Fame honors including USA National Lacrosse, Long Island Lacrosse Metro Chapter, Cornell Athletics, and Manhasset Lacrosse.

He is survived by wife Dorothy (nee Conroy), daughter DK, brothers Jack, Dicky, Paul (Kristy), nieces Heather, Samantha, Alexis, Elizabeth, Lindsay, Kristin, Kaly and nephews Josiah, Jay, the Monahan cousins Thomas, Richard, Michael and Patricia, and cousin Paul Giguere as well as other extended family.

Please consider a memorial donation to Cornell University, CUNY Macaulay Honors College, Block Island Medical Center, Silver Hill Hospital or your preferred educational or mental/health program. Memorial services to be announced. Condolences at www.pratagallogly.com and inquiries at rjrulefamily@gmail.com. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the broader community for the kind and considerate messages of support during this di cult time.

This

oil painting entitled “To The Park” is 30”x40” (Submitted by Sydney Weisman)

Faster, Easier Method Of

Turkey This Season

LAUREN FELDMAN

The holidays are fast approaching and for many of us, preparations have already begun. Often central to the proceedings is the question of food; is it time to send a pre-order slip to a local restaurant? Or will the meal be prepared at home this year? For those in the latter category, the holiday season pres ents an annual challenge of time management, as dish after dish is produced under a tight schedule. The result is a wonderful dinner for guests and family to enjoy, but a hard day—or days—of work leading up to it.

Since the turn of the 19th century, turkey has been a staple of the holiday meal. Many of us go the traditional route, a slow-and-steady oven roast. For a smaller bird, this might be a

two- or three-hour process. For a larger-sized turkey, a full roast can take up to four or five hours.

To compensate, home cooks wake at dawn to put the turkey in the oven—or even prepare the

night before—to ensure the star of the meal will be ready in time. This is well and good for those who truly enjoy the process, but for those of us who just wish we could speed things up, there is

another cooking method worthy of consideration: spatchcocking.

Spatchcocking is a preparation style which has gained household popularity in recent years. It stems from the “butterfly” meth od, which involves preparing poultry by slicing it nearly in two but leaving the parts connected. The basics of spatchcocking are as follows: Turn your turkey breast-side down on a cutting board. With kitchen shears, cut first along one side of the backbone, then along the other. Remove the backbone and open the bird like an upside-down book, with the cut end face-down and the skin face-up. Flatten your bird, then season as desired and it is now ready to cook. What are the benefits of the spatchcock method? Perhaps most important is the time factor. By more than doubling its surface area, spatchcocking a turkey cuts the average cooking time by up to 75 percent. This means less time hovering in the kitchen and more

time with family and friends (or some extra sleep that morning).

Spatchcocking also achieves a more even cook because the meat is flatter in the oven, unlike a traditional roast which requires readjustment of the bird and oven temperature. And unlike the more delicate butterfly method, spatchcocking was designed for those with ordinary supplies and skills. It is an easier, more feasible method for the typical home cook who does not have high-end supplies.

The method does come with a notable shortfall. Spatchcocking produces a slightly drier dark meat than a traditional tur key, as this is the meat which traditionally rests in the juices at the end of the roast. So, if you have a preference for extra juicy dark meat, this is likely not the method for you. However, if given a chance, the spatchcock method might just prove to be both a time and energy saver this holiday season.

Night On The Town Tasting Event Benefits Michael Magro Foundation

The Michael Magro Foundation was delighted to be the beneficiary of “A Night on the Town,” a tasting event hosted by Warriors for a Cause on Oct. 24. More than 350 attendees turned out to network, enjoy tasty offerings displayed by nearly 30 local restaurants, vineyards and bakeries to honor Paul, Terrie and Marc Magro, the forces behind the Michael Magro Foundation.

A Night on the Town, which was held at Mineola’s Jericho Terrace, featured music, raffles, auction items, and of course, an abundance of generously donated foods. Laughter and conversation filled the venue’s rooms as attendees reveled in the ability to gather in person and enjoy the many tasty food and drink offered. The highlight of the evening was the honoring of the Magro family for their work with the foundation, all done in the name of Michael, their son/ brother who lost his battle to cancer at age 13. Warrior for a Cause presented the Magros with a check for $71,000, proceeds from the evening and reflective of the event’s success.

The foundation, which held its own remarkably successful tasting event, an Evening of Tasting & Giving, until the start

of the pandemic, is grateful to have been approached by Warriors for a Cause, a 501c3 volunteer run organization that raises money for several local not-for-profits, charities and foundations. Founded in 2013, this charitable group of like-minded men and women came together to form an ever-broadening social circle that helps support causes close to their hearts.

Michael Magro Foundation Vice President/Co-Founder Terrie Magro, expressed her appreciation to all those who supported the outing. “What a remarkable

evening, filled with new friends and old friends alike. Paul, Marc and I are just so pleased and grateful to everyone involved with Warriors for a Cause, as well as our supporters who came out for this event. All of you made this evening possible and ensured the foundation’s ability to continue helping families with a child battling cancer as they try to navigate this chaotic time. We are so grateful to have all of the Warriors for a Cause become part of the Michael Magro Foundation family.”

Sponsors for the 2022 outing include Gold Sponsor for the Night on the Town is Americana Manhasset. Silver Sponsors for the event are East End Group and Lalezarian Properties. Bronze Sponsors include Black Dahlia Floral & Event Design, Bulovas Restorations and the Edward Smith Mineola Lions Club.

The Michael Magro Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Paul and Terrie Magro to honor the life of their son Michael, who passed away from leukemia at age 13. The foundation works with the Cancer Center for Kids at NYU Langone Long Island Hospital, Stony Brook Children’s Cancer Division, and others— NYU, Cohen’s and Stony Brook—pediatric

specialties where treatment of chronic diseases is ongoing, as well as with children’s hospitals throughout Florida, Texas, Oregon and California. New hospitals in states throughout the nation are partnering with the foundation to provide services to their youngest patients. Core programs offered are Life Essentials [helping families struggling financially during their child’s treatment with non-medical expenses]; Project SOAR [providing support for childhood cancer patients, families, students and teachers when the child returns to school following a long illness]; and Bonding With Baby [helping siblings of babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) communicate and bond]. In partnership with The Spencer Foundation, the Michael Magro Foundation offers Operation Playcation, an initiative providing inpatient pediatric hospital patients with new PlayStation units and games.

Visit www.michaelmagrofoundation.com or email info@michaelmagrofoundation. com for more information on the Michael Magro Foundation or to support the foundation with a tax-deductible contribution.

—Submitted by the Michael Magro Foundation

From left: Paul Magro, Patricia Palmeri, Marc Magro, Terrie Magro and Roy DeMarco (Photo courtesy of the Michael Magro Foundation)

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Tom Hand recently announced that the town’s massive ‘Cruise-Thru’ Toys for Tots Collection Drive will take place at John Burns Park in Massapequa on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, Dec. 4). In partnership with the United States Marine Corps and Optimum, the Town is collecting toys to help families and those less fortunate throughout the community during the upcoming holiday season. In addition to the ‘Cruise-Thru’, collection boxes are located at town facilities through Dec. 14.

