The Nassau Observer 4/26/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Fireman Discovers Healing Power Of Music Following 9/11

LAUREN FELDMAN

lfeldman@antonmediagroup.com

Vinny Timmons’ life was forever changed by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Through loss and grief, the Farmingdale local found his way to healing powers of song and hopes to encourage others to find their peace when faced with panic.

Timmons began his career not in firefighting but construction. Following the loss of his father, who had been a New York City Fireman, Timmons joined some friends with the local volunteer service in 1987. This would be a surprising and influential time in his life. “I did that for a number of years – loved it, great people – it was a very developmental time in my life. I grew a lot as a person, meeting these guys who ran into fires… I never knew what it was all about.” Timmons took the FDNY test and the physical in the late ‘80s, sat on things for a while, and finally joined officially in early 1994.

“I was assigned to Engine 8, which is on 51st Street in Manhattan.” A lucky sign, said Timmons, as his father’s favorite number was 8. “I got to meet some of the nicest guys in the world, put aside the firefighting, just what great guys I met. One of them was my good friend Rob Parro from Levittown. I was assigned with him to alternate tours; I’d relieve him of duty and vice versa.” Their friendship soon turned into a work relationship, doing side projects together, spending family times and vacations together.

Timmons said this was not an uncommon occurrence and had a lot of praise to offer the brotherhood he experienced. “The bonding that went on in that firehouse was just incredible. What I thought the fire service was all about was not even close to what it really was. Yes, there were times when we got the alarm and went into these fires, it was scary. But you always felt like your brother had your back. Any normal person would be scared, looking at everything that’s daunting to you, but they don’t know that the brotherhood really changes the way you perceive going into that fire.”

Timmons’ life was soon destined to change, however, alongside thousands of Americans, during the September 11 terrorist attacks. “On that day I had been on vacation. I woke up and found out that a plane had hit one of the towers. I thought it was just a small plane that maybe went off course or had problems. I drove into Manhattan to meet with my firemen friends there, and that’s when I learned that my friend Rob had taken a shift with the truck.” Inside the firehouse, there is an engine company, a truck company, and a chief. “Rob

was assigned to the engine,” Timmons said, “but he took a shift with the truck, so he was down at the World Trade Center. Of course, I had hopes that he would come back, but as we later learned… we lost ten of our brothers from the firehouse. It took a great toll on me.”

But it took several years before this toll made itself apparent. “I didn’t even know until six or seven years later, because there was so much going on in the firehouse. So many people helping you from all over. The help we received from all over the world was phenomenal… For years, it kept us busy and kept our minds off of what had happened.” Timmons said that he started getting headaches and couldn’t sleep because of nightmares. “I didn’t put it all together, but I was suffering from panic attacks.” He started to learn more about anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks, and I could no longer do my job. In 2014, I finally left the firehouse, and it was rough for a couple of years. I needed to figure out what I was going to do, what was going to be the next phase of my life.”

During this time, a close friend of Timmons who worked in radio was talking with him about what he was going through. He mentioned to his friend that he had written some words down but did not know what to do with them. “I told him that I had written some words and I didn’t know what to do with them. He mentioned that one of his friends was a very talented musician, and he wanted me to go speak with him. Maybe we could make it an outlet for some of the stress I was going through. So, I went to see this musician, Jack Licitra. I gave him the words and he put it to music. He told me to sing… so that’s

how my song Septembers Friends was created.”

“Septembers Friends” was Timmons’ debut song, and while it specifically addresses his feelings towards the terrorist attack, much of Timmons’ music tells other stories. Most important to Timmons is addressing the horrible experience of post-traumatic stress. “It doesn’t just affect people from 9/11, it affects everybody! More people go to the hospital for anxiety than they do for heart attacks. The mental part of this… it’s so overpowering, it affects your whole body. So I dedicated myself to not just write the song for those who had experienced 9/11, but other songs for people of all walks of life.”

He was eventually able to return to the workforce and found himself – in a full circle moment – testing out fire products for firefighters in Farmingdale. Timmons works with retired firemen and volunteer firefighters, having found his way back to the industry he used to love.

His journey has been an unexpected one, but Timmons stresses that things can and do get better. “You don’t ever get over anxiety, or panic, or post-traumatic stress, you learn to deal with it, to give yourself outlets. And you do heal,” he vows. “That’s not to say I don’t have bad days like anybody else does, but the silver lining is there’s ways to pick yourself back up and get to a place where you can enjoy life again.”

Timmons hopes to encourage others to find their outlets for healing, whatever they may be, and to recognize that having an outlet is not only helpful but necessary for recovery. “The body is funny. There’s stress inside the soul, and if you don’t find ways to relieve it, it can be devastating. To not only you but the people around you.”

For his part, singing has truly allowed Timmons to jumpstart his recovery and helped him to move forward. “That’s where I find my healing, that I can reach out and tell a story, but I can also add the music to it. And I can tell people there’s something in everything that we see. Whatever we can do to highlight this and say, ‘Nobody is forgetting. Nobody is going to forget.’”

The creed of “Septembers Friends”.

Rob Parro, FNDY, was a close friend of Vinny’s who lost his life during 9/11. (Photos courtesy of Vinny Timmons)

Bethpage Student-Artists Come Together To Fight Hunger

The Bethpage school community gathered in the Bethpage High School cafeteria recently for the high school’s first Empty Bowls Fundraiser. The special event, organized by Bethpage High School’s ceramic artists and art teacher Elena Cardo, raised $2,600 for Island Harvest, a hunger-relief organization on Long Island.

The fundraiser began as an idea amongst Bethpage High School seniors Alyssa Khan and Athanasia Panagos. Together, they formed a branch of the Empty Bowls Project, a grassroots organization with the goal to end hunger, with other Bethpage High School students.

This past fall, the group came together to start creating unique, handmade ceramic bowls. It was a collaborative effort among those in the school’s sculpture and college pottery classes, along with other art students. Together, they created more than 230 bowls for the Empty Bowls Fundraiser.

“It was this big community event where everyone worked together,” said Khan. “We made the bowls, glazed the bowls…everything is entirely student-made.”

Attendees entered the cafeteria where they were welcome to pick one of the

ceramic bowls to call their own. Wearing matching t-shirts, ceramic students mingled with attendees and helped them with their bowl selection. After picking their favorite piece, each attendee was able to enjoy chicken noodle, lentil or matzo ball soup in their new bowl. The soup was provided by Aramark, Bethpage High School’s food provider.

As the community enjoyed their delicious soup, Bethpage High School student-musician Matthew Schneider performed songs on his guitar and ceramic students showcased their pottery skills through demonstrations in the back of the cafeteria. Attendees were also encouraged to participate in raffles to help support Island Harvest. Raffle items were donated from local businesses around town.

The event not only allowed the Bethpage community to come together for a great cause, but it allowed students to share their creativity with others. Khan and Panagos hope that this year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser is just the start for the high school and that it will continue for years to come.

—Submitted by the Bethpage Union Free School District

Massapequa Students Connect For Community Exploration

Second-graders throughout the Massapequa School District were thrilled when they were visited by high school students for lessons on careers, community and financial responsibility. It was part of the High School Heroes program through Junior Achievement, a 17-year tradition in the district than connects elementary and secondary students.

Students from grades 10-12 visited second grade classes at each elementary school.

Denise DeLury, the school-to-career coordinator, said about 100 high school students signed up to take part in the experience, which gives them insight into child-related professions, such as teaching.

They implemented Junior Achievement’s “Our Community” lesson, which supports the second grade social studies curriculum. Before visiting the elementary schools, the high school students received training with Ms. DeLury and Junior Achievement Program Manager Lorraine Englander. The junior teachers reviewed the lessons,

materials and expectations, and also learned classroom management techniques.

In one activity, second-graders opened up a pizza shop and had to fulfill orders. On little paper pizzas, they added stickers representing the topics requested from each order, and they were paid in fake money for everyone successfully completed. Later, they had to pay taxes on it.

The youngsters took part in a decision-making lesson to make choices for their community, did a voting exercise and explored different jobs that are essential to a functioning community.

Junior Kara Jahrsdoerfer said that the High School Heroes program imparts important lessons for the future. She enjoyed spending a day at Birch Lane Elementary School, connecting with the kids.

“I want to be an elementary teacher,” she said. “I thought this would be a good way to see what I have to do when I get older.”

—Submitted by the Massapequa School District

Hicksville Students Knit Hats And Warm Hearts

Hicksville Middle School sixth-graders completed a service-learning project based on being a good citizen. The students enrolled in the school’s Family and Consumer Science class learned how to knit through a recent unit.

Close to 300 students taught by Hicksville Family and Consumer Science teachers Laura Amundsen, Victor Lam and Victoria Porter participated in the knitting project that produced over 300 child sized hats as small as newborn to be donated to sick children treated at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.

Bryan Sarandrea, Hicksville Supervisor of Social Studies and Home and Careers, said “Authentic learning experiences such as this are great opportunities for students to demonstrate creativity and care for others. The enthusiasm shown by students while working on this project is an inspiration to the school community.”

—Submitted by Hicksville Public Schools

The Levittown Dress Boutique returned recently to offer young ladies free dress and prom accessories. (Contributed photos)

Seniors Are Prepped For Prom After Levittown Dress Boutique

Levittown seniors did not have to stress over finding their perfect dress for prom thanks to the Levittown Dress Boutique that offered free dresses and accessories to all.

Organized by Levittown social workers in the Dress Boutique Committee, the event featured racks filled with hundreds of donated dresses, shoes, jewelry and more. Roughly 120 young ladies stopped by with their families and friends to choose what they need. More than 40 volunteers staffed the event, which was made possible through the collaborative efforts of many throughout the Levittown Schools community.

—Submitted by Levittown Public Schools

Middle School students surround (l-r) Bryan Sarandrea, Supervisor of Social Studies and Home and Careers, and Family and Consumer Science teachers Victor Lam and Victoria Porter. (Contributed photo)

Ceramic artists from Bethpage High School ran their first Empty Bowls Fundraiser recently, with all proceeds going to Island Harvest.

Massapequa High School students visited Birch Lane Elementary School to teach the Junior Achievement “Our Community” curriculum to second-graders.

Hicksville

What’s our greatest asset at The Bristal Assisted Living communities? It’s the lifetime of interests and experiences you bring to it. After all, that’s what makes you special. A caring team that spends the time getting to know you so you can continue nurturing, sharing and exploring those interests? Well, that’s what makes us special, too.

See for yourself. Explore all of our locations in the tri-state area.

thebristal.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

To place an item in this space, send information two weeks before the event to editors@antonmediagroup.com.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

JumpBunch: Amazing Athletes

10 a.m. JumpBunch will be here to teach us a different sport each week! Ages 3-5 years with an adult. Programs run by the Children’s Department are for children residing in UFSD #22 only. You MUST use your child’s library card to register. Registration with an adult card will be invalid. This event is taking place in Room E of the Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Rd.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

New Beginnings And Fresh Starts

6:30 p.m. Join this open discussion with Life Coach Marla Matthews for a fresh look at the wonderful possibilities the future holds. No registration required. Contact (516) 731-5728 ext. 244 or email pr@ levittownpl.org for more information. This event is taking place in Meeting Rooms 1 & 2 of the Levittown Public Library, 1 Bluegrass Lane.

Movie: She Said

7 p.m. New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor together broke one of the most important stories in a generation—a story that helped propel the #Metoo movement, shattered decades

of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood, and altered American culture forever.

Rated: R (for language & descrip tions of sexual assault) Length: 2 hr 9 mins. This film will be screened in the auditorium of the Bethpage Public Library, 47 Powell Ave.

