Nassau Illustrated News 4/19/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

New Leadership At Long Island Children’s Museum

Erika S. Floreska will take the helm with guidance from coworker and longtime president Suzanne LeBlanc

JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

The Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) is kicking off a new era in its 30-year history with the appointment of a new president, who brings years of cultural and administrative experience, as well as time working alongside her predecessor, to the table.

On April 10, LICM announced that Erika S. Floreska has been named as the new president of the museum, taking over from retiring president Suzanne LeBlanc, who was served in that role for 17 years. Floreska will officially assume her role as president on June 3.

Prior to joining LICM is director of development in 2020, Floreska served in leadership roles at cultural and educational organizations such as the Bloomingdale School of Music, Tectonic Theater Project, and Jazz at Lincoln Center over the course of her 30-year career.

Following a nationwide search for LICM’s new president, Floreska also spent the past year learning directly from her predecessor as the two administrators prepared for the transition and upcoming hand-off.

In an interview with Anton Media Group, Floreska and LeBlanc spoke warmly of one another’s work and of the museum’s ongoing, growing impacts in the community.

“The community work is definitely what inspired me to want this position and to continue this legacy,” Floreska said.

“Most of my career was in the city, so it’s really rewarding to be working in the community I raised my kids in, and to be giving back.”

When she hired Floreska for the museum’s development office back in 2020, LeBlanc said, it did occur to her “Erika would make an excellent president.” After a nationwide search, which included several other “excellent candidates,” LeBlanc said, she and the board were happy that the role ultimately went to someone already part of the LICM community.

“My kids are a freshman and sophomore in college, and I used to bring them here to the museum all the time during their

formative years; we were members for seven or eight years. So it’s really come full circle to be back here at the musuem.”

When her children were young, Floreska said, “My daughter loved the climber, that was her favorite thing ever, and my son was really big with blocks and building things.”

“During the first months of COVID, when the museum was closed, I brought them with me to the museum so they

could see it, and they were saying how they remembered this or that installation so vividly. My daughter has even worked here in the summer as a floor educator, because she’s an aspiring music teacher.”

“When the museum reopened, all full-time staff had to work on the floor, so during my first year here I actually got to work as a floor educator one day a week, whether that’s by the climber, or cleaning up bubbles.”

The soon-to-be and current LICM presidents also emphasized the lessons they took away from running, funding, and continuing to grow the museum during the COVID pandemic.

LeBlanc described the “pivotal moment” when staff had to decide, about five months into COVID, whether or not to reopen the museum right away. “We decided to reopen with many protocols in place: mask wearing, social distancing, and only letting in [25% of LICM capacity] for visitors. And between that, and applying for every applicable grant we could, allowed us to keep on our full-time staff, which is our intellectual capital.”

LeBlanc added, “It was important to try to stay very current, and to always communicate with staff.”

Floreska echoed the importance of communication, and recalled how she first met the museum’s staff via Zoom, and could tell they already had a strong group dynamic in place, in a great way.

“I could already sense the community, and the commitment.”

That collaborative spirit, along with her background in the arts, ended up being crucial to keeping the museum’s funding on track during COVID.

“We had a benefit that had to go virtual. Nobody had ever done this before, and I happened to draw on my background in theatre more than I ever thought I would because we had to ‘put on a show.’ We ended up interviewing a lot of people from our constituent programs, so I also got hear teachers, students, and families talk about their experiences.”

At it happens, LeBlanc’s plans following her retirement from LICM’s presidency also include leveraging prior experience in the arts, along with some high quality ‘kid time.’

“I love to travel, and my daughter and granddaughter live in Wales, so I’m going to visit them this summer and do some other traveling, and by not working quite as hard I’ll be able to spend more time with them,” LeBlanc explained when asked what she’s looking forward to come June.

“In the fall I’m starting work consulting, but I’ll spend less time working than I have been in order to do more things I had put on hold. I want to get back into photography; I was a photography major in college.”

When she’s back home in Long Beach, she added, “I can go to the boardwalk and the beach, too.”

LICM stayed open through most of COVID with smaller visitor groups, social distancing, and lots of fun, educational activities. (Courtesy of LICM)

Erika Floreska, the new president of LICM. (Credit: R. Floreska)

Suzanne LeBlanc, LICM’s president for 17 years. (Courtesy of LICM)

People With Disabilities Speak Up During Disabilities Awareness Month

BY CLAUDE SOLNIK

Dressed in a blue baseball cap, blue sweatshirt and black pants, Angelo walked up to the podium in a large room at FREE’s Old Bethpage headquarters. Shouts of, “You got this,” “Miracle Boy” and “Go, Angelo” echoed through the room with around 50 people.

A survivor of traumatic brain injury, Angelo read an emotional story he had written about his life, at a podium bearing with the word FREE, for Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, and the motto, “Reach high, achieve more.”

He talked about undergoing life-saving surgery after his mother signed papers allowing the operation, and going into a coma and waking three weeks later in another hospital.

“I was confused and very lost,” he said. “I had two needles in my right arm, one needle in my left arm, a trachea tube in my throat and a catheter. My mother came over and held my hand. I felt like a baby all over.”

He spoke at “Our Stories: Disability and TBI Awareness Month Celebration” on March 23 at FREE’s Old Bethpage headquarters. “TBI doesn’t define who I am,” Angelo said. “The only thing that defines me is A,N,G,E,L,O. That’s my first name.”

He was among nearly a dozen speakers with various disabilities who told their stories, giving a perspective on what it’s like to live with a disability and not be defined by it.

Artwork by people with disabilities and a performance by FREE’s drum and bugle corps also showcased skills of people with disabilities.

“All of this is a way of telling your story. All of these pieces are a part of you,” said Jaime Crispin, who organized the event and leads FREE’s Speakers Bureau, comprising disabled people trained to speak to the public. “Each time you tell your own story, draw or create a collage or a painting or write a poem, you are telling a part of who you are.”

Sam, who helped train the drum corps who performed at the start of the event, said he loves working with this band of drummers.

“We have a great time learning a lot of stuff. It’s a dream come true to be working here and doing music,” said Sam. “I’m glad to be here, working with good people and great workers. I feel like I finally found my place.” Inspiration Inc.

Sam like many others at the event talked about moments in their life that inspired them. In his case, that was seeing Rent on Broadway.

“I remember it like yesterday when my dad and I went to the theater and watched the show,” Sam said. “It was an incredible, life-changing event.”

He talked about the lyrics of “No day but today,” which he said mean you should “live your life to the fullest. It really inspired me.” Although Jonathan Larson died before his musical reached Broadway, Sam said the music and lyrics of Rent continue to energize him and others today.

“It’s still inspiring people to do what I do,” Sam said. “Everybody has great stories. I’m very happy to be here.”

Change in the air

Ian, who has struggled with depression and addiction, talked about his efforts to turn his life around by modifying behaviors. “That dark time made me want to change my life. Without going through that, I would not be where I am today,” he said. “A lot of my friends were not positive influences. My friends then did not have my best interests in mind.”

He said he “changed my focus to myself” and turned to “hard work, therapy, positive thinking.” He focused on a healthy body and mind. “It was necessary for me to concentrate on exercise and getting physically fit,” Ian said.

Meanwhile, Bradley talked about being called into the principal’s office at the Elwin Institute, a school in Pennsylvania for people with learning disabilities.

“I said to myself, ‘Oh, my heavens, am I in trouble? Did I cheat on a test or say something I shouldn’t say?’” he said. “The principal said, ‘I have two things I need to discuss with you.’”

After he asked what they were, he was told he would find out only after he sat down.

“You won the principal’s award,” Bradley was told once he sat. “This is the first time that a person with disability or mental illness got that award here.”

After being named valedictorian, he wrote a speech designed to convey a message that

people with disabilities are important and valuable, even if some people bully and treat them badly.

His family -- including parents, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, and cousins – all attended graduation, where they got a surprise.

“I never told my parents that the valedictorian gets to lead the class in,” Bradley said. “My brother said, ‘Hey, mom, look.’ And mom starts to do what? Cry. Mom was very proud of me.”

He described some of the content of his speech, meant to inspire others with and without disabilities, in the face of obstacles. “One of the things I mentioned in my speech is no matter what people think of you, you’re the best,” he said.

Hope, help, healing

Others offered uplifting messages, such as Jimmy, who read “Hope after Head Injury” by Cristabelle Braden, a kind of rallying cry. “I will not stop living. I will stay strong,” he read. “I move forward.”

Rebeccah read “My voice, My life,” a poem she wrote calling for recognition and respect and injecting reality into misconceptions some have of people with disabilities.

“I do not need help thinking. What makes you think I don’t have an independent mind?” she asked. “I have dreams, I have wishes and opinions.”

Rebecca said, “I have a voice. It’s my voice” and “There is no normal,” but rather each person is an individual with their own way of being. “I look at it as no-one has a disability,” she said. “Accept everyone for who they are.”

Others read poetry, told stories and showed their artwork at this event designed to let people with disabilities be heard. Peter in a poem he wrote described “the

people we meet as they help us out of a hole so deep.”

“The world is a little brighter,” he said. “And my shoulders a lot lighter.”

Angelo, though, gave the most detailed account of how he recovered, after being told by doctors he would need occupational, physical and speech therapy to learn “everything all over again.”

He made progress that would eventually lead to his speech at this podium. “I began to learn how to walk, talk, use my brain all over again,” he continued.