Saladino said, “The Toys for Tots Drive has long been a huge success under the leadership of the U.S. Marine Corps, especially here in the Town of Oyster Bay, as just last year we collected over 20,000 toys for Long Island children. I encourage all of our residents who are able to donate to this amazing cause, as the Toys for Tots Drive helps ensure that disadvantaged children within our community do not have to go the holiday season without something to bring them happiness.”

The ‘Cruise Thru Holiday Toy Drive’ will provide residents an excellent way to con tribute directly to the cause and help bring

a smile to a child’s face this holiday season. Additionally, the event will feature an appearance by Santa Claus, and a drop box where kids can drop their letters to Santa off at. Letters dropped off with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday.

“Toys for Tots sends a message of hope to less fortunate children who otherwise wouldn’t be receiving presents this holiday season,” Hand said. “I urge residents, who can, to donate new unwrapped toys to any of our drop-off locations. By making a donation, you can help ease the financial burden of families hardest hit by the effects of the coronavirus this holiday season.”

Toys for Tots Collection Boxes are located at the following locations:

Oyster Bay Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay; Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Rd., Massapequa;

Ice Skating Center at Bethpage Community Park, 1001 Stewart Ave., Bethpage.

For more information, visit www.oyster baytown.com or contact Councilman Tom Hand’s office at 516-624-6309.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

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Serving 43 of the top 100 Wealthiest Neighborhoods in New York State. Please submit résumé, references & salary requirements to: ipicone@antonmediagroup.com

COLUMNS

Thanksgiving Greeting

John Adams, second President of the United States, sent a mov ing letter to Francois A. Van der Kemp, who was one of the Dutch radical leaders of the Patriot Party. Van de Kemp was also a minister and publicist who gave the Patriot movement a Christian tint in his blazing speeches. I quote the following from Adams’ letter to Van der Kemp:

“I will insistthe Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations … They are the most glorious nation that ever inhabit ed this Earth.

The Romans and their empire were but a bubble in com parison to the Jews.They have

RABBI MOSHE WEISBLUM

return for the mystery by which we live. Who is worthy to be present at the constant unfolding of time? Amidst the meditation of mountains, the humility of flowers—wiser than all alpha bets—clouds that die constantly for the sake of God’s glory, we

are hating, hunting, hurting. Suddenly we feel ashamed of our clashes and complaints in the face of the tacit glory in nature. It is so embarrassing to live! How strange we are in the world, and how presumptuous our doings! Only one response can maintain us: gratefulness for witnessing the wonder, for the gift of our

unearned right to serve, to adore and to fulfill. It is gratefulness which makes the soul great.”

It would have been so easy for the pilgrims of 1621 to focus on what they didn’t have. Yet, their story reminds us that any moment is one to focus on what we have been given and to say thank you for it. Each day in this week of Thanksgiving and beyond—we say the words of the Psalmist Hodu—Give thanks to our Creator for it is good.

As we sit to eat our turkey (which in modern Hebrew is the same word—hodu), may we know just how good is our bounty and how great is our blessing. We should celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving EVERY DAY and through our behavior, we will show our unlimited appreciation to the true Source of all our blessings.

Seven Tips For Choosing Your Health Benefits For 2023

BY PHILLIP FRANZ

Amid higher inflation, you may be looking at ways to adjust your lifestyle and spending habits. But when it comes to health care, it’s important to keep your well-being and budget in mind.

Annual or open enrollment season is here—a time when more than 19 million people in New York state and millions of Americans across the country will have the opportunity to select or switch their health insurance plan for the coming year.

Open enrollment is a good chance to review how often you’re using health services and decide whether you’ll stick with the plan you’ve got or switch to another being offered. It’s also an opportunity to assess your overall care costs to ensure you’re choosing a plan that will work best for next year’s budget.

Enrollment timing: For people with coverage from their employer, open enrollment typically happens for two weeks sometime between September and December. Medicare members can enroll or make changes to coverage from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Most selections made will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

Here are seven tips to help in choosing a health plan through work, the Exchange Marketplace or Medicare:

1Consider all your options. Take time to understand and compare the benefits, services and costs of each plan, so you can figure out which will work best for you. A good first step may be to watch a quick refresher video on health insurance lingo, including premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance and out-ofpocket maximums.

Medicare members: As you weigh your options, ensure you’re familiar with the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. If you need a review, visit www. MedicareEducation.com—an online resource with answers to

questions about eligibility, plan choices, cost basics, prescription coverage and more.

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4

Check your prescription benefits. Knowing how to get the most out of your prescription benefits may help you manage costs. For example, check into discounts and lower-cost alternatives, including generics, which may be available. You may also be able to fill your prescriptions at a participating network pharmacy or with home delivery by mail—two more money-saving options.

2

Don’t forget about specialty benefits. Additional benefits, such as dental, vision, hearing or critical illness insurance, are often available and may contribute to overall well-being.

Medicare members: You may be surprised that Original Medicare doesn’t cover most dental, vision and hearing services, but many Medicare Advantage plans do.

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Medicare members: You may be surprised to learn Original Medicare doesn’t generally cover prescription drugs. Consider adding Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage to help keep your medication costs in check.

3

Check for mental health coverage. In addition to in-person mental health care, you may have access to a large virtual network of therapists and psychiatrists. Some health insurers also offer advocacy services to help you find the right type of behavioral health care.

Medicare members: Some plans offer virtual mental health care with a $0 copay, including UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.

5

Look into wellness programs. Many health plans offer incentives that reward you for taking healthier actions, such as completing a health survey, exercising or avoiding nicotine.

Medicare members: Many Medicare Advantage plans also offer gym memberships and wellness programs for members at no additional cost.

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Celebrating

6

Anticipate next year’s health expenses. If you’re expecting a significant health event in the next year, such as surgery or the birth of a child, compare the differences in plan designs for that specific situation, including any out-of-pocket costs.

7

Consider a plan with virtual care services. If you’re busy or just prefer connecting with a doctor from the convenience of your home,

Letters to the editor are welcomed by Anton Media Group. We reserve the right to edit in the interest of space and clarity. All letters must include an address and daytime telephone number for verification. All material contributed to Anton Media Group in any form becomes the property of the newspapers to use, modify and distribute as the newspaper staff assigns or sees fit. Letters to the editor can be mailed to: editors@antonmediagroup.com Additional copies of this and other issues are available for purchase by calling 516-403-5120.

Phillip Franz

COLUMNS

Talking About Weight With Your Kids

The holidays are here and it’s not un common for people of all ages, including children, to pack on extra pounds. The sugary treats and heavy meals are abundant and many kids tend to be less active during the colder weather.

Regardless of the season, it’s always a good time to talk to your kids about healthy eating—especially with many adults and children alike having put on weight from stress eating and pandemic inactivity.

Sadly, being significantly overweight is common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the per centage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, nearly 1 in 5 school age U.S. children and young people (6 to 19 years) is considered obese. When you factor in those who are considered overweight but not yet obese, the figure rises to 31 percent.

Why the dramatic increase? Behavior and habits are the most likely factors, with tech nology playing a big role. Many families have become sedentary, with TV, computers and videogames as the culprits. Both kids and parents are often modeling these behaviors.

Of course, shaming a child for being over weight is never appropriate. Approach the issue as a family topic rather than focusing on an individual child. The message should be that we all need to eat more healthy foods like fruit, vegetables and lean proteins and less fatty, fried or sugary foods so we feel better and have more energy.