SUNDAY, APRIL 30

Steve Mitchell Elvis Concert

1 p.m. Elvis Tribute concert, done with full respect to the King with Elvis impersonator, Steve Mitchell. Pending good weather, the show will be outside on the patio. If not, concert will be live indoors for a limited size audience, and will also be livestreamed on our YouTube Channel here -https://www. youtube.com/c/massapequal ibraryorg. Massapequa Public Library, 523 Central Ave.

MONDAY, MAY 1

First Day Of Asian Pacific Heritage Month

First Day Of Jewish American Heritage Month

Little Gardeners Club

10 a.m. Your little one will enjoy gardening themed stories, activities, and crafts in this fun filled program. Ages 2-4 years with an adult. Programs run by

SUNDAY, MAY 7

Cancer Car Wash Fundraiser

8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Shane is an 11-year-old boy, who in early 2021 was diagnosed with T cell ALL Leukemia, with central nervous system involvement. In August of 2021, Shane suffered a serious brain injury caused by the toxicity of the chemotherapy and radiation. As a result Shane’s cognitive and motor skills have been seriously impaired. Shane continues to receive chemotherapy as well as extensive physical therapy. Holy Family CYO will hold its annual CYO vs Cancer car wash fundraiser at Holy Family School in Hicksville. The rain date is May 21. All proceeds will benefit Shane and his family. Please consider attending the car wash, volunteering to wash cars or making a donation. To donate, please make your checks payable to Jenn Lang and mail to Ed Hebron at 2 Mitchell Court Hicksville, NY 11801. You can also venmo @Ed-Hebron. If you have any questions please call or text Ed Hebron at 516 761 6647.

•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

Jawas, Jedi, And Wookies Rejoice: Star Wars Day Is Here

501st Empire City Garrison adds a Galactic flavor to local events

For many people, May fourth is just another day on the calendar, but for fans of the Star Wars franchise, it is Star Wars day. A play on the saying “May the Force be with you,” May the fourth has long been a day for people to let their inner Jedi or storm trooper show.

Interestingly, the first recorded reference of the phrase being used was on May 4, 1979, the day after Margaret Thatcher was elected as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in the London Evening News saying “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.”

These days, Star Wars fans have multiple storylines to follow and more merchandise than ever before. Star Wars day events are held in libraries and bars, with trivia, games and cosplay. There is even a Star Wars theme park called Galaxy’s Edge at each of the Disney resorts. There is also Star Wars celebration, a convention that takes place at the end of May, where many people dress as their favorite characters.

There are a few groups who take this even farther, and one of the most prominent is the 501st Legion. This organization, established in August 1997 by Albin Johnson and Tom Crews, has over 35,000 members worldwide. Each member must have an approved, screen-accurate, self-made costume that replicates the outfit of one of the “villains”. This started out as just stormtroopers, but now includes any morally dark character featured in the Star Wars universe.

On January 1, 2007, two hundred members of the Legion marched in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, with George Lucas himself as the grand marshal. Lucas and Johnson discussed the future of the rapidly growing Legion. This culminated in an informal partnership where Lucasfilm granted the Legion a limited use of their copyrighted characters, as long as members promised never to use their costumes for personal profit and represented the franchise in a positive and respectful manner.

Closer to home, Long Island is represented by the Empire City Garrison, and their commander is Chris Feehan. Feehan has been involved with the 501st for 15 years and

Members of the 501st in Amman, Jordan. (Photo by Chris Feehan)

has done nine different costumes over that time. A self-described sci-fi and movie geek, he first learned of the group after spotting them at a convention in the early 2000s. Over the course of about two years he put together his first costume, a stormtrooper. His costume was approved and he was able to join in 2008. He calls this one of the best decisions he’s ever made. “There’s makers all over the place that make the individual vacuform parts but it’s up to you to glue the pieces together. You get the associated parts like the boots, make a replica blaster, different parts of the helmet. You have to strap it together yourself with snaps and different elastic straps and things to fit it to your own body. It’s not a turnkey process that you just can get a costume and just wear it right out of the box.”

Part of the mission of the 501st is working with charities and non-profits. Feehan puts it this way: “we call ourselves bad guys who do good. Basically what the group does is not only help each other build your costumes and make them movie accurate, but it’s also to use them for good in the community. We use the costumes practically every weekend, charity walks, library visits, hospital visits,

things of that nature, and just try to use them for positive things in the community.”

One bonus to having screen accurate costumes is getting asked to be extras on some of the new content Disney Lucasfilm is creating. “They’ll reach out to us because they know we have 100 percent movie accurate costumes. We know how to put on the costume. We know how to walk around in the costume; we have experience. So they’ll tap us for that. And we have a very good relationship with Disney Lucasfilm because they know we’re not doing this for profit. We’re doing this for good in the community. They needed a gaggle of Stormtroopers for big scenes and instead of having to construct the costumes and hire 50 stunt people, they just had the local Garrison come down and bring 50 stormtroopers.”

For those interested in joining up, enrollment is open to anyone over the age of 18. The first step is to go online and browse the costume reference library, or CRL. Feehan recommends going for something recognizable, like a stormtrooper. At this point, it makes sense to contact your local garrison. For the Empire City, the website is 501ecg.com. Here you can connect with

people in the forums who will offer advice and assistance as needed. “A lot of our men and women will help people get started with their costumes and help with putting them together. I’ve helped a number of members within my group, you know, get their costumes started or get them finished to a level that they need to make them 100 percent will be accurate. Once you had all the parts together, you take some photos, you submit them for approval. When they get approved you’re eligible to attend and volunteer for any of the events that we have on our schedule.”

For obvious reasons, the coming weeks are among the busiest time for the Empire City Garrison. Not only is it Star Wars day, but May 6 is free comic book day. If an organization is planning to request some extra empire flavor for their May 4 celebration, Feehan recommends booking six to eight months in advance. “We actually have somewhere around 20 events scheduled either on May the fourth or on May the sixth. So that week is crazy for us. We do give a priority to the children’s hospitals. We’re actually doing two children’s hospitals in New York area this year. We’re doing Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park and we’re doing Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital in New York City. So those usually get priority, but there are a couple of community events that some of the folks who do not (attend) the hospital events may do. And then of course on Free Comic Book Day, a lot of local comic book shops and some libraries have asked us. So unfortunately, there’s not enough folks to go around. We ask that folks try to get in their requests as far in advance as possible. We usually book up six to eight months in advance for the entire year.”

On a personal note, seeing the effect his costumed appearances had on children who were fighting to become well inspired him. Feehan credits his time with the 501st as helping him to land a second career in the non-profit sector. “It really helped invigorate my volunteerism and volunteer spirit. When I lost my job about four years ago I had kind of made a personal decision. I was at a point in my life where I was able to kind of pick and choose what I want to do next. I work for the cerebral palsy association of Nassau County, which for me is a dream job. Because now basically in my job and in my personal time, I’m doing stuff for other people and doing stuff that’s really rewarding.”

AMANDA

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

Members of the 501st and the Rebel Legion at Cohen Children’s Hospital.

(Photo by Vicki Lares)

JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

The New York Islanders have been bringing their all into the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after beating the Montreal Canadiens to clinch the playoff spot on April 12.

During the playoff-spot game, Brock Nelson scored twice to help the Islanders beat Canadiens 4-2.

Hudson Fasching and Anders Lee also scored for New York, and Ilya Sorokin made 16 saves to close out the regular season.

All told, the team managed a 19-9-4 run from Jan. 27 onwards, and didn’t secure their playoff spot until the final game of the regular season.

As of press time, the Islanders are more than through their first round of playoff games against the Carolina Hurricanes, with an outcome expected this week. The

New York Islanders Enter Islanders beat Canadiens to

Islanders lost their first two playoff games to the Hurricanes in Raleigh, then clinched their first 2023 playoff win against the North Caroline team during the Islanders’ first home game of the round.

Game 3 last Friday looked like a comeback, with Islanders taking home the win with a final score of 5-1.

During their third period, the team also managed to score the fastest burst of four goals in playoff history, according to ESPN, who called their streak in the sixteenth-to-eighteenth minutes of Period 3 a “record-setting outburst.”

During Sunday night’s game, however, the tables seemed to turn again at UBS Arena as the Hurricanes beat out the Islanders 5-2 on Sunday. As a result, the Hurricanes now lead the Islanders 3-1 in won playoff games for the first round.

Their next matchup happens Tuesday, April 25 (after our papers go to press, and before they hit most mailboxes), so, like all the other hockey fans in Nassau County, we’ve been on the edge of our seats to find

out whether the Islanders will keep clawing their way back in this first playoff round or head home to watch the rest of the Stanley Cup showdown.

The Islanders are in the postseason for the fourth time in the past five seasons, advancing to the third round of the playoffs in both 2020 and 2021 and the second round in 2019. The team missed the mark in 2022 to participate in the playoffs, but they’re not slowing down.

“I can’t tell you how hard last year was just not playing in those big games and those big moments,” said center Mathew Barzal in a statement. “We want to be in the spotlight and that’s what the playoffs is. We’re excited.”

“Coming into this year, there was a strong focus on having that goal of finding a way

in,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re first or 16th you get a chance to fight for the Stanley Cup and I think it’s starting to set in here as we get closer by the day of just the excitement and the energy that you have in practice.”

The New York Islanders edged out the Montreal Canadiens for a playoff spot during their final regular-season game on April 12.

Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov during a morning team skate on Friday, April 21 at UBS Arena.

(Credit: New York Islanders via Twitter)

A shot of the new UBS Arena, the Islanders’ home stadium, at sunset. (Courtesy of UBS Arena)

Stanley Cup Playoffs score playoff spot

OBITUARY

Anthony Ralph Galdi

September 21, 1926 - April 11, 2023

Anthony Ralph Galdi of Ormond Beach, son of Ralph Galdi & Filomena Infante Galdi, husband of Helen L. Galdi, father of Deborah Ann Galdi and her husband Frank Virga, grandfather of Jennifer Anne Virga Bosch and husband Gerard Bosch and Michael Anthony Virga, great grandfather of Olivia Harper Bosch, Big brother to Millie Moroney of NJ and Rose Litrio of Texas and a favorite among his many nieces and nephews.

To secure their 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs spot, the Islanders outshot the Canadiens 4-2 in a home game on April 12. (Courtesy of the New York Islanders)

Tony was a proud Navy veteran and served his country in the South Pacific during World War II. He enjoyed a successful 45-year career with the Allstate Insurance Company and was an avid reader, writer, New York Times crossword fan and a competitive golf and tennis player who was loved by all who came to know him.

COLUMNS

HEADLINE: The Inaugural Column

I would like to open the first Long Island Veterans Bulletin column with a nod to the local veterans who have carried the torch for community newspaper editorials in the past, particularly by way of the editorial pages of Anton Media Group. I have always admired the message and the dedication to getting the message out on behalf of all fellow veterans.

Support and services specifically for veterans continue to get better, in my opinion, a vast difference from when I moved here to Long Island more than 20 years ago. While the needs of older veterans differ from younger veterans and men and women veterans are largely different, I can say, I feel that veterans on Long Island are being heard. We are making differences in our communities and are being acknowledged with credit to our disciplined and take-charge foundations that help us, especially modern war-era women veterans, move the needle forward on nearly everything that

JENNIFER CORR

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

I love going to the Long Island Aquarium. I often go the week of my birthday, when you can get a free ticket. I’ve even gone in groups with my mom, grandma and best friend because we’re all birthday neighbors.

And with the Sunday of April 16 being gloomy and chilly, myself, my boyfriend AJ and his sister Amanda decided to take a day trip to Riverhead to see some amazing aquatic animals and mammals, and even butterflies. Heading there, we had Tropical Smoothie for breakfast, as well as some Burger King, so that we would remain sustained throughout the entire day. We were there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., entertained every minute of it.