He stayed in rehabilitation for a year and ten months, learning to walk and recovering after emerging from a coma. “It wasn’t easy,” he said, “but it wasn’t impossible either.”

Angelo talked about how, after suffering from a condition known as AVM or arterial vein malfunction, he values every day of his life.

“It was out of my control. They say it was there since I was born. I never had any symptoms,” he said. “Every day above ground is a plus.”

Speaking up

Crispin hopes to send members of FREE’s Speakers Bureau, that includes various people from this event, to speak to other audiences, spreading the word about the reality and need for respect for people with disabilities.

“We hope to go to colleges, schools, organizations and present regarding different topics,” Crispin said, “such as disability rights, disability awareness, want to bully and various other topics.”

Jonathan, a participant in FREE’s theater program, talked about how performance builds confidence.

He described participating in a drum competition in Williamsport, Penn., as a moment he still remembers. “It was the best experience of my life,” Friedlander said with a smile.

The event, at least briefly, led to treatment of the participants as celebrities amid a wave of congratulations. “Autographs will be given outside the room,” Angelo said before pizza was served.

“Can I have your autograph,” someone in the audience shouted. “Great job, Angelo!”

Ian, however, may have given the most inspirational speech, leaving audience members with a call to action, whether or not they have a disability.

“When faced with adversity, don’t be discouraged. Be more determined to keep going. You have purpose,” Ian said. “It doesn’t matter what other people think. What matters is what you think of yourself. If you have a dream, go for it. If you love something, do it. Don’t put limits on yourself.”

Claude Solnik is an award-winning journalist based in Plainview.

FREE’s drum and bugle corps brought down the house at “Our Stories: Disability and TBI Awareness Month Celebration” in late March. (Courtesy of FREE)

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Mermaid Suncatchers at Mineola Library

Paint an under-the-sea mermaid suncatcher and make it sparkle in the sun! Come dressed for a mess. Presented by Miss Vivian the Librarian. 4:30 p.m. at the Mineola Memorial Public Library, for students in first grade and up. Register online, at the Children’s Room, or by calling (516) 746-8488 ext. 1.

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

Classics & Conversation with Adam Simms

Join Adam Simms for a showing of The Last Hurrah (1958) followed by discussion. (Includes captions). Free. 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Mineola Memorial Public Library. For information contact the reference department at (516) 746-8488.

New Edition: Legacy Tour

Featuring Keith Sweat and Guy, along with special guest Tank. 7:30 p.m. at UBS Arena. Tickets from $72.00 plus $22.60 in fees via Ticketmaster.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Game Day for Adults! at Hillside Public Library

Spend Friday mornings with friends for fun and games! Join a group, or bring some

friends for a rousing game of Rummy Cube, Scrabble, Chinese Checkers, MasterMind, or Bring Your Own! Coloring books and sheets also available. No registration necessary. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. weekly.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

National Drug Take Back Day

The Garden City Police Department will participate in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Garden City Police Department Headquarters will maintain a collection center at 349 Stewart Avenue.

Night at the Races Fundraiser

The Holy Family Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a Night At The Races fundraiser at 6:00 p.m. in the Holy Family School cafeteria located at 17 Fordham Ave, Hicksville. $20 admission includes beer, wine, soda, water, heroes, dessert, coffee and tea. For more information contact John at (516) 735-3066 or santak38@optonline.net

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

12th Annual All Kids Fair

This year’s All Kids Fair will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Samanea New York Mall in Westbury. Over 80 vendors, including camps, places to play, after-school activities, birthday party providers, travel, non-profits, college planning, and many kid-centered products.

Food, Fun & Fellowship

Come join the First Presbyterian Church of New Hyde Park for a full turkey dinner and rousing games of bingo to follow (with prizes). $25 for adults, $15 for children under 12. 4:30 p.m. at 16 South 9th Street, New Hyde Park. Reservations required: call (516) 354-5013 or (516) 354-5385.

Good Shepherd Hospice’s 3rd Annual Brunch

Please join us from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at our 3rd annual brunch benefitting the two in-patient centers and in-home hospice care services of Good Shepherd Hospice, a not for profit entity of Catholic Health. Tickets, memorial recognition levels and sponsorship opportunities are available for purchase online at: chsli.org/good-shepherd-hospice/ brunch. For more info, contact (631) 8287691 or GSHospice.Events@chsli.org.

Handmade Greeting Card Workshop

A Senior Event presented by the Village of New Hyde Park from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Advanced registration is required by emailing seniorprograms@vnhp. org or calling the Village Hall at (516) 354-0022.

Helen’s 5K Run/Walk Register for the Helen Keller Services Health and Wellness Program fundraising walk, or participate virtually, via tinyurl. com/58ru2tan. All in-person participants on April 23rd will receive a

Helen’s 5K Run/ Walk T-shirt. Starts at 9:30 a.m. at Sands Point Preserve.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

42nd Annual Dinner of the Franklin Square Historical Society

Honoring Gina & Vincent Centauro of Rescuing Families and former NYS Senator Kemp Hannon. Tickets are $65 a person and must purchased prior to the event. Contact Bill Youngfert at 516-775-7260 or BYoungfert@aol.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Big Band Night at Wheatley School

Attention seniors of East Williston: the Wheatley School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society invites you to this year’s dinner dance, featuring dinner from local businesses and an open dance floor with live music by our Wheatley Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band. To attend, call (516) 333-7316, ext. 5220, to leave a message for Dr. Peggy Ho with your name and phone number.

RAISE YOUR GAME WITH THE ISLES

•12 weeks of games, including playoffs plus evalution day

•Games will be scheduled Thursday and Friday late afternoon-evening as well as Saturdays and Sundays

•Islanders Street League jersey

•End-of-season award for all participants

•Tickets offers for Islanders home games

•Special appearances by Islanders alumni and Sparky

•$250 per participant

Nassau County Youth Wellness Summit A Success

Going strong after three years, program looks to expand

Adolescent mental health has become a greater concern over the last 25 years, and this trend has only accelerated since the pandemic. The teens themselves are breaking the stigma and demanding better resources. The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, or SPTS, a national organization based in New Jersey, recognized this need in Nassau County and created the Nassau County Youth Wellness Summit. The summit is organized by Susan Brief, a school social worker and private practice therapist, who has been involved with SPTS since her own teen years.

“When I was about 15, I was going through a hard time as a teenager. My parents knew someone that was on the board of SPTS, and I ended up doing a little fundraiser for them. The more I got to know about them, the more purpose it put to what I was struggling with. And since then I’ve just been getting more and more involved in all the different programming that they do. Now I am their event coordinator,” Brief said.

The single-day summit, begun in 2019 and now in its third year after a one year break during COVID, focuses on mental health and suicide prevention, something sorely needed for today’s teens. According to SPTS, Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 24. And the CDC reports that 36.7 percent of high school students reported feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. This percentage is higher for females, Hispanic students, and lesbian, gay or bisexual students.

The summit hosted staff and students from 33 different high schools across Nassau County and two Suffolk county high schools. All of the attendees were introduced to coping strategies, overall wellness practices and leadership skills to help them take care of themselves and their friends. These skills will equip them to be mental health leaders in their communities and best support their own mental wellness. The hope is to open dialogues about mental health and break down stigma so that they can continue to talk about these issues in their home schools.

Brief stated that invitations are sent to

the participating schools, but it is the staff and teachers who choose the participants. “We advise them to send students that they feel will be empowered to take what they’ve learned from the day and bring it back to their community. So whatever that looks like, whether it’s a student that’s struggling themselves, or whether it’s a student that’s kind of a leader among their peer group. So we kind of have a mix of student profiles throughout the day.”

The day began with an open discussion panel with people directly affected by teen suicide. “We have three young adults who spoke to their lived experiences losing a loved one to suicide or experiencing suicidal ideation and behaviors... That was a really good outlet for the teenagers to be able to ask questions like whatever was on their mind. And that’s something that we got feedback was really powerful for them.”

The selected students are all sophomores and juniors, and there are workshops geared towards those groups specifically. Sophomores participated in a workshop called “Knowing Your Worth”, which was about self esteem and empowerment. This encourages them towards self-exploration, expressing themselves confidently and using kind words towards one another. This class touches on social media that as well.

The juniors participated in a workshop called “Through My Eyes” which

addressed the stigma of mental health, what assumptions people may hold, how to break through barriers and how to form better connections. This workshop also talked about bullying and cyber-bullying, a huge issue for teens in the age of social media.

Adolescence has always been a time of transition, both mentally and physically, but today’s teens have gone through a massive disruption in the past few years. The pandemic created gaps in the normal progression of self-discovery and development. “With a pandemic would happen for a lot of young teens is they missed that part of social connection and interaction as a big part of trying on different skins and figuring out who I am and what feels right. And they kind of jumped into a later stage and adolescence where they feel like they don’t know who they are yet. They’re not ready for the next stage in life when they’re very close to graduating and moving on. And those who were already you know, in mid- adolescence have been pushed into early adulthood not feeling prepared.” Brief said.

Brief noted changes, not only in suicides, but also in issues of body image and self-harm. “With that we see a big rise in eating disorders have been an incredible rise since the pandemic. substance use and... self-harm rates are up. So just all in all, the mental and emotional wellbeing of our teens is suffering, and it calls for

more attention and more support. Not just for the teenagers but for the staff who are around the teens. Being aware that how they’re feeling emotionally is going to impact how they show up at school and their performance. And also (support) for the parents who might not be sure what the warning signs are at home or how to start a conversation if they’re noticing that their teenagers are acting differently.”