Here are some guidelines when broaching the subject of weight with your children, as per recommendations from The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Foster open dialogue. Encourage your kids to share their thoughts and feelings about body image. When children discuss feelings about weight, be sure to listen and acknowledge that the feelings are real. Explain that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and you love your child no matter what.

Don’t make negative comments. Judging your own body or your child’s can result in lasting detrimental effects to your child’s body image and relationship with food. Set a good example for children in the way you talk about your own body as well as others.

from page 4A

consider choosing a plan that includes 24/7 virtual care. You may have access to virtual wellness visits, urgent care and chronic condition management.

Medicare members: Most Medicare Advantage plans provide access to virtual care, which can be an easier, more affordable way to talk with doctors about common health issues on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Visit www.uhcopenenrollment.com for more helpful articles and videos about open enrollment. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company

Take action. Children learn fast and they learn best by example. Teach children habits that will help keep them healthy for life. Look for ways to spend fun, active time together.

Avoid the blame game. Never yell, scream, bribe, threaten or punish children about weight, food or physical activity. If you turn these issues into parent-child battle grounds, the results can be harmful. Shame, blame and anger are setups for failure.

Talk with your healthcare provider. If a health professional mentions a concern about your child’s weight, speak with the professional privately. Discuss specific concerns and ask for suggestions on making positive changes in your family’s eating habits and activity levels.

Seek advice. Look for a registered dietitian with a specialty in pediatric weight management. Many hospitals and clinics have comprehensive programs with edu cation and activities for both kids and adult family members that may be covered by your health insurance plan.

An important final note: If you are among the Long Islanders whose financial issues make it difficult to access healthy, fresh foods, don’t despair. Community Solidarity shares nutritious food to those in need, with 50 per cent of that being fresh produce. Visit www. communitysolidarity.org to find out more.

Dr. Sue Cohen is the director of Clinical Services at Right from the Start at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, the leading children’s mental health agency on Long Island. Visit www.northshorechildguidance.org to learn more.

or one of its affiliated companies. For Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: A Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a Medicareapproved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. Virtual visits may require video-enabled smartphone or other device. Not for use in emergencies.

Phillip Franz is the CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement in New York

FRANZ

Dr. Sue Cohen

PARENTING PLUS

BY JANET BURNS

The Garden City Trojans field hockey team has a history of success, and this year’s team has kept their record of success intact.

In the 2022 fall season, goalie Mackenzie Wehrum, our November Athlete of the Month at Anton Media Group, contributed a lot toward making that happen, according to her coaches and teammates.

SPONSORED BY ORLIN & COHEN

Athlete Of The Month: Mackenzie Wehrum, Field Hockey

After a strong season in goal with a .91 save percentage, Wehrum had three shutouts in the post season and allowed only two goals, guiding her team to the New York State Finals. Her outstanding play earned her all-tournament honors.

On Thursday, November 3, Wehrum’s shutout helped her team to claim the Long Island Championship this season, a title which the Trojans have held for the past seven out of eight years (with 2020’s Covid-impacted season being the exception.)

During this year’s playoffs, Wehrum only allowed two goals, and clocked over 40 saves, as well as a 0.15 GAA.

“Since I stepped on the field my freshman year of high school I have only fallen in love with the sport more

as the years have gone by. I have done whatever I could through the years to play as much as I can and I have done just that. I am determined to make myself a better player not just for myself but for the teams that I am on. I am determined that when I do eventually get to play field hockey in college to work hard to better myself for my future team and coaches,” Wehrum said in her NCSA college recruiting profile personal statement.

Scheduled to graduate this spring, Wehrum won’t have too long to wait before her college playing career begins. She has already committed to playing for Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where she’ll enroll as a freshman for the 20232025 school year.

Mackenzie Wehrum

(Photos courtesy of Garden City Public Schools)

Mackenzie Wehrum, a field hockey goalie for the Garden City Trojans, is our Athlete of the Month for November.

NE W YORK ISLAN DERS LEGENDS NIGHTS

The Islanders are a storied franchise thanks to many legendary players. For the 50th Anniversary season, celebrate the eight alumni whose numbers hang in the rafters. The first 10,000 fans at each of the eight Legends Nights will take home a commemorative bobblehead.

NEWYORKISLANDERS.COM/TICKETS

DENIS POTVIN FRI | DEC. 2 vs. NSH PRESENTED BY

CLARK GILLIES SUN | DEC. 4 vs. CHI PRESENTED BY

MIKE BOSSY SAT | JAN. 14 vs. MTL PRESENTED BY

BOB NYSTROM

WED | JAN. 18 vs. BOS PRESENTED BY

JOHN TONELLI FRI | JAN. 27 vs. DET PRESENTED BY

BILLY SMITH FRI | FEB. 17 vs. PIT PRESENTED BY

BRYAN TROTTIER SAT | MAR. 11 vs. WSH PRESENTED BY

BUTCH GORING TUES | MAR. 21 vs. TOR PRESENTED BY

‘Tis The Season For Cooking

Nothing brings people together quite like food, especially home cooking. Here are some of the newest and bestselling cookbooks on the market, just in time for the holiday season.

1. Go-To Dinners by Ina Garten

Even Ina Garten, America’s most-trusted and beloved home cook, sometimes finds cooking stressful. To make life easy she relies on a repertoire of recipes that she knows will turn out perfectly every time. Cooking night after night during the pandemic inspired her to rethink the way she approached dinner, and the result is this collection of comforting and delicious recipes that you’ll love preparing and serving. You’ll find lots of freeze-ahead, make-ahead, prep-ahead, and simply assembled recipes so you, too, can make dinner a breeze.

In the first-ever cookbook from TikTok star and social media sensation Nadia Caterina Munno—a.k.a. The Pasta Queen— is opening the recipe box from her online trattoria to share the dishes that have made her pasta royalty. In this delectable antipasto platter of over 100 recipes, cooking techniques, and the tales behind Italy’s most famous dishes (some true, some not-so-true), Nadia guides

you through the process of creating the perfect pasta, from a bowl of naked noodles to a dish large and complex enough to draw tears from the gods. Whether it’s her viral Pasta Al Limone, a classic Carbonara, or a dish that’s entirely Nadia’s— like her famous Assassin’s Spaghetti—The Pasta Queen’s recipes will enchant even the newest of pasta chefs.

4. Smitten Kitchen Keepers by Deb Perelman

5. Somebody Feed Phil The Book by Phil Rosenthal and Jenn Garbee

Phil Rosenthal, host of the beloved Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil, really loves food and learning about global cultures, and he makes sure to bring that passion to every episode of the show. Whether he’s traveling stateside to foodie-favorite cities such as San Francisco or New Orleans or around the world to locations like Saigon, Tel Aviv, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, or Marrakesh, Rosenthal includes a healthy dose of humor to every episode—and now to this book.

Deb Perelman is the author of two best-selling cookbooks; one of the internet’s most successful food bloggers; the creator of a homegrown brand with more than a million Instagram followers; and the self-taught cook with the tiny kitchen who obsessively tests her recipes to make sure that no bowls are wasted and that the results are always worth the effort.

6. Better Homes and Gardens 100th Anniversary New Cook Book

Better Homes & Gardens celebrates its 100th anniversary with this expanded edition of the “red plaid” cookbook, a trusted staple in kitchens across America since 1930.