We started our journey through the aquarium by, of course, petting the sting rays. And then we checked out the butterflies exhibit, which is situated in an indoor, luscious garden. You can find butterflies every where you turn, some grouping together to enjoy fruits on various plates throughout the garden. The butterfly that

L. I. VETERANS BULLETIN

Christy Hinko

we set our sights on.

If I had to put a team together of people who could get the job, any job, done, the first dozen would be veterans right here in Nassau County, and the majority of them would be a band of women veterans that I have had the privilege of working with on various projects in the past couple of decades.

A couple of years ago, I started a Facebook page, Long Island Veterans Bulletin, to aggregate

veteran events, services and information that are hyperlocal to the island. These things range from support groups, parades, fundraisers, available or changing services and offers which are specific and directly related to veterans. The virtual bulletin board is gaining momentum and is used to disseminate information, reaching more veterans and veteran supporters than ever before.

Long Island is home to one of the highest populations of veterans in the entire country, mostly thanks to the returning-from-war veterans of the older war eras. Sadly, this number will sharply decrease as our fellow veterans age, retire, relocate and ultimately pass away. That is why it is critical for veterans on Long Island to form stronger bonds, network and share their experiences. Check out Anton Media Group’s version of Long Island Veterans Bulletin in the upcoming months for a spotlight on local veterans, supportive organizations, issues and events.

A Day At The Aquarium

In upcoming columns, you can read about the amazing outreach being done by local organizations such as Rolling Thunder Chapter 6 of Long Island and its affiliates like Patriot Guard and Heroes Among Us, or the efforts of service organizations like Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion chapters faced with dwindling membership and financial struggles, or the incredible and quite literally, bootson-the-ground initiatives that organizations like Bravo Foxtrot United Veterans are establishing to combat homelessness among veterans right here in your own neighborhoods.

Follow Long Island Veterans Bulletin on Facebook (www. facebook.com/livetsbulletin) for regularly posted information from across both counties and occasionally from regional organizations which benefit Long Island veterans.

–Christy Hinko, managing editor at Anton Media Group and U.S. Navy veteran

Karl V. Anton, Jr., Publisher, Anton Community Newspapers, 1984-2000

Publishers of

Glen Cove/Oyster Bay Record Pilot

Great Neck Record

Manhasset Press

Nassau Illustrated News

Port Washington News

Syosset-Jericho Tribune

The Nassau Observer

The Roslyn News

Editor and Publisher

Angela Susan Anton President

Frank A. Virga

Vice President Operations/CFO

Iris Picone

Director Sales

Administration

ShariEgnasko

Editors

Janet Burns,JenniferCorr, LaurenFeldman,ChristyHinko, Amanda Olsen,Julie Prisco, Joe Scotchie

Advertising Sales

AllyDeane,MaryMallon, SalMassa,MariaPruyn, Jeryl Sletteland

Director Circulation

JoyDiDonato

Director Production

RobinCarter

Creative Director

AlexNuñez

Art Director

Catherine Bongiorno

Senior Page Designer

DonnaDuffy

Page Designer ChristinaDieguez

Director Business

Administration

Linda Baccoli

For circulation inquiries, email: subscribe@antonmediagroup.com

Publication Office: 132 East Second St., Mineola, NY 11501 Phone: (516) 747-8282 Fax: (516) 742-5867 2023 Long Island Community Newspapers, Inc.

sticks out the most, and is the hardest to get a picture of, would have to be the iridescent blue morpho butterflies. They often travel in pairs and small groups. But once they land and close their wings, you wouldn’t know of their bright colors because the exterior of the wings are a brown, white and yellow pattern. I said to my boyfriend, “it’s like a metaphor that beauty comes from within.”

Besides the butterflies and my corny sayings, we also enjoyed a small exhibit of bugs from around the world that were preserved behind glass, as well as a live beehive that was situated behind glass.

After spending an hour in what looks like heaven, we crossed

the bridge that overlooks a huge pond of various fish, as well as a turtle tank, into where a lot of the exhibits are. We spent a few minutes at each tank, taking a close look at all the fish we could see and being encapsulated by the corals and sea anemones. We even saw some clown fish hanging out in sea anemones, which reminded us of the movie Finding Nemo.

The shark tank is always my favorite. It’s not often you can be face to face with a shark in a situation that wouldn’t be terrifying. Staring at them, you can see they’re amazing creatures.

Something I’ve never seen at the aquarium before, because I never went to look, was the octopus.

Though this one was small in size, he sure was smart. I saw a child put his hand to the tank, and the octopus then reached out to meet his hand behind the glass. I was blown away!

We took time to watch the classic sea lion show, which echoes the shows I’ve watched as a kid when the aquarium was called Atlantis Marine World, and we got to see trainers feed the otters.

We were fished out at the end of the day, and traveled seven minutes to this cute restaurant Funchos. I got one of my favorite foods of all time... nachos. While the nachos were good, I wish the cheese was a bit more melty. But still, I’ll be back.

Celebrating 39 YEARS IN BUSINESS 1984-2023

Letters to the editor are welcomed by Anton Media Group.

We reserve the right to edit in the interest of space and clarity. All letters must include an address and daytime telephone number for verification. All material contributed to Anton Media Group in any form becomes the property of the newspapers to use, modify and distribute as the newspaper staff assigns or sees fit. Letters to the editor can be mailed to: editors@antonmediagroup.com

Additional copies of this and other issues are available for purchase by calling 516-403-5120.

The octopus at Long Island Aquarium.

(Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Think back to your favorite memories. For me, it’s always been the family gatherings in my home, whether it’s in celebration of birthdays or holidays. The jokes we’ve shared, the heartfelt conversations, bonding over delicious meals, or bickering over boardgames - I’ve cherished these loving, joyful times with my family. Don’t we all wish for a long life filled with more of these experiences?

It’s not just about living a long life though. It’s about living a long AND good quality life. That means making sure that we have healthy, sound minds for our golden years.

Our minds are something we take for granted and too often, we don’t connect our future to the choices we make in the present. The foods we eat are a type of choice we make multiple times throughout a single day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks - these are all choices that build up day after day, and ultimately, they hold a lot of power in our lives. They determine our brain health now and for the future.

I want us to make choices that improve the longevity AND quality of our lives. Dementia and Alzheimer’s are all too common among seniors, and it’s time we

COLUMNS Your Future Brain Will Thank You!

dementia, among other things. They are also an excellent source of antioxidants.

3. Egg yolks are rich in choline, an important chemical in brain development. Studies show that eating eggs has no effect on the cholesterol levels of healthy adults and they might, in fact, help raise good cholesterol levels.

ALL ARROWS POINT BACK TO NUTRITION

fortify our minds and set them up for the best future.

Below are our Top 10 Dellonutritionals-approved brain foods. Make an active effort to implement them into your daily lives. Your future brain will thank you.

1. Avocados are full of good fats. They also contain vitamin K and folate, which help prevent blood clots in the brain and improve memory and concentration.

2. Leafy, green vegetables like spinach are filled with vitamins and minerals that help fight

4. Broccoli helps keep your memory sharp thanks to its high levels of vitamin K and choline.

5. Beans help stabilize blood sugar levels. Since the brain is dependent on blood sugar for fuel, beans are great at providing a steady stream of energy.

6. Eating a handful of walnuts a day has proven to help improve your cognitive health. Walnuts are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

7. Research suggests that certain spices like cinnamon, cumin, and cilantro can help preserve your memory.

8. Studies suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may help alleviate depression. If you don’t like fish, you can always take Omega-3 supplements instead, but make sure they are purified!

9. Dark chocolate has powerful

tration as well as stimulate the

production of hormones that improve mood. The darker the chocolate, the healthier, so go for at least 80% cocoa. You can also try adding cocoa powder in hot water for a chocolate treat!

10. Hydration is essential to keeping the brain working properly. Aim for 8 glasses of water per day, or more if you are exercising or spending time outdoors

Savor The Moment

Spring is finally here, and brighter days are upon us. It’s a perfect time for families to take advantage of the warm weather and get their kids outside and away from screens.

Smartphones, gaming systems and screens are everywhere. They are in our homes, bedrooms, offices, vehicles, pockets and purses. When your child is using a device, they are disengaging with something else. They often miss out on the fun and beauty that is happening all around them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children ages 8-10 spend about 6 hours a day in front of a screen for entertainment, and half of that time is spent watching television. Those hours gradually increase among older youth.

Reducing screen time affords your child more opportunities to connect with family and friends. Feeling connections with others can help ward off symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety. It can also help improve

PARENTING PLUS

their physical and emotional well-being and strengthen family relationships.

How parents can better manage their child’s screen time

1. Ensure your child has at least 1-2 hours of physical activity each day. This can improve their mood and afford opportunities for creativity, collaboration and executive functioning.

Whether it’s taking a walk, riding a bike, playing a sport or

dancing to their favorite song, just make sure they are moving.

2. Adjust their screen time to no more than 1-2 hours per day and avoid use after dinner. If they are watching TV, make sure they sit far enough away from the set. Screens emit short-wavelength blue light that shines brightly and right in your face. This exposure impairs melatonin production and interferes with your ability to fall asleep as well as with the quality of your sleep once you do nod off.

3. Manage the environment by removing devices from your child’s room. TV sets can be placed in common family areas. Make sure to dedicate space for laptops and phones to be stored during tech breaks.

4. Encourage other types of social activities to promote fun and wellness. Arrange outdoor playdates, participate in chalk activities, rock painting, scavenger hunts, planting/gardening, or obstacles courses. You can

also play board games or allow your child the autonomy to create a game, inspiring them to design rules, learn to troubleshoot conflict which helps build their confidence and enhances their communication and interpersonal skills.

How parents can manage their own screen time

Parents should establish time in their own schedule¬ to join their child in having fun! Since parents are always modeling behaviors for their child here are some helpful tips to reduce their own screen usage.

1. Put your phone face down and place it out of reach when engaging in a conversation. When you commit to a conversation, focus all your energy on staying present in the moment. You will find that discussions are more enjoyable and effective when you immerse yourself in them.

2. Turn off or pause your notifications. Getting notified every time you hear a ping from a message dropping or an e-mail

possible. It causes havoc in the body.

Our daily choices matter, and our dietary choices hold so much power in our lives. It’s why I’m so passionate about nutrition and empowering people to make important and necessary changes in their diet. Here’s to eating better for our body and our brain!

Maria Dello, Nutritionist at Dello Nutritionals

arriving can cause you to become distracted and pull your attention away from spending time with your family or fully participating in an activity.

3. Replace screen time with productive activities around the house. Pick small decluttering projects somewhere in your home, like that messy drawer in your kitchen or the pile of papers on your desk and whip it into shape. Household clutter can make people depressed and overwhelmed, especially if you’re working from home. Remember the importance of being present and savor the moment!

Bio: Kathy Rivera, LCSW, is the Executive Director/CEO of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Long Island’s leading non-profit children’s mental health organization. To get help for your child or to support the Guidance Center’s life-saving work, call (516) 626-1971 or visit www. northshorechildguidance.org.

Nutritionist

Maria Dello

Kathy Rivera

John Fogerty’s Fave Baseball Players

BY DAVE GIL DE RUBIO editorial@antonmediagroup.com

In the pantheon of baseball-related songs, John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” takes its place front and center with its nods to Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays and Ty Cobb, all who patrolled that part of the outfield. With spring training and Opening Day behind us, avowed baseball fan Fogerty is celebrating the new season by hitting the road. But what makes 2023 a year for the California native to be jazzed about is his having finally acquired the worldwide copyright to the Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog, a rich trove of material that produced 14 consecutive top 10 singles between 1969 and 1971 and five consecutive top 10 albums—with nearly all of the songs penned by Fogerty alone. And while the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer pointed out the battle for those intellectual rights dates back to CCR’s origins (“The ownership was handed over the second the contract was signed in early 1968,”) he’s finally at peace now that his ownership rights have been restored.