In the future, SPTS plans to bring another of their programs, the Youth Council, to Long Island. “The youth council is for any teenager from ninth through 12th grade in Nassau County who’s interested in remaining involved in mental health. We will have monthly meetings and the meeting location will travel across Nassau County. They’ll be learning more about something called the wellness wheel and it covers eight different components of wellness. They’ll learn more about the warning signs of depression and suicide and how to recognize that in their peers, different engagement skills, more about the local resources so they really can be someone to create change in their school environment and be someone who knows how to support others in their school who may be struggling.”

For more information about the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, their programs, and how to get involved, visit sptsusa.org.

Participants at the Nassau Youth Wellness Summit. (Photo by the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide)

Hiking Up Harriman And A Relaxing Salt Cave Experience

JENNIFER CORR

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

Harriman State Park

I have been itching to get out there and hike up a mountain since the weather started getting just a little bit warmer.

And on April 2, I just did that. The great part about living on Long Island is that you have so many great attractions that can take you away from your everyday life that can be seen with just a day trip. So on that Sunday, my boyfriend and I, joined by his sister, got up early and headed out to Rockland County, NY to visit Harriman State Park, which was less than two hours away. I’ve personally never been there before.

Once we got there, we realized we would have to park on the side of the road, but there was plenty of distance between the left of the car and traffic. I had downloaded

the Long Path, Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail trail map on the app AllTrails, which made the whole experience so much easier. It keeps you on track and acts like a GPS, even if there’s very little internet.

Throughout the moderate hike, we faced some steep incline, had to climb up or down some boulders, crossed streams by hopping on

rocks and we saw some beautiful sites. It was also interesting to see all the cell phone towers that were there, as well as the underground fiber optic cables. We had been out there for about six hours, gained 1,171 feet in elevation and walked about nine miles.

We celebrated the day by going to Golden Corral in The Bronx, NY. I would only recommend this

on a week day afternoon, as it was extremely busy.

Jeff Salt Cave

On March 30, I was coming off of a mild cold, but was feeling a lot of tension in my eyes, so I looked into some solutions online on how to relieve this tension, and a salt cave was recommended.

The closest one to me was in

Port Jefferson, so I decided to book it for $45, which gave me a 40-minute session.

I went there having no idea what to expect. But once you’re there, the staff takes you through the process. I took off my shoes and my jacket and walked in. The ground is covered in Himalayan salt. Once I sat down in the gravity chair provided, I realized there was pink salt all around me. There was one other woman in the room with me on the other side of the room, and I was given a blanket to keep me warm.

After the both of us picked a meditation to listen to, which played on a loud speaker, a staff member brought us some crystals to hold.

Overall it was a nice way to pass the time, and the meditation was very relaxing. The other woman even fell asleep.

It’s certainly something I would do again! And I’d say it even helped relieve some of that tension and I felt pretty good afterwards.

Port

The view of the mountains from Harriman State Park.

(Photos by Jennifer Corr)

Reading inside the salt cave.

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Ever since my husband retired, we have found ourselves seeking new adventures on the daily. Whether we take a drive to the East End or explore a new hiking trail, these excursions have brought new life to the doldrums that can easily make one feel as though they are in a “rut”.

During our treks through nature, we’ve been blessed to find interesting articles of yesteryear. Several years ago, I found an old bottle of “Minck” that was buried beneath the leaves. The journalist in me loves a good investigation, and so I proceeded to research my subject.

As it turned out, Minck Brothers was a mineral water manufacturer who bottled beverages that were considered better than what was on the market from the 1870s through the 1950s. They were located on Beaver Street in good old Brooklyn, NY. The bottle, sadly, was cracked on the top and would have injured whoever carried it back to the car. We buried it to prevent forest wildlife from injury.

We have collected beach glass, also known as “Mermaid Tears” or “sea glass” for decades. Over the years, our finds became jewelry created by our daughter, a hobby that was short lived thanks, in part, to the cost of creating. She continues to search with her fiancé along the shore and places her finds into the window above her kitchen sink where they glint and gleam in the sunlight.

Hubby and I continued to search for glass and challenged each other to find the most unique specimen to bring home and clean up before it was placed in a vase in the window. Sometimes we found beautiful cobalt and other times we found the frosted remnants of old Coca-Cola bottles that were smoothed by years of natural tumbling along the ocean floor. We collected enough glass to fill two small vases for our daughter, two

Fun Finds Along The Shore

of a green bottle with the word “Duraglas” etched into the bottom. Duraglas was a style of glass that was manufactured in the 1940s and 1950s and was touted as being stronger than the average glass bottle.

SEE YOU AROUND THE TOWN

medium vases for ourselves, and even more glass that is currently scattered upon my dining room table. We have discovered red, orange, cobalt, teal, cerulean, bright lime and even frosted white pieces that can be found along the shore. We’re always grateful for a good find and we’re amazed by the amount that continues to wash up along the shores of Long Island. Recently, Hubby and I opted to hike along the northern shores of Western Suffolk County, where we saw a gray seal as he sunned himself upon a large rock formation in the surf. We strolled along the shoreline as we enjoyed the sound of surf, sea birds and the occasional sound of a buoy clanging in the changing tide. As the tide was quite low, we decided to walk out further to search for seashells and other treasures that may have been stuck in the mud.

Lo and behold, Hubby found a broken piece of milk glass. Our reading glasses weren’t strong enough to read the print in the bright sunlight, so we brought it back to the car for further inspection. As luck would have it, Hubby had stumbled upon a large chunk of a milk glass container from MacLaren’s Imperial Cheese, which was manufactured between 1893 and 1920. Hubby pulled a few more pieces from his pockets and proudly showed me the base

Hubby also found a piece of “Trademark Lightning” glass made by the Putnam Glass company, which had been made to hold jarred fruits. Manufacturing of the Trademark Lightning glassware began in 1882; most jars were created in the early 1900s as well. The color of the glass almost appeared to be iridescent as it shone in the light.

Finally, I showed him my find. It was a piece of pottery with the word “warranted” on the back, along with a unicorn on his hind legs and a small black star beneath him. I did a little research and consulted an expert, who advised me that the pottery was a piece of ironstone that was made by the William Brunt Pottery Company, which dated circa 1880s or 1890s. It was made in East Liverpool, Ohio. It was a “Royal Warranted” item, which meant that it was created for use by the royal family. Most of the experts on ironstone advised me that the piece was either from a shipwreck or “dumping along the shore”. Either way, they told me that it was a lucky find and it would be nice to go back and look for an intact piece of ironstone. Sadly, the tide rose, and we were unable to complete our search. For those who are unfamiliar with ironstone, it is a glaze-covered piece of

earthenware. Most ironstone was manufactured in England, France and the United States.

A friend of mine advised me that there is a television show on BBC known as “Mudlarkers”. Mud larking is a pastime in England, where folks of all ages head out to the mud flats and shorelines at low tide to search for “buried treasure”. It has recently seen popularity in the US, and some mud larkers have found items that are worth anywhere from several hundred to several thousands of dollars. My friend called me her “little mud larker” and hoped I would find something of value in my escapades. I was only too happy with my little broken piece of pottery. Hubby still wants to collect “Mermaid Tears”, and that is just fine with me. I’m not out there to possess the greatest collection, nor do I want a trip to the shore to be just about looking for something, because the joy of being in the moment would truly be lost. We continue to search for sea glass because Hubby plans to create something special with the finds. There is something so special about searching through the sand to find that perfect piece of frosted treasure that feels smooth and cool against the skin and winks in the bright sunshine. While we have even trekked into the water to obtain larger pieces, the thrill is truly in the hunt. I’m not sure what we will find next, but I’ll be sure to share it here. For those of you who also feel the thrill when finding something rare, unique and beautiful, I wish you all the joy of the search!

Patty Servidio

Checking the Robert Moses Park shore (Photos by Alex Nuñez)

OPED

Nassau Hub Casino Is Not A Good Bet

BY PETER CAVALLARO

I have read with interest various recently published opinion pieces related to the potential casino siting in Nassau, one by Hofstra President Susan Poser and the other by RXR Chairman Scott Rechler. As mayor of the Village of Westbury, and someone caught in the middle of Nassau County’s last potential foray into casino gambling, I do not relish that the county will again potentially be the site of one of the state’s several newly authorized, full-blown gambling parlors in the downstate area.

From that last tussle I, and those who fought hard to prevent the siting of a casino at the former Fortunoff site in Westbury, did a great deal of research and learned much about the long-term impacts on local areas from casino siting. Much that we learned was decidedly negative. I certainly agree with Ms. Poser that a casino in the midst of two colleges and tens of thousands of college-age young adults is a uniquely bad idea. I am left with the sense that after literally decades of talk, and stops and starts, no one has

yet offered the clear vision or had the political will or clout, or whatever else it takes, to actually bring to fruition a truly beneficial, appropriate and accretive project to transform the Hub area.

The Hub project that Mr. Rechler and his group have been working on for the past several years offered, I thought, the potential starting point for a very good transformation of that area, and I and my staff had met with and had many discussions with the RXR team, as well as county officials regarding the Hub

development. We provided input on the development’s impacts on surrounding communities, as well as transportation.