All-new chapters look back at the history of Better Homes & Gardens, including a “Behind the Kitchen Door” feature about America’s first test kitchen, and a “Then & Now” section comparing

3. The Woks of Life by Bill, Kaitlin, Judy and Sarah Leung

This is the story of a family as told through food. Judy, the mom, speaks to traditional Chinese dishes and cultural backstory. Bill, the dad, worked in his family’s Chinese restaurants and will walk you through how to make a glorious Cantonese Roast Duck. Daughters Sarah and Kaitlin have your vegetable-forward and one-dish recipes covered—put them all together and you have the first cookbook from the funny and poignant family behind the popular blog The Woks of Life.

original classics to updated recipes influenced by flavor and current food trends. With more than 1,000 recipes and a photo for each one, the book covers traditional dishes such as brownies and new fa vorites like cold brew coffee.

—Compiled by Christy Hinko

2. The Pasta Queen by Nadia Caterina Munno

Tilles Center

Eglevsky Ballet, Long Island’s premier ballet company and academy, presents its annual production of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker” starring New York City Ballet soloist Miriam Miller as the “Sugar Plum Fairy” and New York City Ballet principal Tyler Angle as the “Cavalier”.

The production also stars Fox Weather meteorologist (and Instagram and TikTok sensation) Nick Kosir as “Dr. Stahlbaum”, the father of “Clara,” the ballet’s protagonist. Eglevsky Ballet brings the beloved story to the Tilles Center stage with Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, stunning costumes, thrilling choreography and a cast comprised of more than 60 students and the company’s professional dancers. Eglevsky Ballet’s production is the longest, continuously running production on Long Island. Directed and choreographed by Executive Artistic Director Maurice Brandon Curry, Eglevsky Ballet’s produc tion tells the story of a young girl named “Clara” and how a mysterious gift from her godfather, “Herr Drosselmeyer” brings about an enchanted, fantastical dream. The Eglevsky Ballet has presented The Nutcracker as a holiday gift for children of all ages since 1961. This exciting pro duction is a vibrant representation of the trajectory in which Mr. Curry is leading the organization.

This year, the role of “Clara” will be danced by professional company member, Briana Laman. The “Nutcracker Prince” will be portrayed by professional company member, Ryan Cavaline. The central first act pas de deux in the prelude to “Waltz of the Snowlflakes” is usually danced by a “Snow Queen” and a “Snow King”. Mr. Curry has the music (his personal favorite in the ballet) performed by the characters “Clara” and “The Nutcracker Prince”. “Having this pas de deux danced by these two characters,” Curry says, “intensifies the connection between the two characters. We see the arc of their relationship and gives the opportunity for Clara’s dream to have a more poignant and personal effect on our audiences.”

This year, Eglevsky Ballet is partnering

with Birthday Wishes of Long Island to offer support assistance in their mission. Birthday Wishes provides a birthday gift and a “Birthday-in-a-Box” for children experiencing homelessness.

Jamie Rapfogel, the Director of the Long Island Branch states, “We are thrilled to partner with the Eglevsky Ballet and their holiday performance of The Nutcracker this December at the Tilles Center!

What a special way to allow the families we serve to experience the magic and delight that this event allows. Just like our mission, of Eglevsky Ballet providing birthday parties to children experiencing homelessness brings feelings of normalcy and joy so does the honor of watching the Eglevsky Ballet’s holiday extravaganza!”

Eglevsky Ballet is asking all who attend the performances to bring an unwrapped toy for boys and girls ages 1-17 to donate to Birthday Wishes.

Do not miss these performances of The Nutcracker with Long Island’s own Eglevsky Ballet at the Tilles Center on Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. and again at 6 p.m. and on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. Featuring live music provided by the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony and guest stars from New York City Ballet and television, it is a produc tion not to be missed.

Tickets may be purchased at the Tilles Center box office or through Ticketmaster.

Cheese Ball Dip

BY CHRISTY HINKO chinko@antonmediagroup.com

Hands down, dips and spreads make the all-time favorites list when it comes to appetizers, but as equally yummy as the finger food appetizer counterparts like deviled eggs, chicken wings, nachos and quesadillas. That said, dips and spreads are in a class of their own.

The list of possible ingredients is endless, although many have a standard base ingredient, a cream cheese or a sour cream. e added ingredients are wide-ranging too: anything from some of the more savory things like artichokes, avocados, bacon, mushrooms, olives,

yogurts and fruity mangoes and apples.

ey are so versatile and come in so many variations and easily complement any holiday, event or occasion. And when you are planning a party, your appetizer menu is one of the rst things you might consider, including some of the more

important to consider how easily the dip or spread transfers. Is it scoopable? Is it spreadable? Do you need a sturdy cracker or chip to pair with it? Which utensils are best-suited for the job? Is it served in a bowl or on a plate? Is it served warm or chilled?

Dips and spreads are always a crowd-pleaser. Here is one of my personal family recipes.

Cheese Ball

8 oz. cream cheese, softened ¼ c. chopped walnuts (or almonds or pecans) 1 Tbsp cooking sherry ¼ c. walnuts, toasted and chopped

In medium bowl, combine rst three ingredients. Shape into a ball and chill, covered for at least three hours. Roll in toasted walnuts to coat. Serve with crackers; Triscuit or any

Thoughtful Ways To Give Thanks

For many Americans, the holiday season is a time for joy, gratitude and spending quality time with loved ones. However, with inflation at 8.2 percent, more than half (54 percent) of consumers plan to spend less on holiday gifts this year. With this in mind, here is a list of three ways to show your loved ones how much you ap preciate them this holiday season—with out breaking the bank.

1. The average person spends five hours a week cleaning. Taking the initiative to clean up the dirtiest areas of your home will allow you and your loved ones to spend more time to

gift of peace of mind.

2. When we hear about selfcare, we often think of bubble baths and scented candles. However, 54 percent of people strongly agree that having a completely clean home is one of the most calming feelings. Surprising your loved ones with a clean home will help them relax without the bow.

3. Give the chef in your life a well-de served break by cooking and cleaning up afterwards. Not only will your loved ones enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal, but they will also be thrilled by the sparkling clean kitchen.

Photo: Nick Biondo

Hit The Off Switch Bone Appétit!

Hit movie Home Alone

made waves about hapless holiday makers leaving their child behind. But in the real world, what gadgets are most likely to have been left on in the home when people head abroad?

The holiday car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental. com have researched online for the most likely items in the home to be left on and come up with a checklist of things that need to be turned off before leaving the house.

As well as saving vital energy and reducing the risk of acci dents in your absence, these top tips will also help people save money during the current cost of living crisis.

The following steps can identify fire risks, other potential hazards and energy draining sources. But they point out not everything can be turned off, cit ing burglar and intruder alarms

which must be checked to see they are in good working order. Switch these things off before heading off on your travels:

Chargers

Unplugging chargers is a good tactic as they draw power into their power supplies constantly, so you can make an energy and cost saving.

Lights

You need to consider turning lights off, although weighing up if you will have a timer switch to factor in. Sometimes there are lights in the attic, garage or basement which are forgotten about and need to be turned off.