“It’s a big relief now and I just don’t have to worry about that now,” he said.

“It was wrong of course, but I’m in a celebratory mood for sure. I’m just happy that I’m still here and I get to share this with my fans and also with my family, which is such a large part of my musical journey at this point.”

And during all those decades while Fogerty battled for his songs behind the scenes, his love of baseball has been the lifelong joy that’s sustained him dating back to his childhood. Early memories include his pop talking about the Yankees and Babe Ruth when the CCR founding member was around three or four. And

with no major league baseball teams west of the Mississippi River, Fogerty’s early rooting interests were with the San Francisco Seals, a Pacific Coast League team that was home to all the DiMaggio brothers. Other hardball connections came from rooting for minor league outfits the Oakland Acorns (where Billy Martin got his start and Casey Stengel had a brief managing stint) and the Oakland Oaks (brother Jim was a batboy for them). But it would be Charlie Finley’s Oakland Athletics who Fogerty gave his allegiance to when the team moved to the Bay Area in 1969.

“The team that became mine was the Oakland A’s, but that happened slowly,” Fogerty recalled. “I watched the Giants and Dodgers, of course. But in the early ‘70s, the Oakland A’s, who were just down the road from where I lived, became very good and went to the World Series. During all of that, I just went with it. I went to the third World Series, I believe. There came a time, after all that success, where the team became pretty pedestrian and rather ordinary and they were having a rough time of it, like so many cities that I’ve gone to all over the country. Some people would call them the Oakland AAAs. I know when Billy Martin came to town, he was wearing out the arms of the pitchers. I then realized that these were my guys. I’m for the underdog and that sort of thing so it was at that moment that the Oakland A’s became my team.”

On this day, Fogerty’s favorite players weren’t automatically tied to the team whose uniforms former team owner Finley described as “Kelly green, wedding gown white and Fort Knox gold.”

John Fogerty will be appearing on April 28 at Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., NYC. For more information, visit www.radiocity.com or call 866-858-0008

Lou Gehrig (New York Yankees)

“Lou Gehrig is at the top of the list. I read a book when I was in third grade called Lou Gehrig: Boy of the Sand Lots It might have been the first actual book that I read. This was an actual book at my school library that I checked out, took home and read three or four times. I now have a copy of it. He had just this amazing career with the Yankees.”

Reggie Jackson

(Kansas City/Oakland Athletics; Baltimore Orioles; New York Yankees; California Angels)

“Around the time “Centerfield” came out, someone asked me what my best moment would be in baseball if I was a player and I said I thought my favorite thing would be in a World Series game, where I’m on second base and Reggie Jackson is at the plate and hits a walk-off homerun to win the game. So I’m in the game, but I’m not the hero. That’s kind of who I am, that’s kind of my personality. My wife is always giving me the elbow to take credit for doing something. I’m not the guy doing it, I’m the guy who appreciates it.”

Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals; Philadelphia Phillies)

“Bryce Harper is someone that I’m really watching. When he first came up, I was toggling between him and Mike Trout. I was into Trout, because he was here in L.A. I didn’t know much about Bryce. But those two are both destined to open a new wing in the Hall of Fame. I’m really encouraged by both of those guys, because they’re kids still. You can say a whole lot of people. I’ll go with Bryce for now.”

John Fogerty

(Photo by Lee Cherry)

Recently Sold HOMES

HOME & DESIGN Safe Gates Help Save Lives

Drowning is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of one and four years old, with an average of 11 fatal and 22 non-fatal drownings per day. The majority of the children that drown in swimming pools most commonly gain access to the pool area through a faulty fence or gate.

This sumptuous custom-built brick colonial situated on a little less than a half of an acre at 38 School St. in East Williston sold on April 4 for $2,300,000. With more than 4,600 square-feet of living space, this home offers six spacious bedrooms and four bathrooms including a primary bedroom with two walk-in closets and a resort-like ensuite. The home has custom moldings, gleaming rift and quartersawn white oak hardwood floors throughout. The chef’s eat-in-kitchen includes a Wolf 48-inch range with a double oven, a 48-inch SubZero refrigerator, two dishwashers and a sizeable center island with a serving pantry perfect for entertaining. The back of the home is flooded with natural light and allows for a perfect view of the oversized backyard. The home features a blend of formal and comfortable living space including a formal dining room, den, family room, and office with custom bookshelves. The home has a large walk-up attic and a basement with plenty of storage. There are two fireplaces and the home has fullhouse speaker system, a three-level dumbwaiter and a detached two-car garage with its own attic. The home has eight zones of gas heat, a four-zone central cooling system and in-ground sprinklers.

This lovely all brick split level home on a 9,200-square-foot lot at 2 Coleman Dr. in East Williston sold on March 10 for $993,600. This light, bright and airy home boasts an open floor plan, generously sized bedrooms, a living room with built-ins and a fireplace. It has a formal dining room, an eat-in-kitchen, and a primary bedroom ensuite with an updated bathroom and a walk-in closet. The lower level has a den with French doors leading to a patio, a powder room and an office that has potential to be a fourth bedroom. There is also access to a two-car garage. The home has 200 amps of electric, gas heating, central air conditioning and has hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen and bathroom need to be updated, but the home is freshly painted and has great bones. It is in close proximity to Northside Elementary School, shopping, dining, a park and the train station. This home is in the Wheatley School District.

Combined with constant child supervision and other layers of protection, physically checking your pool gate and maintaining your pool gate regularly to ensure it self-closes and self-latches at all times could help prevent drownings, yet only 30 percent of pool owners check the safety of their pool gate once a year. You should not be able to open a gate without activating the release mechanism, which should be out of the reach of toddlers, additionally, the gate should self-close and selflatch without assistance.

A few minutes is all it takes for pool owners to check that their pool fences and gates are in good working order. This simple routine done regularly could help save the life of a child.

Safety checklist for pool gates

• Gates should open outwards, away from the pool

• Latch release knob should be out of reach of toddlers under five years old (check local codes/standards for minimum requirements)

• Fence should be at a minimum height

• Gates must be self-closing and self-latching

• Fence perimeter should have

adequate distance from other climbable objects or structures

• Gate hinges are reliable, tension-adjustable, self-closing and rust-free

• Latch cannot be key-locked in the “open” position

• Latch cannot be opened using implements or force

• Latch must be adjustable horizontally and vertically to accommodate gate movement

• Maximum clearance from finished ground surface is no more than 4”

• Gate will latch from any position, including from resting on the latching mechanism

• Gate complies with all relevant Codes/Standards and legislation for pool safety

• Incorporate multiple layers of protection

It is critical to check your local pool codes for compliance, as local codes may vary. Visit www. us.ddtech.com and www.ndpa.org for more information on pool safety and compliance.

—D&D Technologies

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.

Girls Inc. Of Long Island Receives $150,000 Grant

Girls Inc. of Long Island is excited to announce that it has received a $150,000 grant from Bank of America to help young girls break gender barriers and improve workforce equity on Long Island. The funding will help launch the new Bold Future Leaders (BFL) initiative, a weekly community program and summer leadership series that fosters bold, successful futures for high school girls (grades 9-12).

According to a recent survey by the Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA-LI), an advocacy organization that promotes economic development on Long Island, one-third of the 200 executives polled cited workforce challenges as a great concern. Through a focus on leadership development, economic literacy, and college and career preparedness, Girls Inc.’s BFL program aims to increase participants’ access and exposure to careers in historically male-dominated fields and close the gender gap in various industries, including STEM. Participants in the program will learn the importance of managing and taking steps toward self-reliance and success.

Girls Inc. of Long Island’s comprehensive and research-driven approach helps develop girls’ interpersonal relationships, leadership skills, essential life skills, and confidence, thus equipping girls to be our community’s next leaders and empowering them to be future change-makers on Long Island. BFL provides unique experiences for high school girls, including a private mock career fair that Girls Inc. hosted early this year. Participants came dressed for interviews, with their resumes, and networked with representatives from some of Long

Island’s biggest companies, such as Bank of America, Cox Media, and the NY Islanders.

“Girls need real-life exposure to unique and interesting careers that they wouldn’t normally have access to,” said Renee Flagler, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Long Island. “We’re excited and grateful to be partnering with Bank of America in their efforts to build a future generation of skilled, talented, and successful women.”

“Investing in women – from Bank of America employees to teens across Long Island – is vital for building a more equitable and sustainable future in the workplace,” said Marc Perez, President, Bank of America Long Island. “Supporting Girls Inc. of Long Island’s Bold Future

Leaders program will help cultivate the next generation of leaders by equipping young women with the skills and resources to achieve their professional dream.

In addition to BFL, Bank of America is partially funding Girls Inc. of Long Island’s first summer golf clinics for middle and high school girls. In the United States, some golf clubs still only allow men to become members. The discrimination that occurs in golf can create an unwelcoming environment for women interested in pursuing the sport, especially women of color. According to the Black Girls Golf Foundation, “African American women make up less than 1 percent of the golf industry workforce.” Despite the saturation of golf courses on

Long Island, these exclusive clubs remain largely inaccessible to girls and girls of color. During Girls Inc.’s two week-long summer golf clinics, participants will learn the ins and outs of golf – from the game itself to the surrounding industry and the world of women’s collegiate golf scholarships, dozens of which go unfilled due to the sport’s social and systemic barriers to entry.

With the generous support of Bank of America, the organization will continue to work to increase girls’ exposure to college and career opportunities, enabling them to have a pathway to success and Long Island employers to develop a new stream of future workers.

The Fresh Air Fund Is Looking For New Volunteer Host Families

Looking for volunteers on Long Island to host a New York City child

The Fresh Air Fund is looking for new volunteer families to host a New York City child, ages 8 to 14, for one week this summer with The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Towns program because a summer can last a lifetime. Enjoy the simple pleasures of summer when you host a Fresh Air child.

A Fresh Air visit to a volunteer host family is full of fun experiences like playing in the backyard, riding bicycles, swimming,

hiking, catching fireflies, gazing at the stars and making new friends. Volunteer host families live in small towns, suburban and rural communities along the East Coast. Every host family goes through a rigorous screening process including a home visit, background check, interview and reference check.

“Volunteer host families can create lifelong connections, gain new perspectives and make memories that will

last a lifetime. By volunteering as a host family on Long Island, New York, you will expand opportunities for New York City children living in underserved communities to help them learn, grow and thrive in the summer and beyond,” says Lisa Gitelson, The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer.

For more information about The Fresh Air Fund’s host volunteer program, please visit www.FreshAir.org/Host. Since its

founding in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free life-changing summer experiences in the outdoors to more than 1.8 million children from New York City’s underserved communities. Young people also participate in yearround leadership, career exploration and educational programs.

—Submitted by Fresh Air Fund

Girls Inc. Bold Future Leaders participants pose with Bank of America representatives at their mock career fair in February. (Photo by Girls, Inc.)

AROUND LONG ISLAND

Vanderbilt Opens Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition

The Vanderbilt Museum recently debuted Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies, the first exhibition of outdoor sculpture at the historic summer estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II. The exhibit will run through April 2024.

Wendy Klemperer’s sculptures—a haunting assemblage of animal forms that span imaginary, endangered, familiar, and exotic species—celebrate natural history and the nonhuman world through evocative interactions with the surrounding environment. Using materials salvaged from scrapyards, she composes ecological narratives that respond to the history and collections of Suffolk County’s first public park and museum. Her brilliant use of gestural lines captures the spectator’s attention and invites museumgoers to reflect on the relationship between an interest in animal life and the incessant push of human industry.