But it now seems that Mr. Rechler’s business instincts tell him that he has the chance to take big development risk off the table for himself and his investors. This late shift seems like a bait and switch (intended or otherwise) that now requires a step back and the consideration of all sorts of additional matters, impacts and mitigations to be considered.

Sadly, the casino proposal represents low-hanging fruit for policy makers seeking to grab more revenue, and developers looking to de-risk a very largescale project in a drastically changed real estate environment. I do not blame them for that since their mission is to make money for their ventures above all else.

But, it is up to our government officials to regulate that profit-only desire to make sure that the development meets the needs of the county and surrounding communities. The lack of political will, vision and leadership over decades regarding the Hub is

astounding. It has the same echoes of another long-term Nassau issue—the assessment debacle that also has been a decades-long political football—where fear of partisan electoral losses prevails over creative problem solving. In the end, very few people really believe that a casino proposal at the Hub offers the best long-term vision for the future of Nassau. And the assertions that have been made by various proponents— that this “opportunity” is in any way equivalent to the in-fact

tremendous Amazon opportunity frittered away in Queens several years ago is simply public relations speak that is frankly absurd and offensive. In the end, casino gambling is not going away. But that is not the issue for our policy makers. Nassau residents and taxpayers deserve a project at the Hub that is thoughtful and in their best interests. This casino proposal is lazy and self-serving. Not a good combination.

THE SHIN COLLECTION AND

It is astounding to think that a private collection of masterworks as wide-ranging and important as these could be assembled by a 32-year-old connoisseur, but Hong Gyu Shin is an internationally recognized figure in the global art world. He shares more than a hundred of his treasures with us by such greats as Whistler, Lautrec, Boucher, Daumier, Delacroix, Derain, Balthus, de Kooning and many other top-tier names from art history. Shin is a synthesizer. His credo: “Avant-garde visual culture, irrespective of traditions, is timeless.”

See it now

To purchase exhibition tickets, visit the museum or scan code

More as a Member Experience

To purchase a museum membership. visit the museum or scan code

Open Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-4:45 pm

Cavallaro is the mayor of the Village of Westbury.

Photo credit Google

Westbury Mayor Peter I. Cavallaro.

(Photo by the Village of Westbury)

Better Assignments For Subway Station Booth Attendants

NYC Transit President Richard Davey previously announced his agreement with the Transit Workers Union Local 100 to preserve 2,000 station agents primarily assigned to subway station booths makes no sense. Worse, is his commitment to hire several hundred more. Now they have become “Station Ambassadors” to help riders navigate the system. As NYCT completes conversion to One Metro New York (OMNY) cards, staffing of station booths becomes obsolete. Converting former subway booth attendants to station ambassadors represents featherbedding. We have entered the digital age of OMNY fare-payment system which lets riders go through turnstiles by tapping credit cards, debit cards or smart phones.

Giving former station agents cell phones to use when observing criminal activity to notify transit police will not be meaningful. Those committing criminal acts are not going to wait around for transit police to arrive. Having former station agents periodically walk the platform several times an hour and be available to answer questions or provide directions does little to enhance service. More riders use apps to obtain this information.

The public’s priority is safety and security, open bathrooms and curtailing $500 million yearly fare evasion. Real management would not hire more station agents to perform these new functions outside obsolete token booths. Why not assign station agents on payroll to stand by turnstiles and emergency exit gates and attempt to curtail fare evasion? This would save $1 million a month currently spent in hiring 200 private security guards assigned to deter fare evaders. Let the existing station agents keep their jobs. With attrition as they retire in coming years, reduce the headcount. Start eliminating Station Ambassadors one station at a time based upon those with the least ridership. Keep Station Ambassadors at high volume stations with significant numbers of out of town commuters or tourists. This might include Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station 7th and 8th Avenue, Port Authority Bus Terminal 42nd Street, Times Square, World Trade Center Fulton Street, Flushing Main Street, Jamaica Center Parsons/Archer, Sutphin Blvd. Archer Avenue JFK Airport, Atlantic Avenue Barclay Center, Coney Island Stillwell Avenue, Yankee Stadium and Mets Willets Point (game days) and a handful of other subway stations with high ridership volumes. Cross train existing subway station and end of line terminal subway

station car cleaners to perform many of the same functions as a Station Ambassador. This might include reporting crime, sick passengers or delay in service. Do the same for the new 800 station and subway car cleaners to be hired over coming months as announced by Davey. Issue them cell phones as appropriate. Re-allocate funding saved by reducing the numbers of Station Ambassadors over coming years at they retire to pay for more transit police. They can be assigned to support safety, security and curtail fare beating station by station. This would go further to enhance ridership comfort on the subway system and for those concerned about criminal activity.

Funds can also be reallocated to open many of the still closed subway station bathrooms. NYC is a 24/7 town just like our NYC Transit subway system. Bathrooms need to be opened 24/7, not just 7 AM to 7 PM. There are significant numbers of transit riders with full bladders after 7 PM who desire a bathroom to relieve themselves. All of this needs to be dealt with if the MTA wants to see a return to the pre-COVID 19 five million plus ridership.

It is time to return to the days when a transit police officer was assigned to ride each train and patrol subway stations. Along with installation of security cameras on trains and stations, this might help to reduce vandalism and crime. The longterm NYC Transit management goal over time should be to convert all NYC Transit station agent positions serving as “Station Ambassadors” to finance increasing police protection and opening bathrooms 24/7 in our subway system.

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate,

LIW IW

John Pizzarelli’s Fave Stage & Screen Scores

Somewhere around June 2020, the music union in New York, the Local 802, was sponsoring hour-long lunchtime concerts for all of the first responders and hospital workers,” he recalled. I wasn’t even on Facebook. I hadn’t been on for a bunch of years and they said I had to go to my official page, click on a button and everyone would know and it would happen. I got all my passwords back and did this hour-long thing. That was something and then I decided to try and do that [on a regular basis]. Thursdays are good because it gives us Fridays off—not like I had anything to do on Friday anyway. We decided Thursday nights would be fun and my wife suggested we call [the show]

‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere’ and it just blossomed into something that was another thing that saved our lives during the pandemic—the response of the people. Eventually it went to all requests.”

Given the theme of the Garden State native’s latest outing, it only seemed fair to have him list a few of his favorite scores from the silver screen and stage.

Casablanca (1942)

“I’ve always loved it because it’s a perfect movie. But also because the music is so well-done. There’s also something unusual. The band will play ‘Avalon’ at one place and all of a sudden we see Ingrid Bergman and all of a sudden the song is ‘The Very Thought of You.’ There is a way that they use the underscoring to signal what is going on. That’s a really cool part of the movie and I think the movie is special for many reasons.”

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO editorial@antonmediagroup.com

Along with being a world-renowned jazz guitarist, John Pizzarelli is an artist quick to pay tribute to his influences via his recorded work. Among the inspirational nods he’s given are to the Chairman of the Board (2006’s Dear Mr. Sinatra, 2017’s Sinatra & Jobim @ 50), the Fab Four (1998’s Meet the Beatles, 2015’s Midnight McCartney), Duke Ellington (2010’s Rockin’ in Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington) and most notably, Nat King Cole (1994’s Dear Mr. Cole, 2019’s For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole). For his new effort, Stage & Screen, Pizzarelli turned to a collection of classic songs from Broadway and Hollywood. The idea to go down this path came out of a weekly live stream the guitarist had been doing shortly after the pandemic lockdown started.

Joined by bassist Mike Karn and pianist Isaiah J. Thompson, Pizzarelli leads his new trio through a gamut of ear worms ranging from “I Want to Be Happy” and “Tea For Two” from the 1925 musical No, No Nanette to “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas, a stage musical adapted from the 1992 film of the same name. It all wound up being a breezy three-day session cut back in November 2021 that had Pizzarelli pleased with the end result. “When we started to go back to work, we were just picking things out of the air,” he explained. ‘I Want to Be Happy’ was just a tune that we decided to play. I’ve always liked that tune—it’s a great little jazz song. And then I heard Blossom Dearie sing ‘Tea for Two’ and she sang it as a ballad. I decided to do it that way and the more we did it, the more comfortable we got with it. And then we had a number of tunes that came out of the Thursday night set. The idea was that I had all these songs and when I looked at them, some of them were from movies and some I had in my back pocket like ‘Coffee in a Cardboard Cup.’ Stage and Screen just seemed like a nice idea for lack of a better title. We put everything together and thought it would work, so that’s what happened.”

WHERE LONG ISLAND WINS!

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) “This is a great movie. Hugo Friedhofer did the score. I actually own the record of the movie. It’s well-done from a cinematic point of view because of what it is about— veterans returning from World War II. I have a soft spot in my heart for Teresa Wright, who is also Mrs. Lou Gehrig in another movie.”

The Bridges of Madison County [musical] (2014)

“One of the greatest things I heard was Steven Pasquale and Kelli O’Hara sing the score of The Bridges of Madison County, the Jason Robert Brown show. It absolutely stunned me. That’s why I did one of Jason’s tunes. I love his work and wanted something that was current.”

The John Pizzarelli Trio will be appearing from April 25-29 at Birdland, 315 W. 44th St., NYC. Visit www.birdlandjazz.com or call 212581-3080 for more information. Visit www.longislandweekly.com to read a full feature on John Pizzarelli.