Modems and routers

By turning these off you can also prevent hackers from getting into your wifi as well as saving on power.

Heating

It’s a waste of money and energy to heat the house when you are away in the summer. Consider keeping the heating on very low if on holiday in the winter.

Kitchen appliances

Some of these are worth unplugging to save electricity and reduce the fire risk to your home. But not all—it would be unwise to turn off the fridge and freezer leaving you in a real mess on your return. Weigh up which appliances can safely be turned off.

Water

Locate the stopcock and turn off the water before leaving home on your holidays. It’s important as it will help prevent water leaks that can result in expensive floods and damage.

—StressFreeCarRental.com

The holiday season is the most wonderful time to celebrate with your friends and family, but also with your pets. A recent survey by the leading sustainable and biotech-driven pet food company, Wild Earth, shows that pet parents love including their furry friends on special occasions.

Do something special

Only 6.5 percent of pet owners don’t do anything special with their pets— which means a whopping 93.5 percent of you do.

Pets are truly part of our families, so it makes sense that they are involved in our celebrations.

Play dress-up

This year, grab a few sizes of your favorite holiday outfit. People everywhere are dressing their pooches up in their favorite acces sories and costumes. A little bow or Santa hat is the perfect addition to any pet’s wardrobe.

Photo shoot

Gathering the whole family for a photo takes divine intervention, but your pet is always ready to get their cute picture taken. A pet photoshoot is sure to make your pup the star of the holiday card.

Special meal

Bone appétit! The holidays are the time to try out new recipes and cook your family’s traditional favorites. You can whip up a special dish for your pet using clean, high-pro tein ingredients such as spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots and even cranberry sauce.

Buy a gift

Unwrapping presents isn’t just for our human family. Pets are part of your family too, so treat them to a special and healthy gift you know they will just love.

—Wild Earth

Jimmy Smits’ Fave Acting Influences

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO dgilderubio@antonmediagroup.com

With a storied line of crime procedurals under his belt ranging from a guest shot on Miami Vice and a major role on L.A. Law to starring in NYPD Blue and the late lamented Bluff City Law, Jimmy Smits wasn’t looking to go back down that path. That is, until Emmy Award-winning producer and director William Finkelstein, who knew Smits from back in the L.A. Law/NYPD Blue days, hipped the native New Yorker to the project the former was working on for CBS. All it took was mentioning the neighborhood the show was going to be based in to catch Smits’ attention.

“William Finklestein and I were having conversations, because we keep in touch,” Smits shared. “He was getting ready to do a cop show and it kind of came on my radar specifically because of all the stuff that transpired during COVID-19 with regards to this kind of spotlight on law enforcement transgressions and all of that. I told him good luck with that and it was beautiful to have this woman’s voice as the driving force behind this particular precinct and the whole thing about community policing. Then he said it was set in

a section of New York called East New York that not too many people know about. I told him to stop right there because that was my Wonder Years place. When I came back from living a couple of years in Puerto Rico, I was going to school [in East New York]. Pretty much my junior high school, high school and first years of college were all in that neighborhood. That’s where my first child was born, when I started going to college and making the choice to become an actor. All of those things happened in East New York, so I have an affinity for it.”

Smits plays veteran two-star Chief John Suarez, who serves as a mentor to Amanda Warren’s Deputy Inspector Regina Haywood, whose character was recently promoted to head up East New York’s 74th Precinct. Rounding out the cast are a number of familiar faces (Rubin Santiago-Hudson’s officer Marvin Sandeford and Richard Kind’s Captain Stan Yenko) and new talent (Elizabeth Rodriguez’s Detective Crystal Morales and Olivia Luccardi’s officer Brandy Quinn). The driving narratives for East New York revolve around the complex relationship between

law enforcement and local citizens in a lower income community of color. The combination of a talented cast and character-driven storylines were irresistible to Smits with the title locale being the deciding factor.

“For me, if you don’t have the character element in [a project] then I don’t want to see it,” Smits explained. “The stars felt like they aligned in regards to what’s happening with law enforcement and what’s been happening in New York along with women empowerment and having a character who is really a strong voice. We’ve come up with this ensemble of actors that is really tight and wonderful, but the characters are really compelling, unique and they each have their own spin on [the storylines]. It felt like something I really wanted to be a part of. And also for my old neighborhood—to kind of give props to it and give back in a way. That’s why I’m on this show.”

Having fallen in love with the art of acting, Smits was more than happy to share those talents that helped shape his career trajectory.

Raúl Juliá (March 9, 1940 to October 24, 1994)

“He was a brilliant, sanguine force of nature in terms of his acting ability. But the fact that he came from the place that my moms came from and his first language was Spanish. And he loved the classics. All of those things influenced me in terms of making a choice and me being able to see him out there working like that. It influenced me with regards to becoming an actor myself. He’s tops on the list.”

James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 to present)

“He is somebody that has broken barriers and has an immense love for the theater. I admire the work he’s done on film and through the years, he’s had a sustaining career.”

Katherine Hepburn (May 12, 1907 to June 29, 2003)

Rita Moreno (December 11, 2011 to present)

“Both of them in terms of powerful women who have come

from minority/disadvantaged communities. Because of their ethnicity and gender, they’ve had to work twice as hard [to succeed]. That energy is fascinating to me.”

Peter Brook (March 21, 1925 to July 3, 2022)

“One day a director— who is very famous in the theater world named Peter Brook, came to this community group I was involved with as a kid. He had this international group of actors from Africa, a Nordic-looking woman, a Japanese kabuki actor and kind of created an international language of theater. [Ed. Note: International Centre for Theatre Research]. It fascinated me that theater has such power and it fermented for this teenager at the time—to see if I could really do this as a profession. A light went on in terms of the power of physicality, space and telling stories. That moment really influenced me. It’s like a marker for me.”

Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 to June 12, 2003)

“I did this film called Old Gringo and it was another kind of marker for me. Greg became a mentor and a friend. He was someone whose activism, along with Jane Fonda’s, was something I looked at. Along with the way he carried his life and approached his feelings about the artist’s ability to enlighten while doing his work at the same time. It touched me in so many different ways.”

East New York airs on CBS on Sunday nights. Check local listings for times. Visit www. longislandweekly.com to read a longer version of this story.