Wrought Taxonomies is the inaugural exhibition in the Vanderbilt Museum’s outdoor sculpture program and the institution’s second exhibition of contemporary art focused on the relationship between culture and animals.

The Vanderbilt Museum occupies the former Gold Coast estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II, the great-grandson of Corneilius Vanderbilt and a pioneer of American motorsport. Located in Centerport on the north shore of Long Island, it is renowned for its extensive marine and natural history collections, Spanish revival architecture, and picturesque parklands. All sculptures are viewable with general admission to the Museum grounds. Educational programs and workshops associated with themes and content of Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies will be offered throughout the exhibition. A special thanks is due to the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, whose generous support made Wrought Taxonomies possible.

—Submitted by the Vanderbilt Museum

The Vanderbilt Museum Presents Astronomy Day Science Demos, Hands-on Projects, Telescope Viewing

The Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium will celebrate Astronomy Day 2023 on Saturday, April 29 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Astronomy Day at the Vanderbilt is part of an international celebration of educational programs designed to engage audiences in the awe-inspiring fields of Earth and space science. Daytime activities are free to all visitors who pay general admission. Evening observing is free.

Daytime program – 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This Vanderbilt STEM education event will include exciting science, take-home materials, and engaging discussion about science and society. Participants will create nebula spin art, investigate constellations, explore craters, and much more!

These fun activities introduce guests to the ongoing research happening at NASA in the fields of Earth science, planetary

science, and astrophysics. Astronomy educators will perform free Earth science and astronomy demonstrations for adults and children. Toolkits for these demonstrations were developed by the National Informal Science Education Network (NISE NET).

There will be several sessions during the day where members of the Astronomical Society of Long Island, an astronomy club based at the Planetarium, will be offering a brief overview of what you should consider before buying a telescope. After the talk, club members will be available to answer questions and to understand your specific interests, budget, and goals. Times for the sessions will be posted so you can plan to attend at your convenience.

Evening program – 8:00 to 10:00 pm

The Reichert Planetarium Astronomy Educators and the Astronomical Society of Long Island will set up telescopes

in the Rose Garden adjacent to the Planetarium. Visitors will have a chance to see close-up views of the Moon and other celestial highlights in the nighttime sky. Telescopes are available to visitors of all ages and will be free.

Astronomical Society of Long Island member Ed Anderson will conduct brief sky tours to show you what can be seen with your eyes alone and how binoculars can enhance this experience. If you have binoculars of any size, you are invited to bring them. There will be a limited number available for use during the session. Ed will show you the proper way to adjust binoculars and use them to enhance your enjoyment of the sky.

Note: All daytime planetarium show tickets include general admission (access to the exhibits in the Vanderbilt Mansion, Marine Museum, all grounds and gardens, and our Astronomy Day celebration).

Photo by Alex Nuñez

Gericroix (Pegasus), 2023.

(Photo by Vanderbilt Museum)

Red Fox, 2020. (Photo by Vanderbilt Museum)

Leader of the Pack, 2014.

(Photo by Vanderbilt Museum)

WE LOVE OUR PETS The Great Anton Media Group Fish Adventure

ften when people think of goldfish, they think of round fish bowls, carnivals and a low maintenance pet. And that’s what Jennifer Corr, an editor here at Anton Media Group, thought about goldfish too, until 2017 when her life turned upside down.

“It started with getting in a car to head to a Christian camp in Upstate New York as a camp counselor,” Corr said. “Another counselor was driving, and I looked down and saw a giant plastic bag of goldfish in a tote bag. The counselor planned to use them in a game for campers. I was worried for them, but the other counselor had assured me he had a tank ready for when we got upstate. Driving upstate on a hot summer day is hard enough for humans, but imagine being a goldfish stuck in a sealed plastic bag. Fish started floating to the top, lifeless, one by one.”

Once they all got to the camp, it was revealed there was no tank. All there was to use was some old containers.

“The other counselor told me to save the dead fish for the game too, so I started separating the fish by dead or alive in the containers inside the chapel,” Corr said.

“When the game was over, the counselor brought the live fish to me and told me they’re my responsibility now. And it was my duty to toss the dead fish in the dumpster. As the days went by, the fish died one by one, and on the last day, I was told I had to take the last fish home. I named him Hope.”

Hope had quite an excruciating ride home in a car with no heater, but he made it through. He went from a food container to a round fishbowl, to a five-gallon tank and eventually a 10-gallon tank.

“I didn’t want him to be lonely, so I got another one, but then Hope got sick and died,

The miraculous journey from tank to pond

so I had to buy another fish, and so on,” Corr said.

“This went on for seven years.”

But eventually, with a fish named Razorback, Corr decided not to buy another fish to end this fish dynasty.

But Razorback decided to live for four years.

“Being alone, besides having some tiny cory catfish and snails share the tank, Razorback grew huge,” Corr said.

“He also seemed too smart for his lifestyle, as he would get excited when he thought he

was going to be fed. So when I heard my fellow editor’s father had a koi pond, I thought I would ask if he would be willing to take it.”

“While the majority of the fish are koi, some are goldfish or a mix,” said Julie Prisco, an editor at Anton Media Group. “[My father Charles Prisco] started out with a small pond in his backyard with only a few koi fish. After learning more about how to maintain a healthy pond environment for koi, he expanded his pond. The new and improved pond is about 16 feet

wide, goes as deep as four feet, and is as shallow as 18 inches. The pond has two waterfalls, bubblers and a filtration system to keep the water clean. The pond has been running smoothly for six years now, with some six-year-old fish and a few four and five-year-old fish that were born in the pond.”

April 3 was moving day for Razorback. Corr, with the help of her father, put him in a travel container. Both were splashed in the process. And Corr set him down on the floor of the passenger seat.

“I was seven minutes away from work, exiting onto the Meadowbrook State Parkway, and while I was inside a tunnel, all of a sudden all the cars in front of me came to a screeching halt due to an accident up ahead,” Corr said. “That’s when I heard the splash.”

Corr looked down and saw the travel tank was on its side, and Razorback was flopping around. She put the travel tank on her lap, while navigating Nassau County traffic, and began emptying any water bottles she could find in her car. Luckily, due to her laziness in bringing things in at the end of the day, she had enough to sustain him.

After making a frenzied trip to Target, and then PetSmart, for treated fish water, he somehow survived and became the most popular guy at Anton Media Group that day. After the editorial meeting, Prisco brought Razorback to his new life.

Since that day, Prisco reports that Razorback is doing very well.

“Razorback is the newest addition to the pond and has blended in smoothly,” Prisco said. “He darted around the large pond in a frenzy for the first few days, becoming acclimated with the new space and new fish friends. After about a week, Razorback adjusted to the size and has mellowed out. [Charles] Prisco often spots him following the largest fishes closely, presumably learning their routines and the ways of the new pond.”

Razorback in Anton Media Group’s editorial office (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Charles Prisco’s pond (Photo by Julie Prisco)

SPONSORED BY ORLIN & COHEN

Brendan O’Brien: Excelling In Baseball And Academics

BY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

An excellent student and athlete, Brendan O’Brien, a junior at Oyster BayEast Norwich High School, was an obvious choice when the district was asked to highlight a great athlete. O’Brien was called up to play for the Varsity Boy’s Baseball team last year, and will continue to play for the team through next year. He is playing under Coach Jeffrey Schiereck.

“He’s a very large influence in our athletics across the board,” said Eric Bramoff, the director of phys ed, health and athletics at the Oyster BayEast Norwich Central School District. “He personifies the idea of student athlete. He takes his grades very seriously.

He is a model student in terms of behavior... He’s really a role model for not only the students of Oyster Bay, but he’s also a role model for his younger brother [a freshman on the varsity team] who is coming up through the ranks.”

O’Brien began playing baseball when he was around 5-years-old.

“I’ve always been a big Yankee fan,” O’Brien said. “It’s just something I’ve always had on my T.V. Baseball has just been something I’ve always been doing.”

And a successful career it’s been. The following are his stats:

-Batting average: .526

-Slugging percentage: .789

-RBIs: 6

-On-base percentage: .571

Pitching stats

-2.00 ERA

-1-0

-7 innings pitched

-4 strike outs

And in the future, O’Brien plans to play in college. “I really love it and I can’t see myself giving it up anytime soon,”

O’Brien said. He added that he is considering pursuing a business major.

But right now, O’Brien said his favorite subject is history. He said he has a 3.9 GPA.

“We’re hoping this is going to be one of our Ivy League baseball players,” said Bramoff.

“We are proud of him.”

Brendan O’Brien, a junior at Oyster Bay-East Norwich High School.

(Photos courtesy Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District Athletics)

IN MEMORIAM JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

Joe Pep: He Sure Did Make Us Proud

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Joe Pepitone, the Brooklyn-born New York Yankee All Star, was the team’s link from its championship run in the early 1960s to its agonizing dry period in the mid-and-late 1960s to the rebuilding process that resulted in more titles in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Pepitone, who died last month at age 82, was born to be a Yankee. He was a lefty slugger from the sandlots of Brooklyn with a swing tailor-made for Yankee Stadium’s short right field porch. At Brooklyn’s Manual Training High School, Pepi was being touted as a possible $100,000 bonus baby signee. In the Fifties, New York public schools were already deep into their Blackboard Jungle phase. Zip guns were all the craze among feral youth. One day, one of Pepitone’s classmates was showing off his newly constructed piece. The boy actually stuck the gun in the 17-year-old Pepitone’s stomach---and pulled the trigger. The teenager survived. However, his value as a ballplayer went down markedly. He ended up signing with the Bombers for $20,000. Something else happened. Three days after the shooting, Pepitone’s father, then only 39, died of a heart attack.

Pepitone didn’t disappoint. After several years in the minors, the husky first baseman was ready for the big leagues. Pepitone played part time for the 1962 World Championship team. The Yankee front office thought so highly of Pepitone that they were willing to trade veteran first baseman Bill Skowron to the Los Angeles Dodgers to make room for Pepi.

It worked. Pepitone was popular with fans and teammates alike. He was productive too, belting 27 home runs, while driving in 89 runs in 1963 and 28 home runs and a career-high 100 runs batted in 1964. The Bombers kept winning, taking the American League flag in the 1962, 1963, and 1964, while snagging the 1962 World Series in a heart-stopping 1-0 seventh game win over the San Francisco Giants.

Pepitone at first, along with Bobby Richardson at second, Clete Boyer at third and Tony Kubek at shortstop formed the Yanks’ Million Dollar infield, a name inspired by the Million Dollar Movie highly popular among New York viewers in those pre-cable television days.

Pepitone was also part of a new breed of athletes that began to emerge in the

mid-1960s: Hipsters who sported long hair, while wearing expensive threads, questioning authority (including their coaches), and performing with a certain flair on the field. Pepitone was no Muhammad Ali or Joe Namath. He did make a name for himself by introducing blow driers into locker rooms. No greasy kid stuff---and no Brylcreem, either.

The man had a troubled life. After losing the 1964 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, Yankee management panicked, firing first year manager Yogi Berra, a short-sighted move that haunted the franchise for years. (When the Yanks did win the American flag in 1976, skipper Billy Martin had brought back Yogi as a bench coach.) Overnight, the Yankees grew old. Richardson, Kubek, and Whitey Ford retired. Boyer, Roger Maris, and Elston Howard were traded. After the 1966 season, Mickey Mantle was moved to first base. An unhappy Pepitone was transferred to centerfield. The man didn’t care for the moves, but he was the team’s most productive player in those nightmare years when it all seemed to be coming apart: The South Bronx neighborhood, New York City, and the country itself.

Pepitone was a good soldier. By 1969, the great Mantle had retired, itself a liberating experience. The Yanks could now begin anew. That year, Pepitone played with Bobby Murcer, Roy White and Thurman Munson, young stars who would lead the team to winning records in the early 1970s, themselves a prelude to the championship run of 1976 to 1981.