Casino Hotel

What Is ChatGPT? The capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence language bots

BY CHATGPT specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, which stands for Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3.5. It is one of the most advanced language models available, capable of generating human-like responses to natural language queries.

The primary purpose of ChatGPT is to provide an automated conversational agent that can understand and respond to human language in a natural and intuitive manner. This makes it an ideal tool for a wide range of applications, including customer service, language translation, and chatbot development.

One of the key strengths of ChatGPT is its ability to generate responses that are not only accurate but also contextually relevant. This is achieved through the use of deep learning algorithms that analyze large amounts of text data to identify patterns and relationships between words and phrases. This enables ChatGPT to understand the meaning behind the words and respond in

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a way that is both meaningful and relevant to the context of the conversation.

Another important capability of ChatGPT is its ability to generate text that is indistinguishable from human-written content. This is achieved through the use of a large neural network that has been trained on a vast amount of text data from various sources, including books, websites, and social media. This enables ChatGPT to generate responses that are grammatically correct and free of errors, and that closely mimic the style and tone of human-written content.

However, despite its many capabilities, ChatGPT also has some limitations. One of the biggest challenges is its lack of real-world experience and knowledge. While it is capable of generating responses based on patterns and relationships in language, it does not have the same level of understanding of the world as humans do. This can sometimes result in responses that are factually incorrect or do not fully address the user’s query.

Another limitation of ChatGPT is its susceptibility to bias. Like all machine learning algorithms, ChatGPT is only as unbiased as see CHAT GPT on page 4B

CHAT GPT from page 3B

the data it has been trained on. If the training data is biased or contains stereotypes, then the responses generated by ChatGPT may also be biased or contain stereotypes. This can be a significant issue, especially in applications such as hiring or healthcare, where bias can have serious consequences.

Despite these limitations, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with machines. As machine learning algorithms continue to advance, we can expect to see even more sophisticated language models that are capable of understanding and responding to human language in increasingly sophisticated ways. With proper training and development, these models could potentially be used to create automated conversational agents that are almost indistinguishable from human interaction, opening up new possibilities for human-machine collaboration and communication.

Editor’s note: The above article, in its entirety, minus the headline and byline, was generated by ChatGPT with the prompt, “write a 600 word explanation about ChatGPT and include the capabilities and limitations.” It was generated in 20 seconds. The above response was not corrected for grammar, spelling or context in order to give the reader an understanding of what the ChatGPT bot and other similar artificial intelligence language machines are capable of. Visit www.longislandweekly.com/ chatgpt-april2023 to read more from local education officials and research librarians.

—Christy Hinko

Campus Visit Checklist

Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college — and life at that college — is like. This can help you decide whether the college is right for you.

When planning your campus visits, make sure to allow time to explore each college. While you’re there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admission staff, professors and students. Below are some other things you can do while visiting. Note that some activities, such as meeting with an admission officer or staying overnight in a dorm, might need to be set up in advance.

Gather Information

Find out what you need to do to apply and see if the college’s class and major offerings are what you want:

• Take part in a group information session at the admission office.

• Interview with an admission officer.

• Pick up financial aid forms.

• Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren’t in session, just see what the classrooms

are like.

• Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you.

• Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors.

• Get the names of the people you meet and their business cards so you can contact them later if you have questions.

Explore the Campus

Get a feel for student life and

see if this college is a place where you will do well:

• Take a campus tour.

• Talk to current students about life on campus and the college.

• Check out the freshmen dorms and stay overnight with a student, if possible.

• Visit the dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities.

• Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play.

• Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.

Check Out Campus Media

Tune in to learn what’s happening on campus and what’s on students’ minds:

• Listen to the college radio station.

• Read the student newspaper.

• Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews.

• Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like.

• Go to the career center and learn what services it offers.

• Browse the school’s website and any campus blogs.

Questions to Ask During Your Visit

Here are some questions you may want to ask your tour guide or students you meet on campus:

• What are the best reasons to go to this college?

• What’s it like to go from high school to college?

• What do you do in your free time? On the weekends?

• What do you love about this college?

• What do you wish you could change about this college?

• Why did you choose this college?

• What is it like to live here?

—College Board

Academy Students Prep For Regeneron Talent Search

BY DR. STEPHEN J. SULLIVAN specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

It’s 7:05 a.m. I’ve been at school for a half hour, so I slip out of Sacred Heart Academy’s (SHA) Science Research Lab for just a moment to brew myself a cup of tea. Upon my return, a half-dozen young women in blue blazers and plaid skirts have appeared seemingly out of nowhere. They are already excitedly chatting about…one senior’s recent research project on the topic of absorption spectroscopy and how it can be applied within atherosclerosis.

You’d think they owned the joint—because, well, they kind of do. And that’s just a typical Tuesday here at SHA. I love how comfortable the girls feel in a room assigned to the department chair and the research director.

According to a recent survey conducted by Junior Achievement and the research group Engine (www.ja.org), only nine percent of girls between the ages of 13 and 17 are interested in careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). But here at SHA, an all-girls, college-preparatory high school founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, just shy of 100 students practically

“live” in the Science Research Lab throughout the school year. As director of research, I mentor students as they tend to crayfish, weigh earthworms, test the starch content of pea plants or explore colleges with outstanding STEM programs. I encourage our students to challenge themselves academically, to ask tough questions and to dare to dream big. We define STEM broadly; each SciRes girl will work across the life, physical and natural sciences during her four years under our care. STEM

involves thinking critically, logically, and analytically. It also requires approaching problems persistently and creatively. SHA students are doing just that by participating in local, regional, national and international science competitions each year. Supported by gifted colleagues, I seek innovative and unconventional ways to expose these young women to the possibilities in STEM, both in college and beyond. Sure, it’s hard work for the girls. All three of my own children (Christine, Michael and Arthur) were Intel

(now Regeneron) Science Talent kids (2006, 2009, 2012), so I understand exactly what I’m asking of the girls—and their parents. The Regeneron Talent Search (Regeneron STS) is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors, providing an important forum for original research that is recognized and reviewed by a national jury of professional scientists. Each year, approximately 2,000 student entrants submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study

Classes Start

Students from Sacred Heart Academy

and are judged by leading experts in their fields. Unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and around the world, the Regeneron Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

But students hardly enter their senior year of high school and suddenly decide to submit a six-week research project at a nationally competitive level. Here at Sacred Heart Academy, research is a four-year program, beginning with Introduction to Research 9 and including the AP Capstone Program. The SHA Research Program offers a unique opportunity for students to experience the rigor and rewards of authentic research while still in high school. This sequence of courses is directed to those students who have a keen interest in the physical, natural, and social sciences and would like to pursue excellence in areas of hands-on, original research. Students begin the program in ninth grade with the Intro to Research 9 course. Ultimately, students who continue with Research for four years will not only earn a SHA Diploma but will also have the opportunity to earn a AP Capstone Diploma, issued by the College Board and valued highly by colleges and universities around the nation and the world. Many students in the program showcase their research in publications and participate in internships with some of the nation’s top research facilities and universities.

And all of that hard work pays off. In

the last four years alone, I have mentored students who submitted 49 Regeneron proposals. Additionally, 13 girls have had research articles published in peer-reviewed journals since 2020. And since 2019, 51 girls have been invited to present original research at the prestigious (adult) Association for Psychological Association Convention; less than 250 precollegiate researchers have ever been invited in the conventions’ 35-year history.

Significantly, SHA students are comfortable explaining their work to their peers, faculty, science fair judges and journalists. Recently SHA’s principal, S. Jean Amore, CSJ explained, “In the middle of a terribly stressful time – an era of political polarization, global pandemics, European wars, and so on—Drs. Sullivan & Feinman make hard work and academic excellence ‘fun’ for seventy to ninety adolescent girls each year. Alumnae frequently write to share success stories from university, success that they consistently attribute to the influence of Science Research and the support they receive from their SHA family. It’s really quite lovely.” I couldn’t agree more. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your students succeed at university—not just gain admission to university—but truly excel upon matriculation because they were confident and prepared.

—Dr. Stephen J. Sullivan joined Sacred Heart Academy in 2018 as the Director of Research and faculty member. In addition, Dr. Sullivan is a respected senior lecturer at Columbia University.

Molloy College is now Molloy University.

With over 50 undergraduate degree programs, we combine academic excellence and leadership with personal mentoring. Molloy’s programs in healthcare, education, business and arts and sciences will lead you to an exciting career. Here, you’ll think about your future in a whole new way.

Fighting For Student Debt Relief At The Supreme Court

A message from Secretary Cardona on student debt relief

Recently Biden-Harris Administration mounted a powerful case for student debt relief in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The student debt relief program will provide critical support to more than 40 million borrowers most at risk of delinquency or default when the student loan payment pause ends.

Our Administration is confident in our legal authority to adopt this plan, and today made clear that opponents of the program lack standing to even bring their case to court. While opponents of this program would deny relief to tens of millions of working- and middle-class Americans, we are fighting to deliver relief to borrowers who need support as they get back on their feet after the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

While we await the Supreme Court’s decision, the pause on student loan payments remains in effect. Payments will resume 60 days after the Supreme Court announces its decision. If it has not made a decision or resolved the litigation by June 30, payments will resume 60 days after that.