From left: Darien Sills-Evans (Deputy Mayor Raymond Sharpe), Jimmy Smits (Assistant Chief John Suarez) and Amanda Warren (Deputy Inspector Regina Haywood) (Photo credit: CBS 2022)

HOROSCOPES

By Holiday Mathis

By Holiday Mathis

Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s easier to be sure-footed when you’re walking the stability of a known world. While there may be a lot that needs to change, when you think about all the systems and routines that have to go right to keep things marching along, you feel grateful for whatever is happening smoothly in this part of life.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). e week goes well if you don’t get too wrapped up in winning. at would make your game tight and vulnerable to mistakes of tension. Back o and consider two ways to relax into your play. Pretend like you have so much advantage you’ll never run out, or imagine instead that you have no advantage and therefore nothing to lose.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s a good time for social strategizing. For instance, you may want to decide ahead of time what and how you will share with people. It is both kind and smart to consider the expectations of others. When in doubt, go for a pleasant state of neutrality. Avoid inspiring envy and controversy or giving people a reason to focus unhelpfully.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Financial demands seem a ordable when someone else is paying. Chores and maintenance go faster when done by others. As true as this may be, you still prefer to take care of things on your own. Your reward for this is that you become incredibly capable, con dent, vital, attractive, forward-thinking and unstoppable.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll speak words of kindness if they come to you, but you don’t have to. e way you hold yourself open to the world, the nice things you think to yourself about the strangers passing by and the friendliness of your smile contribute more than you know to the spirit of gentleness that would ideally prevail in a better world.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). e act of creating a fantasy is like giving yourself a gift. e right fantasy can do more than entertain you. It can give you the clues about the life you might create for yourself. It can be the vision that shows you where you could go and pulls you into a future that would delight you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). is week’s to-do list contains items that are less than fascinating, but give them more attention than you think they deserve. ey have potential to advance you, perhaps delightfully so. It is the details -- the glorious, captivating details -- that will provide the magic of the week.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). As much as you’d like others to focus on the same things that matter to you, it won’t happen often this week. ere are bene ts to the diverse energies, though. You’ll get more versions of the story, and multiple viewpoints will be interesting, broadening the scope of your project and causing you to learn more, and quickly.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). In the animal kingdom, there are not enemies, just creatures competing for resources. Humans tend to see the competition as sinister, and yet the same principle applies. Take moral bias out of the equation and you will see people in terms of what they need or want, not in subjective terms of good and evil.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You are good at many things and great at something that is rare. Too much time has passed since you gave much-deserved attention to your talent. Use your exceptional gift this week, or at the very least, plan to use it soon, building the schedule, training or environment to make this possible.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You have powers so terrifying and awesome you wouldn’t dare use them regularly. at would be like using a lightning bolt to do the work of a stapler. You don’t need to deploy these powers this week, though the thought will cross your mind. It’s a con dent feeling just to remember what you are capable of.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You embrace duty, knowing it’s not likely to change. People say it gets easier, but “it” actually remains about the same. What happens is that you get stronger, as well as smarter, more innovative and capable until one day, the task that used to make you sweat will be a piece of cake. at day is coming sooner than you think.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

It’s wonderful to know yourself this well. Past lessons braid together, and things you didn’t understand will suddenly start making sense in a way that applies directly to the main challenges of your life. New relationships are the e ervescence of the year, and though delightful and breezy, you’ll be surprised at how supportive these ties can be. Ask for the help you need to better position yourself in the professional realm. A mentor will be key. Also, a nancial issue will be set right.

was right. South would have made six clubs, scoring 1,370 points, whereas East would have gone down only three — 500 points — at six hearts doubled.

North’s seven-club bid is certainly questionable. He could have passed and left the decision to South, who was probably in a better position to

WORD FIND

Say cheese!

judge whether to double or go on. But North feared that if the EastWest hands were as distributional as his own, East might make six hearts.

West led a heart, and South pro ceeded to make the grand slam despite his apparently certain spade loser. He ruffed the heart in dummy, drew two rounds of trump and then cashed five diamond tricks, discarding a spade from his hand. Two more rounds of trump, ending in dummy, brought about this posi tion: North

The lead of the ten of clubs from dummy left East with no recourse. If he discarded a spade, South would discard a heart; if he dis carded a heart, South would dis card a spade. Either way, South would win the last three tricks.

Note that an opening spade lead by West would have defeated the contract by cutting a critically important link between the North and South hands.

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Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit

race, color, national origin, religion, sex, dis ability, familial status, age, marital status, sexu al orientation or disability in connection with the rental, sale or financing of real estate. Nassau also prohibits source of income discrimination. Anton Community News papers does not know ingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect hous ing discrimination, call Long Island Housing Services’ Discrimination Complaint Line at 800660-6920. (Long Island Housing Services is the Fair Housing Agency of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.)

Siblings Pack Meals For Island Harvest

Manhasset siblings Richard Rogers, 17, and Emily Rogers, 15, helped donate hundreds of pounds of food to Island Harvest. Island Harvest food bank is a leading hunger- relief organization with a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island. Together, the brother- sister duo sorted and packed boxes for families with food insecurity.

The pair helped sort and organize food drive bags for store front food drives, which occur weekends for the months of November and December. Inside the bags are 300+ “How You Can Help” Flyers, two banners, a sheet describing 2022 Holiday Volunteer Opportunities, and a money canister.

They also helped sort and organize PSEG bags from the Taste of the Harvest event. These bags were extras. The bags consisted of cookies, mints, PSEG measuring cups, thermometers, gloves, spatulas and other kitchen and cooking items. These sorted bags will then be used to give to agencies, departments or anyone who is in need.

The last part of their activities was sorting food items into boxes to communities in need of food. This consisted of making the boxes, and using the 132 pounds of food the kids donated to us plus two palets of food from the warehouse. Each palet consisted of about 600 pounds of food. They sorted it by item and were able to make over 70 boxes The boxes contained stuffing, canned

corn, canned spinach, pasta, sauce, beans, rice and other staples. Each box weighed 11 pounds or more. They put together these meals in a organized manner, placed them

on palets and wrote on the box what food item was inside. This helped hundreds of communities in need of food.

Manhasset Public Schools Announces Fall 2023 Kindergarten Registration For Munsey Park And Shelter Rock Schools

Parents of children who will be 5 years old on or before December 1, 2023 and who live within the boundaries of the Manhasset Public Schools, may register their children with the Central Registration Office located at the Manhasset Secondary School, 200

Memorial Place, Manhasset.

It is necessary to make an appointment to pick up a registration packet in the month of December 2022. Please call (516)267-7777 as soon as possible to schedule this appointment. When you pick up the registration packet you will be

asked to make an appointment to return the packet in January 2023.

It is very important for placement that all kindergarten registration is processed as early as possible so that the school district may get an accurate projection of the enrollment for the incoming Kindergarten

classes.

If you require translation services assistance to receive the registration packet, please advise the Central Registration Office at the time you schedule your appointment.

—Submitted by Manhasset Public Schools

L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP. Plaintiff, -againstALVIN WONG, if he be living, if he be dead, his respective heirs-at-law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming under, by, or through ALVIN WONG, if he be dead, whether by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, including any right, title or interest in and to the real property described in the complaint herein, all of who and whose names and places of residence are unknown to plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER, “JOHN DOE #1” through

“JOHN DOE #12”, the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action, to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with the summons, to serve notice of appearance, on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the date of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York), and in case of failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS; The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. David P. Sullivan, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau

County, entered November 1, 2022 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.

THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a tax lien and to recover the amount of the tax lien and all of the interest, penalties, additions and expenses thereon to premises k/a Section 3, Block 222, Lot 25.

Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. The basis of venue is the location of the subject property.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the tax lien holder who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home.

Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property.

Sending a payment to the tax lien holder will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF

THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (TAX LIEN HOLDER) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: July 31, 2021

LEVY LEVY Attorneys for Plaintiff 12 12 Tulip Drive Great Neck, NY 11021 (516) 487-6655

BY: JOSHUA LEVY, ESQ. #99902 11-30-23-16-9-2022-4T#235744-MAN

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Design Review Board of the Incorporated Village of Plandome Manor will hold a public hearing on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 7:00PM at Village Hall. Village Hall is located at 55 Manhasset Avenue, Manhasset, NY. Pursuant to Chap. 417 of the Laws of 2021, this meeting will be held in person.