In 1969, Pepitone was traded to the Houston Astros for Curt Blefary, another lefty hitter who was also a native New Yorker. Blefary didn’t work out. But the trade set certain wheels in motion. Danny Cater was the Yanks’ first baseman in both 1970 and 1971. After a subpar ’71, Cater was traded to Boston for ace reliever Sparky Lyle. That was the pivotal deal that sent the Bombers on the path to late 1970s glory.

Pepitone played for Houston, the Chicago Cubs, and the Atlanta Braves before ending his career with a stint with the Yakult Atoms in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League.

In his 1975 mournful and brutally honest autobiography, Joe You Coulda Made Us Proud, the man recalled an exchange with his grandfather. The crusty old timer gave his grandson a five-dollar bill. “Congratulations,” the old man said (as best can recall). “Take this money, go to the butcher, buy some brains and put them in your head.”

What? This then-teenage reader thought. No shame in the Japan Leagues. Numerous major leagues have made that

same trek once their time in the American big leagues comes to an end. Alas, Pepitone spent less than a year in Japan.

Out of baseball, Pepitone struggled. He suffered several brush-ups with the law, being arrested for drug possession and even spending time at New York’s notorious Riker’s Island. A 2018 profile on Pepitone in New York magazine revealed a man still suffering emotional scars from that long-ago incident at Manual High School. Pepi recalled that a physician told him: “A fraction of an inch either way, you would have been dead.” “To this day, I don’t like talking about it, because it brings back really bad memories,” he told New York. “As I say, I was 17 years old.”

Joe Pepitone was a Yankee. And a proud one. Always popular, too. Yankee fans remained forever grateful for the way he carried the banner of Yankee pride in those dark days of the late 1960s. He later served as a Yankees’ coach. He received moving ovations at annual Old Timers Day events, themselves the final of rite of passage for any Yankee great.

It was the fans way of saying: Joe Pep, you always made us proud.

PSEG Long Island Reminds You To Call 811 Before You Start A Project

PSEG Long Island reminds customers, contractors and excavators that the law requires them to call 811 before digging to ensure underground pipelines, conduits, wires and cables are properly marked out.

Every digging project, even a small project like planting a tree or building a deck, requires a call to 811. It’s the law. The call is free and the mark-out service is free. The call must be made whether the job is being performed by a professional or a do-it-yourselfer. Striking an underground electrical line can cause serious injury and outages, and result in repair costs and fines.

“It’s spring once again, and people on Long Island and in the Rockaways are starting outdoor improvements to their homes and businesses. Calling 811 ahead of time helps protect underground utility lines and, more importantly, the safety of anyone digging,” said Michael Sullivan, PSEG Long Island’s vice president of Transmission and Distribution Operations. “Customers are getting the message. Last year there were more than 215,000 mark-out requests in our service area, and so far this year, there have been more than 44,000 requests to 811.”

According to Common Ground Alliance, a member-driven association of nearly 1,800 individuals and 250 member companies in every facet of the underground utility industry, 40% of active diggers in North America do not call 811 because they think their project is too shallow to require it. All digging projects require a call to 811.

A free call to 811 in the service area automatically connects the caller to the local New York one-call center, which collects information about digging projects. The onecall center then provides the information to the utility companies, which send representatives to mark the locations of nearby underground lines with flags, paint or both. Once lines have been properly marked and

confirmation from all of the utility owners is received, projects may proceed as long as caution is used around the marked areas.

Here’s important information to consider:

• Underground gas and electric lines are everywhere, even on private properties. These facilities can be easily damaged if dug into, with the potential to cause serious injuries. Digging into these lines can also disrupt vital utility services, resulting in costly delays, expensive repairs and environmental or property damage.

• Whether the job is a major home improvement project or something as simple as a fence or mailbox post, a call to 811 must be placed beforehand to determine where it’s safe to dig.

• Call 811 at least two business days before the commencement of each job to have underground pipes, wires and equipment located. Each facility owner must respond by providing the excavator with a positive confirmation indicating that marks are in place where utility lines are buried or that there are no existing facilities in the area of the proposed work. This service is free of charge.

• Be sure to wait until all of the utilities have responded. Don’t dig until lines have been marked or you have received confirmation that the area is clear of facilities.

• Property owners must maintain and respect the marks. Always hand dig within 2 feet of marked lines to find the existing facilities before using mechanized equipment.

• If gas lines are damaged or there is a gas smell when excavating, call 911 immediately from a safe area.

Calling before you dig is more than a good idea − it’s the law. Additional information, including a booklet on safe excavating practices and the protection of underground facilities, can be found on the PSEG Long Island website.

—Submitted by PSEGLI

PSEG Long Island Partners With Google For Energy Savings

PSEG Long Island has partnered with Google to provide customers the gift of energy savings. Customers can get a Google Nest Thermostat at a price 93% below retail value. The promotion runs from now into July.

With a smart thermostat, customers can create a heating and cooling schedule from their smart device that can help them remain comfortable and save money.

OFFER DETAILS: Now through July 10, 2023, customers can visit PSEG Long

Island’s Energy Efficiency Marketplace at www.psegliny.com/marketplace to get a Google Nest Thermostat ($129.99 retail value) for $9.99. The customer whose name is associated with the account must place the order. Please check your most recent electric bill. Each qualifying residential customer account is limited to one smart thermostat. The customer is responsible for all applicable sales tax and shipping charges.

—Submitted by PSEGLI

WORD FIND

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

HOROSCOPES

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 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

By Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re aware that people are constantly sending signals to the world about who they are, what they aspire to and where they’d like to t in. You’ll note how much of this comes through what a person chooses to wear and say, and you’ll make tweaks to your own style this week, too.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). ere’s a time and place for sharing your feelings. In some friend groups, family cultures and societies, it seems like there’s a ban on feelings. Finding the appropriate time and place to share will be key, though with the right people you’ll feel so unconditionally accepted that it will be unnecessary to manage emotions with such strictness.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You want to be around people you admire today. Tune into how you feel around them. In the early stages, it’s enough to think someone is wonderful, but it’s not worth continuing unless you also feel wonderful around them. It’s good to remind yourself that how you feel around someone is as important as how you feel about them.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). From bud to husk, every stage has its own kind of loveliness. You like the sort of things that don’t need much maintenance -- things that grow on their own and are beautiful in their natural state without a lot of interference from you. Usually, it’s a function of being well matched to the environment.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It would be silly to blame yourself for the negativity bias that’s physiological. Emphasizing the negative has kept humans alive for thousands of years. is week, you’ll counteract the tendency by building positive and lovely things up to a memorable level. If you make it a little weird, on purpose or on accident, it will be all the more unforgettable.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your needs are important. If you dare to pursue them, this week provides you with what’s required for their ful llment, so there’s no need to put it o any longer. Furthermore, the help available is worth paying for. e learning curve is steep. Experts can do it in a fraction of the time it would take you, and for a small price.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). e more you take on, the more you can do. No one becomes strong, fast or capable by pacing themselves perfectly. ings are too easy, you learn. ings are too hard, you learn. No one can control the ow of life, but you’ll become impressively adept at managing it well.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). In matters of self-esteem, one size does not t all. Two people could enact the very same behavior with drastically di erent takeaways. Esteem is a matter of evaluation, and each person’s rating system is highly personal. is week, your self-esteem is on the rise, not necessarily because of what you do but because of how you view and value these actions.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re well aware of the precariousness of identifying too strongly with possessions. Anything that can be owned is likely to change hands, change value, require maintenance and deteriorate over time. It is possible to derive pleasure and joy from possessions as long as you accept their ephemeral nature as a given.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People aren’t trying to get in the way of your work, and yet their very presence can di use or shift your focus and cause you to be far less productive. e best way to deal with distractions is to take measures to prevent them from happening in the rst place.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Because you are too close to your talent, routine and manner to see what it looks like from the outside, you tend to undervalue your contributions. Don’t be so hard on yourself. What you think of as mistakes, others embrace as part of your o beat style. You’re more e ective than you think.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). e natural world does not run according to justice, righteousness or deservedness. Rights are a human construct. And while it seems that certain dignities should be a birthright, there is no point in history that this has been the case for all. is you’ll take as a calling. You’ll work for equality.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

is solar year brings surges of pride and pleasure in achievements of all kinds. Even as you go for the ones that come with certi cates and remuneration, the wonder of intangible triumphs isn’t lost on you. In retrospect, your favorite accomplishments will be feats of the heart. You will often nd it easy to focus in on what you want, as it will often be in full bloom before you. More highlights: an inspired trade, a stellar connection pays o in an unusual way, and rich rewards for embodying the virtues of compassion, modesty and frugality.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

A day at the zoo

Solution: 19 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 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

A day at the zoo

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

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

CONTRACT BRIDGE — BY STEVE BECKER

FOR RELEASE THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023

CONTRACT BRIDGE

It’s all very logical

Solution:

By Steve Becker

you win with the nine. It is here that you make your bid for fame and glory. You lead the jack of diamonds, and when West covers with the queen, you let him hold the trick!

This unusual maneuver is not an act of charity on your part; rather, it is an avoidance play designed to prevent East from gaining the lead later with a club and playing a spade through your king. Nothing can be lost by allowing West to win the diamond jack with the queen, as you are merely exchanging your club loser for a diamond loser.

The great advantage of ducking West’s queen is that you can now try for a 3-3 club division without running the risk of East gaining the lead with a club.

king

diamonds. Your potential losers are two spades, a diamond and a club, but there’s a chance of escaping a spade loser if the clubs are divided 3-3 or, failing that, if East has the ace of spades.

Your best move at trick one is to duck the king of diamonds. You hope West will shift to a spade or a lead a low diamond, which you’d let run to your jack. Either of these plays would solve your problem immediately.

But West shifts to a trump, which

Regardless of what West does next, you are home. Let’s say he plays another diamond. You discard a club on the ace, cash the ace of trump and A-K of clubs and ruff a club. When the suit divides 3-3, you cross to dummy with a trump and discard a spade on the seven of clubs to make the contract.

Observe that if you fail to make the avoidance play, you go down one against correct defense. Observe also that even if the clubs fail to divide evenly, you can still get back to dummy with a trump to try leading a spade to the king as your last resort.

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

AUTO / MOTORCYCLE

***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT

YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

Drive Out Breast Cancer: Donate a car today! The benefits of donating your car or boat: Fast Free Pickup - 24hr Response

Tax Deduction - Easy To Do! Call 24/7: 855-905-4755

Wheels For Wishes benefiting MakeA-Wish® Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever!

Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100%

Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: (877) 798-9474. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www. wheelsforwishes.org.

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM!

Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain programs for qualified applicants. Call CTI for details! 844-947-0192 (M-F 8am-6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING!

Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

HERE CALL 516-403-5170

ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-869-5361

(Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

HEALTH / WELLNESS

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed.

CALL NOW! 855-413-9574

Arborvitae 6-foot Reduced to $125/ each Free Installation, Free Delivery. Fast growing, High-quality Beautiful & Bushy!

Order now to reserve for spring delivery. Lowcosttreefarm.com 518-536-1367

BEST

BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 866-393-3636 Don’t Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100 OFF POPULAR PLANS. 833-398-0526

DIRECTV. New 2-Year Price Guarantee. The most live MLB games this season, 200+ channels and over 45,000 on-demand titles. $84.99/mo for 24 months with CHOICE Package. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

Pro Piano Man

Tuning, repairs, restorations, moving and storage.

Selling pianos starting at $399.

Buying Yamaha® and glossy black/white pianos.