In addition to this one-time debt relief program focused on counteracting the negative impacts of the pandemic, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and I will continue to put the needs of students and borrowers ahead of special interests, invest in college affordability, hold colleges accountable for runaway costs and unaffordable debts, and pursue historic changes to student loan repayment that will cut costs and reduce the crushing burden of student debt for millions of working families.

We will continue to provide you updates and will notify borrowers directly before payments restart.

Visit Student Aid for the latest information on student debt relief, the payment pause, and additional programs from the Department of Education to make college more accessible and affordable.

—A statement released by Miguel A. Cardona, Ed.D., Secretary of Education on Feb. 28, 2023.

Recently Sold HOMES

This stunning colonial home at 4 Pinewood Rd. in Old Westbury sold on April 4 for $2,300,000. It sits on 1.63 acres in the heart of Old Westbury and has more than 5,000 square-feet of living space. The home has six bedrooms and four bathrooms. The kitchen is an open concept and has a combination of VIking and Sub-Zero appliances. The first floor offers multiple entertaining areas including wood-burning fireplaces throughout the house. The den is bright and offers access to the deck. The bedrooms are generously sized and have a lot of closet space. The primary suite includes a fireplace, a walk-in closet and a bathroom suite complete with a clawfoot tub and a stand-up shower. The home has a three-car attached garage, a generator connection and a fenced-in in-ground saltwater heated pool. The home has six-zone gas heat and cooking, two-zone central air conditioning, a new roof and in-ground sprinklers.

This colonial home on two level acres at 3 Bridle Path Dr. in Old Westbury sold on March 30 for $1,570,000. It has a gated entrance and three quarters of the property is fenced in. The home has four bedrooms and six bathrooms. It has a finished basement and a free-form Gunite heated saltwater pool. There is also a poolhouse and a greenhouse on the property. The home was built in 1970. It has a huge detached three car garage and an attached two car garage. The home has central heat and air conditioning. It is a perfect home to entertain guests and is centrally located to many local amenities.

HOME & DESIGN

Pay Attention To Safety When Using Lawn Mowers

Spring is here and as we get our lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment out from storage to work in our yards, businesses and other green spaces, it’s important to keep safety in mind.

“Think safety first,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. “I can’t stress enough to review manufacturer’s safety guidance before starting up any equipment—especially your lawn mower. Review your owner’s manual and do maintenance on your equipment.” Tips for readying and using your equipment:

• Know not all lawn mowers are the same. Whether your mower is a garden tractor, zero turn mower or other, it has a unique design, requirements, weight classification, and other differences that impact how to use it safely. The newest machines have the latest safety standards.

• Know your specific machine. Many mowers may look similar but the technology is ever evolving with evolving safety systems. They vary in design, power supply, performance, operating parameters, and more. Your manufacturer-supplied owner’s manual will guide you in these differences. Read your owner’s manual.

• When using mowers on slopes follow the manufacturer’s guidance to the letter.

• Do not disable or alter manufacturer-installed safety equipment.

• Walk your yard before mowing. Slopes, wet grass and weather may impact equipment performance, as well as safe handling procedures. Pick up sticks and limbs that may have fallen to the ground and any loose objects that could be hit by a mower.

• Look over equipment before use. Check the air filter, oil level and gasoline tank. Watch for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service representative.

• Protect your power. Use only E10 or less fuel in gasoline-powered outdoor power equipment if it is not designed for higher ethanol blends.

• Keep children and pets away from machines during operation.

• Keep your mower clean. It will run more efficiently and last longer. Always remove dirt, oil or grass before using and storing. Store equipment in a dry place, avoiding damp or wet environments. Visit www.opei.org for more safety information.

—Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

Homes shown here represent closed sales, sold by a variety of agencies and are selected for their interest to readers by the Anton Media Group editor. Except where noted, data and photos are provided courtesy of Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc. and Zillow.

Alzheimer’s Foundation, Mount Sinai Host Free Memory Screening

To help Long Islanders be proactive about their brain health, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and Mount Sinai South Nassau will be hosting a free memory screening event on Tuesday, April 25 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm in the atrium of Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital (One Healthy Way, Oceanside). No advanced registration is required, and there are no minimum age or insurance prerequisites. Parking is available in the visitor’s lot.

Memory screenings are quick (approximately 10-15 minutes), noninvasive, and consist of a series of questions to gauge memory, language, thinking skills and other cognitive functions. They are similar to other routine health screenings, such as those for blood pressure, cholesterol and skin checks. Screenings are administered one on one by a qualified professional, and results are confidential. Results are not a diagnosis, but a memory screening can suggest if someone should see a physician for a full evaluation.

“Annual memory screenings should be part of everyone’s health and wellness routine, regardless of whether you’re experiencing memory problems. Just as we regularly check other facets of our health, we need a checkup from the neck up too,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “We are pleased to work with Mount Sinai South Nassau to provide this free service to the community.”

“The information from the screening helps

you and your physician take charge of your brain health and plan for and implement lifestyle changes as well as take advantage of treatments that will slow memory loss and the decline of thinking skills,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “My colleagues I and strongly encourage residents to get screened and take advantage of this free and essential screening.”

Early detection of memory impairments is extremely important. Many different conditions can cause memory issues, including treatable or curable conditions such as vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, urinary tract infections, sleep apnea, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Even in the case of a dementia-related illness such as Alzheimer’s, early detection can provide greater opportunity to begin treatments that can help slow the symptoms of the disease, as well as taking part in a clinical trial. In addition, it affords the person the chance to take advantage of community services, such as support groups and therapeutic programming, that can help maximize quality of life, as well as have a greater say in making legal, financial and health care decisions.

For more information about the free memory screening program on April 25, please contact Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Community Education Department at 516377-5333 or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at 866-232-8484.

—Submitted by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

Music And Entertainment Hall Of Fame Offers Scholarship

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHoF) will award $500 scholarships to graduating students. These scholarships will provide funding for eligible graduating high school students from Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, or Kings (Brooklyn) counties who have shown an interest in pursuing a career in music. To apply and to read the eligibility requirements, please download the scholarship application (https://www.limusichalloffame.org/scholarshipsgrants/).

Student Scholarships Applications

Deadline: Friday May 12th, 2023

All applications must be postmarked by the application due date in order to be accepted.

The LIMHOF Education Committee will base selections on the completed application and the following:

• 400 to 500-word essay on education and career goals

• High school transcript

• Letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to the applicant’s commitment to a music career

Eligibility criteria:

• Graduating high school senior from Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn (Kings) or Queens counties

• Minimum 2.5 GPA

• Accepted full-time at an accredited college or university

• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in music

• Demonstrate Financial need

• U.S. citizen or legal resident with I-55 permanent residency

More information and applications may be found at https://www.limusichalloffame.org/scholarshipsgrants/

—Submitted by the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame

The Home Of Giants: More Thrills At Yankee Stadium

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

By the 1920s, baseball and prizefighting were the two major American sports. College football was huge. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1950s and the advent of television that the pro game took hold.

Whatever the attraction, Yankee Stadium was where history was made.

Starting in the Twenties, the Stadium was host to many great fights.

They included such championship brawls as the 1939 Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight, in which Louis avenged an earlier defeat; plus those between Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano, Sugar Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan, Sandy Sadler and Willie Pep, Rocky Marciano and Ezzard Charles, and Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson.

A favorite was the June 28, 1939 bout between Louis and Tony “Two-Ton” Galento. The latter was known as “the Battlin’ Barkeep” as he tended bar in The Bronx in between ring dates. Imagine the conversation.

GALENTO: Got to take the night off, boss.

BOSS: And why?

GALENTO: Gotta take the train to the Stadium.

BOSS: What for?

GALENTO: The fights!

BOSS: Yeah?

GALENTO: Gotta step into the ring with Joe Louis. See you when it’s over!

(Louis won in a fourth-round TKO, even though Galento staggered the champ with a second-round haymaker.)

By the 1950s, the Yankee Stadium neighborhood was changing rapidly. The flight to Queens and Long Island was in full swing. Plus, fights were now televised.

On Sept. 28, 1976, at the newly-refurbished Stadium, defending heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali took on challenger Ken Norton. By now, Ali was 37. His best days were behind him. Ali won in a decision, one hotly disputed in the media and by the fans. By 1976, the crime situation in The Bronx was becoming out-of-control. A disparaging article on the fight in Sports Illustrated trashed the building as “Junkie Stadium,” while observing local thugs pawing the ladies in attendance. Prize fights would have to

take place elsewhere.

But not football games. New York, in the early and mid-1900s, was a capital for Ellis Island immigrants and their offspring. The most famous college team in America was the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Irish often played at Yankee Stadium and the “D” train and Number Four trains were packed with the “subway alumni,” those ethnic Catholics came to cheer the Irish of Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy and such Heisman Trophy winners as Angelo Bertelli, Johnny Lujack, Leon Hart, Johnny Lattner, and Paul Hourning.

A zenith was reached on Nov. 9, 1946. Both Notre Dame and the Army squad

coached by Earl Blaik were undefeated. It was more than a game. The postwar era represented an unprecedented peak of American history. Victorious in the European and Asian theaters of World War II, the game showcased the pride and greatness of this now-invincible nation. The game was the most anticipated match in college football history, ending in a thrilling, but inconclusive 0-0 tie.

With the nationally-televised Dec. 30, 1958 National Football League title game between the New York Giants and the Baltimore Colts, pro football made its debut as the new national pastime.