The following applications will be reviewed at the meeting: DRB2022-19 Application of Stefanos Vouvoudakis, 73 Papermill Road, seeking review of a pool and rear yard landscaping.

DRB2022-16 Application of Mr. and Mrs. Aldo Iacono, 80 Lake Road, seeking review of

a one-story and two-story addition of their residence.

DRB2022-17 Application of Mary Lee and Parag Rajpal, 66 Circle Drive, seeking review of a 189 sq. ft. 2nd story addition.

DRB2022-3 Application of Eastern LLC, 1 Stonytown Road, seeking review of a privacy fence of varying height up to 6 feet around the perimeter of the property as well as matching driveway gates.

BY ORDER OF THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD Isabel DeSousa, Chairman Lisa Mancuso, Village Clerk November 17, 2022 11-23-2022-1T-#235999MAN

Richard and Emily Rogers at Island Harvest. (Photo submitted by Noelle Rogers)

—Submitted by Noelle Rogers

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Price Increases Affect Customers, Businesses This Thanksgiving Season

JENNIFER

It is turkey turmoil this Thanksgiving season.

With inflation and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) detection of avian flu virus, customers will be paying a bit more for their turkeys and side dishes this season.

“The United States has the strongest avian influenza surveillance program in the world,” read a Nov. 2 press release from the USDA. “Through our ongoing wild bird surveillance program, [Animal and Plant Health Inspec tion Service (APHIS)] collects and tests large numbers of samples from wild birds in the North American flyways. It is not uncommon to detect avian influenza in wild birds, as avi an influenza viruses circulate freely in those populations without the birds appearing sick. In addition to monitoring for avian influenza in wild bird populations, APHIS monitors for the virus in commercial and backyard birds. With the recent detections of the Eurasian H5 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds and domestic poultry in the United States, bird owners should review their biosecurity practices and stay vigilant to protect poultry and pet birds from this disease. APHIS is working closely with State partners on surveillance, reporting, and control efforts.”

The result is a price increase of turkeys. The New York Farm Bureau sent out volunteer shoppers to see how prices have changed over the year for popular Thanksgiving items.

“Our volunteer shoppers found turkey prices to be about $1.89 per pound in New

York State, which is 43 cents per pound over last year’s average price in this informal survey,” a press release from the New York Farm Bureau read. “This price is slightly above the national average of $1.81/lb. As we move closer to Thanksgiving, turkey prices may drop in the stores, reflecting sales in the final days before the holiday.”

Even Miloski’s Poultry Farm out in Calverton had to increase their price for birds because of the avian flu.

But it’s not just turkeys that are causing consumers to pay extra this season.

“New York Farm Bureau’s 2022 Market Basket Survey shows the price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner saw a double-digit price jump from last year’s meal,” the press release from the New York Farm Bureau read. “The average total price, which includes a 16-pound turkey and other common items found on a holiday dinner table, is $66.39, about a 26 percent increase over last year’s price of $52.59.”

The New York Farm Bureau found price increases over last year in nearly every category of Thanksgiving fixings, except for fresh cranberries which saw a 30-cent decrease. “The most notable increases were

for stuffing mix, brown-and-serve rolls, and frozen pie crusts,” the press release added.

Why the sudden price increase in food?

“The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.4 percent in October on a seasonally adjusted basis, the same increase as in September,” the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Nov. 10. “Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 7.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.”

The food at home index rose 12.4 percent over the last 12 months, with the index rising 0.4 percent over the past month.

Nassau Kosher Meats & Kitchen in East Meadow is among the stores being impacted by these increasing prices. Almost everything is seeing a price increase, a representative from the store said.

What’s causing it?

There are a few reasons. Forbes reported in September that pandemic-related disrup tions, the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia are just a few reasons that consumers are seeing prices go up on their groceries.

“We are seeing [price increases] across the board from the meat department, our produce items and our grocery items,” said Adrianna Schutz, an owner of Gemelli Market North in Glen Head. “It affects us a lot because we are a small mom and pop store. We don’t have the buying power like these bigger supermarkets, but we try to pride ourselves on our customer service.”

One issue that is directly impacting the produce section is the drought in California.

“We’re finding that a lot of romaine lettuce and iceberg lettuce are triple the price,” Schutz said. “Right now they’re red-coded because it’s just insane how much the prices have increased.”

Salinas Valley, known as the “salad bowl of the world” because it produces 70 percent of the lettuce, is among the regions that have just been issued an excessive heat warning by Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.

“At the retail level, three-packs of romaine lettuce, which were $5 a year ago, are fetching up to double that,” the Toronto Star reported. “At the wholesale level, prices have more than tripled over the past few months. The culprit, say experts, is a hotter than normal growing season in California, which reduced crop yields and made it harder for lettuce plants to fight off pests and viruses. And it’s something that could happen again because of climate change.”

Will the prices go down?

Morgan Stanley Research believes that food prices, up 65 percent globally in the last two years, will peak this year and will begin to drop in 2023.

“While we recognize investor concerns that food prices may escalate further, we believe the market is underappreciating the factors that will cause future food price increases to moderate,” says Morgan Stanley Equity Analyst Roberto Browne.

Most Popular Thanksgiving Dishes

percent said glazed carrots.

Among those factors, the article read, are an expected increased output by farmers and weather normalization. 60 percent said their favorite Thanksgiving dish was turkey.

percent said macaroni and cheese.

percent said sweet potatoes or yams.

percent said mashed potatoes.

percent said corn.

percent said gravy

percent said stuffing or dressing.

percent said potato salad.

percent said green beans.

percent said bread or rolls.

percent said corn bread.

percent said ham.

percent said green bean casserole.

percent said beef.

percent said scalloped potatoes.

percent said salad.

percent said chicken.

percent said broccoli.

percent said deviled eggs.

percent said fruit salads.

—Submitted by Statista

Customers

John P. Vellios

September 21, 1934 – November 6, 2022

John P. Vellios—loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and godfather—fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at the age of 88 in Manhasset, New York.

Born on September 21, 1934 to Lambrini and Panayiotis Vellios in the small village of Diplatanos in the mountains of central Greece, John had to grow up quickly. As a young boy, he witnessed poverty and hunger as Greece endured the Second World War and then the Greek Civil War. During this time, at the age of 8, he also suffered the death of his mother. He managed to graduate grammar school and then high school while working to survive and to help support his younger siblings amidst war, famine and instability.

Beckoned by uncles who had immigrated to the United States and fueled by a desire to find a better life for himself and for generations to come, John journeyed to America in April 1957. Here, he made the American dream his reality. After sailing from Greece to New York, John initially lived with and worked for his mother’s cousins, learning the florist business on which he would one day build his own successes and a beautiful life for his family. It was during this time that he also discovered his passion for New York City and for the theater, moving to Hell’s Kitchen with a group of his friends and performing with a small New York City theatrical group by night while waiting tables by day (and otherwise living “la dolce vita,” as he would say, with a wry smile and a twinkle in his eyes). He proudly became a United States citizen on June 13, 1961.