Town Completes Beautification Of Historic Gregory Museum In Hicksville

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilwoman Vicki Walsh announced the competition of building beautifications at the Gregory Museum in Hicksville. Over the past six months, the Town of Oyster Bay renovated this National Historical Place and strengthened the structural integrity of the 125+ year old building. Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “The Gregory Museum is an important part of Hicksville’s history and a unique place for exploring science. During a trip to the museum, visitors can see fossils, mineral specimens, preserved butterflies, and

artifacts from local history. We were happy to invest the resources needed to keep this building thriving for years to come.”

Town of Oyster Bay employees supported the structure preventing it from sagging, replaced rotted window sills, front porch decking, gutters and soffits, as well as exterior trim and siding while maintaining the original design. A fresh coat of paint was applied to the entire structure, thereby restoring its original color.

Councilwoman Vicki Walsh stated, “On a field trip to the Hicksville Gregory Museum, students of all ages can learn about earth

science. Groups may examine rocks under a microscope, explore weathering and erosion, go on a fossil hunt, or explore the evolution of insect life cycles and characteristics through time. We’re glad to keep this experience alive for generations to come.”

The Gregory Museum is located at 1 Heitz Place in Hicksville, and open to visitors Tuesday – Friday, from 9:30am to 4:30pm, as well as weekends from 1pm – 5pm. For more information, please call (516) 8227505, email mail@gregorymuseum.org or visit www.gregorymuseum.org

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

Skylar Lynch Collects Toys, Supplies And More For Animal Rescue

For 3 years in a row, Skylar’s birthdays have become the unofficial birthday for the Last Hope Homeless Cats & Dogs.

Skylar Lynch does not request gifts for herself at her Birthday Celebrations. Instead, she asks guests, friends & relatives to bring supplies, food, toys, leashes, collars, beds, treats or something else to benefit our pets awaiting adoption.

When she turned 7, Skylar & her brother Luke set up a table in front of their house asking for pet gifts. Each donor received their Mom Ilene’s yummy rainbow cookies as a thank you.

When Skylar turned 8, party goers

brought presents for Last Hope pets. Some gave monetary gifts.

This year for her 9th birthday, Skylar had a graffiti shirt craft party and everyone filled her house & the party place with supplies for Last Hope.

She also received over $400 in cash & checks so she & her Mom could go to pet supply stores & shop for Last Hope pets.

On Saturday, Skylar filled the Last Hope lobby benches with the bounty from her birthday.

After the big shopping trip, she had leftover cash for Last Hope too. Each birthday delivery deserves a grand

tour of our Adoption Center so the pets can thank Skylar “in person”. Her family loves cats & have adopted 2 from Last Hope. Skylar is an exceptionally kind young lady. We are looking forward to having Skylar become a Last Hope volunteer after a few more birthdays.

—Story courtesy of Last Hope Inc. on Facebook

Skylar Lynch (left) celebrates a successful collection of toys for Last Hope. (Photo courtesy of Last Hope Inc. on Facebook)

(Left to right) Hicksville Community Council President Harry Single, Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilwoman Vicki Walsh (Contributed photo)

Fogarty, James W., 89, formerly of Williston Park, passed away March 11, 2023. Retired FDNY firefighter, and proud U.S. Air Force Veteran. Beloved husband of the late Joan. Loving father of Donna Lang (Edward), Patricia Judd (the late Frederick), Marianne, James, Kathleen Boyle (James) and the late Eileen. Cherished grandfather of Kris, Dana (Matthew), Timothy, Kelly, Erin, Michael, Shannon, and Sean. Dear brother of Michael. Visitation and Funeral Services were held Wednesday, March 15th, at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc. Interment was held Thursday, March 16th, at Long Island National Cemetery, Pinelawn.

BETHPAGE

Nicholas “Nick” Fortuna, 68, passed away on March 11, 2023, in Bethpage, NY. He was born July 6, 1954, to Nicholas A. and Theresa Belgio Fortuna who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by his granddaughter Amelia. Nick is survived by his longtime partner Sherry Graer, his children, and their spouses Frank (Vanessa), Jason, Amanda (Philip), and Cory (Heather); his grandchildren Cody, Frank (Boomer), Tyler, Jameson, Harrison, and Allyson; his great grand-child Odin, and his sister Lucille Fortuna. Visitation and Funeral Services were held Saturday, March 18th, at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc. Cremation was private.

Totoro-O’Connor, Frances, 62, of Bethpage passed away March 12, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Gregory. Loving mother of Gary Luniewski (Alexa) and Amie Abbondondolo (Anthony). Cherished grandmother of Gino and baby Sophie on the way. Adored “Cat-Mom” to Tiger. Dear friend to many. A Memorial Mass was held Friday, March 17th, at St. Martin of Tours RC Church, Bethpage. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

Nunemaker, Edna M., 93, of Bethpage passed away March 15, 2023. Beloved wife of the late William. Loving mother of Barbara Bove (Frank), James (Norma), Carolyn (William Osmundsen), Deborah

McIntosh (Robert), Maryann McSweeney (Gerard) and Karen Keller (James). Adored grandmother of Michael, Peter, Justin (Eric), Amanda, Sean, and Ryan. Cherished great-grandmother of Ethan, Breah, Keegan, Owen, Peter, and Ryan. A Funeral Mass was held Friday, March 17th, at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Interment followed The Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

Beery, Marion Louise, 82, longtime resident of Bethpage passed away March 15, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Wallace. Loving mother of Stephen (Janice), Karen Conroy (Pat) and Deedee Sakmann (William). Cherished Nan of Stephanie (Justin), Gregory, Ashlin, Christina (Dean), Shelby (Brandon), Ceara, Sarah and Alana. Dear sister of Janice (the late Warren) and Bert (Toni). Treasured “Animal Mom” of Pepper, Nell, Elvis, and Prince and reunited in Heaven with her many animals throughout the years. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

Spataro, Richard, 64, of Bethpage passed away unexpectedly on March 15, 2023. Beloved husband of Viviana. Loving father of Jeanette Spataro (Neil Russo), Saralyn Pinedo (Jason), Richard Spataro and John Spataro (Nicole Simpson). Adored grandfather of Joseph James. Dear brother of Charles and the late Stephen. Also survived by his “adopted daughter” Natosha Powell, “adopted son” Nicholas Duff, nephews Robert, David and Raymond Spataro, cousins, as well as extended family and friends. A Funeral Mass was held Wednesday, March 22nd, at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Cremation was private. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

Cervo, Joseph A., 94, of Bethpage passed away March 18, 2023. Beloved husband of 73 years to Ellen. Loving father of Janice Altilio (Tony), Victoria Cervo (Stacey) and the late Christine Miale (Peter). Cherished

Family Owned and Operated

grandfather of Matthew, Michael, Alexandra and Jacquelyn. Adored great-grandfather of Benjamin, Samantha, Molly, Charlotte, Joey and Kory. A Funeral Mass was held Friday, March 24th, at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Interment following at Pinelawn Memorial Park. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

Harvey, Charles A., Sr., 91, of Bethpage passed away March 20, 2023. Beloved husband of 59 years to Arlene. Loving father of William Harvey (Cynthia) and the late Charles A. Harvey, Jr. (Christa Broullon). Dear brother of Phyllis Meehan (the late James), Edward Harvey (Janet), Lucille Swancer (Steve) and the late Stanley (Evelyn). Cherished uncle of many nieces and nephews. Proud Korean War Navy Veteran. Longtime avionics technician for Federal Express at JFK Airport. A Funeral Mass was held Saturday, March 25th, at St. Martin of Tours RC Church. Interment with military honors followed at Pinelawn Memorial Park. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

FARMINGDALE

Walter Robert Strubel was born on May 7, 1930 in Long Island City to Selma and Karl. Walter served in the Dental Corp of the United States Army in Germany from 1956-58. Upon returning, he opened his private practice in South Farmingdale for 40 years. He was a member of Kiwanis, Farmingdale Planning Board and Church Council at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Farmingdale. Walter was married to Norma for 70 years, with three children, Eric (Tammy), Tina (Mike) and Lisa. Walter adored his seven grandchildren with all his heart. His years blessed him as well with a beautiful great granddaughter. Funeral arrangements entrusted to and services held at McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home in Farmingdale.

Bihary, Joanne, 75, lifelong Farmingdale resident passed away on March 15, 2023. Retired NY Telephone Company Supervisor. Dedicated volunteer and trustee of the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society.

Loving sister of Bruce and Gregory (Sharon). Dearest aunt of Diana, Kristen, Michael and Joseph and greataunt of 6 great-nieces and great-nephews. A Funeral Service was held Monday, March 20th, at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc. Interment followed at St. Charles Cemetery.

Neus, Steven H., 73, of South Farmingdale passed away on March 19, 2023. Beloved husband of almost 50 years to Wendy. Loving father of Stephanie Crocco (Charles). Cherished grandfather of Andrew. Adored son of Ethel and the late Charles. Dear brother of Betty Bee (Robert). Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Private Cremation arrangements entrusted to Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc.

James H. Jacquette age 87 of Farmingdale on March 20, 2023. Married the love of his life, Kathleen Penncavage in 1969 and shared 52 years of marriage together until her recent death in August of last year. Devoted father and father-in-law of Cynthia Jacquette Hopkins (Louis), and Matthew (Jessica). His grandchildren Dominic, Eliana, and Reece, and Great Granddaughter Bonnie. Brother of William (Janet), Yvonne, Jeanne (Bob), Gerry, Bob (Ana), and Arlene, and brother-in-law to Nancy Penncavage and George Penncavage (Pat). He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Arrangements entrusted to and services were held at McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home, Inc. 385 Main St. Farmingdale.

MASSAPEQUA

Mills, Franca Maria Ida, 94, of North Massapequa, passed away unexpectedly, March 11, 2023. Reunited in heaven with her beloved husband “G.I.” Edward H. Mills. Loving mother of Jean C. Mills, Diane S. Abzug (Robert), and Michael E. Mills (Margaretmary). Devoted grandmother of Michael J. Rodolico, Scott E. Rodolico (Brenda Franco), Stephanie N. Schapiro (Evan), and Jordan E. Abzug. A Funeral Service was held Wednesday, March 15th, at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc. Interment followed at St. Charles Cemetery.

POB Chamber SpringFest Returns May 7th

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce is excited for its annual festival to return on Sunday, May 7th with added attractions for 2023: Rides, a dunk tank and a GaGa tournament. Along with festival favorites like pickleball, a petting zoo and pony rides, a variety of vendors and tantalizing taste treats, it will be festival fun for everyone!

Held outdoors at the Mid-Island Y JCC from 10:00am to 5:00pm (rain or shine) for the second time, POB Chamber President David Weinstein is grateful to Rick Lewis, CEO of the JCC and its staff for allowing the festival to grow in size and variety this year. One of the hearts of the POB community, the JCC grounds are almost double the size of the festival’s original location for many years, the

In Massapequa:

Residents and parents can help prevent prescription drug misuse by turning in unused or expired medication for safe disposal at Massapequa Takes Action Coalition’s (MTAC) Spring Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Massapequa High School East Driveway - District Office Parking Lot.

MTAC is working together with our nation’s annual drug take back program along with its Sector Partners, the

Be sure to visit the chamber booth for exciting charity raffle prizes! (Contributed photo)

POB Library.

The backbone of events like this are the many sponsors who generously signed on early to help support the chamber’s second annual SpringFest. The three

Platinum Sponsors of SpringFest 2023 are SRG Residential, PLI Builders and TD Bank. Gold Sponsors are the Law Office of Andrew Lamkin PC and Kimco Realty. Silver Sponsors include: State Farm Insurance/ Ned Marzigliano Agency, Straight Forward Media, Mathnasium Plainview/ Hicksville, The Sophia Valsamos Foundation, Northwell Health, Plainview Hospital, CarJoy USA, Family College Experience, Douglas Elliman/ Joe Toscano, Madison Mortgage Services Inc., Busto’s Martial Arts, Men on Move, Lenox Hill Radiology, Mosquito Joe, Central Island Healthcare, The Residences at Plainview, Orchard Estate of Woodbury. SpringFest chair Eric Molbegat: “The chamber is grateful for their generosity and that of ALL our sponsors who help assure the success of this event.”