The game, naturally, took place at Yankee Stadium. The daylight turned from dusk to darkness as the two teams battled each other to a heart-stopping overtime barn burner, with the Colts and their quarterback great, Johnny Unitas, winning on a one-yard touchdown run by Alan Ameche.

That day, the Giants were led by quarterback Y.A. Tittle, plus Kyle Rote and matinee idol Frank Gifford in the backfield. The Giants were on a roll of their own. Two years earlier, while also playing at Yankee Stadium, the Giants defeated the Chicago Bears in the “tennis shoes’” game to capture the NFL crown. (The field was covered with ice. Head coach Jim Lee Howell instructed his charges to play in sneakers, an idea that worked swimmingly.)

At Yankee Stadium, the Giants, under

Allie Sherman, won consecutive Eastern Conference titles in 1961, 1962, and 1963, only to lose to the Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers and the George Halas Bears in the title games. By 1972, the Giants were through with the House That Ruth Built, settling eventually in the swamps of New Jersey.

The year 2008 was the final one for the 1923 Yankee Stadium. The team stayed in The Bronx, which was great news. It’s not the same. The players, then and now, are not sentimental about these matters. In the old Yankee Stadium, however, players knew they were competing on turf where legends had roamed.

Today’s Yankee Stadium is just another ballpark hosting just another team. The old Yankees were under unbearable pressure, year after year, to win pennants and World Series titles. Managers and players suffered from ulcers, drinking problems, failed marriages. In 1961, while chasing Babe Ruth’s single season home run record, Roger Maris got so nervous that his hair began falling out. That pressure is no longer there.

There’s no need to despair. A century hence, the current Yankee Stadium, glorious as it is now, will grow old. A new Yankee Stadium, one constructed on ground where the 1923 Stadium once stood, will be constructed. History wheels will churn again. Let’s just hope that no youngster says to his pop, “Daddy, who was that man, Babe Ruth?”

Alan Ameche barreled in for the championship winning score. (Courtesy of For The Shoe)

Action from the 1938 Louis-Schelming bout. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

WORD FIND

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

HOROSCOPES By

HOROSCOPES By

Holiday Mathis

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have pleted the puzzle, there will be 20 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You don’t idolize anyone, and neither do you demonize anyone. You really have a balanced view of who people are and why they do what they do, which will serve you well this week. You’ll interact with new people, nd common ground and come out with some real treasures.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). So many come to you with outstretched hands. If only you could help them all... Who knows? Maybe you will! If you do, it will be a byproduct of you following the impulses to help yourself. What do you want? If you don’t know yet, you will by the end of the week.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Accept what you want and accept what you don’t want. Acceptance is crucial to change because you cannot change that which you don’t take on. ink of your current situation as a vehicle. You can drive this wherever you want, but you have to get inside it rst. Acceptance puts you in the driver’s seat.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve been known to do amazing things even when you’re tired, not in the mood, under the weather or otherwise encumbered.

Bottom line: You’re the kind of person who comes through to the best of your ability no matter what. Quietly celebrate your strength and others will celebrate you far less quietly.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s easier to wake the sleeping than it is to wake the ones who think they are already awake. Luckily, it’s not your job to be the alarm clock. It will be enough for you to simply note the alertness of those around you, meet them where they are and then raise awareness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If you want someone to love you back, that’s a less optimal goal than wanting to see their smile. Focusing on others comes easy to you this week. e attention you give them brings you out of your own mind and into the heart of the world.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Needing to know the reason for things is only human. e moment the mind lands on a reason (any reason at all, really), cognitive dissonance resolves. Until that point, agitation drives us forward. is week, provide reasons for people and for yourself. If you don’t, you leave yourself open to speculative ction.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You keep putting yourself in new situations because they always lead to self-discovery. If there isn’t enough novelty around you, a change of location will help. Travel is an especially e ective way to jump-start your energy. If it doesn’t work for this week, at least get something on the books. Looking forward to travel can be half the fun.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). “ e more the merrier” only works up to a point. And for most of what you’re doing this week, merriment isn’t the point anyway. Small groups are better for keeping everyone accountable. When too many get involved, there’s a di usion of responsibility. You’re the leader who helps everyone see how much they count. Together you’ll move mountains.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). No one can get you to move if you don’t want to today. You are self-directed. You follow your whims and do what you tell yourself to do. Follow-through matters much more than what you actually follow through with. It could be anything. e important thing is to trust yourself and know that you are compliant with your higher wishes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). No one wants you to feel obligated to them, and they will give of themselves freely without strings attached. ey may appreciate reciprocity, but they don’t expect it. ey know it comes in many forms. Know that when people consult you and prioritize you, it’s happening for a good reason. To understand that reason is to appreciate your own inherently lovable qualities.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll watch everything closely and extract abundant joy from minutiae: a toddler playing, a bird feeding, the patterns of passing clouds. Take on a disorganized area of your home, as it could be stopping the ow of energy through your world and preventing you from receiving money. Clean, clear and organize your way into a weekend payo .

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

Welcome to your pickup year when you’ll have opportunities to swing back and pick up what you might have lost along the way. Some will nish a degree, others will take another whirl at a relationship that didn’t work out the rst time. Among the found items will be material objects such as jewelry as well as things of emotional value, such as the respect of an authority gure or the acknowledgement of a group. More highlights: complex relationships that get simple and lovely, a winning to please your inner child and a physical breakthrough.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

Favourite foods

Solution: 20 Letters

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 20 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Favourite foods

Solution: 20 Letters

Ales Apple

Banana Bars

Basil Beans

Beer

Bites

Brawn

Broccoli

Buns

Cake

Cherry Chips

Chops

Cocoa Cut Duck

Ales

Flavour

Gingerbread

Glutton

Gravy

Jams

Layers

Leg ham

Licorice

Mint

Mixed

Mousse

Pasta

Pate

Peas

Pieces

Pork

Sausages Scones

Spaghetti

Stew

Sugar

Sweet

Syrup

Taco

Tarts

Tomato

Trifle

Varieties

FROM KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 300 W. 57th STREET, 41st FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 236

Creators Syndicate

Solution: Not much that I don’t like Date: 4/19/23 Creators Syndicate 737 3rd Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 info@creators.com

Solution: Not much that I don’t like

Date: 4/19/23

CONTRACT BRIDGE — BY STEVE BECKER FOR RELEASE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023

CONTRACT BRIDGE

737 3rd Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 info@creators.com

By Steve Becker

The fickle finger of fate

of 1,460 points. He won the diamond lead with the ace, finessed the jack of spades at trick two, led another spade and collected the rest of the tricks without even breathing hard.

At the second table, with France North-South this time, the same contract was reached, and again the opening lead was a diamond. But at this table the French declarer played the hand more scientifically and went down as a result.

king of

It is possible to play a hand correctly and get a bad result, and to play the same hand incorrectly and get a good result. Consider the accompanying deal from a European championship match between Norway and France.

At the first table, with a Norwegian pair North-South, six spades was reached on the bidding sequence shown. West led the king of diamonds, and declarer breezed through the play to bring in the slam with an overtrick for a score

After taking the diamond with the ace, he was unwilling to settle for a mere 50% chance of making the contract by relying exclusively on a trump finesse. Instead, he decided to play the A-K-Q of hearts in the hope that the opposing hearts were divided 3-3 (a 36% chance), in which case he could discard his diamond loser on the third round of hearts.

He also had the added chance that even if the hearts broke 4-2, he could still fall back on the trump finesse. All factors considered, this gave him about a 2-to-1 chance to make the slam.

Unfortunately, West ruffed the second heart lead and cashed the queen of diamonds, and South went down one.

Sometimes, a little superior knowledge can be a dangerous thing!

Weekly Sudoku Puzzle

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

Answer to last issue’s Crossword Puzzle

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EAST WILLISTON STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR STATE HISTORY DAY CONTEST

Seventh graders from Willets Road School in East Williston are making history as their triumph in the Long Island History Day competition earns them a coveted spot in the state contest.

The students chose a historical topic and conducted research, using libraries, archives and museums, oral history interviews, and visits to historic sites. Once they draw a conclusion about their topic, they are tasked with presenting their work in one of five ways: a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary or a website. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places and Ideas.”

The New York State History Day Contest will take place on April 24 at SUNY Oneonta.

— Submitted by the East Williston School District

Floral Park-Bellerose School District has announced its KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION SCHEDULE for the 2023-24 school year

THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

John Lewis Childs School: 8:15 AM – 2:45 PM

Floral Park Bellerose School: 8:45 AM – 3:15 PM

Children who live in the District and who will be ve (5) years old on or before December 1, 2023 are eligible to attend. To register for kindergarten for the upcoming 2023-24 school year, please complete the New Student Registration Form located on our District Website (www.fpbsd.org).

New Student Registration is only for children who do NOT currently attend Pre-Kindergarten at FPBS or JLCS and who plan to attend Kindergarten in September 2023.

Once online registration is complete, you will be contacted by someone from the main o ce to make an appointment to come in with the required documents to nalize the registration process.

For further questions, please call John Lewis Childs School at (516) 434-2780 or Floral Park-Bellerose School at (516) 434-2750.

FLORAL PARK MEMORIAL STUDENT SELECTED FOR TECHGIRLS PROGRAM

Floral Park Memorial High School 10th-grader Sofia Beato earned a spot in the 2023 TechGirls Program. TechGirls, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, aims to connect and support the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing them access and opportunities to advance their skills.