After some time in New York, John decided to return to Greece and get married. In August 1968, he was introduced to and (two weeks later) married Irene Maroudas, taking his young bride back with him to Brooklyn, New York. Having developed an entrepreneurial spirit, John then quickly embarked on a new journey when he purchased Rosedale Florist and a house with his wife in Manhasset, New York, where they ran their business, raised their family and lived for more than 53 years. Never one to seek any accolades, John sacrificed and worked tirelessly and selflessly for his family during the more than 40 years that he operated the business. Despite working six days a week and every major holiday, John loved to socialize, frequently hosting parties, family and friends at his home throughout the years.

Gentle, generous and soft-spoken, John was a man of strong faith, giving of himself to the church and to the Greek-American community. Together with a handful of other local Greek-American families, John helped establish Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Roslyn, New York, in 1981, where he was a long-time member and past President of the Parish Council. He stayed involved with the church throughout his life. Also important to John was instilling kinship within the Greek-American community. To that end, John also was a long-time member and past President of the Diplatanos Society-Agia Marina, Inc., a non-profit society dedicated to helping its members and their hometown village of Diplatanos, as well as a long-time member of the Order of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), the largest and oldest grassroots association of American citizens of Greek heritage.

John was a voracious reader (seldom was there a significant historical fact, philosopher or important work that he could not recall or quote from memory); a lover of languages, antiques and butter pecan ice cream; an unwavering fan of “The Gipper” (his politics

marveled, “sounds like an angel”). With his dry sense of humor and good-natured bent, John also had a knack for conversation, often resorting to charming and oldfashioned expressions that belied a quiet wisdom and, at times, also helped him navigate potential conflicts with ease (“for crying out loud” being among his favorites

histories and researching ancestors and distant relatives. In the last decade of his life, John endured many health

and his movies); and a classical music afficionado (he was especially enamored of Maria Callas, Pavarotti and “Granada” by Joselito, whose voice in that song, he often marveled, “sounds like an angel”). With his dry sense of humor and good-natured bent, John also had a knack for conversation, often resorting to charming and oldfashioned expressions that belied a quiet wisdom and, at times, also helped him navigate potential conflicts with ease (“for crying out loud” being among his favorites in such scenarios). And if you ever encountered him at a Greek wedding, baptism or social event, you would know that he immensely enjoyed Greek folk music and was the first to take to the dance floor for the zeibekiko (Sfakianakis’ “O Aetos,” or “The Eagle,” was and forever will be his song). In his spare time, John also worked on his family genealogy and history, documenting oral histories and researching ancestors and distant relatives. In the last decade of his life, John endured many health issues, including cancer and heart disease. While his heart ultimately may have failed, his spirit remained stubbornly strong and he was always fighting to sufficiently recover so that he could travel to Greece each summer, where he enjoyed spending time with family and friends by the sea at his apartment in Kamena Vourla, a seaside town in the suburbs of Athens.

John was preceded in death by his sister Maria and brother-in-law Athanasios Tsintzelis, as well as his brother Theofanis Vellios.

John is survived by his wife, Irene; their children Lambrina Mathews (husband Nikiforos) of New Canaan, Connecticut, Constantina Vellios (husband Andreas) of West Hollywood, California and Peter Vellios (wife Shirley) of Port Washington, New York; his grandchildren Alexandra, Luke, Alexander, Alvaro, Kimberley (husband Mike) and Luciana; his sister Stavroula and brother-in-law Fotios Gournelos, brother Chris and sister-in-law Christina Vellios and sister-in-law Maria Vellios of Brooklyn, New York; and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren.

John was a very humble man, but he was exceedingly proud of his grandchildren, whom he loved deeply. John will be profoundly missed by them and by all others who truly love him—in them, the kindness of his huge heart, the twinkle in his eyes and the stubborn strength of his will live on forever.

Family and friends gathered on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Fairchild Sons Funeral Chapel in Manhasset, New York, where a short memorial service (Trisagion) took place.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 12, 2022, preceded by an additional visiting hour at the church. Burial followed at Locust Valley Cemetery in Locust Valley, NY, with a luncheon (Makaria) immediately afterward at Limani Mezze, 1512 Old Northern Boulevard, Roslyn, NY, where family and friends were welcomed to gather in celebration of John’s life.

In his memory, donations may be made to Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church Icon Fund in Memory of John P. Vellios 100 Fairway Drive, Port Washington, New York 11050. Those who wish to share a remembrance or send a condolence through the online Tribute Book may visit https://fairchildsons.com/tribute/details/2713/John-Vellios/obituary. html#tribute-start.

Manhasset Elementary School Students Honor Heroes For Veterans Day

Munsey

Fifth-grade classes at both schools participated in a Zoom meeting with Andy Hayes, a Munsey Park graduate and a pilot in the United States Marines. Hayes shared his military experience with the students and showed them photographs of the different places he has been. At the conclusion of his Zoom presentation, students asked him questions.

Aside from the Zoom meeting, fifth-grade classes from both schools participated in a special Veterans Day community service project. Students created care packages for retired service men and women. They decorated their bags with words of appreciation and patriotic images and placed items such as candy, a notebook, pencils, and a keychain into them.

In addition, Munsey Park fifth-graders in Danielle Mora and Maria Efthimiades’ class partnered with their first-grade buddies in Cassy Santomauro’s class to create cards for veterans. Both the care packages and cards were dropped off at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University to show the students’ gratitude.

—Submitted by Manhasset Public Schools

Military Members And Veterans Connect With Students At Manhasset Secondary School

In honor of Veterans Day, eighth-graders from Manhasset Secondary School had the unique opportunity to hear from members of the New York National Guard and local veterans on Nov. 10.

Classes visited the library throughout the school day to meet one of the guest speakers and gain insight on their military experiences. The library was decorated with patriotic posters to welcome the heroes to the school and thank them for their service. Guest speakers included New York National Guard Master Sergeant Rafael Molina, Sergeant Danica D’Ambrosio, Sergeant Luis Diaz-Cruz and Manhasset veterans Dr. Lionel Mailloux, Dr. Sylvia Arora, Dr. Richard Heinl, Donald O’Brien and James Brooks.

The students learned about why each of them decided to join the military, what the military taught them, what type of traditional and non-traditional military careers are available and more. Each speaker shared their unique story and the students asked thoughtful questions. The event was a great way to honor military men and women and allow the students to reflect on the importance, courage, and sacrifices of our veterans.

—Submitted by Manhasset Public Schools

Students asked veteran Dr. Lionel Mailloux questions about how it felt to serve in the military.

Munsey Park fifth-graders in Danielle Mora and Maria Efthimiades’ class and firstgraders in Cassy Santomauro’s class made cards together for veterans.

Munsey Park fifth-graders Andy McCrain (right) and Peter Galvin wrote words of appreciation for veterans on their care package bags.

Munsey Park fifth-graders Dillon Nass (right) and John Doherty decorated their bags

Munsey Park fifth-grader Etta Daly created a card for a veteran to show her appreciation.

Manhasset veteran Dr. Lionel Mailloux (middle) met with eighth-graders at Manhasset Secondary School to share his military experience.

Manhasset veteran Dr. Sylvia Arora spoke with Manhasset eighth-graders about her military experience. (Photos submitted by Manhasset Public Schools)

Park and Shelter Rock elementary school students from the Manhasset Public Schools recently found thoughtful ways to celebrate and honor service men and women this Veterans Day.

(Photos submitted by Manhasset Public Schools)

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