Spring Drug Take Back Day

Massapequa Elks Lodge #2162, Massapequa Public Schools and Nassau County Police Department to promote healthy families in the Massapequas.

Instructions for drug take back: keep all medications in original containers; block out name for anonymity - do not cross out medication information. Please note: syringes & sharps WILL be accepted in collaboration with Community Action for Social Justice (CASJ) . Unable to attend? Residents can drop off unused or expired meds (no liquids

or ointments) any time/day at any Nassau County Police Department Precinct.

In Levittown:

The Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC) has scheduled their Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 29th, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Wisdom Lane Middle School, 120 Center Lane, Levittown, in partnership with the Hispanic Alliance for Prevention.

The program is anonymous and the

Visit the show mobile! A major attraction at the chamber festival is the showcasing of local talent from area martial arts, dance and theatre studios as well as POB JFK High School. An energetic DJ will emcee and keep the performances and music flowing, entertaining the throng of festival goers. The chamber booth will be buzzing with activity. A lineup of tempting raffle baskets will be displayed. All proceeds from the raffle will go directly to the chamber’s current charity partner, The Sophia Valsamos Foundation which raises awareness for youth mental health. For more information about Sophia’s story, visit tsvf.org.

For more information on SpringFest, visit pobcoc.com.

—Submitted by Barbara Mars

coalition is asking that all personal information be removed from the label to ensure privacy. Liquid medications and syringes will not be accepted at this event; however, acceptable medications can be anonymously dropped off anytime at all Nassau County Police Precincts and LCAC will provide resources on syringe drop-off locations. If you cannot make Saturday’s event, residents can drop off medications at the 8th Precinct at 299 Hicksville Road in Bethpage.

—Submitted by MTAC and LCAC

WATER SYSTEM FLUSHING NOTICE Incorporated Village of Farmingdale

The Incorporated Village of Farmingdale will be flushing water mains throughout its service area, as a part of our regular Distribution System Maintenance Program. This program is designed so as to remove any accumulation of dissolved materials which may have settled in the mains. Slight water pressure variations or discolored water conditions may occur during this period. Water uses, such as laundering of clothes, may be affected due to coloration of water. Please note that flushing of hydrants throughout the Village will commence on Friday, May 5th, 2023 at approximately 10 PM and will be finished by approximately 6:30 AM on Saturday, May 6th, 2023.

REMEMBER, THE WATER IS ABSOLUTELY SAFE TO DRINK.

If you have questions, please call Village Hall @ 516-249-0093 or visit our website at farmingdalevillage.com.

Honor Flight LI Taking Veterans To Visit Military Memorials

Honor Flight Long Island (HFLI), the iconic volunteer-run Veterans’ organization, is proud to announce resumption of regularly scheduled bi-annual flights to Washington, D.C., after two years of pandemic related restrictions. HFLI’s scheduled flight on Saturday, April 29, 2023, will take 47 United States Veterans to visit their military memorials, meet with service branch representatives, commiserate with fellow Veterans and exchange stories. Honor Flight’s mission is to honor fellow Long Islanders who served in the United States Armed Forces to preserve our freedoms, by providing free, one-day trips so Veterans can visit D.C.

According to Bill Jones, HFLI President, West Point 1972 Graduate and U.S. Army Veteran, “This special flight includes 38 Vietnam War Veterans who will receive long overdue recognition and thanks for their service,” Jones said. “They’ll be accompanied on this flight by two World War II Veterans and seven Korean War Veterans. What this flight really represents is a ‘Big Hug’ to all our Veterans from Honor Flight, their families and supporters, who make such flights possible,” Jones added.

Thanks to HFLI, these 47 Veterans will take a free, early-morning Southwest flight

to Washington, D.C. Departing from Islip MacArthur Airport at 6:05 a.m., Veterans and their Guardians will visit World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery for a Changing of the Guard, the Air Force Memorial and Iwo Jima Memorial. They return to Islip later that evening at 10:25 p.m. for a rousing welcome by the Nassau County Fire Fighters Pipe and

Drum Band, plus thunderous applause from hundreds of family and supporters!

Several Veterans embarking on this trip hail from The Nassau Observer area:

Edward Przedwiecki of Massapequa Park, Vietnam, Army SP5.

Joseph Sciortino of Massapequa Park, Vietnam veteran, Army SP4.

Allan Mallenbaum of Plainview, Korea veteran, Army PFC.

Joseph Iavaroni of Seaford, Korea veteran, Air Force S-Sgt.

Robert Magrino of Seaford, Vietnam veteran, Army SPC 4.

James O’Hara of Seaford, Vietnam veteran, US Army SPEC 4.

John O’Hara of Seaford, Vietnam veteran, Army SGT E-5.

Richard Colby of Seaford, Vietnam veteran, USMC Corporal.

HFLI is accepting applications from Veterans of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War. Long Island Veterans are encouraged to sign up by going to the website, www.honorflightlongisland.org. It’s important to submit an application, as that will insure placement on our list. Veterans fly for free, thanks to donations from across Long Island. They are accompanied by Guardians, able-bodied volunteers who donate $400

(tax deductible) to offset their travel costs. If there is no family member to act as a Guardian, Honor Flight has volunteers ready to step up for the privilege of escorting our heroes to their memorials. Questions can be answered by calling Jamie Bowden at (631) 702-2423 or by emailing Jamie at JBowden@ southamptontownny.gov.

About Honor Flight Network

The Honor Flight Network was formed in 2005 with a mission of honoring our nation’s World War II Veterans by flying them to visit the Washington, D.C. WWII Memorial dedicated in 2004. The Honor Flight Network is currently comprised of over 130 hubs throughout the country dedicated to carrying out the Honor Flight mission. In addition to WWII Veterans, the organization now transports those who served in the Korean War, Vietnam War, later conflicts and in special cases of terminal illness or injury, Veterans from more recent service eras. Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken more than 250,000 Veterans to Washington, D.C. For more information, visit honorflight.org.

—Submitted by Honor Flight Network, Long Island —Additional reporting by Lauren Feldman

Tennis Highlights From Farmingdale State

The Farmingdale State men’s tennis team earned a 9-0 shutout victory at Purchase College recently. The Rams move to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the Skyline Conference, while the Panthers dropped to 7-5, 2-3.

FSC rolled through doubles play with senior Mark Baker (Baldwin, N.Y.) and freshman Ryan Hendel (North Merrick, N.Y.) earning an 8-5 decision in the top position, junior Alan Sabovic (Bohemia, N.Y.) and senior Muhammad Sawar (Brentwood, N.Y.) taking an 8-4 win in the second slot, and junior Ethan Cintron (Bayside, N.Y.) and senior Matthew Olkhovetsky (Great Neck, N.Y.) picking up an 8-2 victory at third

doubles.

Farmingdale State would win all six singles matches in straight sets as they went on for the 9-0 Skyline win.

Baker defeated John Szuper 6-2, 6-0 in the #1 match and Sabovic won in the second position, 6-4, 6-3, over Eli Palagatsheu.

In the #3 singles match, Hendel cruised past Yuta Kawamura, 6-0, 6-3, while Sawar tallied a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Ben Joory.

Sophomore Vincent Manzi (Massapequa, N.Y.) captured the fifth match, 6-3, 6-2, and Olkhovetsky earned a 6-2, 6-2 win in the sixth slot.

—Story courtesy of Farmingdale State College

LI Poet Of The Year Award Reception & Reading

Paula Camacho, as President of the Nassau County Poet Laureate Society, serves the poetry community in countless ways by encouraging discovery of the poetic voice, elevating appreciation for the written word and enriching the lives of local poets through events, contests, anthologies, scholarships and more. She is a breast cancer survivor and participated in various poetry organizations over the years. Paula moderated the Farmingdale Poetry Group for 20 years to empower and evolve the poetic skills, artistry form and creativity of participants. She taught a poetry class, You Can Write Poetry, in the Adult Education program at the Farmingdale High School. She served on the Nassau Council for the Arts for three years. Her poetry has won various awards, including the Alice Abel National Literary Contest. Paula has published nine collections of poetry. Her latest collection, Transmutation, is a 2021 finalist in the Blue Light Poetry Prize. She holds degrees in Nursing and Theology and lives with her family in Farmingdale. Reception and reading will take place at the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association on April 29, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

—Submitted by the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association

Bill Jones, Honor Flight president, speaks at Veterans’ Reunion after their D.C. flight.

(Contributed photo)

Alan Sabovic (Contributed photo) Vincent Manzi (Contributed photo)

STATE OF NEW YORK PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

CASE 22-T-0157 - Application of Anbaric Development Partners, LLC Pursuant to Public Service Law Article VII for a Certi cate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the Juno Power Express Electric Transmission Facility.

NOTICE INVITING PUBLIC COMMENT AND ANNOUNCING PUBLIC STATEMENT HEARINGS

(Issued April 6, 2023)

Public comment is sought regarding a request by Anbaric Development Partners, LLC (Anbaric), to construct, own, and operate the New York State components of the Juno Power Express Electric Transmission Facility (the Project).

As proposed, the Project would import power produced by an o shore wind generator constructed in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean into the New York transmission system at the Long Island Power Authority Ruland Road Substation in the Town of Huntington, Su olk County. More speci cally, the Project would consist of: (1) a high voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable and a submarine ber optic cable extending approximately 7.7 miles in New York State waters with landfall at Jones Beach State Park; (2) approximately 17.9 miles of terrestrial HVDC underground cable and ber optic cable; (3) underground transition vaults; (4) a temporary gravity cell at landfall to facilitate horizontal directional drilling installation; (5) a converter station that will convert power from HVDC to high voltage alternating current (HVAC); and (6) approximately 0.6 miles of HVAC underground land cable connecting the converter station to the point of interconnection at the Ruland Road Substation.

Prior to beginning construction of the Project, Anbaric must rst obtain a Certi cate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Public Service Commission (Commission) pursuant to Article VII of the Public Service Law. Under New York State Law, the Commission may adopt or reject Anbaric’s proposal, in whole or part, or modify it. In doing so, the Commission will consider input from the participating parties and the general public. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence related to the Project. As indicated below, public statement hearings will be held to obtain comments from the public concerning Anbaric’s proposal.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that opportunities for public comment regarding Anbaric’s request will be provided as follows:

Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Event Number: 2347 062 2162

Password: may3-1pm

Any person wishing to provide a public statement on the record at the hearings must pre-register to do so by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023.

To pre-register and provide a statement electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to a hearing electronically must pre-register by the date and time indicated above, by visiting www.webex.com, where they should click “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the appropriate event number listed above, and provide all requested information. When logging in on the date and time of the hearing, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.”The “call me” option will require that participants enter their phone numbers. To pre-register and provide a statement by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to the hearings electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to provide a statement must pre-register by the date and time indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: rst name and last name, address, and phone number.

On the date and time of the hearing, all call-in participants should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the appropriate access code listed above.

The public statement hearings will be held open until everyone who has registered to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Time limits may be set for each speaker, as necessary. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of the public statement hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management O ce at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with di culty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the public statement hearings, there are several other ways to provide your comments. Comments should refer to “Case 22-T - 00157.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the course of this proceeding, they are requested on or before June 2, 2023.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the “Commission Files” heading), enter “22-T-0157” in the “Search by Case Number” eld, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

(SIGNED)MICHELLE L. PHILLIPS Secretary