Beato is among 15 American young women and 111 peers from 35 countries and/or territories competitively selected for this 25-day U.S.-based experience. The chosen TechGirls participate in an interactive technology camp at Virginia Tech University. They then join in community immersion and job shadow experiences in one of the following cities: Austin, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit or Seattle. Following, they visit NASA and Capitol Hill and attend capstone events.

Floral Park Memorial High School 10th-grader Sofia Beato earned a spot in the 2023 TechGirls Program.

The program is scheduled to begin with an orientation in Washington, D.C. in July.

— Submitted by the Sewanhaka Central High School District

Six East Williston students qualified for the upcoming New York State History Day Contest. L-R: Seventhgraders Yash Shah, Jack Basner, Jaiden George, Zachary Goldberg, Alex Yee-Chan and Logan Hamilton.

After months of exhaustive research and presentations at the districtwide contest, 16 seventh-graders from East Williston’s Willets Road School were selected to present at the Long Island History Day Contest on March 26.

(Courtesy of East Williston School District)

(Courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District)

Nao Medical Opens Mineola Location

Nao Medical staff, community members, and Mineola Chamber of Commerce representatives were all smiles at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Nao Medical’s new Mineola location on April 12. The new facility is designed “to meet the needs of the modern healthcare landscape [with] the latest technology, and our team of medical professionals [that] is dedicated to providing personalized care to each and every patient.” Speeches, a tour, and light refreshments were provided.

— Submitted by Nao Medical

Westbury Budget Under Tax Cap Again

THE NASSAU ILLUSTRATED STAFF

editors@antonmediagroup.com

For the 12th straight year, the Village of Westbury will present a budget that will not pierce the state-mandated tax cap. Introduced last decade by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in a bid to stop rising school and property taxes, the law limits the tax levy (amount to be raised by taxes by a taxing entity) to 2 percent or the rate of inflation— whichever is lower.

Thanks to some complicated formulas, the levy can top 2 percent and Westbury’s will be 3.65 percent for the 2023-24 fiscal year.

According to Mayor Peter Cavallaro, “a typical village homeowner, owning a home with an assessed value of $609,610, will in 2023-24 pay, on average, only $1,146.06 for all village government services, which is only $48.76 more than last year. With this budget, despite the levy increase, the village continues to maintain among the lowest per capita village property tax levies for comparable villages. The budget is the result of our annual comprehensive review and rigorous scrutiny of all expenditure and revenue items in every village department, as well as other factors.”

Cavallaro noted that inflationary pressures and other factors beyond the board’s control made crafting this latest budget a challenge.

“Fortunately, our many years of fiscal prudence and conservative budgeting have positioned the village to be in the strongest fiscal condition in the village’s history, so we will weather this uncertain time, and this budget continues to provide for all of the essential services that our residents enjoy and expect,” Cavallaro said.

The mayor identified several steep cost increases, including:

• A 44.6 percent hike in state-provided medical and dental health coverage for its employees compared to last year’s budgeted allocation, and a nearly 80 percent increase from last year’s actual expenditure

• A 20 percent increase year-over-year in diesel fuel and gas associated with the village’s sanitation and other activities

• A 16.8 percent year-over-year hike in the state-imposed contribution to the state retirement fund for its employees

• A 12 percent rise in premiums for the village’s regular insurance coverages

• Increase in costs associated with the software required and maintenance and repair of parking pay stations

The spending plan does not take into

account potential increases in costs associated with a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the unionized employees. The current CBA expires May 31, 2023.

“This budget is among the most difficult during my tenure,” Cavallaro stated. “However, the village continues to streamline costs and has worked to reduce payroll administrative costs, telecommunications expenses, and utility expenses related to

street lighting, and will continue to monitor all current and new contracts in the same manner. I and the village board will always work aggressively to provide village services in the most cost-effective manner possible and this budget maintains all village services. We will continue to apply the fiscal discipline and restraint that we have in the past and do whatever we can to minimize impacts on our residents.”

Arrest For Public Lewdness In Garden City

The Nassau County Police Department Public Information Office reports the arrest of an Amityville man for public lewdness that occurred on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 10:20 a.m. in East Garden City.

According to police, officers responded to Kate Spade located in the Roosevelt Field Mall 630 Old Country Road for a disturbance. Two female victims, ages 19

and 42, were approached by a male who began exposing himself and then proceeded to chase the victims causing them to lock themselves in the stock room. The subject allegedly made several attempts to gain entry into the stock room before leaving scene. They immediately called police.

Upon police arrival, officers located Dwight Clermont, 27, of 9 Watkins Terrace

and placed him under arrest without incident. A further investigation by police revealed defendant Clermont had two active arrest warrants and was banned previously from the Roosevelt Field Mall. Defendant Dwight Clermont is charged with burglary in the third degree, attempted burglary in the third degree, public lewdness, sexually motivated felony and

attempted sexually motivated felony. Detectives request anyone who feels as though they may have been victimized by the defendant to please contact police at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.

— Via the Nassau County Police Department

Thanks to the mild winter and lack of snowfall, the village saved money on snow removal costs in its 2022-23 budget. Pictured are snow plows in operation during a February 2021 snowstorm. (Photo courtesy of Ray Muntz | Village of Westbury)

Nao Medical of Mineola hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 12.

(Submitted photo)

Robotic Surgery: Is It Right For You?

Learn more at the Annual Kenneth Whitney Robotic Surgery Symposium 2023

If you or a family member are considering surgery, robotic surgery could help you have a faster recovery with lower risks.

At our symposium, you will:

• Learn about robotic assisted approaches in bariatric, cardiothoracic, complex cancer, gynecologic, hernia, and urological surgery

• Separate myths from facts around robotic surgery

• Take part in demonstrations of the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci® system

• Try your own hand in a robot simulation—a unique opportunity

Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023

Time: 9:00am-1:00pm

Location: NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island Research & Academic Center 101 Mineola Boulevard, Mineola, NY 11501

Admission is free and open to the public, but you need to register. RSVP by calling Kymona Tracy at 516-663-8300 to reserve your seat. Refreshments will be served.

Lacrosse Unlimited Donates Gear To Sewanhaka High School

Lacrosse Unlimited, the world’s largest lacrosse equipment supplier, recently donated nearly $30,000 of new lacrosse gear and equipment to Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park. The donation includes 50 lacrosse sticks, 50 balls, and 50 pairs of gloves as well as goalie gear, mouthguards, and other vital equipment that will benefit both the boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams.

“We are so grateful for this generous equipment donation from Lacrosse Unlimited,” said Nicole Aller, principal of Sewanhaka High School. “As educators, we teach our students the value of having the right tools to get the job done, and this new sports gear is the tool that’s going help our lacrosse teams compete effectively.”

Sewanhaka High School is a public high school located in Floral Park, New York. It has had a rich lacrosse team history, in fact, Lacrosse Hall of Fame coaches including Tom Hayes ( Rutgers), Jack Kaley (NYIT), Richie Moran (Cornell) and Eamon McEneaney (Cornell All American) were all former players at Sewanhaka High School.

Unfortunately, the school no longer has the means and funds to provide the players with the right equipment to take the teams to the next level. It’s why Lacrosse Unlimited decided to step in.

“We wanted to play a role in sparking that flame back into the Sewanhaka Lacrosse Program,” said Lacrosse Unlimited CEO, Joe

Easter Bunny Stops

By In Westbury

Dozens of families enjoyed the weather, hunted for eggs, and posed with Westbury’s very own Easter Bunny during the Village’s holiday celebration on April 8. Winners of the Golden Egg Hunt were Leah Martinez, Lucas Bosi, Tatiana Higgs, and Helen DeLeon.

— Compiled with help from Donna Naughton, Gail Reese, and Alex Nuñez

Sewanhaka High School lacrosse players and coaches pose with some of their new equipment, donated by Lacrosse Unlimited.

(Courtesy of Sewanhaka High School)

DeSimone. “Their program was deserving and from the looks on the faces of the students, this new equipment will set them up for a great season.”

— Submitted by Lacrosse Unlimited

Local Athletes Lead In Osprey Open

The Farmingdale State College men’s and women’s outdoor track & field teams returned to Stockton College on April 7 and 8 to compete in the Osprey Open and had four individuals place in the top five, along with one relay.

Senior Rodney Jerome (Westbury) took fourth place in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:00.79.

Stocken VI and Jerome also ran in the 110m high hurdles and earned fifth and sixth, respectively, in 16.11 and 16.27.

Hunting For Easter Eggs In Garden City

Freshman Renzo Chevez (Westbury) ran a team-best time of 53.50 in the 400m, and junior Timothy Folarin (Elmont) led the Rams in the 100m with a time of 11.65 and 18th place.

Freshman Christania Fede (Westbury) competed in the heptathlon and earned ninth, with her point total of 1,208 also putting her in ninth place for the event in FSC history.

— Compiled from Farmingdale State College press materials

On Saturday, April 8, Recreation and Parks hosted a very successful and well-attended Easter Egg Hunt on the St. Paul’s Fields. Under sunny skies, almost 1,000 people turned out to help search for special prize eggs, which were hidden within the 6,000+ eggs and chocolates that were scattered across the fields.

— Submitted by the Village of Garden City

(Courtesy of the Village of Westbury Recreation)

(Courtesy of the Village of Garden City)